Julie

Defining "Inventory"

Interesting theory but there's a lack of hard data to provide any other useful inventory number. Is the current inventory number completely accurate? Certainly not! Your analysis is reasonable except for providing a realistic way to provide a better number.

Some Real Estate Agents Need Foodstamps Now - Housing Tracker

I can't speak to national numbers, but in local associations in VA the number of real estate agents leaving the profession entirely is very small, much less than was anticipated. Plenty of agents are getting jobs with steady paychecks to "tide them over" but keeping their licenses.

The Two Housing Crises

I think Gen-X already believes that the rampant consumerism of the baby boomers and their "McMansions" are ridiculous. God knows who's going to buy all those things! It may take a deep and long recession to get the rest of the country to understand the pickle we've gotten ourselves into!

The Folly in Calling a Housing Market Bottom

Excellent analysis! You're right about the "wishful thinking". I'm in the real estate industry and it seems people need to tell themselves we've seen bottom to face getting out of bed in the morning. I understand that, but don't think it's truly helpful.

Good News: Home Inventories Falling

Given that the fall/winter months are typically when we see inventory decline before a huge jump in the spring, it's too early to see any trend here. As a broker, I certainly hope you're right. I'm just not ready to jump to any conclusion with the data we've got right now.

Paulson's Plan is Nothing but Lip Service

There's another side to the bank not getting an answer and that's the homeowner not getting a response. I've worked with several families who attempted to proactively contact their lender, knowing their mortgage would reset and they'd be in trouble. The lender refused to talk to them because they'd never missed a payment. They actually had to wait for the reset, miss two payments and then the lender finally agreed to talk with them. Plenty of blame to go around in this mess.