HOUSING STATS: Can anyone get it right?

I tell you as a blogger and concerned homeowner,  following the housing market reports is like trying to use a yo-yo or slinky with no prior experience.  All you see is a mass of tumbled stings, intertwining to make  a confusing mass of money woes.   All I know is that as a homeowner prices fall.  In foreclosure there are messes of legal mumbo jumbo, and in economics - well,  we seem to be in depression or at the minimum a lengthy recession with only glimpses of light here and there. 

Here are some of the headlines from today and past few days,  let's see what you think.   

Homebuilder Confidence Holds at Lowest Level in a Year as Tax Credit Ends  Confidence among U.S. homebuilders in September unexpectedly held at the lowest level in more than a year, showing the housing market remains depressed following the expiration of a government tax credit.

Lennar Reports Third-Quarter Profit as Margins Widen Lennar Corp., the fourth-largest U.S. homebuilder by revenue, reported a better-than-estimated third-quarter profit as margins on house sales improved and orders fell less than some analysts projected.

Economic Reports This Week The House Financial Services Committee will conduct a hearing on the state of the international financial system as it relates to the Dodd-Frank Act (Wednesday). The Senate Banking Committee will conduct a hearing on the Securities and Exchange Commission’s response to R. Allen Stanford’s suspected Ponzi scheme (Wednesday). A House Financial Services subcommittee will conduct a hearing on the limitations of the Securities Investor Protection Act (Thursday).

The Senate Banking Committee will conduct a hearing on the future of the Federal Housing Administration (Thursday).

Recovery Spreads FitfullyThe Federal Reserve said Wednesday that its survey of economic conditions in the central bank's 12 districts, which covers mid-July through August, found "widespread signs of a deceleration compared to preceding periods."

But the picture is uneven: The Fed report, called the "beige book," noted that factories, farms 

This Week's Reports Could Keep the Rally in Check - DailyFinance: "Tuesday alone brings new reports on housing starts and permits and the latest policy statement from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Investors will also be contending with new- and existing-home sales figures, durable goods orders, leading indicators and weekly jobless claims this week.'" My sense is [housing] is going to be weak, and it's going to cause the market to sell off,' Kenny Polcari, managing director at inter-dealer broker ICAP Corporates. 'As we saw last week, housing is tough, and it continues to be tough.'"

Read also these blogposts I posted this weekend and today:


Dollar Falls / Euro 
US stock futures higher


Underwater mortgages strain health


ARab Housing Crisis


 All Eyes on Housing

FOR my Phillipine Readers: Foreclosures bring opportunity

I have not had the opportunity to personally observe what is happening in the Philippines, but have read that the foreclosure market there is bringing great opportunity for housing at reasonable rates.  While some of our local foreclosures in Arizona are 75-150K you can pick up a true bargain in the Philippines  for around 10-30K.  This is not an apple to apples comparison, however, since condominiums and single family housing on a lot are very different apples. 

The Philippine economy is not that much different than the US or UK counterparts in the housing market in that the whole global economy seems to be on the decline.  Until recently the stock market has been doing okay for the Filipinos, so time will tell what happens.  I hope that some of  our friends from overseas will chime in and paint a picture for us.    

Since I am no expert, I have Googled  and found links that might be useful.  Any comments are welcome! 

Philippines Real Estate News: links

Bword online

Barrons report

foreclosured blog

Philstar article  

Philipine marketwatch - weekly 

News report on Globe Asiatique Realty Holdings Corp  

No time today - but HANG IN THERE

WElll my time is tight today but the main thought that occurs to me is this one thing!

ONE THING: AMERICANS got us into this (with congressional help) and AMERICANS can get us out.

You see, there is no loss unless you take a loss. We can wait it out. Last crisis after Sept. 11 terrorist attack the economy tanked for a couple of weeks.

I remember friends on the ebay.com question and answer forum saying they were spending all the money they could to get economy rolling. They were flying instead of caving into fear. WHAT WISDOM.

Today we need to not panic and keep on buying. It isn't that the stock market is tanking because of government, it is tanking because of FEAR. The stock market is all about perception.

I'll admit is hard not to be afraid when the news media hypes it all up.

I'll tell you this you have to be careful in your vote. It may sound good to have Obama saying he'll do it different but look at actions. I may lose a couple popularity points here but his charitable projects weren't all that successful and his foreign policies scare the heck out of me. I don't think we need to sell ourselves down the tubes for the economic crisis.

I think if Congress (and maxine waters I'll bet you are biting your tongue now) had dealt with the mess 2 years ago despite THEIR fears we would not have this financial meltdown now. Think about that while you are deciding your vote. research and look for information on it. Don't just take anyone's (not even my) word for it.

WELL NOW ACTUALLY MAKE THAT TWO THINGS:
And all Democratic friends and family please don't get me wrong.
The media sold my family who are democrats down the tube by not vetting Obama the same way they have vetted Hillary or other candidates. THIS ACORN THING is about voter fraud and deciet and they have vested interest in Obama attaining presidency. They are tied to corruption. Obama was their LAWYER for crying out loud. Voter registration this big and hidden is not good. I don't want to offend my family and friends but research it out for yourselves- don't just listen to words.

Right now today people are panicked at news, but get this a lot of this is the OIL Companies and Insurance Companies taking a hit.. WEll duh, who want AIG, and with the economic crisis oil prices tanked (gas about3.05- 3.15 here) and so stockholders are out for profit!

POLL: Should the stock market have been closed for 2 days and an emergency congressional meeting convened? Before the automatic circuit breaker kicks in