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Housing & Homebuilding
A Robust Housing Market – 2010’s Biggest Surprise?
Mention “housing market” and people’s shoulders sag. Thoughts turn to foreclosures and shrunken equity. Nothing good is foreseen, just expectations of more foreclosures, adding to the already over-saturated market. And now the Federal Reserve is stepping away from buying mortgage securities, even as the media reports banks are unwilling to lend. However, in spite... »
Media Frets and Warns – So, We Can Be Optimistic
As is typical when a growth trend evolves out of dark times, the media simply cannot get in sync. Because negative news titillates – and sells – it’s so hard to give it up. Today’s good news reports regularly have concerns and warnings tacked onto them. For stock investors, that means opportunity. Here is... »
Home Sales Measures Coming – More Good News?
Some interesting indicators are being released the last two weeks of December – our period of special opportunity. Housing has the big three: existing home sales, new home sales and S&P Case-Shiller home prices. All have been improving in spite of negative articles about the current housing market and its outlook. Here is where... »
Foreclosures + Strapped Consumers = Double Counting?
We know the dismal foreclosure picture: empty houses, bank losses, and displaced households, struggling to make ends meet. But, wait. Back up to those bank losses. They are the result of mortgage balances not being fully paid by the foreclosed house sales. But that only looks at the bank’s balance sheet. What about the... »
Railroads, Warren Buffett and the Future of America
The official announcement of Berkshire Hathaway’s takeover of Burlington Northern included this Warren Buffett quote: It’s an all-in wager on the economic future of the United States. I love these bets. His comments are in the tradition of J.P. Morgan and James J. Hill, who created Northern Securities, the first version of Burlington Northern... »
John Tobey on Seeking Alpha
