When Bearishness is Bullish As the 2017 housing market officially gets underway, at least a few Realtors are dealing with Buyers haunted by the post-2008 housing crash — and the fear that something like that could happen again. How warranted are those fears? Housing Market Vital Signs: Checklist Unfortunately, bubbles are usually only obvious in retrospect...Read More
(Even) Lower Interest Rates vs. Weaker Economy “It’s too soon to tell.” –Chinese leader Mao Tse-tung, when asked — in 1948(!) — about the historical significance of the French Revolution. To accurately assess the potential effect of Brexit on the housing market, one must first identify and analyze the biggest variables. Here’s my take: Positives...Read More
Brexit’s Aftermath: Referendum Contagion? It’s bigger than Trump. That’s the instant, inescapable, and more than a little harrowing takeaway from Britain’s vote Thursday to leave the European Union (“Brexit”). What’s less clear: 1) how far will the pendulum swing towards protectionism?; 2) who will be the leaders of this nascent movement?; and 3) whose agenda(s)...Read More
Effect of Internet, Social Media: Faster Political Cycle(s) [Reader warning: the following piece contains opinions likely to offend Republicans, Democrats, and members of various other political parties. If you identify as one of those . . . stop reading now! The views expressed are solely those of the author.] One theory extant in presidential politics...Read More
Explanations and Silver Linings (or Not) for Defeated Democrats At least some Democrats seeking solace in the wake of Tuesday’s blowout Republican win are pointing to gerrymandered Congressional districts as the explanation. Exhibit A: liberal Austin, Texas, which is represented in Congress by no less than four Republicans — each of whom represents a district...Read More
Sizing Up Likely Winners and Losers With the dust literally still settling on the Minneapolis City Council’s March 7 decision to temporarily halt teardowns, it’s premature to sort out all the consequences. But, here’s my preliminary take on likely “winners” and “losers”: Losers: –Buyers and Sellers currently under contract for teardown homes in Minneapolis; –Prospective Minneapolis teardown Sellers; –Minneapolis-focused...Read More
