Bellwether for Housing: Car Sales “If your parents don’t have kids . . . you won’t either.“ –Adage. “Speak openly and honestly with your seller about the pros and cons of holding an open house. Assess the risk based on your specific location and direct your clients to local and state health authorities for specific...Read More
Beleaguered Shareholders: “Stop the Merry Go Round, I Want to Get Off!” Are gyrating, crashing stocks good or bad for the housing market? Both. In fact, I see three positives and negatives apiece emerging from the recent market carnage. Positives Here are the pluses (yes, pluses): Weak equity markets forestall the Federal Reserve’s plan to...Read More
2014: Year of the “Boomerang Buyer”?? If you didn’t know, a “baby boomeranger” is the adult offspring of a Baby Boomer who’s grown up, graduated from college . . . and moved back home with their parents (presumably unemployed — or at least underemployed). That’s bad for the housing market. Replenished Buyer Pool So, what’s...Read More
Put-Upon (Grand)Parents According to the Census Bureau, what percentage of young adults aged 25 to 34 are currently living in their parents’ home? A. 6.5% B. 14.2% C. 22.3% D. 41.9% Answer: B Gauging from the headlines or even an informal poll of your friends, you’d certainly guess that that number was much higher. And...Read More
Where are the First-Time Home Buyers? Living With Their Parents, Unemployed, & in Debt Hey Chel you know it’s kinda funny Texas always seems so big But you know you’re in the largest state in the Union When you’re anchored down in Anchorage –Michelle Shocked; lyrics, “Anchored Down in Anchorage” Is there a connection between...Read More
Alternative Theory: Weighed Down by Debt One of the most overlooked factors driving the housing market is the rate of household formation. When people graduate from renting apartments to buying homes, get married and start families, etc., housing demand strengthens; when the number of households contract — as happens in recessions — housing demand weakens....Read More
