Housing.com News, Analysis & Opinion: Buying and Selling: News From The Frontlines

This is a good read on many levels--it explores how the explosion of subprime lending has been a factor in the housing boom, and how the Midwest isn't going to be the panacea to keep it going. Well worth perusing if you follow the market in any depth.

Craigslist is under attack for permitting offensive and discriminatory ads. I'm of two minds on this. You should do everything you can to filter or flag racist content on your site or in your business--it's just unacceptable. But part of Craigslist's strength is its immediate, unfiltered publishing ability. The housing market, in particular, benefits from Craigslist because you can slide all kinds of fantastic FSBO listings in there without a broker ever getting a dime. I'll keep an eye on this to see how it develops.

Fannie Mae is under the gun once again. I really can't figure out why the Bush camp is so hot to divest Fannie and Freddie's portfolios, unless the ultimate aim is to have private mortgage lenders snap up those holdings and remarket them at much higher prices, thus sabotaging the affordable-housing market. Don't laugh--it IS a possibility. Maybe some of my readers and fellow housing bloggers can shed light on the issue...that's a BLATANT PLUG for comments, make no mistake. ;)

There are two interesting bits of economic news I saw today that tangenitally deal with housing: Jobless claims have dipped, but overall wages are shrinking. So people are working, but are they working jobs that will enable them to afford traditional mortgages? With the ballooning costs for health care, child care, education, and gas--and let's not forget the piles of consumer debt--people may feel like they will be forever "priced out" unless they take on ever-more dangerous "creative" mortgages.

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Yesterday's New York Times had a chilling look at the home ownership dream denied. (Free registration required, BugMeNot, etc.) This is a good read on many levels--it explores how the explosion of subprime lending has been a factor in the housing boom, and how the Midwest isn't going to be the panacea to keep it going. Well worth perusing if you follow the market in any depth. Craigslist is under attack for permitting offensive and discriminatory ads. I'm of two minds on this. You should do everything you can to filter or flag racist content on your site or in your business--it's just unacceptable. But part of Craigslist's strength is its immediate, unfiltered publishing ability. The housing market, in particular, benefits from Craigslist because you can slide all kinds of fantastic FSBO listings in there without a broker ever getting a dime. I'll keep an eye on this to see how it develops. Fannie Mae is under the gun once again. I really can't figure out why the Bush camp is so hot to divest Fannie and Freddie's portfolios, unless the ultimate aim is to have private mortgage lenders snap up those holdings and remarket them at much higher prices, thus sabotaging the affordable-housing market. Don't laugh--it IS a possibility. Maybe some of my readers and fellow housing bloggers can shed light on the issue...that's a BLATANT PLUG for comments, make no mistake. ;) There are two interesting bits of economic news I saw today that tangenitally deal with housing: Jobless claims have dipped, but overall wages are shrinking. So people are working, but are they working jobs that will enable them to afford traditional mortgages? With the ballooning costs for health care, child care, education, and gas--and let's not forget the piles of consumer debt--people may feel like they will be forever "priced out" unless they take on ever-more dangerous "creative" mortgages. Where will it end?