The World is Buying American - 04/11/12 05:14 AM
The World is Buying American 
Individual foreign buyers are taking advantage of the market to snap up U.S. bargains at a record clip. According to the latest tally by the National Association of Realtors, foreign clients purchased $41 billion worth of stateside houses and apartments during the 12-month period ending in March 2011. That's roughly the same as the previous year. But add in the $41 billion spent by immigrants who moved here within the last two years and individuals with visas of more than six months, and the total is $82 billion worth of U.S. residential real estate taken off … (2 comments)

America Grows Confident Again - 04/10/12 04:50 AM
America Grows Confident Again 
Americans' concerns over housing and the economy are subsiding, according to Fannie Mae's National Housing Survey from February. An improving job market is a big part of what's behind Americans feeling more confident about the housing market and the direction of the economy, according to the survey."The pickup in the pace of hiring over the past few months has helped soothe consumer concerns, lifting their moods regarding their personal finances, the direction of the economy, and their views on the housing market," says Doug Duncan, chief economist of Fannie Mae. "As a result, we've seen more potential … (0 comments)

The Power of Dow - 04/09/12 03:24 PM
The Power of Dow     
The Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed over 13,000 in Mid-March while the S&P crossed the 1,400 level. We won't analyze each of these numbers, just suffice it to say that these are more than psychological barriers, they represent highs not seen since the start of the fiscal crisis almost five years ago. There are two ways you could look at these numbers. In one respect, we have seen a remarkable 100% increase in the Dow since the Dow's low below 6,600 three years ago. That is quite a run. On the other hand, one could … (0 comments)