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Take Media Forecasts with a Grain of Salt

By
Real Estate Agent with Berkshire Hathaway HSCP

My first job out of college many years ago was as a fact checker so I'm always on guard for discrepancies. But, as a Realtor I was actually delighted to discover in the most recent issue of Money Magazine there are two completely opposite statistics and forecasts regarding the housing market--I'm going to use these examples in my open houses to show buyers that deciding when to buy should be based on personal need not on media forecasts...

Page 34--Housing prices increased only 3.2% nationally in the year ended June 2007; and Grand Junction, Colorado experienced a 14.3% 1-year price increase and "still sizzles."

Page 89--Home prices nationwide are down 4.2% from a year ago; and there is "no rescue" for Grand Junction, Colorado, which is projected to decline -9/0% next year.

With wildly conflicting published reports like these, it is no wonder that buyers are confused when and where to buy!  The best time to buy is when it is right for your financial situation and personal needs.