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MsMorrisine
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20% rise in housing starts and no conspiracy theory posts (yet)
Current maintainer of Stone's Master List of Favorite Websites // My BST transactions
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"Fails to provide how much of the single family data is custom (already sold) and how much is speculation (track builders betting on a future sale). I suspect it's mostly the speculators, many of whom weren't around in 08 to get caught with their pants down.
I gotta stick with the bad vibes on this data. Do not lose sight that housing starts are actually additional debt. How much of this additional debt goes bad (variable rate loans?) and eventually gets bundled into marketable products remains to be seen.
To me healthy economic data involves consumers spending money they have, not future earnings from a job that may not be there in the future."
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
We need people claiming the gov't is painting the tape.
For me, it's more spending of future money - debt. While it is the best kind of debt (if that spec house gets sold) it is still additional debt in an over indebted economy. If that spec house doesn't get sold then it becomes a more serious problem for the economy. Increased housing sales would be more optimistic than housing starts.
Tells me speculation in new houses has increased. Could be good, could be bad.
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
Mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
<< <i>The real question on this data is what does it really mean?
For me, it's more spending of future money - debt. While it is the best kind of debt (if that spec house gets sold) it is still additional debt in an over indebted economy. If that spec house doesn't get sold then it becomes a more serious problem for the economy. Increased housing sales would be more optimistic than housing starts.
Tells me speculation in new houses has increased. Could be good, could be bad. >>
I can only share what I see first hand.
In the new construction development that I am looking at, it is a single story community all nice beautiful homes. The surrounding areas do have single story but mostly consist of two story, old and new construction. Old construction is only about 10 years old (not old to many parts of the nation with respects to homes). There are 6-7 major home builders building within a 10 or so mile radius, all around similar price points, 400-600k. They are getting homes built quick, 4-5 months, and the communities are selling out fast. They anticipated 2 year durations for selling homes and are selling out in 10 months or less. The agents that I talked to (as well as family that are agents in the town, but not on these new devs) are telling me that the demographic is 30 somethings buying their first house with low down but still qualifing with low down (with interest rates between 3.5-4%) or couples that are either in retirement or close to retirement. Most of these sales were not all cash as they said its prob 10% of their sales. The town has major all cash buyers, but they arent going after new home construction from what the agents are saying.
While I think a few could be speculation, Im leaning on more towards people overextending by not having the down payment and banks still lending to them.
BST Transactions (as the seller): Collectall, GRANDAM, epcjimi1, wondercoin, jmski52, wheathoarder, jay1187, jdsueu, grote15, airplanenut, bigole
I need to double check the 20% to be sure it is not off some absurdly low comp.
Well before the implosion I knew of people from work who jumped in on RE "investment" via 2nd homes. I do wonder if that "investment" is happening again.
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey
<< <i>20% rise in housing starts and no conspiracy theory posts (yet) >>
That's because it's not a conspiracy . . .
At least that's what they *want* you to believe!
My Adolph A. Weinman signature
<< <i>A lot of our PM fraternity appear to live below the earths surface so getting the news through normal means isn't a given. Patience, the rebuke will come
Mark >>
Ha, I chuckled with this one.
Looking at the graphics in there, the comps were easy and the data noisy.
We may be on a slight up trend, but with the noise it is hard to tell.
One thing is certain, 20% was definitely due in large part to an easy comp.
(re: up trend. there is an obvious up trend. however looking through the last few months' noise it is making me wonder if we've hit a flat spot or not. a few more months' numbers will tell.)
"Interest rates, the price of money, are the most important market. And, perversely, they’re the market that’s most manipulated by the Fed." - Doug Casey