Real Estate Versus Stock Market

A substantial amount to listen to but definitely an interesting discussion regarding whether real estate or the stock market makes for a better investment. Obviously, you know where we stand. Where do you stand?

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Part 6 of 6:

Real Estate is Local - Markets are Appreciating?

From MSN Money - "Home prices by metro area":

The states with the greatest price appreciation between the third quarters of 2007 and 2008 were North Dakota (4.0%), South Dakota (3.9%), Texas (3.2%), Alabama (2.8%) and Oklahoma (2.8%). The states with the sharpest depreciation for the same period were Nevada (20.9%), California (20.8%), Florida (16.0%), Arizona (13.5%) and Rhode Island (8.0%).

The metro areas with the greatest appreciation over the past year were Austin, Texas (5.6%), Augusta, Ga. (5.5%), and Rapid City, S.D. (5.4%).

Of the 20 cities with the greatest price declines over the last four quarters, all but one -- Las Vegas -- were in California or Florida. The areas with the sharpest depreciation over the year were in California: Merced (42.3%), Stockton (41.4%) and Modesto (36.7%).

Hmmm. When you listen to the news you would think that all markets are as bad as many locales in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Florida. In most instances, you would never be lead to believe that prices have actually appreciated in certain housing markets throughout the country.

Yes, the national economy does impact all markets. Generally speaking, those markets that are appreciating won't appreciate as strongly as they normally would under better economic conditions while those markets depreciating will do so to a greater extent.

Needless to say, through the marvels of our present-day technology, use the endless resources available to us to discover the real truth beyond what you simply hear reported.

A simple message yet how many of you didn't know that some housing markets have been appreciating over the past year?

National Association of Home Builders - We Want a Bailout Too!

Add the National Association of Home Builders to the list of groups asking Washington for a piece of the bailout package. Jerry Howard (president of the NAHB) says (referring to the bailout that they're looking towards the government for), "The bill has to be as big as it needs to be." The Realty Buzz wants some too. We'll settle for one mill.

Nothing's For Free

I've got a great deal for you too. Just give me a call. Trust me. Wake up people. It's not really that hard to figure out, is it?

Housing Bottom?

Are housing indicators pointing and now trending in the right direction? Has housing turned? The buzz from different sources seems to be increasingly murmuring "yes". Do you agree? Are you finding similarities in your local housing market?

Paperless Real Estate Transactions?

Real Estate transactions without paper? Pulling documents together from a convenient location of your choosing? The signing of docs without having to print, sign, and then finally fax or scan / email?

Is this the new face of your real estate business? If not, will it be the future face of your Real Estate business?

Are we finally beginning to realize what will ultimately be a truly paperless society? Interesting tablet PC technology that continues to get closer to a Realtor near you.

Disclaimer: The video is very slooooow, but the tablet PC technology is worth seeing if you haven't seen it before. We have no affiliation, that we know of, to the Realtor or the tablet PC software being plugged.

Feeling Our Way Along

Yes, we're all in this together. Welcome to the neighbor you've never met but will soon meet. Our world is getting smaller in a good way. The Internet does have a face, millions in fact.

A commercial it doesn't have to be but as good it should be. Your brand does matter. Your content does make a difference. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again ...

Disclaimer: If spotty naughty language offends you, consider yourself warned and consider passing on watching this video.