One would think that one of the dozen or so workers putting this up would have noticed that something was out of sorts. Story in the DP. Might they be slowly preparing us for the inevitable?
Date Archives August 2005
Green Parade of Homes
From their release – Sensibly Built for the EnvironmentAn innovative new green building program that works with home builders to construct resource and energy efficient homes that lessen the impact on the environment.I have written about the prospects of building environmentally friendly homes before, and think that eventually a critical mass will show itself…. Read the fulll press release and directions below.5 EarthCraft Homes OPENSaturday and Sunday, August 13 & 14, Noon to 5PMArtisan Construction Co., Inc.5035 Meadowlark Court, Foxwood ForestDirections: 29 North to a right turn on Rt…. House on left.Kingma Developers, Inc.2930 Milton Village Lane, Milton VillageDirections: 250 East to a right at the light onto Rt…. House is at end of court on the left.Piedmont Housing Alliance214 10th St., NW, CharlottesvilleDirections: Main Street to 10th Street North.
Self-fulfilling prophecy
The bubble-watch continues.WSJ – The number of homes available for sale has increased sharply in some of the nation’s hottest real-estate markets — one of several recent signs suggesting that air may be seeping out of the frenzied U.S. housing market.In northern Virginia, an area dominated by the fast-growing suburbs of Washington, inventories are up 26% from a year earlier. “Sales have slowed down for sure,” says Tip Powers, president of Realty Direct Inc., Sterling, Va. He says home prices have flattened out and speculators are starting to shy away from the market because they no longer can count on quickly unloading properties at a profit.Once the speculators slow down their purchases, I believe that market will slow … not pop or bust or (insert synonym here) but start to level off a bit.
FairTax
I am finally reading the FairTax book and find myself quickly becoming a convert and and advocate of said FairTax. My main concern, due to my profession, is the home mortgage deduction – they have that covered.Please read this book, ranked #5 on Amazon already. It’s a simple read and concept, and worth learning more.
Bubble prediction
is the nation’s largest mortgage lender, handling nearly one out of every six new mortgages in the country. So it’s worth taking note when the company’s in-house economist predicts a big change in home values. “The most likely secnario for housing prices over the next year or so is a significant slowdown in the overall rate of appreciation, down close to zero,” Jeffrey K…. Home prices have risen too far, too fast, exceeding income gains for the past five years.
Transportation and the Governor’s race
Bacon’s Rebellion posted this excellent link to a Q & A with Tim Kaine, candidate for Governer this fall. His ideas for linking transportation and land use planning show that, at the very least, he is thinking about transportation issues. Will all the talk online translate into more voters this fall? If nothing, Mr. Kaine is certainly working diligently to get his message out there.