ldierkes's Discussions

One question, though, Robin .... how successful have these been for you? And WHERE are you?

Worse .... my SIGN just disappeared!

Fishkind: Florida?s housing market now in slow recoveryORLANDO, Fla. ? Aug. 30, 2007 ? Popular perceptions about the housing market are wrong, says noted economist Hank Fishkind, who believes the market reached bottom a few months ago. Fishkind looks for trends in real estate statistical releases, and says that things may not be great but there?s also no indication that they?re getting worse.In his weekly radio address on WMFE in Orlando, Fishkind said he constantly encounters audiences worried about the housing market and any financial disruptions it could cause. ?The variance between the real economic data and people?s perceptions was enormous,? Fishkind said. ?While home starts have dropped 36 percent from their peak, starts have stabilized over the last six months with no further erosion. Friday?s report on new home sales confirms that the market has bottomed out. Sales actually increased 2.7 percent to an annual pace ? and the inventory of new but unsold homes declined.?Fishkind agrees that sales of existing homes are down, but also looks at the amount of the drop and recent changes. ?Importantly, the sales of existing homes were again stable for the seventh month in a row,? he says. ?While recovery may be some time off, it is clear that Florida?s housing markets have bottomed out.?Fishkind does not believe Florida home prices will decline any further over the next 18 to 36 months, but he does expect them to remain generally flat, depending on where they?re located in the state.?The more overbuilt markets will take longer to recover,? Fishkind says. ?But fears that prices will drop significantly are unfounded. And so is the pervasive panic. The economy is stronger than the reports about it.?

Fishkind: Florida?s housing market now in slow recoveryORLANDO, Fla. ? Aug. 30, 2007 ? Popular perceptions about the housing market are wrong, says noted economist Hank Fishkind, who believes the market reached bottom a few months ago. Fishkind looks for trends in real estate statistical releases, and says that things may not be great but there?s also no indication that they?re getting worse.In his weekly radio address on WMFE in Orlando, Fishkind said he constantly encounters audiences worried about the housing market and any financial disruptions it could cause. ?The variance between the real economic data and people?s perceptions was enormous,? Fishkind said. ?While home starts have dropped 36 percent from their peak, starts have stabilized over the last six months with no further erosion. Friday?s report on new home sales confirms that the market has bottomed out. Sales actually increased 2.7 percent to an annual pace ? and the inventory of new but unsold homes declined.?Fishkind agrees that sales of existing homes are down, but also looks at the amount of the drop and recent changes. ?Importantly, the sales of existing homes were again stable for the seventh month in a row,? he says. ?While recovery may be some time off, it is clear that Florida?s housing markets have bottomed out.?Fishkind does not believe Florida home prices will decline any further over the next 18 to 36 months, but he does expect them to remain generally flat, depending on where they?re located in the state.?The more overbuilt markets will take longer to recover,? Fishkind says. ?But fears that prices will drop significantly are unfounded. And so is the pervasive panic. The economy is stronger than the reports about it.?

Fishkind: Florida?s housing market now in slow recoveryORLANDO, Fla. ? Aug. 30, 2007 ? Popular perceptions about the housing market are wrong, says noted economist Hank Fishkind, who believes the market reached bottom a few months ago. Fishkind looks for trends in real estate statistical releases, and says that things may not be great but there?s also no indication that they?re getting worse.In his weekly radio address on WMFE in Orlando, Fishkind said he constantly encounters audiences worried about the housing market and any financial disruptions it could cause. ?The variance between the real economic data and people?s perceptions was enormous,? Fishkind said. ?While home starts have dropped 36 percent from their peak, starts have stabilized over the last six months with no further erosion. Friday?s report on new home sales confirms that the market has bottomed out. Sales actually increased 2.7 percent to an annual pace ? and the inventory of new but unsold homes declined.?Fishkind agrees that sales of existing homes are down, but also looks at the amount of the drop and recent changes. ?Importantly, the sales of existing homes were again stable for the seventh month in a row,? he says. ?While recovery may be some time off, it is clear that Florida?s housing markets have bottomed out.?Fishkind does not believe Florida home prices will decline any further over the next 18 to 36 months, but he does expect them to remain generally flat, depending on where they?re located in the state.?The more overbuilt markets will take longer to recover,? Fishkind says. ?But fears that prices will drop significantly are unfounded. And so is the pervasive panic. The economy is stronger than the reports about it.?

I have a question about HGTV .... They do a walk-thru of a home that, to me, looks pretty nice ... neutral ... appealing ... then the designers proclaim, "No, no, NO!!! This wall needs to be painted Arizona Terracotta to show off the fireplace!" They do a scurry, scurry, paint, etc. and announce at the end of the show that they had sold the house right after their big "transformation" open house. I wonder if HGTV buys those houses JUST TO SAY that the house had been sold?!?Anybody have any ideas on that?

#2onthewaybuyer . . . .GOOD QUESTION ..... Here's the answer .....Fishkind & Associates, Inc. is a twenty-six member economic and financial consulting firm with offices in Orlando, Naples, and Port St. Lucie, Florida. The company was formed in 1987, and has grown steadily since its inception. Located in The Quadrangle, adjacent to the University of Central Florida, the firm has access to state of the art global information retrieval systems and technologies. A progressive and innovative firm, Fishkind & Associates is highly regarded. As one of Florida's premier economic consultants, Fishkind & Associates has extensive experience in economic and fiscal impact analysis, forecasting and finance throughout Florida and the United States. In addition to our forecast work, Fishkind & Associates is involved in key financial advisory roles to special districts, local governments, redevelopment agencies and real estate developers. In this capacity the firm formulates innovative financing plans, provides economic advice and direction, and evaluates financing alternatives. The firm has participated in structuring over $3 billion in infrastructure and municipal financings. Fishkind & Associates conducts residential real estate feasibility research. This involves price, product and supply analysis as well as extensive consumer research and focus group studies. As a result, the firm has considerable skill in analysis and interpretation of consumer preferences, behavior patterns and demographic trends. The firm's principal Dr. Henry Fishkind, Ph.D. was associate professor of economics at the University of Florida, and Director of the University's forecasting program. Fishkind & Associates, under Dr. Fishkind's direction, has worked extensively in large and complex economic cost benefit analyses. These include the 1991, 1993 and 1996 Military Base Closure process in the United States, the Cross Florida Barge Canal and currently the Florida Everglades

(oops .... sorry .... continued) ....Environmental Restoration Project. Dr. Fishkind is also a noted speaker and expert witness in antitrust, eminent domain, intellectual property, personal injury, wrongful death, and business damage cases. The firm conducts economic and market analysis in support of Dr. Fishkind's testimony.

Cool! We've got LINGO, folks!Thanks, Almay!!:-)

When I'm creating an EZ Ad, it automatically offers a link to my profile. That's great ... what would be even MORE helpful is if it also offered a choice of links to MY LISTINGS, so I don't have to go back out, click on the listing, then right click and copy on the listing address line.Thanks, guys! You're always helpful!