Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble?

We are selling our house. We have lived here for 15 years, the longest I have ever lived anywhere; of the places since I left my parents' home I think my previous best was three years. There is a certain comfort to residential stability. I expect I will be filling out change of address forms from when we move through the end of my useful life.

Coincidentally, there were two articles that I have come across since putting up our "For Sale" sign a week ago that address the housing "bubble."

Slate.com's Daniel Gross writes about "Bubble Over Troubled Waters: Why the real estate bubble could be good news for the economy." He refers to "what many are already calling the successor bubble to the dot-com fiasco: the U.S. housing market."

On the positive side, Northern Trust economist Asha Bangalore notes that "the performance of the housing market has played a visible role in payroll growth." Gross adds that "Spending on housing flows into a remarkably wide range of sectors-and the overwhelming majority of the spending is local."

So are these people out of their jobs when the bubble bursts? Gross suggests that it is "possible that housing was the bridge that helped us get over the post-bust job chasm."

In a Greg Thomas article entitled "Up, Up, and Away" in today's New Orleans Times-Picayune (TP), the subtitle reads "N.O.-area home prices keep soaring, leaving some to wonder if a market tumble is on the horizon."

Greg reports that "Sales prices of single-family homes in the metro area continued their skyward trajectory during the first six months of the year, climbing 11 percent compared with the same period in 2004. Some experts say it could be the highest jump in local home prices in at least 50 years."

So I am buying and selling in the bubble. The TP shows that where we are selling, prices are up 34% over last year, while where we are buying they are only up 10%. Could I have timed this transaction just right?

By the way, while this is not meant to be an ad, if you are looking for the nicest house in New Orleans East then check us out at http://house.jbv.com.

I will keep you posted on our adventures as amateur real estate agents. Let me know what is happening in your area.

John B. Vinturella, Ph.D. has almost 40 years experience as a management and strategic consultant, entrepreneur, author, and college professor. For 20 of those years, Dr. Vinturella was owner/president of a distribution company that he founded. He is a principal in business opportunity sites jbv.com and muddledconcept.com, and maintains business and political blogs.

---

Four Reasons To Offer Seller Financing

An example of seller financing: Years ago I bought a... Read More

Beat the Crowd when Investing in Real Estate

We all are thinking about it and some of us... Read More

Residential Property Abroad

It is increasingly common for individuals to own more than... Read More

Maintaining Small Town Charm In An Ever-Changing World

Virtually any state in the country has the appeal of... Read More

Investment Property - Leveraging Rental Property Equity

Owning investment property is a tremendous wealth building strategy. Thousands... Read More

Title Insurance ? Examples of Problems and Advice

What is title insurance and why should any buyer get... Read More

FSBO: For Sale By Owners Chapter One

She reached the phone on its second ring. "This is... Read More

Homes in Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill is located right in the middle of North... Read More

Before Selling Your Home

Here are some important steps you should take before you... Read More

Theres More To Making Money Than A Tertiary Education

An education of some sort is a prerequisite these days... Read More

3 Tips to Help You Sell Your Timeshare - For More

The values of timeshares are constantly changing. There are numerous... Read More

Take A Shotgun Approach

An effective real estate advertising strategy entails a 'shotgun' approach.... Read More

Market Reaching its Peak

I do not profess to "Know" what the real estate... Read More

The Best Way To Get Real Estate Listings

The Real Estate Industry is HUGE and is a golden... Read More

How To Find An Experienced Monticello Illinois Realtor

Finding a professional Monticello Realtor in Illinois is the best... Read More

Property Investors, Scrub Your Thoughts and Start Again - Brazil, Brazil, Brazil!

Brazil Property - FortalezaThe PlaceWhat to do in a place... Read More

Real Estate Investing In Bulgaria

As Bulgaria readies for joining the European Economic Community in... Read More

Purchasing Florida Investment Property And Various Considerations

Purchasing Florida Investment PropertyConsidering researching the purchase of Florida Investment... Read More

Home Hunting and the Internet

So, it's home hunting time. Where do you start? Who... Read More

Why Canadian Real Estate is Such Good Value

Real estate agents, Canadian citizens and foreign investors interested in... Read More

Real Estate Investing - Basis Explained

Our complex IRS code requires that your, as a real... Read More

Sell your Property Faster

Learn how to sell your property faster and at the... Read More

Seller Financing - Six Safety Tips

Why offer seller financing when you sell? A higher price,... Read More

Vacation Homes Are Becoming A Reality For More Homeowners

Whether it's a lakefront cottage or a log cabin in... Read More

Thinking About Selling Your Home?

Owning a home is the original American dream. It's the... Read More

Salt Lake City Real Estate

From the mountains to the valley, there are many types... Read More

Refinance Rental Property - Dont Sell It

You own a rental property for years, and never see... Read More

Sell Your California Home For Top Dollar

HOW TO SELL YOUR HOME FOR TOP DOLLAR1. Make your... Read More

Real Estate Investing ? Finding Cheap Houses

Real estate investing expertise can certainly accommodate the luxury home... Read More

How to Buy Fixers for Profit

Do you dream of becoming a multi-millionaire real estate investor?... Read More

11 Steps Away From Buying a Home

There is no doubt that the market for houses has... Read More

Prepare Your Rental Property for Occupancy

Among your many responsibilities as a landlord, the law provides... Read More

Why Average Sale Price Statistics are Misleading

One of the most common statistics used when gauging the... Read More