Here’s a little sample of the kind of real estate booster piece that gets circulated among those "in the business," courtesy of NWREporter. (Emphasis theirs)
According to CNNMoney.com, the forecasts for housing price growth are calling for booming values in the state of Washington. For the June issue of MONEY Magazine, Fiserv Lending Solutions and Moody’s Economy.com provided forecasts for the coming 12 months for 380 metro areas – they predict that five of the top 10 fastest growers will be in Washington. … Much of the appreciation in housing is attributed to above average job and population growth and limited supply of housing.
According to a survey of home buyers by HomePages.com, 70 percent of consumers say rising gas prices have become an important consideration when deciding where to live. Nearly half of all home buyers (48 percent) ranked rising gas prices as “very important.” Consumer attitudes and opinions about commuting long distances to work have also shifted rather dramatically over the past year. More than 40 percent of home buyers now think a short commute to work is an important factor in choosing a new home.
…
One in four Americans born from 1946 to 1964 own more than one property, according to a survey of nearly 2,000 boomers done this spring by Harris Interactive for the National Association of REALTORS® and reported in USA Today. Boomers own 57 percent of vacation homes and 58 percent of rental properties, according to NAR. Beyond their primary residences, 13 percent of boomers own vacant land, 8 percent own a vacation or seasonal home and 2 percent own commercial real estate. Those surveyed reported that they aren’t financially prepared for retirement, but real estate ownership is a key part of boomers’ retirement plans.
I believe that in political circles items like this are known as "talking point memos." Real estate in Washington has nowhere to go but up! Prices will never fall in the city because people won’t commute! "Boomers" will carry the market!
Yeah, you just keep right on telling yourself that.
(NWREporter, 06.2006)