House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently posted an alarming chart of job losses that has been making the rounds. What jumps out to me when I look at her chart is the fact that the y-axis shows raw number of jobs rather than a percentage loss, and therefore fails to account for the increased size of…
Author: The Tim
Tim Ellis is the founder of Seattle Bubble. His background in engineering and computer / internet technology, a fondness of data-based analysis of problems, and an addiction to spreadsheets all influence his perspective on the Seattle-area real estate market. Tim also hosts the weekly improv comedy sci-fi podcast Dispatches from the Multiverse.
One in Four Pending Sales Failed to Close in Q4
Now that 2008 Q4 + 1 month is in the past, let’s have an updated look at the relationship between pending and closed sales. In Q2, 15.9% of pending sales fell through. In Q3, it was 20.7%. Below is the updated chart including 2008 Q4. It shows quarterly King County SFH pending sales volume from…
Finding a deal as a well-positioned homebuyer?
Time to consider another hypothetical housing market scenario, this time from a buyer’s side. Meet Sam and Tiffany. This late 20’s couple has been renting for the first five years of their married life. They have always had a nice reasonable rent that has allowed them quite a bit of discretionary income between their two…
Poll: Potential Buyers Only: Would a $15k tax credit affect your decision to purchase a home?
Please vote in this poll using the sidebar. This poll will be active and displayed on the sidebar through 02.14.2009.
Calculated Risk on the $15k Homebuyer Tax Credit
I’m sure many real estate agents out there are throwing parties and dancing in the streets with the Senate passage of the so-called stimulus that includes a $15,000 tax credit for home buyers. The idea is that somehow this will magically rescue the housing market and (presumably) reverse the fall of home prices. Personally, I’m…