patrick.net

Phoenix is one of those places where they ripped off the bandaid quickly (due to non-judicial foreclosures). Extremely painful initially, but why delay the agony? From the WSJ today:
Nearly 94% of Phoenix ZIP Codes and 90% of Denver ZIP Codes saw values rise during the three-month period ending in April, up from 5% and 6% a year ago, respectively.

RobertoAribas,

I don't mind a healthy, intellectual debate on these matters and welcome opposing views, arguments and such. But I agree that the trolls are completely useless and bring nothing but noise to these threads. Glad I blocked them all too.

I'll add some other reasons for the market reversal. There are other threads explaining the tight inventory and low supply. But allow me to posit where I'm seeing the source of the extra demand --

- foreign money coming in after fear of global slowdown or European debt crisis coming to fruition. This is a "flight to safety" in a way. U.S. real estate appears much better priced now, so foreigners are wanting to shovel their money here to escape the uncertainty elsewhere.

- Strong stock market in early 2012 with people unloading liquid assets and now needing to put it somewhere else.

CrazyMan says

I certainly could afford to buy a house in Santa Clara/Campbell (I have a couple hundred K in cash I need to do something with) but I'm just not sure I want to deal with the rat race (indeed) for the next 30 years to pay it off.

How about a remodel in SC? Cheaper than buying and would make it "your house."

I am soooo with you on the rat race. I am 47 and looking at essentially retiring in the next 3-5 years to a more laid back, "work when I want to" sort of job, doing something that I really enjoy. My career has lost a lot of the fun in the past couple years. Three years ago, I imagined I'd work in this field "forever" because I was having fun.

PockyClipsNow says

Global warming and peak oil are hoaxes created to get $ out of suckers and pass agendas/power grabs.

Holy fucking cow. You're gullible.