A weekend topic starting with Mortgage News Daily. "So why did rates spike on Friday? This is actually a bit of a trick question. Rates have been rising in general since late 2020. The current rate spike really began last…
A report from the Idaho Statesman. "Newly constructed homes in Ada County dropped from a median price of $601,301 in November to $579,990 in December. The relative affordability that once helped attract buyers from more expensive places has partially worn…
A weekend topic starting with two reports from Bloomberg. "To cryptocurrency true believers, Bitcoin is the ultimate store of value, the most solid hedge against the rampant inflation manufactured by reckless central banks and their money-printing. To skeptics, the crypto…
A weekend topic starting with Mark Zandi. "House prices are sizzling. Not just in swanky neighborhoods in the nation’s big cities or in resort towns. Not just in the suburbs or exurbs. Not just in inner cities or in rural…
It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "To sweeten a recent offer on a small house with a few acres here in Texas, near Austin, I pledged to keep Jenny and Jeremy—two aging donkeys the seller no longer had…
A report from CNBC. "'The fact that almost all participants agreed that it was appropriate to initiate the balance sheet runoff after the first increase in the target range for the fed funds rate implies that there’s not a big…
A weekend topic starting with the Idaho Mountain Express. "In advance of the busy summer tourist season, Ketchum city officials briefly considered allowing a 'tent city' on the edge of town to provide temporary housing for workers. In a place…
It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "Sellers, at moments, were too aggressive with pricing. Price cuts on homes jumped in August, as some sellers realized they could not get their dream asking price. 'Many buyers gave up,' said…
A weekend topic starting with KTUV. "Like many homeowners across the country, Santa Claus has benefited from skyrocketing home values, according to Zillow — which values his sprawling North Pole property at more than $1 million. A searing hot housing…
A report from Mises.org. "This December’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting might be the last time we get to hear a Q&A session from Chair Powell this year. Said near the conclusion of the December meeting, on p.26 of…