For quite awhile now we have heard very little good news from the newspapers. I realised something that the publishers have known for quite some time. Drama sells and Sunshine doesn't. That's why we are only given a very small picture of the actual marketplace, especially when it comes to the housing market.
Here are some interesting numbers that I heard this week as quoted from the National Association of Realtors:
43 months
50% and 47%
Here's what those numbers indicate and I know you will now be glad we are dealing with the housing market here in California. 43% is the amount of housing inventory currently on the market in Michigan. Of the homes that are selling in Michigan, 50% are foreclosures and 47% of those foreclosures are selling below $100K. I am not "bashing" Michigan, it's is just great example for this dose of reality. 84.9% is the percentage increase of home sales in California in December 2008 over December 2007. In Northern California generally speaking we are looking at 10 months worth of inventory on the housing market. Not such a bad place to live after all! Just the numbers indicate that California (specifically the bay area) has remained relatively recession proof compared to many other parts of our country. We are also likely to be the first to rebound according to financial analysts.
However one of the challenges facing all of us, and again the print publishers are not helping on this level, is attitude. If all we read, hear and see is bad news, how are we ever going to be able to look at our economy and our marketplace in its true light? I am not saying, we should stick our heads in the sand and I am not "blowing sunshine", I am talking about the facts. The fact is, yes our economy is struggling but Yes it is going to get better, if we allow it to improve as opposed to buying into the drama. Things are already getting better in some aspects and if we only believe what we read, then it's going to take a lot longer. I think we could all stand for a little good news, a reality check if you will! I don't think there is a magic formula to suddenly turn things around, it took a long time and a concerted effort to get to where we are now and it will take a long time and a concerted effort to make some changes and actually see the results of our work. But before you choke again while reading your morning paper, remember you are only seeing a very small picture in that print and if you look at the whole portrait, the vision is clearer and I hope if you are reading this you might be able to imagine a way forward.
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