tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post6169749766683163255..comments2024-03-26T03:52:23.395-07:00Comments on Housing Analysis: Housing starts, prices show more signs of slowingmohicanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06094213357140749289noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-45130024075983993422008-08-12T18:01:00.000-07:002008-08-12T18:01:00.000-07:00And is the US dollar getting stronger due to a mor...<I>And is the US dollar getting stronger due to a more wide spread global economic weakness?</I><BR/><BR/>A weak US economy means a stronger USD because the US consumer cuts back on imports. Remember that ~70% of the US economy is consumer spending. Exportable output in the US, such as it is, is growing as a % of the economy as consumer spending weakens.<BR/><BR/>The US economy hasn't really been "strong" for a decade, it's just been in two bubbles.patriotzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11154064267408955762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-64715665905649768582008-08-12T10:04:00.000-07:002008-08-12T10:04:00.000-07:00"My guess would be that those starts are being bui...<I>"My guess would be that those starts are being built on contract rather than spec."</I><BR/><BR/>Maybe more so than before however I still see for sale signs in front of newly minted houses. Somebody is in effect a spec builder, just maybe not the actual building company. In the end somebody's holding the bag; I have no problem believing most of the true builders can see the writing on the stucco wall.jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155122147972263497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-60613776432631151112008-08-11T17:34:00.000-07:002008-08-11T17:34:00.000-07:00jesse,My guess would be that those starts are bein...jesse,<BR/>My guess would be that those starts are being built on contract rather than spec. Owners probably feel they're getting more value now with lower material cost and availability of more subtrades.macho slobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640891497806482996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-51380437525924909412008-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:002008-08-11T16:28:00.000-07:00"The buzz is that small time spec house builders h...<I>"The buzz is that small time spec house builders have shut down completely.</I><BR/><BR/>Single family unit starts only dropped 3% so somebody is still building. I think the spec builders <I>should</I> shut down completely so likely they're continuing to start new stuff even now.jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155122147972263497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-42742054814399560932008-08-11T16:06:00.000-07:002008-08-11T16:06:00.000-07:00The interesting part of that V Sun story is that "...The interesting part of that V Sun story is that "The gain was entirely in muli family units".<BR/>The buzz is that small time spec house builders have shut down completely.<BR/><BR/>As for gold, it sure looks like we're getting close to an upwards pop. Not a gold bug by any means, but got HGU in my crosshairs and finger not far from the trigger.macho slobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15640891497806482996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-17488947005550052232008-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:002008-08-11T14:12:00.000-07:00Off topicGold sure has taken a beating over the la...Off topic<BR/><BR/>Gold sure has taken a beating over the last few weeks. Where is our local gold bug Randallbard?<BR/><BR/>Mohican, do you know much about currency trading? Where do you think our dollar is headed? And is the US dollar getting stronger due to a more wide spread global economic weakness?Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08069424275563757552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31427364.post-88063673774528722362008-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:002008-08-11T13:54:00.000-07:00Here is the Vancouver Sun story. Vancouver area bu...<A HREF="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=5a5dea96-a694-47c4-a1f3-b10afff6935a" REL="nofollow">Here</A> is the Vancouver Sun story. Vancouver area builders obviously didn't get the memo. Or maybe they did and know better?jessehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02155122147972263497noreply@blogger.com