Judith She`'s (bowdensmarketbarometer) Blog

Bowden's Market Barometer has, at times, been accused of being a Pollyanna - essentially having a half-full glass no matter what.  We, like Colin Powell, to whom the above quote is attributed, believe that there is little efficacy in negativity. But you know what they say about opinions - everybo...

Bowden's Market Barometer reports on "all the trends that are fit to follow . . ." Recent conditions and events include: The recent Urban Land Institute (ULI) fall meeting produced a significant amount of negativity as the real estate industry debated the effect that unemployment will have on US ...

And here is the conundrum.  In spite of stabilizing economic conditions, consumer confidence continues downward, falling to a reading of 47.7 in October from a revised September figure of 53.4. This is the second month in a row that the index has declined and is the lowest it has been since July....

Just posted the contents of the latest edition of Bowden's Market Barometer.  A potpourri of comprehensive discussions. A little something for everyone!  (Click here)

Excellent article at NewGeography.com    Well worth the read.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

The lagging indicator is starting to catch up.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate crept up by a nominal 0.4 percentage point to 10.2% in October.  For perspective, the rate was 10.8% in 1982, one of two . . . (read more)

By several reports, the devaluation of residential property appears to be ebbing.  However, while foreclosure specialist Realty Trac reports that in a recent study 72% of markets showed slower deflation or increases in home values, you can't flip a page without being accosted by yet another artic...

The Caribbean real estate market has been struggling, but certain markets are faring better than others. Looking forward, most prognosticators believe the Caribbean islands to be relatively bullet-proof over the long-term as sun and surf will continue to entice vacationers and second home buyers....

The most recent report from Ragatz Associates, well-known prognosticators of fractional ownership trends, revealed that North American fractional industry sales were down 34% to $1.525 billion in 2008 from to $2.29 billion in 2007.  While the decrease in sales activity appears dramatic,  (read more)

Since the industry peak, which ranged between 2005 and 2006 dependent upon geography, home resale activity has fallen 38%; sales of new homes dropped a sheer 76%; and construction of homes and apartments plummeted 79%.  Those are not easy numbers to swallow. Housing experts remain divided on curr...