Boise-Metro Housing Market (Meridian, Eagle: sale, apartment, foreclosed)

[Anchorless]

The article Syringaloid posted doesn't exactly jibe with the second link Torrie posted.

Also interesting is the discussion about Shawn Tracy having a conflict of interest, of sorts, being a journalist as well as an associate broker.

Things that make you go hmm...

[AlleyTD]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

... Also interesting is the discussion about Shawn Tracy having a conflict of interest, of sorts, being a journalist as well as an associate broker.

Things that make you go hmm...

ding, ding!

[Torrie]

Originally Posted by Anchorless

Also interesting is the discussion about Shawn Tracy having a conflict of interest, of sorts, being a journalist as well as an associate broker.

Things that make you go hmm...

Originally Posted by AlleyTD

ding, ding!

I'll rephrase since my last post got deleted.

Mr. Tracy is more than qualified to write an article about the conditions of the market. To have someone who's not even in the industry write the article wouldn't make sense, so I don't see the conflict of interest.

[AlleyTD]

Originally Posted by Torrie

I'll rephrase since my last post got deleted.

Mr. Tracy is more than qualified to write an article about the conditions of the market. To have someone who's not even in the industry write the article wouldn't make sense, so I don't see the conflict of interest.

His article was titled:
"Four economic conditions align for a revitalized market in 2008"

According the the Economic Dictionary:
A conflict of interest is defined as: A situation in which someone who has to make a decision/comment in an official capacity stands to profit personally from the decision/comment.
All Realtors know that offering to do a CMA of your home or an area you are interested in is a major foot in the door to get new business. "Not that there's anything wrong with that" (said in my best Seinfeld voice)

He ended the article by offering his Real Estate services. Had he just written the article and not ended with a solicitation for business, I would not have said ding, ding.
No biggie. I like Anchor, he's feisty.

There is no need to constantly defend what is not meant as an attack. It's just different opinions on someone's double motivation in the media.

[AlleyTD]

Originally Posted by Torrie

So who do you think should write the article? It just seems that it doesn't matter who writes it, there's always something wrong with it.

If you're following the market, what the guy is saying is pretty accurate.

He is fine writing it.

He can write articles until the cows come home. I don't care who writes them. The point is simply, take note of who's writing it and what their underlying motivation might be ... nothing else. None of us said, "he has no business writing articles."

All we said is Hmmm ... and ding, ding. giving a voice our perception of a double motivation. Again, no biggie.

[MOD CUT: Problem handled]

[Sage of Sagle]

Torrie,

Take a deep breath, count to 10, then rejoin the conversation. You have good things to say, but you're letting this get you upset when it shouldn't...

Any time you have an industry expert writing something, yet there is a collateral personal gain motive (or the potential of same), it's wholly appropriate for people to look at a potential conflict of interest.

This does NOT mean a person's views should be discredited carte blanche, but it does make SOME portion of their statements more suspect, especially if it's either very divergent from the mainstream, or even diametrically opposed to general trends.

I have no problem with "experts" being presented for an argument, but as in a court case, the other side may them voir dire your expert, calling into question his expertise, credentials, and personal motivation.

Remember, we attack ideas (politely) and experts, not each other.

[Syringaloid]

Originally Posted by AlleyTD

He is fine writing it.

He can write articles until the cows come home. I don't care who writes them. The point is simply, take note of who's writing it and what their underlying motivation might be ... nothing else. None of us said, "he has no business writing articles."

All we said is Hmmm ... and ding, ding. giving a voice our perception of a double motivation. Again, no biggie.

[MOD CUT: Problem handled]

I don't think Estrella has good reporting skills, his articles are always bland, sensationalist, and one week he says good things about the market, the next week he reports the end of the world is near and we must all just curl up and die.

[Anchorless]

My point was only that the article presented by Syringaloid, offering the opinions of a senior economist from Wells Fargo, didn't jibe with the opinions in the article presented by Torrie.

Whatever implications or opinions drawn should be your own.

In my opinion it is in the interest of Mr. Tracy to present an optimistic forecast, as such public dissemination may help to stimulate the market (and to offset the continual bleak news ).

As Torrie has stated earlier, it is a forecast, based only on past trends, patterns, and current numbers. While there may be some accuracy to the forecast, it is never certain (hence the disagreements we are witness to here).

I found the reader comments more interesting because they give the public a voice, and may tell something that an article cannot - how is this downturn affecting the average Jane?

(Agreed about Estrella, Syringaloid)

[buyingboise]

Wow. I guess it really is a good time to buy. I just read the Time article below and it seems that even if you did wait for prices to drop $20-30000, you'd be paying more in interest and not really saving money at all. Thanks for all the other supporting articles.

Ignore the Headlines - TIME

[Twinkle]

Well, another real estate article from the Statesman...This time about Eagle and foreclosures. There's also a small general blurb at the end with some comments from realtors about how to sell in a difficult market.

Foreclosures hit pricey Eagle homes hard | News Updates | Idaho Statesman

Yet again, the comments (all 107 of them) are the most interesting part of the article