Don't Build It, They Won't Come_6189

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Don't Build It,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, They Won't Come
Cheap money and artificially inflated housing prices are the root causes of the problems that have been plaguing the real estate market and big financial institutions for the past year.   
  So while the Fed's $700 billion bailout provides a much needed lifeline to a financial sector that is close to collapsing after being ensnared in a sticky web of under-peforming assets, it does not address the litany of underlying fundamental issues that continue to weigh heavily on the housing market.   
  Median Household Income Growth  On a historical basis, housing prices have advanced in tandem with incomes, but these two variables began decoupling in the late 90's, with housing prices accelerating at a breakneck pace and incomes remaining mostly stagnant. Since 1990, annual household incomes are up a little more than 60%, to $50,233 per. But when adjusting for inflation, "real" incomes are mostly unchanged.   
  Housing Prices Sky Rocket   
  This comes in sharp contrast to housing prices, which have been in a serious boom cycle for at least the last decade. In many cities across the country, it was not at all uncommon for housing prices to post annual gains of more than 15%. In Chicago's Cook County, hardly considered bubble-icious territory,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, the average home price was up over 200% from 1996 to 2006. The relationship between these variables needs to rebalance, and until it does, there is very little chance housing prices will stabilize.   
  Housing Inventories   
  The second problem confronting the real estate industry is the high level of inventories of homes for sale. The National Realty Association's August reading of housing inventories indicated that the current supply of homes for sale stands at 11.2 months, more than twice the historical average. This glut of homes on the market is chipping away at prices and driving average selling prices lower.   
  Lending Standards Tightened   
  And finally, in light of the battered credit market, banks have already made significant adjustments to their lending standards,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, requiring hefty down payments and high credit scores for potential borrowers to qualify for a mortgage. Neither of these benchmarks were in play during the halcyon days of over-leveraged lending and borrowing.   
  So while the bailout will remove toxic assets from the books of the big financials,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, it will do very little, if anything, to cure the wounds that have been inflicted on the housing industry. Here are three stocks that will be challenged to grow earnings within the next year because of their exposure to the housing market.