11% of All U.S. Homes Are Vacant

How bad is the housing market? Bad and getting worse. As of now, 11% of all U.S. homes are empty. Can you imagine how desperate builders and real estate agents must be at this point?

So think about it. Eleven percent of the houses in America are empty. This as builders start to get more bullish, and renting apartments becomes ever more popular. Vacancies in the apartment sector have been falling steadily and dramatically, why? Because we're still recovering emotionally from the toll of the housing crash.

Younger Americans have seen what home ownership has done to their friends and families, and many want no part of it. Credit has become very nearly elitist. Home prices, whatever your particular data provider preference might be, are still falling.

This is not a recipe for a recovering economy.

Condo Buy Back Guarantee

With home builders needing to sell inventory to keep their companies running, one company that is converting apartments to condos has come up with their own program: Buy now and in 5 years, we'll buy it back from you at 110% the purchase price no questions asked. Between the fear of job loss and knowing that home prices will still probably continue to decline, this is a great marketing tactic as any home bought today will most likely be worth more than 110%.

The view out my window

The view out my window
Originally uploaded by nomad7674.

The snow has arrived!