STRONGER HOUSING SALES IN ABQ

Several Reports Point to Stronger Housing:Existing home sales shot up 10.1% in October and reached the highest level in 2 ½ years, according to the National Association of Realtors. They also reported that the national median home price had the smallest decline in over a year.New home sales jump 6.2%, to reach their highest level in over one year. The U.S. Commerce Department reported that new home sales hit annual rate of 430K with the strongest sales coming from the South. I reported last week that new home starts were down. This bodes well for home prices if inventory is being reduced and demand is increasing. Call me if you'd like to buy here!!!

BACK FROM AFRICA

Sorry to have been gone abit, but I was in South Africa working on a USAID project in Zimbabwe. I have been working on it for five years and looks like it will be renewed for another three and extended into Kenya, possibly Ethiopia. Being in rural Africa is a sobering experience and makes me realize how self-indulgent and materialistic we Americans are. They have nothing and are happy and hopeful. We have everything and are neurotic and cynical.

Although I love film and television, it is disheartening to see how we have distorted values throughout the world. Our TV shows are popular there; everyone with a TV knows about Oprah and American Idol. Our movies are bootlegged on to bad DVD discs and watched there too. Our tendency for violence supports their lifestyle rather than encouraging any kind of evolution towards more peaceful conflict resolutions. We have through our films supported women in taking power in abusive relationships. I look forward to Invictus which will celebrate what Africa can do under inspired leadership and teamwork.