Whine, whine, whine - Get Over It!

New government report reveals some interesting data. At first blush things look pretty bad.

I realize it is hard to read the map, so concentrate on the colors instead.

• States in RED have had a drop in home values -10% to -21%.
• States in MUSTARD had a drop in home values 0% to -10%
• States in LIGHT BLUE had 0% to 5% increase in value.
  

This indicates some pretty bad news. But remember that we are dealing with statistics.

Well you may remember the quote, "There are lies, damn lies - and statistics!"

So where are the lies in this map of the USA? Perhaps we won't acutally find lies, but we will find something that is very misleading.

This map comes from the "Center for Economic and Policy Research". The previous page in the report has some wonderful data. It shows numbers for Utah.

• ........29 = Our National Ranking
• -1/64% = 1-Yr Appreciation
• -1.93% = Qtr's Appreciation
• ...47.7% = 5-Yr Apprciation
• 280.1% = Appreciation Since 1980
  

Now the map isn't so intimidating!

Let's look at what this really means to you and I:

• $189,147 Average price of home in Salt Lake Valley in November 2003
• $277,685 Average price of home in Salt Lake Valley in November 2008.
  

So when you hear people whine, whine, whine.... oh we lost 1.64% in the last 12 months! Then introduce them to a great classic hit from the Eagles.

Have them listen to the song at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R85RjD5hnw



God Bless America!