The US Housing Market is in its worse slump since the Great Depression. What's that mean to you?

Possibly nothing I suppose.

It really means nothing if you have 12-24 months living expense cash on hand, and won't be losing your job.

So, what can you do to protect yourself?

Cash will be king, just as it was in past history.

So where can you get cash? How about your home? But, you better do it quickly as prices are expected to plummet more in 2008 and into 2009. According to a Moody's Economy.com survey, many metro areas will record losses of 20% or more.

It's time to consider ways you have never thought of before to make it through the tough times.

Before the equity in your home is completly gone, you need to consider getting some of it out and keep a reserve fund, and at the same time allow that money to grow.

Think of the 30,000 Ford workers who lost their jobs. What if you job was gone tomorrow.

Gather with family this Holiday season and rejoice all the successes you had this year and start 2008 with a new plan to keep your family and your finances safe.

Remember one more thing about real estate, it's like Holiday Retailers. When you see a huge price reduction sale at your favorite store, do you run away because you think they are selling damaged merchandise or do you run to the door to get in early and buy the great bargins? Real Estate is NOW, a great bargin!!!

Don't forget, for more Real Estate and Finance information, tune into AM-870 KRLA Sunday's at 6pm for Straight Talk Real Estate. You can also listen online at www.StraightTalkRE.com.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

~ Chuck

I find it very interesting the way wall street is behaving in the recent days. As a mortgage advisor I watch the economic data and bond prices fairly closely. It seems the market is moving completly based on nonsense, not real data.

Fed's cut key rate by .25% yesterday. The market was 'disappointed' that they didn't cut by one half, so, there goes the market.

Today, Fed's announce a plan to auction $40Bil in 6 months loans to infuse more cash into the market to ease the credit crunch, and viola, markets back up.

Uh oh, maybe we shouldn't react so quickly, back down the market goes.

Did anyone notice factory orders Dec 5th? They were up, but look at revised numbers from the prior release, it was revised upward meaning the growth wasn't quite as much as expected.
 
Unemployment, in line with prior releases, but it didn't rise as expected. Should mean good news for the bond market, but nope.

Non-Farm Payroll, way better than anticipated, and last released revised upward.

All this means that investors should be feeling good about the economy, yet there is still flight to bonds. Good for home loan rates at least.

What do you think? Is the market just completly reacting on myth and word, or is the market actually taking time to look at the data and decide for itself which direction we are headed in?

The title doesn't read, Success when THINKING ABOUT investing in real estate.

There's a reason for that.

On this Sunday's show we will be discussing the secret to success when investing in real estate, and here, I will share the most important item.

TAKE ACTION

That's right, taking action is the first step to becoming a real estate investor and generating success and wealth.

It seems a little silly, I suppose, but I watch too many people sit on the side lines and think, and think, and think, and think some more about an investment they want to make, then before they're done thinking, someone else bought it up and they have to start over.

Easy action steps;
Write an offer!

Every offer can be made with a clause to give you XX amount of days to change your mind. Make the offer to get the wheels in motion. Maybe your offer is the chance to negotiate something special that has stopped you from getting moving in the past. This is your opportunity to learn everything you can about that investment, and then make your final decission.

OK, 10 days later you decide to back out....OKAY. Did you lose? Nope.

Taking action to get the ball rolling. You will be amazed at the amount of real estate investing education you will learn just from taking this first step.

Tune in this Sunday at 6pm on KRLA AM-870 or online at www.StraightTalkRE.com and click show audio to listen. We will uncover the secrets to successful investing.

~ CHUCK