Yes, but appraisals aren’t coming in as high as before. My dad works for a bank and has been seeing them coming in lower. Some people went from 80% LTV a few years ago, to negative equity today, no change in the principal on the loan, just a lower appraisal.
I don’t know if I would mess with 5.0%, that’s pretty good. If you factor in your costs, you’d have to see a pretty insane rate to come out ahead on that one. Who knows, maybe we’ll get there in the next year or so.
That savings rate chart was pretty enlightening. The main difference between then and now, is that we don’t ration anything, and consumer goods are readily available despite the incredulous war spending.
With a trade deficit, a government budget deficit, and a falling dollar…I’m surprised we can still buy goods with our money. I guess we should enjoy it in case it doesn’t last.