Bubbledom, rejoice!  This just in from the National Association of Realtors: WASHINGTON, April 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — David Lereah, senior vice president and chief economist of the National Association of Realtors(R) for the past seven years, is joining Move Inc. as executive vice president of a new business entity, effective in mid-May. Move Inc. operates NAR’s official Web site, http://www.realtor.com/, and http://www.move.com/. Lereah will act as chairman and partner of the new enterprise under Move Inc. that will launch in the third quarter of 2007. He will serve with Allan Dalton, who will be president and CEO of the new business…
Read more…

Doomers, let’s hope the U.S. government doesn’t read this one.  The New Zealand government has a plan to artificially prop up home prices, I mean help first time home buyers. They are launching a plan to kick in 25-30% of the purchase price of a home: [Hat tip once more to Ken!] The Government has confirmed plans to unveil a shared equity scheme to help people buy their first homes. Housing Minister Chris Carter said tonight it would be a way to provide direct financial assistance to buyers faced with prices which would otherwise stop them getting into the housing…
Read more…

It’s Monday Morning and the MSM seems fast asleep.  Indeed in France and other countries that take May Day seriously, many "building a bridge" over this isolated business day may not be up for much before Wednesday.

We here at Doom have lamented the spin from the REIC in the U.S. and Canada, but spin seems to be a global, not just a North American phenomenon.  New Zealand is a case in point.  Kiwis have been experiencing a bubble of their own, but people are starting to get nervous that maybe all is not right with the housing market.  [Hat tip to Ken, who keeps me abreast of the New Zealand market!] From yesterday morning’s Sunday Star Times (Auckland), Mortgagee [Foreclosure] Sales Double: