I read the WSJ story.  The specific examples of foreclosures are of
people who apparently were led by lenders into house purchases that were
beyond their means.  When the first bump in their road occured --  job
loss or other financial problem -- they lost their houses.  I got to
thinking about the question you ask.  For the more general case of people
who weren't put into untenable mortgages there might be a different
clue.  I think that evidence of a popping housing bubble might be
foreshadowed by a rise in credit card delinquencies.  People will keep
making house payments while the credit card debt piles up, then default
on the mortgage at the end.

Gene Coyle.

Michael Perelman wrote:

> The Wall St. Journal reported yesterday that forclosures are at record
> levels; and the delinquincy rates are also high.  Could this be a
> harbinger of a popping bubble?
>  --
> Michael Perelman
> Economics Department
> California State University
> Chico, CA 95929
>
> Tel. 530-898-5321
> E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]

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