Tax burden falls for first time in decade

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State-Local Tax Burdens, All States 2009
State	Rate	Rank (1 is highest)	Total State and Local Per Capita Taxes Paid	Per Capita Income
United States	9.8%	–	$4,160	$42,539
Alabama	8.5%	40	$2,967	$34,911
Alaska	6.3%	50	$2,973	$46,841
Arizona	8.7%	38	$3,140	$36,228
Arkansas	9.9%	14	$3,281	$33,238
California	10.6%	6	$4,910	$46,366
Colorado	8.6%	39	$4,011	$46,716
Connecticut	12.0%	3	$7,256	$60,310
Delaware	9.6%	23	$4,091	$42,688
Florida	9.2%	31	$3,897	$42,146
Georgia	9.1%	32	$3,350	$36,738
Hawaii	9.6%	22	$4,399	$45,725
Idaho	9.4%	28	$3,276	$34,973
Illinois	10.0%	13	$4,596	$46,079
Indiana	9.5%	25	$3,396	$35,767
Iowa	9.5%	24	$3,688	$38,688
Kansas	9.7%	19	$3,911	$40,302
Kentucky	9.3%	30	$3,059	$32,959
Louisiana	8.2%	42	$3,037	$37,109
Maine	10.1%	9	$3,832	$37,835
Maryland	10.0%	12	$5,218	$52,130
Massachusetts	10.0%	11	$5,316	$53,029
Michigan	9.7%	21	$3,565	$36,880
Minnesota	10.3%	7	$4,651	$45,220
Mississippi	8.7%	36	$2,678	$30,689
Missouri	9.0%	34	$3,425	$37,853
Montana	8.7%	35	$3,216	$36,784
Nebraska	9.8%	15	$3,960	$40,349
Nevada	7.5%	49	$3,311	$44,241
New Hampshire	8.0%	44	$3,765	$46,828
New Jersey	12.2%	1	$6,751	$55,303
New Mexico	8.4%	41	$2,997	$35,780
New York	12.1%	2	$6,157	$51,055
North Carolina	9.8%	16	$3,583	$36,650
North Dakota	9.5%	26	$3,892	$41,088
Ohio	9.7%	18	$3,652	$37,600
Oklahoma	8.7%	37	$3,259	$37,464
Oregon	9.8%	17	$3,761	$38,527
Pennsylvania	10.1%	10	$4,190	$41,672
Rhode Island	10.7%	5	$4,647	$43,372
South Carolina	8.1%	43	$2,742	$33,954
South Dakota	7.6%	48	$3,042	$40,082
Tennessee	7.6%	47	$2,752	$36,157
Texas	7.9%	45	$3,197	$40,498
Utah	9.7%	20	$3,349	$34,596
Vermont	10.2%	8	$4,181	$41,061
Virginia	9.1%	33	$4,392	$48,210
Washington	9.3%	29	$4,408	$47,361
West Virginia	9.4%	27	$3,034	$32,299
Wisconsin	11.0%	4	$4,427	$40,321
Wyoming	7.8%	46	$4,205	$53,931
District of Columbia	9.6%		$6,076	$63,492

Source: Tax Foundation calculations based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Census Bureau, the Council on State Taxation, the Travel Industry Association, Department of Energy, and others.

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Tax burden falls for first time in decade
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/23/pf/taxes/state_taxes/index.htm?eref=mrss_igoogle_business#tableTop
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Existing Homes = Cash deals push home sales higher, prices down = U.S. Home Sales Up 2.7% in January; Median Price Hits 9-Year Lows

[mEDITate-OR:

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Existing home sales

Month		Sales, annual rate*
Jan p	2011	5,360,000
Dec r	2010	5,220,000
Nov	2010	4,640,000
Oct	2010	4,380,000
Sept	2010	4,410,000
Aug	2010	4,240,000
Jul	2010	3,860,000
Jun	2010	5,230,000
May	2010	5,680,000
Apr	2010	5,800,000
Mar	2010	5,440,000
Feb	2010	5,020,000
Jan	2010	5,090,000
* Seasonally adjusted Source: National Assn. of Realtors

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You said IF he is right.

What you did not say is that there is occurring a massive shift in who is buying what over the last few months. Investors who did reenter the RE market in some locations, appear to have backed off when prices started back down again. Are you thinking/reporting this as "pending sales", or do you see that they are "completed sales" of those who became pending back when prices were stabilizing?

What you also did not notice was that Fla condo sales have also been skyrocketing, at even deeper discount prices. And, today, HW reports that over 100 condos have been declared ineligible for funding. So, even fewer mortgaged buyers.

Reports of huge increases in completed foreclosures suggest even higher REO "hidden inventory". Daniel, do you even KNOW how many there really are now. That supply figure you and NAR are using is based upon Realtor "listings". REO followers report that less than 70% of REO holding are even listed anywhere. So, where is the huge decline in available inventory? How long WILL it really take U.S. to consume the hidden inventory? How many home owners are holding their property OFF the market, praying that price will, someday, increase, so they can, finally, sell at not too much of a loss?

There is still no funding for above jumbo loan limits, and you propose, as part of your great, new, improved FMae&FMac solution to lower those limits - immediately. Meaning even fewer homes just above the bottom will be able to find financing for existing home owners.

Do not even get U.S. started on the "over estimates" that NAR puts out, that even they admit will shortly be cut back post-humourless-ly (sp), and reduced going forward. Some tell you that NAR's numbers are over 20% or more too high.

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Existing Home Sales Growth Continued in January

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U.S. Home Sales Up 2.7% in January; Median Price Hits 9-Year Lows
http://www.realestatechannel.com/us-markets/residential-real-estate-1/existing-home-sales-national-association-of-realtors-nar-january-home-sales-mls-listings-number-of-homes-sold-median-home-prices-condo-sales-report-lawrence-yun-3927.php
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Cash deals push home sales higher, prices down
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/housing/2011-02-23-existing-home-sales_N.htm
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/business/economy/24econ.html?partner=rss&emc=rss
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America: The Hungriest, Most Imprisoned Developed Country on Earth

[mEDITate-OR:
believe what you have a Constitutional Right to believe...
disirregardless of whether it is factually accurate or not.

This very interesting, informative chart was picked up by Atlantic from the NYTimes.

If you read the Atlantic comments, you will know, what you surely would not have guessed...
that some of U.S. simply do not believe any criticism of U.S. is valid.

As Pooh said of U.S.:  "Being as you are."
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Pashley, JonF311 and Joseph_2:
Since your minds - as Pooh said "Being as they are." - appear to be already made up to see what you would like to see, permit me to apologize for Derick and IMF's attempts to confuse you with The Facts.
IF you do not see that the rating for Canada vs U.S. are, in fact, correct, you are acting unnecessarily like another of Rush's "DittoHeads".
Canada has a very conservative elected government, unlike your Ws. Under Harper they did NOT have the RE bubble collapse OR any bank crisis. They did not bailout private enterprise cos like GM, AIG & the Big Bad Banks; and they did NOT "nationalize" businesses like FMae&FMac!!! They do NOT have decades of foreign trade deficits, and they have been creating jobs for Canadians - unlike your W's destroying 8+ million jobs, or whomever's Obama who hasn't figured out how to create any. They at least try to balance their Dominion & Provincial budgets without killing anyone, or destroying themselves.
And, they have free medical care - with greater life expectancy than U.S. They are better educated, healthier, live longer and don't tend to hate themselves, or much of anybody else.
You should BE so lucky.

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You might notice that we said that Canada did not bailout the auto cos. What they DID do was give funds to Canadian auto factories - on the condition that they maintain there current employment - to save jobs. True, your American auto cos took Canada's money, and then breeched your agreement by cutting jobs. Oh, we know, keeping American promises is not necessary when dealing with foreign countries, is it?

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Is this not too Far Right much like: "We can torture you, but if you torture any of U.S., you will have violated OUR International Rights." You MUST recognize ours, but you cannot expect U.S. to recognize yours.
Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse & Gitmo/Guantanamo are OK with U.S., but what both Iran and Iraq are still doing is, inherently?, wrong? The Israelis can do it, but the ARabs cannot. We will do anything to track down bin Laden, but will not even try to stop what the Mexican drug cartels are doing to U.S. on both side of the border?
If you think THIS criticism is unfair, you should see/listen/learn what the rest of the world thinks about U.S.!!! Oh, and all "Those People" outnumber you by 10 to 1.
Oh, and Those Chinese - who outnumber you by only 3 to 1 - are still willing to bail U.S. out, for now. So, at least try to be careful what you say about them.

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America: The Hungriest, Most Imprisoned Developed Country on Earth
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/02/america-the-hungriest-most-imprisoned-developed-country-on-earth/71551/
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Dow down 2% and Oil over US$ 100 = a day much like any other day.

[mEDITate-OR:
drink your Starbucks coffee, and not even think about the price of beans...
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Can the Saudis really ride to the rescue?
But it's not clear that the Saudis have the juice.
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/22/can-the-saudis-really-ride-to-the-rescue/
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