Quote from dac8555:
Although i was stopped out last week...got back in friday...short 500 HOV and short 500 DHI...didnt have enough cash to also do TOL.
last i looked...up $2800 today...whew. i cant brag...that just makes up for my loss and over trading last week in the damn things trying to catch the turn around. I am going to stay short on these guys through the cold months at least...and not trade them any more...just sit and wait.
Your position is looking even stronger today...good move! The homebuilders have not participated in the rally that the NDX, etc, have enjoyed since 10-14 or so, they are underperforming big time. And now the NDX rally is looking long in the tooth and might be starting to roll over, if so the "homies" might begin another down leg and your profits might grow even more.
This is an interesting post from another message board...thought I would cross pollinate and paste here...
"Mr. D. said..."
"Forget guessing about pent up demand, here are the important numbers:"
"In the year 2000 we had 9% fixed rate 30 year loans, and payments for a $200,000 mortgage were $1,600 a month."
"Then rates dropped to 5.5% on a 30 year loan, and suddenly the same buyer could afford a $285,000 mortgage, and they bid up prices accordingly."
"Encouraged by these gains, new buyers wanted to get on the bandwagon, and so they started bidding up prices."
"They were then joined by safe haven buyers fleeing the stock market, right at the bottom.
To pull in more business, loan standards were erased, so that almost anybody could qualify for a loan, no documentation needed."
"By now prices were up 90% or more, and speculators saw easy profits, and bid prices up further."
"So, how do new buyers afford these astronomical prices? They apply for and receive, a 5% interest only loan, and suddenly they can "afford" a $387,000 mortgage. Now that $200,000 house can be sold for 94% more than it did 5 years ago. Voila, you have a "strong" real estate market."
"But, these higher prices bring sellers out of the woodwork, and cause most sensible buyers to step aside. Inventory piles up, and prices soften."
"Then, over the next few years, these interest only loans start requiring principle payments. But even using a 30 year loan, these borrowers can only afford a $255,000 mortgage, so they have to sell."
"But who will buy once prices are falling? All of the buyers willing to use exotic loans are already up to their neck in mortgage debt."
"Meanwhile, the cautious buyers that held back before, are unlikely to step forward and take out an exotic loan now that prices are falling. So they wait till prices fall to levels that make homes affordable using traditional 30 year loans."
"However, as noted above, that means a $255,000 mortgage, which is 34% less than could be borrowed using an interest only loan."
"Which means one of two things. Either prices will fall around 34% so that buyers can afford them using 30 year loans. Or, borrowers and lenders will continue to use interest only loans forever. Which do you think is more likely?"