Realtors Bob and Nancy Hunt liked what they heard at a recent Orange County Association of Realtors meeting. Local economist Gary Watts gave a talk where the main message was -- keep news about housing in perspective.

The popular press has called an end to housing for some time, says Watts:

"The goal of owning a home seems to be getting beyond the reach of more and more Americans. The typical new house today costs about $28,000." Business Week, 1969

"The median price of a home today is approaching $50,000 ... housing experts predict price rises in the future won't be that great." National Business, 1977

"The golden age of risk-free run-ups in home prices is gone." Money Magazine, 1985

"A home is where the bad investment is." San Francisco Examiner, 1996

"We want to share some of his other observations," said the Hunts. And they did so by sending out a newsletter to their contacts filled with interesting facts and figures Watts gave during his talk.

Among the "gems," say the Hunts, were the following:

• Since the year 2000, Orange County homes have appreciated over 100 percent.

• The average Orange County appreciation rate over the past 37 years has been 14.9 percent yearly.

• 2005 was the peak subprime lending year in Orange County, when subprime loans represented about 23 percent of all loans funded.

• Nationally, the delinquency rate on sub-prime loans (13.77 percent) and conventional loans (2.57 percent) combined produces a delinquency rate of 4.84 percent. The record low is 4 percent.

• The California delinquency rate is currently 3.25 percent.

• In 2006, the California foreclosure rate was 1.17 percent.

• Out of 5,680 properties that entered foreclosure in 2006, only 697 were foreclosed upon.

• As of July, only 13 percent of properties listed in the MLS were bank-owned.

"Half-full? Half-empty? It depends on who is looking at the glass," say the Hunts. "Just remember, there is another perspective than the one we receive from the news media."

Published: August 13, 2007

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.