Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows

Pardon my reference to that awful song by Lesley Gore, but sometimes when you have to discuss the difficult times we are in its nice to have a little escape.  

With all the negative news on Fannie, Freddie, and the housing and mortgage markets, I've decided to try to end the week trying to find the sunshine and lollipops out there.   Sadly, the only way I've been able to do this is to close my eyes and pretend that none of this is happening.  After all, isn't ignorance bliss?

It seems I'm not the only one taking the 'see no evil' route.

You would think that given all the housing and mortgage-related news that one of the largest organizations involved in the housing market would be all over it.   You would be wrong.

As part of my reporting and trying to uncover new angles to these stories I checked the National Association of Realtors website.   I was wondering what that group might have to say about the current state of events.  It turns out, not much. 

Here are the 'latest headlines' on the N-A-R Web site for their magazine "Realtor:"

1. How Top Companies are Maximizing Success
2. Builders Bank on Turnaround, Buy Up Land
3. Companies Help Employees Buy Homes

Those stories were updated today.  Notice not what the stories are, but what they aren't.    There is no mention of the problems with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. No mention of what may befall the housing and mortgage markets. Not even any links to other stories on these topics. 

To be fair, I am aware that the N.A.R. is an advocacy group, not a news organization.   And I know the goal of the group is to help its members do what they do, sell homes.  But I would think that with these massive stories leading even the general news outlets, the buyers and sellers realtors represent would want their agents to have as much information as possible on what is turning out to be the biggest news story of the year.

After all, ignorance can be bliss, but not when you are making what is likely the biggest purchase of your lifetime, your home.  The news is certainly tough, but its very real.   And it merits frank discussion among all groups in and around the housing and mortgage markets.