PS, I think you have started a great thread. I admire you for taking the time to write to reporters and journalist to open their minds.
You are doing this for so many people that are no even aware. You could be changing their lives. I am sure there are thousands of people that do not understand ARM or underestimate it, many other think that houses will appreciate forever. The sooner this madness is gone the less people that will be affected.
I however have, I hope, a constructive feedback. I hope you will not take it as an attack. I think you need to improve your manners (at least in writing to people that disagree with you). Even if the person is a jerk you have to be better person and make your point without offending. In this case Comparing the reporter to a 6th grader will not make her listen to your feedback. I do not know how you wrote to her in the first email but if the tone was the same, attacking her for her bad job (excuse me if I am wrong- I am guessing that was your tone) will not help her to be open to listen to you. In case of a blog I think we can be more lose – a joke here and there or a comment born from frustration – although I still prefer to keep certain politeness level but there are other instance that you need to follow certain protocol.
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If you accept a suggestion, I would have approach a journalist as reader that has been following the market for X months, experienced in person the selling of your house and are aware of houses that are sold at less for what they were purchased, plus have done a lot of research on the topic that has make you consider yourself maybe not an expert but person very educated on the topic (for sure more educated than an caverage seller or buyer or potential seller or buyer) . Plus given that you do not have a job related to the industry and will not be affected if the bubble burst or not (which I think is true, even if you buy your house at the same price in 5 years, you won’t loose money, true?) you do not have any bias – that some realtors or economist might have when reporting.
Based on your research you think there is data/analysis that is not being properly reported or being reported at lot and that you would love to hear the “specialist” take on certain questions like (and you can list your questions)
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I agree with you that is a journalist’s job to research and ask the tough questions, and it is frustrating that their answer is “why should I refute if they are the experts”, I understand if they are interviewing Einstein but in RE they could do a simple google search on housing bubble and more than a million links will come up with many blogs explaining in basic English why a there IS a bubble in RE especially in California.
I just think that your tone and attack approach is the factor that impacts negatively and causes people to be more defensive than collaborative.
Regarding your initial post I have a question. Why do say Sony has left? Actually Sony moved their HQ from New Jersey to San Diego on March 2004. Why I still do not know, but a lot of people that move bought during the time when inventory was at is lowest and the last thing they want to take about is prices not appreciating or declining. Maybe you are talking about a factory line?
