Going to my 1st REO auction

In next couple day, there will be couple REO (bank owned property) auctions in the area I live in. It will be a new learning experience as I have never attended these kind of auciton before. I did some homework and check out some potential properties I 'm interested to bid. It will be quite exciting to see what the atmosphere and the final winning bid price compare to the market value. I will update all of you after this weekend to tell you how I did.

Scottrade Stop order service is Disappointing.

Few weeks ago, I started to get interested in HomeBuilder Stock (XHB). I place a stop order to buy the stock if it hit my preset price at 20 dollar. At that time, the stock was around 17 dollar. I put a order "good until cancel" Few days ago, the stock climb and finally it hit above my stop order. I was away from the computer in the whole day so I didn't check until late evening. Then, I found out my order is not executed! I was pretty upset because the closing price was already above 21 dollar, 1 dollar above my stop price. I was confused why my order is not executed. Next morning, I phone the branch and talk with the "broker" and ask for what happend. The guy give me some non-sense answer. I know the person I was talking to is new and don't even know very well what a stop order means. I then asked to talk to the branch manger. He put me on hold and he phone the market maker company and try to find out the reason why my order is not executed. After waiting, waiting and waiting, finally, he told me there was a "error" from the market maker yesterday and my order is not exeucted. To compenstate, they will buy the shares for me at $20.50. I then ask how you come up with $20.50, and he said that's the best they could do! Dudh! I was not very happy because I know if the stop order is executed right at the time when ASK above my stop price, it will become a market order And my price would be near 20 dollar. I have no way to track what price I could have got, so I couldn't do much but accept the price. I always thought Scottrade is a national brand with "exceptional customer servie", and they don't screw customers. Obviously, I was wrong and I have to consider switch to other reliable investment broker for future trades.

One of the single most important indicator for all Real Estate Investor

Real Estate prices in U.S has experienced a dramatic increase in price over the last five years. Many area see home price go up as much as double in mere five year time period. This is unprecedent. Whatever go up, must go down. I do believe there will be more price correction in the next year or two, especially states had the most gain, like California, Flordia & Navada. While in short run, these states will have more price drop. In long run, I'm all bullish in these "once hot spot." The reason is shown above. These are data I took from www.census.gov. Governement did a survey to project pouplation growth in U.S for the next 30 years (from 2000 to 2003). Real estate 's price in short run may go up or down, but in long run, it is ultimately deteremined by demand, or pouplation growth. The higher pouplation growth, the better chance price will appericate. (of course, these are just first glance, there are more factors come into play like property tax, living quality, restriction of building new house, etc) If you're looking to pick a state to invest in Real estate, study the data carefully and it will point you to the right state to focus your investment.