Quote of the day: David, just shut up and things may get better

    "When we get the figures for the spring, I expect to see a discernible improvement in both sales and prices."  -- David Lereah, chief hypemaster (er, economist) for the National Association of Realtors, responding to his organization's report yesterday that home prices had dropped in nearly half the metro districts it surveys.

    If there was a way to short the real estate market every time Lereah says "the end (of the bottom) is near," we'd be rich.  His supporters at the NAR can take heart, however.  Someday, the market will reach its bottom, and the hypemaster will be right.