From Silicon Valley to Florida – Two Extremes In A Recovering Housing Market

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on March 19, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) I still believe that a bottom is coming for housing in 2013. Some areas of the country, like the Silicon Valley area of Northern California, have already left a bottom far … Read more

Vertical Capital Income Fund Offers Attractive Alternative for Investing In Mortgages

In late January, I made the case for investing in Dynex Capital (DX) as one way to bet on a recovery for housing starting that I believe will begin in earnest next year. DX had dipped at the time on news of a stock offering to raise more capital. As anticipated, DX did eventually recover … Read more

The Comeback for LPS Continues Even After Earnings Disappoint

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on February 26, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) When Lender Processing Services (LPS) reported fourth quarter and full 2011 earnings on February 13, the company provided downside guidance on earnings and revenues. When the stock opened 6% lower, it … Read more

Call Volume Surges Again On Lender Processing Services

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on February 12, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) Perhaps I should all the recent call option activity in Lender Processing Services (LPS) should not surprise me given a massive foreclosure deal between banks and federal and state governments arriving … Read more

Turn-Around Continues for LPS As More Call Buying Counters Increasing Short Interest

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on February 7, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) Lender Processing Services (LPS) has gained 31% year-to-date. This jump follows the activity of intrepid traders/investors who loaded up on LPS June $21 call options in December – these call options … Read more

Chart Review: KB Home Breaks Out, Meritage Recovers Quickly and Approaches Major Multi-Year Breakout

I have written several pieces recently on the housing industry, starting with “Time to Buy the Dips in Homebuilders” (click here for an archive of my articles on housing). The main theme has emphasized that now is the time to start investing in a bottom in housing that I anticipate happening next year. I have … Read more

Investing In A Housing Recovery with Dynex Capital

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 31, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) {snip} Dynex Capital (DX) is one of several companies in the business of buying mortgage-backed securities. Specifically: {snip} Dynex Capital (DX) came to my attention because on Friday the company raised … Read more

Shadow Inventory Has Become Less Relevant to the Housing Bottom Debate

(This is an excerpt from an article I originally published on Seeking Alpha on January 23, 2012. Click here to read the entire piece.) Earlier this month, I argued that 2012 is the year to start betting on a bottom for housing in 2013 (see “Time to Buy the Dips in Homebuilders“). One of the … Read more