John Stall

I had a first-hand look at how bad the housing market is in the U.S. last week, particularly in Florida, where I was snooping around for properties that may one day be more pleasant to spend winter time in, than these frigid snowing streets.

What you hear is true, and the time to buy is now or in the near future, because it is a buyer’s market — the likes of which I have never witnessed in Canada.

I spent a few days on the Gulf side of the sunshine state driving the coast from St. Petersburg up to Tarpon Springs, and it seemed like up to 30 per cent of the houses or condos on every street I wandered along were for sale, with nary a “SOLD” sign in sight. I’m not sophisticated enough to know if it’s all because of the sub-prime meltdown or a lousy economy in general, but my gut tells me it’s a bargain at the moment.

Some houses (mostly those that are for sale by owner) have signs on the lawn that read “make an offer, all offers will be considered.” To my eyes the bargains were in the $150,000 to $300,000 range, in terms of houses or condos. They seemed to be reduced by 20-30 per cent. I did see some basic bungalow houses in average neighbourhoods that were selling for $80,000 to $100,000, but they looked pretty shabby. I’m told by some who are closer to the market than I am that there are no, or very few American buyers, those who are shopping are Canadians and Asians and that prices are expected to drop another 15-20 per cent before it bottoms out.

I didn’t buy anything, nor did I make any offers, but kicked a few future tires that were a hell of a lot warmer than the frozen Michelin ones I’m riding on now – and the orange juice was sweeter! 

As the political guy here at 680News I’ve been glued to the U.S. primary leading up to the Super Tuesday vote. I’ve been watching CNN for most of the coverage and especially during the early morning hours from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m.

For my money CNN has led the pack – John Roberts has been doing a fabulous job of anchoring the early morning coverage at various diners throughout the U.S., while interviewing all the presidential candidates.  He’s knowledgeable, experienced and good-looking. CBS should never have let him get away. He should have been Dan Rather’s successor, etc., etc. 

I was surprised; however, to see him appear at the beginning of this week with a hair colour change from a naturally silver-grey mop to a toned down brown. I shake my head wondering who decides hair colour matters when someone has so much talent, knowledge  experience and hard-won credibility? Yes, of course, it takes a lot of years and some grey hair to get the wisdom and experience to do the job at that level. Why hide it once you are there?

Don’t know if it was John who changed his colour (perhaps feeling a little old and insecure), or the network executives who demanded it for some marketable reason that I don’t get.

Am I the only one who thinks that grey looks good on T.V. guys?

More on Roberts and me in a future blog; we were up for the same job once and he got it — which was the one that propelled him to CBS.