Federal Reserve raised interest rates this weeks Tuesday. This time Committee gave rather soothing outlook for the future and it seems like we are not going to see further rate hikes any time soon. While rate increases are tough for people who have mortgage, this latest rate hike cleared some dark clouds over the housing sector.

I hope Europe is not going to start battling inflation tendencies that we have in few big countries. If Western interest rates will stabilize there is a good chance that we will not have housing sector led recession. It does terrify me to think about the effects that interest rate parity with U.S. would have in Europe.

So you once again wonder what does this have to do with log homes? Well, unless you are building a primitive log cabin, the chances are that you are resorting to a log cabin kit, which is very expensive. On top of that log frame comes work that puts up the roof and interiors. Log homes are not cheap. However, they are not as expensive to build as stone houses, because there is less expensive working hours needed. Timber frame building however beats log home building in terms of costs. So watch out those monthly payments.

UCLA Anderson Forecast sees clouds in the horizon of U.S. economy for year 2007. Housing sector will cool off and that might put brakes on for the economy as a whole, because real estate and construction sectors feel the bite and could suffer job losses.

In their news briefing, UCLA Anderson Forecast does not give any indication on what might have caused the slowing of the housing market. I would claim that long-lasting housing boom has already enabled many people to acquire a house, which might lessen the housing demand. Another clear factor for market turn is the rise of interest rates. Money costs once again as well as houses, and together these factors form a vicious circle.

How this slowing affects log home market? Luckily log homes are still speciality products and life style arguments are very strong while considering log home purchasing. On the other hand, alternative housing price goes down and temptation to acquire normal housing also grows. It is hard to say what will be the overall effect. My guess (not even educated) is that log home demand will still remain stronger than overall housing demand.

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