I could write more about Real Estate but I would like to share with you some numbers I read in  the Real Estate Magazine this month  by Robert Freedman U.S. Population as of Jan. 1,2008 : 303 146.284

Percent change from Jan. 1,2007 : +0.9%

Rate of U.S. births ; 1 every 8 seconds

Rate of U.S. deaths : 1 every 11 seconds

Rate of International migration to U.S. : 1 every 30 seconds

Total rate of U.S. growth: 1 every 13 seconds 

Economists can argue about the short-term prospects of home sales as consumers ponder the best time to buy. But there’s little doubt among analysts about the market’s long-term prospects. 

The Unided States is adding one person every 13 seconds. At the sart of 2008, the country had surpassed 303 million residents, almost 3 million more than it had at the start of 2007, the Census Bureau says. 

One of the driving forces of this increase is a rise in the U.S. birth rate, now the highest it has been in more than 40 years, according to an Associated Press review of births dating back to 1090.

Fueling the births are higher rates for immigrant households, particularly Hispanics. For real estate professionals, the country’s continuing strong growth is a good sign in today’s challenging times. “With a population increase of 3 million, household formation typically expands by up to 1.5 million,” says NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. 

And because new household formation is the critical first step toward home ownership, the population gains point to robust demand in the years ahead, especially since a significant portion of the increase is fueled by immigrants, who arrive at the rate of one every 30 seconds, the Census Bureau says. 

For Yun, the Census Bureau figures suggest demand for housing will rise. Last year, new household formation totaled only 650,000 units, about half the historical norm. “Many people have evidently doubled up with roommates or have moved back in with family: he says. Masrkets should see more demand once consumer confidence is restored.