BTW, re your cynicism about employment and financial good news: those pinkos at the Federal Reserve keep pretending the economy is on the up and that employment is improving.

http://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/press/monetary/20150128a.htm

"Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in December suggests that economic activity has been expanding at a solid pace. Labor market conditions have improved further, with strong job gains and a lower unemployment rate. On balance, a range of labor market indicators suggests that underutilization of labor resources continues to diminish. Household spending is rising moderately; recent declines in energy prices have boosted household purchasing power. Business fixed investment is advancing, while the recovery in the housing sector remains slow."

With spending power rising and low interest rates, house price recovery may be on the cards- and already is underway in some places according to locals.

Waiting for somebody to say "thanks, Obama." Waiting, waiting...