"the latest report is written in tones that may is rattle the fast-diminishing band of optimists."
Wow, finally someone with the guts to tell it like it is.
I have friends who are realtors and lenders and I've been listening to them for months now.
Besides, I can see the writing on the wall for middle class America, let alone the poor. The hardest hit will be the younger families of four, especially those families with the younger kids at home and the wife not working.
This will burden all of society.