Protests in the streets of Athens - and discussions in the halls of Westminster - underscore a popular readiness to dismember Europe's economic and political coalition.

With the election just days away, attention is fixed on the candidates and Washington's influence on our industry.

National housing trends show a tentative recovery is underway. While not true for every neighborhood, some segments of the market will see rental demand tempered by housing's mollified risk profile.

Property investors are listening closely for any subtle shifts in the Fed's signaling its next moves. But this focus is largely misplaced. At least for now, the practical effectiveness of the Fed toolkit in supporting real economic activity is debatable.

July's employment report showed private sector job creation rising to its highest levels since February. Underlying weaknesses persist, however, demanding a cautious evaluation of the labor market outlook.

June's disappointing employment report offers few silver linings. A shift in the demand outlook could propel job creation. Until then, the link between temporary and permanent hiring will remain tenuous.

Navigating the recovery's fault lines, the Federal Reserve committed last week to continuing the maturity extension program. Already at implausibly low levels, institutional borrowing costs are supporting property prices in segments of the market where fundamentals cannot. That is a dangerous trend.

The labor market may be losing momentum after a strong start to the year. Remarkably, the national policy agenda has yet to refocus squarely in support of private sector job creation.