Monthly Archives: January 2007

December & Q4 Otteau Report

Posted on January 31, 2007 by grim
Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 254 Comments

From the Otteau Group (http://www.otteau.com): DECEMBER SALES END YEAR WITH CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT In the most positive sign for the New Jersey housing market in more than a year, contract-sales activity in December moved into positive territory for the 1st time … Continue reading →

Will housing ever be a good investment again?

Posted on January 31, 2007 by grim
Posted in Housing Bubble | 8 Comments

From the Daily Reckoning: Prepare for a ‘Repricing’ of the U.S. Housing Market In our opinion the more a financial innovation proves successful, the more successful investors will find ways to make it fatal. Norman Angell’s book, published at the … Continue reading →

Tax reform hardly “amazing”

Posted on January 31, 2007 by grim
Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 3 Comments

From the Philly Inquirer: N.J. Property-Tax Reform It’s amazing what a lockdown can accomplish. Democratic leaders put the New Jersey Assembly “under call” Monday, meaning members couldn’t leave the Statehouse or abstain from voting. Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr. (D., … Continue reading →

Tuesday Open Discussion

Posted on January 30, 2007 by grim
Posted in General | 195 Comments

It’s been a bit quiet on the news front early this week, however, we’re in for more than a flurry of economic reports later in the week. So until then, let’s try something new… Welcome to the Tuesday(?) Open Discussion! … Continue reading →

Jersey Shore insurance costs rising

Posted on January 30, 2007 by grim
Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 6 Comments

From the Courier Post Online: Home insurance costs now rising Richard Considine, who lives on Oceanport Creek in Oceanport, has seen his homeowner’s insurance premium jump 75 percent since 2004. Harry Conover, who lives about a mile from the ocean … Continue reading →

As the work force goes, so will the jobs.

Posted on January 30, 2007 by grim
Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate | 1 Comment

From the Asbury Park Press: Ruling scolds towns for shirking affordable housing BY DIANNE BRAKE The Regional Planning Partnership is one of many organizations pleased with last week’s state Supreme Court decision overturning the rules of the Council on Affordable … Continue reading →

Did we go too far?

Posted on January 29, 2007 by grim
Posted in Housing Bubble | 203 Comments

While the following article isn’t about New Jersey, the same question should be asked. Did we go too far? From IndyStar.com: Time to wake up from dream houses In a sense, though a very qualified sense, Central Indiana has been … Continue reading →

“For some buyers, it’s better to look at Manhattan than to live in it.”

Posted on January 29, 2007 by grim
Posted in General, New Development | 10 Comments

From New York Magazine: All That Glitters Isn’t New York Last year, DX Street, the online-marketing firm Ben Hordell co-founded, traded its fashionable Soho offices for gold—New Jersey’s so-called Gold Coast, a strip along the Hudson River that runs from … Continue reading →

A good day for property tax reform

Posted on January 29, 2007 by grim
Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 16 Comments

From the Trentonian: Politicians tackle tax cut plan today Of The TRENTON — Plans that aim to give most New Jersey homeowners a 20 percent property tax cut and hold future property tax increases to 4 percent are expected to … Continue reading →

Weekend Open Discussion

Posted on January 28, 2007 by grim
Posted in General | 140 Comments

This is the time and place to post observations about your local areas, comments on news stories or the New Jersey housing bubble, open house reports, etc. If you have any questions you wanted to ask earlier in the week … Continue reading →

NJ affordable housing called unfair and discriminatory

Posted on January 28, 2007 by grim
Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 2 Comments

From the Philly Inquirer: Editorial | Still out of reach New Jersey’s latest plan to create affordable housing won’t work, a state appellate court ruled Thursday. It’s unfair, it discriminates against families, and it’s based on flawed data. “The rules … Continue reading →

Lowball! January 2007

Posted on January 27, 2007 by grim
Posted in Lowball | 42 Comments

Welcome to another edition of Lowball! Lowball! takes a look at home sales from a different perspective. For those new to Lowball!, a lowball offer is when a buyer offers a significantly lower bid than asking in hopes that the … Continue reading →

Otteau 2007 Real Estate Forecast

Posted on January 27, 2007 by grim
Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate | 27 Comments

From the Press of Atlantic City: Public payroll swells, private sector shrinks, housing prices fall A huge loss in high-paying private sector jobs in New Jersey could affect home sales along the shore while a corresponding rise in government jobs … Continue reading →

December New Home Sales

Posted on January 26, 2007 by grim
Posted in Economics, General | 188 Comments

December New Home Sales to be released at 10:00am EST. Consensus estimates put December New Home Sales at 1.055m, up from November’s 1.047m. New Home Sales data will be available via the U.S. Census Bureau, and can be found here: … Continue reading →

“When the housing bubble pops, it hurts. “

Posted on January 26, 2007 by grim
Posted in Housing Bubble | 4 Comments

From AOL Sports: Terrell Owens’ House Can Be Yours for $3.4 Million Recognize this driveway? It’s the one where Terrell Owens famously did situps after the Philadelphia Eagles sent him home from training camp. And now you can have it … Continue reading →