Monthly Archives: August 2011

Can investors fix the housing market?

Posted on August 12, 2011 by grim

From the Atlantic: Dear Treasury, Investors Can Fix the Housing Market Dear Treasury Secretary Geithner, First, kudos on your decision to stay on for the rest of your boss’s term. I know Goldman is aching to get you on board, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 146 Comments

A look at Q2 home prices

Posted on August 11, 2011 by grim

From the Record: Home prices flat in North Jersey, National Association of Realtors says North Jersey home prices were flat in the second quarter, compared with a year earlier, the National Association of Realtors reported Wednesday. But a number of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate | 187 Comments

Greenspan back at the Fed

Posted on August 10, 2011 by grim

From the WSJ: Bernanke Overrides Opposition to Low-Rate Policy, Suggesting Weaker Voice for Fed’s Inflation Hawks Ben Bernanke on Tuesday faced the stiffest internal opposition a Federal Reserve chairman has confronted in nearly 20 years, highlighting his determination to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate | 269 Comments

Hope for a housing recovery fading fast

Posted on August 9, 2011 by grim

From CNN Money: Housing recovery slips out of sight Any glimmer of hope that the housing market will stage a recovery in the upcoming months has vanished, thanks to the recent spate of bad economic news that has been making … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 203 Comments

Armageddon Open Discussion

Posted on August 8, 2011 by grim

With all eyes on the market this morning, why bother posting something about real estate. Predictions for closing prices on the Dow, S&P, Gold and Oil are due in by noon.

Posted in Economics, Risky Lending | 339 Comments

This is Jersey, screw you and your courtesy

Posted on August 6, 2011 by grim

From the NY Times: In Home Sales, Courtesy Goes a Long Way ANYONE who has stepped into the often-stressful real estate market in New Jersey lately can hardly help being aware that it is an increasingly rude arena. With the … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate | 141 Comments

All eyes on payrolls

Posted on August 5, 2011 by grim

From Bloomberg: U.S. Jobs Gain Seen Too Small to Cut Jobless American employers probably failed to create enough jobs in July to reduce the jobless rate, showing anxiety over government debt deliberations and a slowdown in consumer spending have shaken … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Employment | 216 Comments

So much for cheap mortgage money

Posted on August 4, 2011 by grim

From CNBC: Plunging Mortgage Rates Won’t Juice Housing The one positive in all the uncertainty surrounding the nation’s debt was a plunge in Treasury yields, which in turn sent mortgage rates to record lows. The 30 year fixed hit a … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate | 238 Comments

Why did the Philly area fare so well?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by grim

From the Philly Inquirer: Area’s home prices increase slightly Prices for single-family homes in the Philadelphia region rose 0.7 percent in the second quarter, the first increase since 2008 that was not the result of government intervention in the real … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate | 174 Comments

Gone are the days of the cash-out, owners pay down debt

Posted on August 2, 2011 by grim

From HousingWire: 77% of refinancing homeowners reduce or maintain mortgage amount Freddie Mac says 77% of homeowners who refinanced first-lien mortgages in the second quarter either reduced principal loan amounts or maintained the same loan value while benefiting from historically … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate | 197 Comments

Home ownership hits new lows

Posted on August 1, 2011 by grim

From HousingWire: Homeownership drops to 1998 level The U.S. homeownership rate in the second quarter dropped to its lowest level in 13 years, according to the Census Bureau, with analysts expecting even more drops ahead. The homeownership rate fell to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 163 Comments