Monthly Archives: December 2012

Predictions 2013!

This is becoming a tradition around here, so here we go again! You know how this works, break out the crystal balls and prognosticate. Ground Rules Review the Predictions 2012! thread, and if you did make a prediction, please post … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, General | 242 Comments

November Pending Home Sales

From CNBC: Pending Home Sales Rise 1.7 Percent, Beating Forecast A measure of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes increased last month to its highest level in two and a half years, the latest sign of improvement in the … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 138 Comments

Sandy Recovery: Significant multiplier or short-term pop?

From Bloomberg: Sandy Recovery Spurs Hiring From Furniture to Plumbing The first customers Michael Guarino saw after superstorm Sandy asked to cancel orders for furniture no longer needed in their damaged homes, threatening the survival of a business his family … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, South Jersey Real Estate | 51 Comments

October Case Shiller

The Case Shiller HPI for October is due out at 9am this morning, consensus is for the big Composite-20 to be up anywhere from 3.5% to 4.4% year over year (NSA). From Bloomberg: Home Prices in U.S. Rose More Than … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 78 Comments

Merry Christmas, Bend Over.

From the APP: Sandy’s gift for 2013: Tax hikes During the first two years of Matthew Doherty’s term as the mayor of Belmar, unwelcome outcomes came up zeroes: no layoffs, no gimmicks and, most important, no tax increases. But with … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 47 Comments

Zandi: Housing has got legs

From CNBC: Housing Recovery Has Legs for 2-4 Years: Zandi In November, existing home sales rose 5.9% to an annualized rate of 5 million, beating Wall Street expectations. Last month was the 17th consecutive month of growth in the housing … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 40 Comments

A quick look over the river

From the Philly Inquirer: November saw bumps in home sales and prices The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that sales of previously owned houses rose 5.9 percent last month from October’s levels and were 14.5 percent higher than those … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 174 Comments

Confirmation that the bottom has held?

From Bloomberg: U.S. Housing Values Rose 6% in 2012 for First Gain in Six Years Homes values gained an estimated 6 percent in the U.S. this year, the first increase since 2006, as the housing market began to recover from … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 91 Comments

Who cares about the banks, buyers need to be cautious about potential flood zone changes

From the Record: Lenders gearing up to enforce changing flood insurance requirements With flood map revisions under way, many North Jersey homeowners in 2014 may be deemed by the government for the first time to be living in areas with … Continue reading

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Shore Real Estate | 112 Comments

Jersey’s relief package up for debate

From the Record: Republicans cite “questionable” spending as Senate begins debate on $60B Sandy relief package The debate over a $60.4 billion federal Sandy relief package began in earnest on Monday with Senate Republican leaders arguing that the bill includes … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, New Development, Politics, Shore Real Estate | 92 Comments

New bailout plan has Treasury subsidizing refis

From Bloomberg: Treasury Plan Would Cut Rates on Some Mortgages in Bonds Some struggling homeowners left out of current U.S. government mortgage-aid programs because their home loans have been packaged into private securities could see their interest rates cut through … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Foreclosures, Mortgages, National Real Estate | 155 Comments

Battle lines are drawn

From the Star Ledger: Jersey Shore revolution begins, as FEMA releases new flood maps A revolution is likely coming to the New Jersey Shore, and the federal government just fired the first shot. The Federal Emergency Management Agency released advisory … Continue reading

Posted in New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Shore Real Estate | 80 Comments

Not rebuilding is not an option

From the Star Ledger: Building boom won’t help N.J. economy if Shore doesn’t bounce back, committee says New Jersey will experience a post-Sandy building boom, but it won’t help the overall state economy if the Shore doesn’t do well, an … Continue reading

Posted in Housing Recovery, New Development, Shore Real Estate | 129 Comments

Fewer properties entering the foreclosure pipeline

From MarketWatch: Foreclosure starts lowest since 2006 The number of homes entering the foreclosure process in November was at its lowest level since December 2006, according to data released on Thursday by RealtyTrac. Foreclosure starts fell by 13% last month, … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Foreclosures, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 106 Comments

Recovery = Unaffordable?

From CNBC: Housing Affordability Begins to Slide It is a double edged sword, no doubt. Rising home prices are necessary for the overall housing market to recover and for more borrowers to get back above water on their mortgages. Rising … Continue reading

Posted in Employment, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 78 Comments