Home prices jump in May

From Bloomberg:

Home Prices in U.S. Increased by Most Since 2006 in May

Home prices rose in May by the most in more than seven years as the recovery in U.S. residential real estate gained momentum.

The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values climbed 12.2 percent from May 2012, the biggest 12-month gain since March 2006, after advancing 12.1 percent a month earlier, a report showed today in New York. The median projection of 31 economists surveyed by Bloomberg called for a 12.4 percent advance.

Historically low borrowing costs, short supply and improving job market are boosting demand for residential property and driving prices up. The climb in home values is also bolstering household finances, which may spur consumer spending, the largest part of the U.S. economy.

“We continue to look forward to upward momentum” in the housing market, said Anika Khan, a senior economist at Wells Fargo Securities LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina, a subsidiary of the largest U.S. mortgage lender. “We still have historically low inventory levels.”

Home prices adjusted for seasonal variations rose 1 percent in May from the prior month, compared with a 1.7 gain in April. The Bloomberg survey median called for a 1.4 percent advance.

The year-over-year gauge, which includes records going back to 2001, provides a better indication of price trends, the group has said.

All 20 cities in the index showed an increase in year-over-year prices, led by gains of 24.5 percent in San Francisco and 23.3 percent in Las Vegas. New York showed the smallest gain at 3.3 percent.

This entry was posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate. Bookmark the permalink.

58 Responses to Home prices jump in May

  1. grim says:

    From the WSJ:

    Home Prices Jump, but Headwinds Build

    Home prices during the first half of 2013 posted their largest gain since the housing boom peaked seven years ago, but rising mortgage rates and the potential for more supply could eventually slow the run-up.

    Nationally, home values rose by 5.8% in June from one year ago, according to Zillow Inc., the real-estate website, the largest gain since 2006. So far this year, prices are up 2.7%, the strongest year-to-date gain in June since 2005.

    A separate and widely watched index released Tuesday showed that home prices in 20 major U.S. cities rose by 12.2% in May from one year earlier. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index shows that home prices are now down from their 2006 peak by 24.4%, compared with a peak-to-trough decline of 35.1% in March 2012. Prices in two cities, Dallas and Denver, reached an all-time high, surpassing peaks set in 2007 and 2006, respectively.

    The speed with which prices have risen over the past year has taken many economists by surprise. Gains have been fueled by record-low mortgage rates, a slowly improving economy that has released pent-up demand and strong appetites from investors converting homes into rentals.

    One question is whether recent price gains can be sustained amid mortgage rates that have jumped a full percentage point since May. Rising rates are most likely to squeeze prices in more expensive markets across coastal California and in cities such as New York and Boston.

    “We expect prices to slow in the second half of the year,” said Doug Duncan, chief economist at mortgage-finance firm Fannie Mae. He said seasonal factors—sales tend to slow after July—could be as much to blame as higher interest rates.

  2. grim says:

    S&P Case Shiller – NY Commuter

    Low Tier (Under $206k)
    Up 8.3% from bottom hit on 4/2012
    Up 5.9% year over year

    Mid Tier ($206k-$427k)
    Up 4.4% from bottom hit on 3/2012
    Up 4.4% year over year

    High Tier ($427k and Up)
    Up 4.5% from bottom hit on 2/2012
    Up 2.8% year over year

    Aggregate
    Up 5.1% from bottom hit on 3/2012
    Up 3.3% year over year

  3. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    We haven’t received inspection reports yet but I expect to kill the contract I am under right now. On the date of the inspection, a house in the development that was a close comp finally posted settlement. It closed for well under ask. There is no way that sellers will agree to a significant price concession on top of major repairs, so I’m just going to spike this deal and put an offer in on another house that came up while we were under contract.

  4. anon (the good one) says:

    @MotherJones: “Months after being rejected by American voters…Romney still cannot take responsibility himself.” http://t.co/zrSijIT0gb

  5. Essex says:

    3. Where ya lookin’?

  6. JJ says:

    Did you see inside of other place? If not why not talk to new owner. See what the real deal is.

    Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:
    July 31, 2013 at 7:20 am

    We haven’t received inspection reports yet but I expect to kill the contract I am under right now. On the date of the inspection, a house in the development that was a close comp finally posted settlement. It closed for well under ask. There is no way that sellers will agree to a significant price concession on top of major repairs, so I’m just going to spike this deal and put an offer in on another house that came up while we were under contract.

  7. Painhrtz - Disobey! says:

    Anon mother jones? Were english quotes from Pravda and Chairman Mao not available this morning.

  8. Bystander says:

    Nom,

    Didn’t you get the message? The market is on fire. You missed the bottom and now will be fighting 10 other people for every house out there. You should be kissing the sellers feet and begging them for the privilege to buy their overpriced rats nest.

  9. JJ says:

    When I bought my last place December 1999, the seller dragged out closing and then rented from me. By the time we closed the place was worth 30K more.

    Seller was pissed the morning of closing and after walkthrough the night before closing he had his dog take a shit in middle of the Dens wall to wall carpet My lawyer said fuudddgetabout it. He just paid you 30K for the right to have his dog shit on your floor. I should be so lucky, tell him he can have his dog shit in my house 7 days a week at 30K a pop. Cleaned it up and you know what they shit was the smell of victory.

    Bystander says:
    July 31, 2013 at 8:37 am

    Nom,

    Didn’t you get the message? The market is on fire. You missed the bottom and now will be fighting 10 other people for every house out there. You should be kissing the sellers feet and begging them for the privilege to buy their overpriced rats nest.

  10. Libtard at home says:

    I’ll give you a Franklin to drop a deuce in your living room.

  11. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    [5] SX,

    Not saying where just yet.

    Game now is to put in offer today on house 2. If accepted, we kill deal on house 1. If not, we go back to house 1 with very aggressive demand. That buys us more time.

  12. Bystander says:

    JJ,

    That’s awesome. Shiting on the floor would improve some of these dumps. You should have mailed it to his forward address with a note that he left something behind. Revenge is best served brown, dry and crusty.

  13. Essex says:

    11. Gotcha….

  14. JJ says:

    His fat russian wife had a bidai where it was connect to cold toliet water she sprayed that bush harder than a zoo keeper would spray a charging rino. There was enough pubes and bush hairs to give Burt Renolds a mustache transplant.

    Bystander says:
    July 31, 2013 at 10:32 am

    JJ,

    That’s awesome. Shiting on the floor would improve some of these dumps. You should have mailed it to his forward address with a note that he left something behind. Revenge is best served brown, dry and crusty.

  15. chicagofinance says:

    Post-Apocalyptic Hollywood (clot Edition):

    White & wrong
    ‘Race traders’ on trial in 200G heist
    By SELIM ALGAR
    Somebody deserves an Oscar for special effects.

    A crafty trio of black robbers bought amazingly lifelike disguises from a Hollywood special-effects firm to transform themselves into white guys for a brazen Queens heist — and their get-ups were so good, their victims had no clue they were in masks.

    The Brooklyn federal court trial of Akeem Monsalvatge, Derrick Dunkley and Edward Byam opened yesterday with witnesses describing how they were completely fooled.

    The perps spent two painstaking months plotting their $200,000 stickup of a Queens check-cashing store last year — and theorized that switching races would help them avoid detection, authorities said.

    So the crew turned to well-known special-effects company CFX Composite Effects — which has worked on flicks including “2 Guns” and “Wolverine’’ — for their disguises, prosecutors said.

    The men allegedly told company reps they needed the masks for a music video, and plunked down $2,000 for three masks.

    The accused crooks were apparently inspired by the 2010 Ben Affleck flick “The Town.”

    As in the movie, in addition to donning masks, the robbers dressed as cops, doused the crime scene with bleach to destroy DNA traces, and provided evidence to a victim to prove they knew where she lived in case she squealed.

    Brooklyn prosecutors will introduce into evidence a photo of Monsalvatge wearing a T-shirt with a picture of one of the disguised men from the movie. He’s standing next to one of his alleged cohorts in the photo.

    Authorities said they also plan to introduce four clips from the film — over the defense’s objections — showing the similarities between the reel- and real-life capers.

    “They wore lifelike, custom-made, Hollywood-style special-effects masks that made them look like a team of white men,” said prosecutor Maria Cruz-Melendez.

    Intending to appear as white cops, the Queens perps wore the NYPD clothing and badges as they pulled up to a Pay-O-Matic in Queens in February 2012 in a Ford Explorer, Cruz-Melendez said.

    The men followed frightened employee Liloutie Ramnanan as she walked inside for work.

    “I was scared for my life,’’ Ramnanan testified yesterday.

    One crook showed her a picture of her own house and a gun to let her know the robbers meant business, she said.

    “I was scared he would have shot me,” she explained.

    Within roughly three minutes, the thieves raided a safe and a cash drawer of a total of $200,000 before fleeing in their vehicle.

    The bamboozled staffers told arriving officers that they had just been robbed by three white men who had been posing as cops.

    The major break in the case came after police discovered an e-mail from Byam to CFX offering a hearty endorsement after the robbery, according to police.

    “I’m sending you this message to say I’m extremely pleased by CFX work on the mask,” he allegedly wrote.

    “The realism of the mask is unbelievable.”

    Meanwhile, the crooks began blowing their $200,000 windfall on pricey Gucc! and Louis Vu!tton threads, authorities said. One member of the crew even forked over $11,000 for Rol3x watch.

  16. Statler Waldorf says:

    “Years after being elected by American voters…Obama still cannot take responsibility himself.”

  17. JJ says:

    in a newsletter posted on Tuesday (July 30), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the following schedule for increases in National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) premiums.

    ALREADY UNDERWAY

    Full-risk rates now are being applied to newly purchased property, to property not previously insured, and to policies that are re-purchased after a lapse.
    Premiums for older (pre-FIRM or built before Dec. 31, 1974) non-primary residences in Special Flood Hazard Areas will increase by 25% annually until they reflect the full-risk rate.

    BEGINNING OCTOBER 2013

    Premiums for pre-FIRM business properties, severe repetitive loss properties (1–4 residences), and properties on which claims payments exceed fair market value will increase by 25% annually until they reflect the full-risk rate.
    Routine rate revisions will include a 5% assessment to build a catastrophic reserve fund (see below).
    ANTICIPATED IN LATE 2014

    Premiums for properties affected by map changes (see below) will increase by 20% each year to reach full-risk rates.

    WHO WON’T BE AFFECTED
    Owners of primary residences in SFHAs (Special Flood Hazard Areas) will keep the subsidized rates until the home is sold; the policy is allowed to lapse; a new policy is purchased; or a string of severe losses is experienced.
    Post-FIRM rates for all zone classes will be unaffected by Section 100205 of the Biggert-Waters Act.

    A RESERVE FUND

    The legislation requires establishment of a reserve fund to pay for future losses. A 5% premium increase on all policies will go toward the reserve fund. Preferred Risk Policies and Group Flood Insurance Policies are exempted from the 5% assessment.

    PHASE-OUT OF OTHER DISCOUNTS
    Section 100207 of the new law calls for phasing out discounts, including grandfathering. Grandfathering allows homes that were constructed according to an earlier standard to retain that insurance rating when new maps are issued. Because of the complexity of this issue, FEMA is conducting an analysis before full implementation can take place, scheduled for late 2014. Many discussions are taking place in Congress that may further affect the implementation of this provision.

    Premiums also will increase for properties insured by the Preferred Risk Policy (PRP) Eligibility Extension, which had allowed structures mapped into a high-risk area to remain insured at lower PRP rates.

    Phase-out of both grandfathering and the Preferred Risk Eligibility Extension will begin in 2014. Rates are anticipated to rise 20% per year over a 5-year period until they reach full risk rates.

  18. daddyo says:

    So here’s a good one –

    We moved out of our brig rental on Sunday, 5 years in the place. We never had a single issue with the landlords, always responsive, and we got along well. So my wife heads over to pick up our security deposit, and they tell her they are keeping $850 for cleaning and yardwork. My wife flipped out. We left the place broom clean, wiped down all the surfaces, scrubbed the fridge, etc. There were weeds in the flower beds, but they had committed to having them mulched in the spring (was never done), so we left them for the landscapers. We hung a normal amount of pictures, and I’m sure he spent all of 30 minutes spackling holes.

    Are we being absurd thinking the $850 is crazy?

  19. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    [18] daddyo,

    Absurd. Give me a call when you want to lawyer up on them.

  20. JSMC says:

    #18

    Considering that when I moved out of my first rental we left a giant couch in the backyard, and they only docked us $100 for that, yes, $850 for yardwork is absurd.

  21. daddyo says:

    Oh, there’s also a scratch in the hardwood floor…

    NJ has pretty strong tenancy laws…it seems like they are playing with fire here. If we go to small claims court and win, they have to pay us back $1700 + legal fees. They are also currently live overseas, so they would have to come back to the states for a small claims hearing. I offered $400 just to put it behind us, I have WAY too much on my plate to be dealing with this right now, and he declined.

    WTF are they doing?

  22. Not daddyo says:

    The laws are in the tenants favor. Make sure you write ” Without prejudice to seek double security deposit” in the check endorsement. The problems is, as you’ll learn in small claims court – collecting.

    Even if you go to court, the courts will push you to negotiate with the landlord with a law student as arbritator. If no solution is found, then in the afternoon you see the judge.

    As a life long renter, and getting burned already. My lawyer’s advise was – use the security deposit in lieu of rent, regardless of how nice the landlord was. By the way this is very legal, if the landlord never sent you proof that the security deposit was in a Rental Security Deposit Bank Account. This way, is the landlord that comes after you and this is easily negotiated and fixed, instead of you trying to get your money back.

  23. BearsFan says:

    chi – much appreciate the concerns raised. We def discussed it as a down side, but felt it was acceptable. wifey likes the place. we have spent enough time down there to know the deal. we’ll see how it goes. we’ll have that beer one day hopefully.

  24. joyce says:

    He was pulled over and cited for running a red light, despite the officer’s dashcam video clearly shown that he hadn’t. When the matter went to court, the judge, after viewing the footage, threw the case out and dressed down the officer, Jason Lawton.

    http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/30/man-beats-ticket-dashcam-evidence-takes-town-court-video/#continued

    I won’t hold my breath that the officer will be charged with filing a false police report, perjury… the prosecutor charged with suborning perjury… and both charged with various forms of misconduct.

  25. daddyo says:

    We definitely should have held back our last months rent, but it’s paid already unfortunately.

    In five years, we’ve never had any statements on the deposit interest payments, which is clearly a violation. But that doesn’t seem to be much leverage other than a nuisance…

  26. nwnj says:

    For 850, I’d file. It doesn’t seem that difficult.

    http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/civil/civ-04.htm

  27. Brian says:

    EXCLUSIVE: Anthony Weiner sext girl’s bikini photo shoot

    http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/anthony_weiner_sext_girl_bikini_JaqFvJBKQulQCQGmQDIx8M?photo_num=1

    Enjoy everyone.

  28. Painhrtz - Disobey! says:

    I’m down grading her to a 4 looked cute in first photos now i could do better trolling the train station in dover

  29. Sock Puppet says:

    Brian,
    That’s gross. Weiner should start sexting Anon the Lefty instead.
    Weiner is just a parasite in every aspect of life. Everytime you hear one of these politicians talk about what an honorable calling “public service” is, think of him.
    It’s a racket.

  30. joyce says:

    Don’t say that! We are not smart enough to function without the rules that our leaders have setup to benefit themselves… I mean us, us!!

    30.Sock Puppet says:
    July 31, 2013 at 3:28 pm
    Brian,
    That’s gross. Weiner should start sexting Anon the Lefty instead.
    Weiner is just a parasite in every aspect of life. Everytime you hear one of these politicians talk about what an honorable calling “public service” is, think of him.
    It’s a racket.

  31. JJ says:

    $850 is a pretty cheap deposit.

    I generally rent from Jewish Landlords after lease is signed I tell them I too am a Jew and it is against the bible for a Jew to charge a Jew interest. Since legally you must pay me interest on a deposit you cant take a deposit.

    If landlord is overseas how does he know the condition of house?

    daddyo says:
    July 31, 2013 at 12:44 pm

    So here’s a good one –

    We moved out of our brig rental on Sunday, 5 years in the place. We never had a single issue with the landlords, always responsive, and we got along well. So my wife heads over to pick up our security deposit, and they tell her they are keeping $850 for cleaning and yardwork. My wife flipped out. We left the place broom clean, wiped down all the surfaces, scrubbed the fridge, etc. There were weeds in the flower beds, but they had committed to having them mulched in the spring (was never done), so we left them for the landscapers. We hung a normal amount of pictures, and I’m sure he spent all of 30 minutes spackling holes.

    Are we being absurd thinking the $850 is crazy?

  32. JJ says:

    Weiner’s Schnitzel

  33. Ragnar says:

    I think women are getting uglier in general these days, maybe it’s not their fault -probably due to all the grains they’re being fed. I just saw photos of my high school reunion (+25years), and those sun-kissed Floridian cheerleading girls that were so pretty 25 years ago now look like toads. Thank goodness my teenage dreams back then never came true, or I might be stuck in some dead-end central Florida job with a decaying wife and a bunch of ugly kids.

  34. JSMC says:

    #34

    Too much Florida sun does bad things to you, physically and (in some cases) mentally. Nutley tanning mom should be the only source you need on this.

  35. JJ says:

    Nasdaq’s 6.5% monthly gain is best since January 2012!!!! Take that Housing!

  36. Bystander says:

    I remember 25 years ago, being a young teen and waiting for my older bros. PB magazine to arrive every month. It was simple premise. You see a hot girl with clothes on and a page later she was in the buff. Dream complete. Girls were naturally beautiful and not much else required. Hef had a great eye. Now, PB women are bleach-blonde, tatooed, all tan, fake unnatural globes and waxed like a bare wood floor. Shoot, part of the allure was wondering if redheads were red all over and blondes were real blondes etc. I still think tan lines are attractive. All gone now. Feel sorry for boys today. The women are plastic, uniform and often hideous.@

  37. Ben says:

    daddyo,

    file the suit. I took my last landlord to court and it was a complete ass whooping. By law, your landlords are not allowed to charge you for labor and as long as you have evidence (pictures) you left it broom clean, you are good. I left court with so much satisfaction, that the money was irrelevant. I was just happy to punch him in the gut costing him way more than he tried to steal form me.

  38. Pete says:

    Daddyo,

    Second what Ben says. I’ve taken landlords to court twice and won easily. Did your landlord inform you in writing that he was withholding the $850 and itemize why so? I’m guessing not. Wait the 30 days required by law for the landlord to return your security deposit. When he doesn’t file with small claims and make sure you file it as $1700. You shouldnt need a lawyer. Consider it a days work and you will make $850 for it.

    Did you take pictures of the place before you left?

  39. chicagofinance says:

    I wasn’t trying to be a dick….I just know how emotional this process is. The woman down the street from us dropped $1.2M in 2005 on something that she had no business paying more than $850K or so. Now all she does is b!tch about everything to everyone. I think the town hates our street because she is such a PIA. I can’t stand it. She made them repave the road, she harangued the neighborhood into building a welcoming fence for the Cul-De-Sac……she complained after Sandy, she complained about debris, she complained about the condition of route 34….she complained about the mosquito strewn BK-bank-stasis lot next to her house……all because she fcuked up and overpaid for a house……..I don’t want you to be that person…..

    BearsFan says:
    July 31, 2013 at 1:38 pm
    chi – much appreciate the concerns raised. We def discussed it as a down side, but felt it was acceptable. wifey likes the place. we have spent enough time down there to know the deal. we’ll see how it goes. we’ll have that beer one day hopefully.

  40. chicagofinance says:

    Anybody have a good fake video surveillance system for a house? I was thinking something that looks like 3 or 4 mounted dummy cameras and other stuff? I assume it would be under $50.

  41. chicagofinance says:

    BTW – I used U-Haul last week Monday and was stunned at what a good experience I had. $120 all-in for a 14′ essentially brand new and clean truck with rented packing equipment (clearly dry-cleaned) and full insurance. Was given 100 miles. Picked up in Scotch Plains and dropped off in Old Bridge at US 9/34. About $25 for gas on top. Easy and everything was clean.

  42. daddyo says:

    I didn’t take any pictures because we’ve NEVER had an issue with a security deposit before. This is our 7th rental, and we’ve never had a dime withheld. Yeah, I think we’ll wait the 30 days, then slam him. If he’s out of country, it’s even better.

    He wanted to meet again in person to talk it over, but we shot him down and said emails only please.

    The argument they will try to make is the weeding and outdoor cleanup…I find it hard to believe they can argue we didn’t weed enough? We mowed the lawn, and never had a complaint from neighbors. Their big day of cleanup filled approximately 5 home depot paper bags halfway with branches and some weeds….all day…5 half bags. I did take a picture of that for my own amusement, but it could come in handy in court or arbitration.

    I didn’t see in the NJ law that they can’t charge for labor, is that from a case? That would blow a hole in their argument completely.

  43. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    [6] JJ

    I did see it and almost bid on it myself. If I had any idea it would go under at 503, I would have raised.

    Why do you think I relied on that as a comp?

  44. 1987 Condo says:

    #43..you weeded? The tenants weed and mow the lawn? Cool. I “assumed” if I rented out my house I would, as landlord, cover lawn , snow removal and the like???!!

  45. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    [42] chifi,

    I’ve used that u-haul place in SP. r u moving or something?

  46. chicagofinance says:

    Someone in the family gave us a room full of furniture for my daughter….it was good and well made stuff….just needed to pick it up….

    Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:
    July 31, 2013 at 5:58 pm
    [42] chifi, I’ve used that u-haul place in SP. r u moving or something?

  47. chicagofinance says:

    The End Is Nigh (JJ Military Edition):

    No More Playboy, Penthouse Sold at Army Bases
    By Ben Kesling

    Soldiers desperate for “adult sophisticate” magazines won’t be able to find them on Army or Air Force bases anymore.

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, has nixed the sale of magazines for a mature readership including Playboy, Penthouse and American Curves. As of Wednesday the exchanges, which are a combination of department store and convenience store found on military bases, will no longer sell any of the 48 magazines that make up the so-called adult sophisticate category.

    The adult magazines are part of a list of 891 magazines that the exchanges on Army and Air Force installations will no longer offer. Others being dropped include Arabian Horse World, Chess Life and Good Old Boat.

    “This was purely a business decision on our part,” said Chris Ward, a spokesman for AAFES. He added that AAFES hadn’t necessarily carried all 891 titles at all of its 1,155 locations world-wide (including 8 in Iraq and 34 in Afghanistan), but that they were the ones available to be stocked according to the manager’s discretion and input from regional and national distribution experts.

    Newsstand sales of consumer magazines dropped 8.2% in the second half of 2012, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and sales of magazines at Army and Air Force exchanges fell 18% from 2011 to 2012 according to AAFES’s latest numbers.

    And exchanges saw adult sophisticate magazine sales plummet 86% since 1998. These magazines represented only 0.014% of all sales at exchange facilities in 2012, according to AAFES.

    Titles like Playboy require added expenses including specialized handling costs and continuous monitoring to ensure they remain in particular positions on magazine racks, Mr. Ward said.

    The policy change follows closely after a July 22 letter from F. E. Vollrath, Assistant Defense Secretary for Readiness and Force Management, to the advocacy group Morality in Media Inc., in which Mr. Vollrath said adult sophisticate magazines, if properly displayed on top shelves behind privacy panels and out of the reach of children, aren’t considered to be sexually explicit material and therefore can be sold on Department of Defense property.

    The change in policy only affects the Army and Air Force exchanges. A spokesman for the Marine Corps’ Exchange system said the Marine and Navy’s on-base magazine selection will remain unchanged.

    Nevertheless, “We’re claiming this as a big victory,” said Dawn Hawkins, executive director of Morality in Media, which opposes pornography. As far as the Navy and Marine Corps stocking of adult sophisticate magazines, “We’re going to continue to pressure them to discontinue those titles,” Ms. Hawkins said.

    A spokeswoman for Playboy said the magazine has no comment.

    While Lapidary Journal, Quilt Mania and Animals and You have also been discontinued, “men’s general magazines” like Maxim and FHM, which often feature buxom women and ribald jokes, will still be available for sale.

    People Magazine, the No. 1 selling magazine on bases, according to AAFES, will be among the approximately 2,000 titles that will remain available. Knitting Today will not.

  48. chicagofinance says:

    The End Is Nigh (JJ Military Edition):

    No More Playboy, Penthouse Sold at Army Bases
    By Ben Kesling

    Soldiers desperate for “adult sophisticate” magazines won’t be able to find them on Army or Air Force bases anymore.

    The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, has nixed the sale of magazines for a mature readership including Playboy, Penthouse and American Curves. As of Wednesday the exchanges, which are a combination of department store and convenience store found on military bases, will no longer sell any of the 48 magazines that make up the so-called adult sophisticate category.

    The adult magazines are part of a list of 891 magazines that the exchanges on Army and Air Force installations will no longer offer. Others being dropped include Arabian Horse World, Chess Life and Good Old Boat.

    “This was purely a business decision on our part,” said Chris Ward, a spokesman for AAFES. He added that AAFES hadn’t necessarily carried all 891 titles at all of its 1,155 locations world-wide (including 8 in Iraq and 34 in Afghanistan), but that they were the ones available to be stocked according to the manager’s discretion and input from regional and national distribution experts.

    Newsstand sales of consumer magazines dropped 8.2% in the second half of 2012, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, and sales of magazines at Army and Air Force exchanges fell 18% from 2011 to 2012 according to AAFES’s latest numbers.

    And exchanges saw adult sophisticate magazine sales plummet 86% since 1998. These magazines represented only 0.014% of all sales at exchange facilities in 2012, according to AAFES.

    Titles like Playboy require added expenses including specialized handling costs and continuous monitoring to ensure they remain in particular positions on magazine racks, Mr. Ward said.

    The policy change follows closely after a July 22 letter from F. E. Vollrath, Assistant Defense Secretary for Readiness and Force Management, to the advocacy group Morality in Media Inc., in which Mr. Vollrath said adult sophisticate magazines, if properly displayed on top shelves behind privacy panels and out of the reach of children, aren’t considered to be s-xually explicit material and therefore can be sold on Department of Defense property.

    The change in policy only affects the Army and Air Force exchanges. A spokesman for the Marine Corps’ Exchange system said the Marine and Navy’s on-base magazine selection will remain unchanged.

    Nevertheless, “We’re claiming this as a big victory,” said Dawn Hawkins, executive director of Morality in Media, which opposes p0rnography. As far as the Navy and Marine Corps stocking of adult sophisticate magazines, “We’re going to continue to pressure them to discontinue those titles,” Ms. Hawkins said.

    A spokeswoman for Playboy said the magazine has no comment.

    While Lapidary Journal, Quilt Mania and Animals and You have also been discontinued, “men’s general magazines” like Maxim and FHM, which often feature buxom women and ribald jokes, will still be available for sale.

    People Magazine, the No. 1 selling magazine on bases, according to AAFES, will be among the approximately 2,000 titles that will remain available. Knitting Today will not.

  49. Ragnar says:

    Chifi,
    “Adult Sophisticate”? I know Playboy used to offer the pretense of sophistication, but I don’t remember much sophisticated about Penthouse. I guess that’s why (I suspect) AAFES never carried Hustler?
    Doesn’t matter, there seems to be an infinite amount of internet pron, and who ever read the Playboy articles? (actually I did read one article: http://ellensplace.net/ar_pboy.html )

  50. Essex says:

    34. Genes are key — dumb and ugly are forever.

  51. Ben says:

    I ended up bringing a lawyer when I took my landlord to court. He was my college roommate. Basically, the judge knew who was right from the get go but wanted to make sure my friend was paid for his services in addition to the judgement. I would have one anyway, but having legal representation in my corner sealed the deal. Of course, my landlord showed up on his own completely unprepared. I guarantee you it was the first time someone ever took him to court. But anyway, they are in no way allowed to charge you for their labor. If they need, they can have a professional service clean the premises and bill you for the costs.

    I never had an issue either but I’ve always taken a thousand pictures just waiting for the issue to come along one day. Sure enough, it did. Btw, your landlord is a completely ungrateful sob if he/she is trying to fleece you after 5 years of payment and keeping the place clean.

  52. Anon E. Moose says:

    From yesterday (Bay Staters invading NH, etc.);

    Let’s see, blues wreck one state, then move on to infest another. I may have to revisit my “Locust” classification to expand out the Locust Generation of baby boomers.

  53. The Original NJ ExPat says:

    In 1997 we rented a nice SFH in Centerport LI for $1800/month. IIRC it cost us $6800 on move- in with two months deposit(we had a cat), realtor fees, etc. From that point on I constructed an impressive renter’s resume which always gave the agent or landlords of future places we rented, our previous landlords’ contact info, and at the bottom of each entry, “full deposit returned”. I think that probably nobody ever checked our references. I think it was just that we submitted all the contact info of all our previous rentals and “full deposit returned” that put us over the top for every rental. I remember overhearing a realtor say to his clients at our last rental as he drew them aside, “It doesn’t get any better than this.”

  54. BearsFan says:

    40 – chi, i’m paying less than half of that. I’m not that guy, lol. From where I’m from, executing this move there will be a win, house aside, for the kids in the long haul. I won’t care what the house is worth for a long time hopefully (i know the stats guys, so save the 7 year rule). But the plan is to stay put.

    The flip side is, I can now walk down my driveway a few hundred yards and hit a bucket of balls, which as of now requires a 15 minute ride for me to Colonia.

  55. Comrade Nom Deplume, Halfwit dumbass says:

    [49] Ragnar,

    I had the same thought. Sophisticate???

  56. Home prices jump in May | New Jersey Real Estate Report

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