Category Archives: Politics

Will you pay? Will I pay? Who will pay? No idea yet.

Posted on June 18, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Raise the sales tax? The business tax? Dueling Democratic budgets bring N.J. closer to a shutdown. Democrats who control the state Legislature on Monday announced they’ll introduce a $36.2 billion budget that would raise taxes on … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 157 Comments

Glimpse into the future: NJ coming for your house

Posted on June 16, 2018 by grim

What happens when NJ can’t afford to pay it’s own taxes anymore? Rampant (fraudulent?) mismanagement of assessments? Detroit offers a glimpse into what to come in NJ. From the Detroit News: Study: Bad assessments prompt 10K Detroit foreclosures One in … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Foreclosures, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 104 Comments

Bankers not happy with Murphy

Posted on June 7, 2018 by grim

From NJBIZ: Bankers: Economy weakening under Murphy A majority of the state’s local bankers say New Jersey’s economy would worsen under policies proposed by Gov. Phil Murphy. In New Jersey Bankers Association’s annual survey on the economy, almost 69 percent … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 181 Comments

Fix it, Sell it, or Get Out

Posted on May 28, 2018 by grim

From the APP: A tool for targeting the ‘zombie houses’ of Toms River, throughout the Shore They’re called “zombie houses,” and they can suck the life out of any neighborhood. Zombie homes are properties whose owners have walked away from … Continue reading →

Posted in New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 21 Comments

Hey Democrats, where’s our pot?

Posted on May 26, 2018 by grim

From the Washington Post: N.J. Democrats loved the idea of taxing the rich — until they actually could do it Democrats in the New Jersey state legislature approved a tax hike on millionaires five separate times under then-Gov. Chris Christie … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 59 Comments

You buyin’ this?

Posted on May 16, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Murphy’s state bank would help working families, boost local economy New Jersey has an investment problem. The Garden State’s numerous credit downgrades, budget shortfalls, crumbling infrastructure, chronic underfunding of critical programs and priorities are well known. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 261 Comments

No tax doomsday? Yet?

Posted on May 9, 2018 by grim

From Bloomberg: Million-Dollar Home Values Gain Even as Tax Deductions Shrink Adam Blaylock was pretty sure he overpriced his Santa Clara, California, home by offering it in February for $1.48 million, since tax deduction changes would keep buyers away. But … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 163 Comments

Will the feds accept it?

Posted on May 5, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Murphy moves to save your property tax break from Trump. But will it stick? Gov. Phil Murphy just took action to save your federal property tax break from President Donald Trump’s new tax law. The Democratic … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 55 Comments

So long and thanks for all the fish

Posted on April 24, 2018 by grim

From CNBC: Tax bill will slash by half the number of homeowners using the mortgage deduction The number of homeowners who will benefit from the mortgage tax break is expected to plummet this year by more than half, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in Mortgages, National Real Estate, Politics | 261 Comments

It’ll sit empty for decades…

Posted on March 30, 2018 by grim

From the Record: Toys R Us collapse creates large corporate office vacancy in Wayne The collapse of Toys R Us has placed a big question mark on a large tract of forested woodland in the heart of Wayne. Toys R … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 93 Comments

NJ Pension on Track! … to be fixed in 30 years.

Posted on March 29, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Have New Jersey’s pension woes finally bottomed out? ould it be true? Is New Jersey’s pension fund for public workers — among the worst-funded in the nation — really on the road to recovery? That’s what … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Humor, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 121 Comments

Oh boy…

Posted on March 27, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Will Phil Murphy veto giving police and fire unions control of their pensions? The state Legislature passed legislation Monday handing control of the pension fund for New Jersey’s police and firefighters over to its members. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 61 Comments

Low taxes, but not really.

Posted on March 12, 2018 by grim

For most of these towns, there are some pretty sizable factors that keep taxes low, but are largely irrelevant for the rest of NJ. From the Star Ledger: Here are the 30 N.J. towns with the lowest property taxes Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 42 Comments

So they aren’t moochers?

Posted on March 10, 2018 by grim

From the APP: Don’t blame NJ’s high taxes on ‘Moocher states’: Malanga Last year’s federal tax reform act has prompted a lot of hand wringing and hyperbolic language from New Jersey officials over the loss of the state and local … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 37 Comments

NJ fights back on business taxes, then taxes business

Posted on March 7, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: We’ve got sure-fire plan to save small businesses from Trump tax law, N.J. lawmakers say New Jersey lawmakers who are already offering up a scheme to save homeowners the state and property tax deduction gutted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 96 Comments