Category Archives: Politics

Yeah, but will it really change?

From CNN: The 6% commission on buying or selling a home is gone after Realtors association agrees to seismic settlement The 6% commission, a standard in home purchase transactions, is no more. In a sweeping move expected to dramatically reduce the cost … Continue reading

Posted in National Real Estate, Politics, Unrest | 24 Comments

Transit-based redevelopment

From Newsweek: Housing Market Solution Could Help New Jersey New Jersey might have just found a solution to its affordable housing crisis, and it involves the undeveloped land outside of its transit system. The Regional Plan Association found 74,000 acres of land … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Housing Bubble, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 95 Comments

Taxes Up!

From News12: Gov. Murphy seek $55.9B New Jersey budget, increasing education aid, boosting biz taxes to fund transit Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday unveiled a $55.9 billion budget, up about 5% over his previous year’s proposal, calling for nearly $1 … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 97 Comments

Flooding kicks off new wave of Blue Acres buyouts

From ABC News: Flood-stricken New Jersey residents look into government-funded home buyout program The flooding in parts of New Jersey over the past few months left mounts of headaches for residents. Countless residents from those affected areas came out to … Continue reading

Posted in Crisis, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Unrest | 77 Comments

NYC’s rent controlled time bomb

From Bloomberg: Why NYC Apartment Buildings Are on Sale Now for 50% Off Even in the crisp afternoon sunlight, the two-bedroom Manhattan apartment has a ghostly pallor, its cracked walls yellowing like an ancient black-and-white photograph. Paint chips are falling from … Continue reading

Posted in Crisis, Demographics, Economics, NYC, Politics, Price Reduced | 55 Comments

Best geopolitical news in a decade

Has nothing to do with real estate, but our neighbors on this side of the world really should be our strongest trade partners. From Quartz: The US imported more from Mexico than China for the first time in decades For … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Politics, Unrest | 106 Comments

Blame taxes for the inventory?

From CNN: Boomers are not moving out of their big homes. Here’s why After 33 years and four children, Baby Boomers Marta and Octavian Dragos say they feel trapped in what was once their dream home in El Cerrito, California. … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, Politics, Property Taxes | 94 Comments

NJ Homes for $1

From Patch: $1 Homes For Sale In Newark; Public Lottery Will Mark Milestone Buy a house for a buck? That’s the dream that’s about to become reality for some lucky Newark families on Monday, when the city launches its first … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 64 Comments

Cheers!

From 42 Freeway: New Jersey Liquor License Overhaul Signed.  Much More To It Than The Press Release So it’s clear that New Jersey lawmakers are not happy that over 1,500 full alcohol plenary licenses are sitting unused for years, which … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 57 Comments

Online gaming not good for the economy?

Who could’a knew? From Gambling News: Report Argues New Jersey iGaming Has Harmed the Economy The gambling industry can provide significant economic boosts to certain areas, creating new jobs and generating millions in tax money. This argument continues to be … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 17 Comments

No unintended consequences here…

From the NJ Monitor: N.J. Senate approves penalties for discriminatory real estate appraisals Senate lawmakers approved a bill Monday that would create steep penalties for real estate appraisers who undervalue homes because of the owner or buyer’s protected characteristics, with Republican critics … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Politics | 97 Comments

Pretty sure this won’t end well, whichever way it goes

From Yahoo Finance: ‘Stay Out Of The Markets’ — Kevin O’Leary Urges Government To Not Get Involved In Housing — Says New Bill That Would Ban Hedge Funds From Buying Homes ‘Is Very, Very Bad And Destructive’ Real estate investors … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, Politics | 9 Comments

Don’t let the money leave

From ROINJ: Murphy appoints new task force designed to cut property bills in half for New Jersey seniors A new task force charged with cutting property tax bills in half for New Jersey seniors has been created, according to a … Continue reading

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 146 Comments

Please don’t raise rates

From CNBC: Housing industry urges Powell to stop raising interest rates or risk an economic hard landing Top real estate and banking officials are calling on the Federal Reserve to stop raising interest rates as the industry suffers through surging … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Mortgages, Politics | 114 Comments

All your money are belong to us

From CNBC: These are the U.S. states with the highest property taxes—New York and California aren’t in the top 10

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 46 Comments