Monthly Archives: November 2006

New Jersey Open Spaces

Posted on November 15, 2006 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Land preservation funding running out The state fund used to help keep open spaces from disappearing across New Jersey is in need of a replenishment of its own. Local and statewide groups focused on the … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 10 Comments

Just who reads the New Jersey Real Estate Report?

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

I spent a little time playing around with Google Analytics tonite. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s an analytics tool that helps monitor and analyze web traffic. One of the more interesting reports that it lets you … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 59 Comments

Housing CEOs don’t see a bottom

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From Marketwatch: CEOs still looking for housing’s bottom Home-builder stocks rallied Tuesday on lower-than-expected quarterly profit declines, falling Treasury yields and the expectation that the worst may be over for the U.S. housing market. However, many chief executives at home-building … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 20 Comments

Sweeten the deal or drop the price?

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From the Christian Science Monitor: What will it take to get you to buy this home? When she put up a new “for sale” sign two weeks ago, real estate agent Mary Ellen Wasielewski had some unusual advice for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 15 Comments

Reforming the unreformable

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Clock ticking down on proposals for property tax reform After 12 weeks of listening to testimony, researching other states and working to fulfill the promise of tax cuts, the deadline is here for the four … Continue reading →

Posted in Property Taxes | 66 Comments

So who’s right?

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From the Indy Star: Dim housing market could prove pessimists right The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in years; the stock market is at an all-time high; corporate profits are up 17 percent. As we look forward to … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 6 Comments

Opposing eminent domain

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Poll: Many N.J. voters oppose using eminent domain for redevelopment Most New Jersey voters oppose allowing government to take land from its owners for redevelopment, according to a poll released Monday. The survey also found … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 17 Comments

Support drilling off the Jersey shore?

Posted on November 14, 2006 by grim

From the Press of Atlantic City: Drill plan dangerous to N.J., say politicians Joining environmental groups, New Jersey lawmakers are showing bipartisan opposition to a federal plan that could allow oil and gas drilling in the ocean less than 75 … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Politics | 5 Comments

Leaving the empty nest

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From Time Magazine: When To Sell The Empty Nest If you’re an empty nester looking to downsize, don’t let the weak housing market stop you. You may be working with less equity today than you had a year ago–but it … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate | 18 Comments

October 2006 Market Snapshot (revisited)

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

(click to enlarge) October 2006 Snapshot (XLS)

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 38 Comments

“The house is killing me”

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From the Herald News: A bitter ending The “For Sale” sign at 549 Broadway is an unwelcome addition to Manuel Maldonado’s neat little yard. The Maldonados, like many other homeowners, faced financial difficulties and refinanced with a nontraditional mortgage — … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Risky Lending | 44 Comments

Foreclosures on the rise

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From Businesswire: New York, New Jersey Lead Northeast in Foreclosures The nation’s foreclosure epidemic has infected even the rural Northeast as consumer credit woes, creative mortgages, and high energy costs tighten the squeeze on homeowners. … “That sub-prime ARM or … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Risky Lending | 13 Comments

Six-figure double dippers

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From the Jersey Journal: Politicians double-dip to earn 6-digit paychecks Social Security paychecks? Fuggedaboutit. A large number of Hudson County pols are bankrolling a career in public life into cozy, taxpayer funded retirement plan thanks to spreading themselves out in … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 12 Comments

Mirror the private sector

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From the Asbury Park Press: Majority: Trim benefits of state workers A majority of New Jersey taxpayers says government employees should have retirement plans and health benefits that mirror those of private industry, according to a Monmouth University/Gannett New Jersey … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 2 Comments

The less blissful side of home ownership

Posted on November 13, 2006 by grim

From the Record: Little things carry big tickets Chris Bartlett and Kim Queren had carefully calculated what buying a home would cost. Within 48 hours of moving in, however, each learned something that takes most first-time buyers much longer to … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 9 Comments