Monthly Archives: February 2007

Sorry, wrong house.

Posted on February 11, 2007 by grim

From the Gloucester County Times: Tough sell: Realtor gives tour of the wrong house The woman and her three children were sure interested in the property the Realtor was showing them. They had ventured up into the master bedroom and … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 6 Comments

Madison home sets record

Posted on February 10, 2007 by grim

From the Daily Record: Record Madison home price: $5.1M A borough resident recently purchased a home on Midwood Terrace, for a borough record $5.1 million, according to several local real estate agents and the Garden State Multiple Listing Service. Harding … Continue reading →

Posted in New Development, New Jersey Real Estate | 4 Comments

First-time buyers have no skin in the game

Posted on February 9, 2007 by grim

From the Baltimore Sun: First-time homebuyers are putting less down Does anybody remember the old days when homebuyers actually made sizable down payments – often 20 percent or more – when they bought their first house? New national survey research … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble | 179 Comments

Go on take the money and run

Posted on February 9, 2007 by grim

From Bankrate: Take your home equity and run If you live in a high-cost metropolitan area, the equity in your current home can buy a heightened lifestyle somewhere else. While in certain parts of the country home prices have leveled … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate | 13 Comments

Is socioeconomic status the principal driver of classroom achievement?

Posted on February 9, 2007 by grim

From the Home News Tribune: Key to school success: It’s the economy, stupid! The latest state report card on the performance of New Jersey students highlights once again that socioeconomic status is the principal driver of classroom achievement. That conclusion … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 3 Comments

Do gimmicks sell houses?

Posted on February 9, 2007 by grim

From the Courier Post: Soft housing market sparks homebuilders’ sales gimmicks By LISA GRZYBOSKI Anand Ramanathan was approaching the gas station where he normally fills up when he saw them — people dressed as dollar bills holding signs that said … Continue reading →

Posted in New Development, New Jersey Real Estate | Comments Off on Do gimmicks sell houses?

Monroe residents sue over “unfair” taxes

Posted on February 9, 2007 by grim

From the Sentinal: Residents sue over town’s tax formula BY JESSICA SMITH A group of citizens filed suit against Monroe Town-ship Friday saying they’ve been unfairly taxed and seeking to force a townwide revaluation. The Concerned Citizens of Monroe Township … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Property Taxes | 3 Comments

Buyers won’t pay what sellers want

Posted on February 8, 2007 by grim

While this piece is from California, I believe the same dynamic is taking place here in New Jersey. Buyers are holding out for better deals, while sellers hold out for high offers. From the Monterey County Herald: Buyers, sellers to … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble | 135 Comments

Extreme Commuters

Posted on February 8, 2007 by grim

From the Courier Post Online: The long haul By SHAWN RHEA There is a point during her 75-minute daily commute to work that Bethany Gibala feels stress closing in on her. “It’s one predictable place where there’s heavy volume every … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 9 Comments

The Grave Dancer

Posted on February 8, 2007 by grim

From the L.A. Times: A talent for finding ‘motivated sellers’ By Thomas S. Mulligan and James Rainey He’s about 5 feet 5 and has a bald dome and a beard like an Amish farmer. He revels in the nickname he … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate | 1 Comment

Perhaps housing hasn’t reached “bottom”

Posted on February 7, 2007 by grim

From Marketwatch: Housing still on down slope The U.S. housing market has not reached bottom and will likely not begin to recover until the middle of this year, three housing economists said Wednesday. The weakness will extend to existing-home and … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 20 Comments

Critics slam tax reform

Posted on February 7, 2007 by grim

From the Trentonian: Smoke, mirrors and a ton of tax dollars Just for the record, this 20 percent property tax rebate idea that’s been all the rage lately is another joke, no matter what happens to it. Dig the numbers: … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 118 Comments

Poor outnumber wealthy in suburban communities

Posted on February 7, 2007 by grim

From the Philly Inquirer: As numbers of poor in the suburbs rise Despite its goal of creating an indivisible nation, America has always been divided by economics, race and class. Throughout our turbulent history, nowhere have our divisions been more … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate | 10 Comments

“Highlands Act must be stopped”

Posted on February 7, 2007 by grim

From the Express-Times: Warren County call to action Warren County municipal officials were urged Tuesday night to oppose the Highlands regional master plan. At a meeting sponsored by Warren County and Warren County Regional Chamber of Commerce, the 150-person audience … Continue reading →

Posted in New Development, New Jersey Real Estate | 1 Comment

Property tax cut clears Senate

Posted on February 6, 2007 by grim

From the AP via Newsday: Senate stalemate breaks, bringing tax cut closer to reality The German statesman Otto von Bismarck once famously observed, “People who enjoy eating sausage and obeying the law should not watch either being made.” Neither sausage … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Property Taxes | 15 Comments