Monthly Archives: February 2011

Rise in renters contributes to homeownership decline

Posted on February 8, 2011 by grim

From MarketWatch: More people choosing to rent, not buy, their home The share of Americans who own their home dropped again last year, but that decline is not being driven by foreclosures pushing people out of the real-estate market. Instead, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate | 162 Comments

Shiller: Another housing bubble unlikely

Posted on February 7, 2011 by grim

From Robert Shiller and the NYT: Housing Bubbles Are Few and Far Between WHAT’S the outlook for home prices over the next decade? It’s not easy to tell. We need to confront the basic fact that near the beginning of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 131 Comments

Blame it on the snow

Posted on February 5, 2011 by grim

From the NY Times: Brokers Face Challenges in This Snowy Winter PAPER booties beside the door? Check. Fresh salt on the driveway? Check. Broker standing in the street to direct traffic around giant piles of snow? Check. Sure, the scented … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 81 Comments

No easy choices for Paterson (The shape of things to come?)

Posted on February 4, 2011 by grim

From the Record (Hat tip Gator!): Paterson officials will argue to limit tax increase City officials will travel to Trenton on Monday to plead their case for a lighter municipal tax increase. The state Department of Community Affairs, which must … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 107 Comments

Double dip over so soon?

Posted on February 3, 2011 by grim

From HousingWire: Clear Capital: Home prices showing life in 2011 Home prices stopped declining in early January and even increased for the first time since August, according to the Clear Capital home price index. Over the last three months, home … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 118 Comments

Why 30? Why subsidize?

Posted on February 2, 2011 by grim

From the WSJ: What’s So Special About the 30-Year Mortgage? One remarkable feature of the current debate in Washington about the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is the prominence given to one kind of mortgage—the 30-year, fixed-rate loan. … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, National Real Estate | 180 Comments

A Squatter’s Market

Posted on February 1, 2011 by grim

From CNBC: Nearly 11 Percent of US Houses Empty I usually find the quarterly homeowner vacancy and homeownership report from Census pretty lackluster, but the latest one released this morning was anything but. America’s home ownership rate, after holding steady … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate | 183 Comments