Monthly Archives: February 2013

January Pending Sales up 9.5% year-over-year

Posted on February 27, 2013 by grim

From Bloomberg: Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Rise More Than Forecast Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes climbed more than forecast in January, a sign the industry will keep strengthening this year. The index of pending home resales … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 100 Comments

Deeper look into local home prices

Posted on February 27, 2013 by grim

From the WSJ: Housing Signals Mixed While buyers have been fighting over expensive Manhattan apartments and prices rose across the rest of the country, single-family home prices were drifting lower across the New York metropolitan area, according to new data … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate | 98 Comments

Case Shiller Day!

Posted on February 26, 2013 by grim

Due out at 9! From the WSJ: Shiller’s Bottom Line: Risk Lingers in Housing. WSJ: Did we finally hit a floor in home prices last year? Mr. Shiller: The trend in home prices seems to be up now. It has … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 126 Comments

No inventory because folks just don’t feel like selling?

Posted on February 25, 2013 by grim

From the WSJ: Unlocking of Housing Market Gets Going The house party may just be getting started. The recovery in housing that began taking hold last year caught most economists by surprise. Even though the overall economy made only middling … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 89 Comments

Where’s the wealth?

Posted on February 22, 2013 by grim

From NJ Spotlight 5 New Jersey counties rank among nation’s wealthiest, Census data shows While some New Jerseyans still have not fully recovered financially from the recession, the state remains home to some of the wealthiest counties in the nation. … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate | 65 Comments

Words from the past: “Seller’s Market”

Posted on February 22, 2013 by grim

From the WSJ: Housing: It’s Becoming a Seller’s Market The National Association of Realtors said on Thursday what home buyers in many parts of the United States have known for months: it’s becoming a seller’s market. The number of homes … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 128 Comments

January Existing Home Sales

Posted on February 21, 2013 by grim

From Bloomberg: Sales of Previously Owned U.S. Homes Probably Eased in January Sales of previously owned U.S. homes probably eased in January, reflecting a pause in momentum for the industry coming off its best year since 2007, economists said before … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 150 Comments

Jersey Comeback? Not in AC.

Posted on February 20, 2013 by grim

From Bloomberg: Christie-Backed Revel Atlantic City Plans Bankruptcy Revel AC Inc., the casino owner that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie bet on to revive Atlantic City, plans to file for a prepackaged bankruptcy that will reduce its debt burden by … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Shore Real Estate, South Jersey Real Estate | 120 Comments

Is the big recovery done?

Posted on February 19, 2013 by grim

From the Financial Times: Housing: The long climb back …The Greens bought a foreclosed house for about $31,000. They renovated it, rented it out – and discovered a successful new business model. Today they own 76 homes, most of them … Continue reading →

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

New homes about to get more expensive

Posted on February 18, 2013 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Fire suppression systems in new homes is aim of New Jersey bill Builders in New Jersey may soon have to install fire suppression systems in all new single or two-family homes. A state bill, the New … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 131 Comments

Have a kid, move to the … city?

Posted on February 17, 2013 by grim

From the Record: NYC beckons new parents as North Jersey suburbs no longer seen as only place to raise kids In a striking reversal, growing numbers of young parents are choosing the bustle of New York City over the calm … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate | 49 Comments

Otteau: NJ home prices up 2.9% in Q4

Posted on February 16, 2013 by grim

From the Record: Home prices up 2.9 percent in NJ, appraiser says Home prices rose 2.9 percent in New Jersey, to an average of $276,944, in the fourth quarter of 2012, an East Brunswick appraiser said Friday. The increase is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate | 45 Comments

Lowball! Trump Edition

Posted on February 15, 2013 by grim

From the Star Ledger: ‘You’re acquired’: Atlantic City’s Trump Plaza fetches $20 million in bargain-basement deal Trump Plaza, the Boardwalk centerpiece of Donald Trump’s one-time Atlantic City empire, was sold Thursday to a California company for $20 million in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Lowball, Shore Real Estate | 123 Comments

For Sale, Includes Toilets

Posted on February 13, 2013 by grim

From Bloomberg: Pipe-Swipers Take Toilets as U.S. Homes With Plumbing Ebb Bill Heaney gets about two calls a day from people who bought foreclosed, vacant Detroit homes that lack basic plumbing — victims of thieves who strip pipes, water heaters … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosures, National Real Estate | 96 Comments

NJ HomeKeeper hits its stride

Posted on February 13, 2013 by grim

From the Record: Foreclosure-prevention loans helping more in NJ, state says Once criticized as ineffective, the state’s main foreclosure-prevention effort has improved its performance and is now helping 250 troubled homeowners each month, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno announced Tuesday. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Foreclosures, New Jersey Real Estate, Risky Lending | 60 Comments