Monthly Archives: December 2014

Is the slowdown good news?

From MarketWatch: Home-price growth, now at two-year low, may accelerate in 2015 Home prices cooled in October, pulling down annual growth to the slowest pace in two years, but there are hints that the market could pick up next year. … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery | 45 Comments

Corelogic: Housing trends and predictions for 2015

From Housingwire: CoreLogic: 5 drivers of housing in 2015 Here are CoreLogic’s five facts and predictions for 2015: 1. Millennials will start buying The young Generation Y experienced a strong boost in job growth that will help spur housing in … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 102 Comments

NJ Economic Year in Review

From the Record: New Jersey’s economic ups and downs in 2014 There was a bit more optimism regarding the New Jersey economy as 2014 came to a close, with job growth improving; more disposable income helping boost retail sales; the … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate | 73 Comments

The real reason Millennials aren’t buying houses (or are buying later)

From the NYT: For Many Millenials, Children Are Out of Reach Millennials are taking their time procreating. According to C.D.C. data, preliminary 2013 birthrates show that the birth rates for teenagers declined 10 percent in 2013, to a historic low … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Recovery | 51 Comments

Who benefits from the MID?

From MarketWatch: Why the mortgage tax break isn’t helping many taxpayers For generations of U.S. homeowners, the tax deduction on mortgage interest has been a sacrosanct loophole that no one in Congress dare touch. But the collapse in interest rates … Continue reading

Posted in Mortgages, National Real Estate, Politics | 8 Comments

NJ gains population, retains 11th spot

From the Star Ledger: N.J. gains almost 27,000 residents as Virginia closes population gap New Jersey gained almost 27,000 residents in the last year, retaining its ranking as the 11th most populous state. New Jersey was home to 8,938,175 people … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics | 54 Comments

November home sales slide, credit and inventory to blame

From the WSJ: U.S. Existing-Home Sales Tumble in November Sales of previously owned homes tumbled to a six-month low in November, a sign the housing market continues to underperform despite a burst of stronger economic growth. Existing-home sales declined 6.1% … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 101 Comments

Existing Home Sales

From Bloomberg: Ahead of the Bell: US Home Sales The National Association of Realtors reports on sales of existing homes in November. The report is scheduled to be released Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern. SLIGHT DECLINE: Economists forecast that sales … Continue reading

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

New Jersey – Great place for the wealthy

From the Star Ledger: N.J.’s income gap has widened significantly since 2000, report shows The income gap between New Jersey’s wealthiest residents and all other groups has widened significantly since the turn of the century, and grew worse after the … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery | 75 Comments

Top 10 in NJ? WTF?

Another mind numbing “top 10” list from Movoto: The 10 Best Places To Live In New Jersey 1. Fair Lawn 2. Edison 3. Westfield 4. East Brunswick 5. North Brunswick 6. Wayne 7. Toms River 8. West Orange 9. Hoboken … Continue reading

Posted in Humor | 42 Comments

NJ gains jobs in November

From the Star Ledger: N.J. unemployment rate falls to lowest since 2008 New Jersey added 6,700 jobs in November fueled by employment gains in the private sector, according to preliminary federal labor data released today, and the state’s unemployment rate … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate | 122 Comments

Prediction season in full swing

From HousingWire: 5 predictions for NYC real estate in 2015 David Behin is the co-founder of CityFunders and MNS Real Estate, one of the ten largest full service brokerages in New York City. He’s had a hand in more than … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, NYC | 69 Comments

Delinquency rates continue to decline

From NMP: Mortgage Delinquency Rates Continue to Shrink The total balance of seriously delinquent first mortgages–defined as 90 days past due or in foreclosure–was $198.8 billion in November, a decrease of more than 29.8 percent year-over-year and the lowest level … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, Mortgages, Risky Lending | 113 Comments

What Recovery?

From MarketWatch: Americans are 40% poorer than before the recession The Great Recession is officially over, but Americans are still 40% poorer today than they were in 2007, the year before the global financial crisis. The net worth of American … Continue reading

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery | 72 Comments

Foreclosure “rescue” worse than foreclosure

From the Star Ledger: Man who stole struggling people’s homes sentenced to 20 years A 58-year-old Bloomfield man was sentenced Friday to 20 years in state prison for cheating Sussex County homeowners in financial distress by transferring ownership of their … Continue reading

Posted in Foreclosures, New Jersey Real Estate | 34 Comments