Monthly Archives: February 2016

NJ Open For Business?

Posted on February 29, 2016 by grim

From the Record: More New York businesses making move to North Jersey Gross Printing had been doing business in a Sunset Park, Brooklyn, industrial park for several years when co-owner Samson Gross noticed that the company’s landlord was bringing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate | 55 Comments

Real estate porn goes conservative

Posted on February 28, 2016 by grim

From Bloomberg: Home buyers in pricey markets are now scared to dream Rising home prices in hot housing markets are robbing buyers of a favorite pleasure: looking at pictures of homes they can’t afford. Or at least, that’s one way … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Humor, National Real Estate | 14 Comments

Housing decline? Not likely.

Posted on February 26, 2016 by grim

From Forbes: Why The U.S. Housing Market Will Remain Alive And Kicking in 2016 If you live in Coastal California, you don’t need national housing statistics to tell you that the housing market is in good shape – stick a … Continue reading →

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

Existing home sales show strong performance in January

Posted on February 25, 2016 by grim

From Bloomberg: Sales of Existing U.S. Homes Rise to Second-Highest Since 2007 Sales of previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly rose in January to the second-highest pace since early 2007, indicating the industry will keep prospering. Closings, which usually take place … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate | 142 Comments

Leave and you lose your benefits?

Posted on February 24, 2016 by grim

From the Courier Post: RABBLE ROUSER: Don’t reward workers who leave NJ Stop rewarding people for moving out of New Jersey. This would be a good start in trying to be fiscally responsible. Let me tell you a short story. … Continue reading →

Posted in Unrest | 137 Comments

Welcome back our subprime overlords

Posted on February 23, 2016 by grim

From HousingWire: Bank of America now offers 3% down mortgages without mortgage insurance Bank of America unveiled a new affordable mortgage program that offers consumers the option of putting as little as 3% down and requires no mortgage insurance. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Mortgages, National Real Estate, Risky Lending | 86 Comments

Fools and their money…

Posted on February 22, 2016 by grim

From the NYT: When a Dream House Becomes a Money Pit Any buyer knows that a dream home can become a nightmare. But most people don’t expect it to happen to them. Steven and Michelle Hicks found what looked like … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate | 78 Comments

Christie’s property tax cap worked

Posted on February 21, 2016 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Are N.J. property taxes actually going down in many towns? Are many New Jersey residents actually paying less in property taxes than they were five years ago? The state’s sky-high property taxes crossed the $8,300 threshold … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 37 Comments

The long grind

Posted on February 19, 2016 by grim

From the Record: Foreclosures ease a bit in NJ, but remain higher than national rate Housing distress is easing in New Jersey, but the state still has much higher rates of foreclosures and mortgage delinquencies than the nation as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosures, Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate | 123 Comments

NYC/Philly – US Economic Powerhouse

Posted on February 18, 2016 by grim

I thought this was fitting, given the discussion about NYC/Philly GDP and US economic contribution:

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, North Jersey Real Estate, NYC | 102 Comments

Clinton brings housing into the debate

Posted on February 17, 2016 by grim

From HousingWire: Hillary Clinton unveils sweeping economic agenda, including major housing reforms With the 2016 presidential election inching closer at a seemingly glacial pace, one issue that many of the main candidates have neglected to address is housing and its … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Recovery, Politics | 95 Comments

Valentines Day Massacre

Posted on February 16, 2016 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Here’s what happened to those 100 lots Newark gave away last Valentine’s Day This time last year, John Errico and Shannon Guy took what they believed would be the first step toward their shared dream. Newly … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Recovery, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 91 Comments

Move over Brooklyn

Posted on February 14, 2016 by grim

From the NYT: Moving to Jersey City? Join the Club. Jersey City is no longer just another gritty town on the wrong side of the Hudson River, dismissed by apartment hunters. As its population soars, new housing rises and buyers … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Recovery, New Development, NYC | 133 Comments

What’s worse? High cost of living or the taxes?

Posted on February 13, 2016 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Did 2M people really leave N.J. because of high taxes? More than two million people left New Jersey between 2005 and 2014, taking billions of dollars in income and economic activity with them, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Politics, Property Taxes | 67 Comments

Can AC be saved?

Posted on February 12, 2016 by grim

From the Star Ledger: This N.J. area now ranks 5th in U.S. for vacant houses While the future of the ailing resort shore city rests in the hands of Trenton lawmakers, the local residential real estate is reeling. The Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Foreclosures, Housing Recovery, Shore Real Estate, South Jersey Real Estate | 104 Comments