Category Archives: Politics

Net net … nothing?

Posted on February 9, 2018 by grim

From the Washington Post: Predictions of a crash in housing prices have not come true Were fears overblown that changes to the federal tax law would trigger plunging home values? You might recall the scary predictions that began coming last … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Employment, Housing Recovery, Politics | 213 Comments

Taxing to fix the tax problem

Posted on January 26, 2018 by grim

From City Journal: New Jersey’s Tired Tax Tricks “New Jersey needs tax reform to guarantee relief from soaring taxes.” That was the plea Brendan Byrne, a Democratic former governor of the Garden State, made 43 years ago to a group … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 157 Comments

Looks like we got a loophole

Posted on January 24, 2018 by grim

From Bloomberg: State Tax Workarounds Could Mean $154 Billion Lost to Treasury New York state lawmakers could punch a $50.6 billion hole in the federal government’s budget by revamping their state income tax. If California followed the same approach, its … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, NYC, Politics, Property Taxes, Unrest | 88 Comments

So what’s this all mean for fifteen?

Posted on January 18, 2018 by grim

From the Washington Post: Minimum wage, sick leave, ethics top Murphy’s agenda Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy spent his first full day on the job Wednesday rallying for a $15 minimum wage and statewide paid sick leave, holding a … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Unrest | 185 Comments

The death spiral continues

Posted on January 17, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Ex-N.J. attorney general.: How Murphy can make state more affordable It’s become a ritual of gubernatorial transition in New Jersey: the incoming governor expresses “shock” at the dismal state of New Jersey’s finances, thus setting up … Continue reading →

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

Make NJ Cool Again

Posted on January 16, 2018 by grim

From the APP: Phil Murphy wants to spark NJ economy, but how? New Jersey’s economy looks far different than it did when the Great Recession struck a decade ago, but its long-standing problems are firmly in place, academic and business … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 87 Comments

NJ Democrats face existential crisis

Posted on January 15, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Democrats take control … of empty treasury | Moran After Gov. Chris Christie hands off to Phil Murphy in two days, liberals in New Jersey will be unleashed to do as they please, with unchecked power … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Unrest, Where's the Beef? | 59 Comments

Pyrrhic victory?

Posted on January 9, 2018 by grim

From the Star Ledger: N.J. Legislature clears way for $5B in Amazon tax breaks The state Legislature on Monday embraced Gov. Chris Christie’s plan to offer Amazon $100,000 per job it creates should it build its sought-after second headquarters in … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 88 Comments

Parting shot or return to ugly reality?

Posted on January 8, 2018 by grim

From Pensions and Investments: Fiscal woes greeting N.J. governor New Jersey’s Republican state treasurer sharply reduced the New Jersey Pension Fund’s assumed rate of return, producing a financial and political dilemma for Gov.-elect Phil Murphy, a Democrat, who will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 110 Comments

Loopholes and tax cuts

Posted on January 1, 2018 by grim

From the NYT: Democrats in High-Tax States Plot to Blunt Impact of New Tax Law Democrats in high-cost, high-tax states are plotting ways to do what their states’ representatives in Congress could not: blunt the impact of the newly passed … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 120 Comments

Stick it to Trump by paying early?

Posted on December 28, 2017 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Christie orders N.J. towns to accept 2018 property tax prepayments New Jerseyans rushing to their town halls this week in hopes of immediately paying next year’s property tax bills before the new federal tax law kicks … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 86 Comments

Will NJ home prices fall?

Posted on December 27, 2017 by grim

From NJTV: Tax reform throws NJ real estate market into period of uncertainty The president gathered a crowd outside the White House to celebrate the new tax plan last week. Republicans cheered the new order, but across New Jersey homeowners … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 170 Comments

Give NJ even more money?

Posted on December 20, 2017 by grim

From NJBIZ: New Jerseyans need to prepay real estate, local taxes before year’s end, say accountants New tax reform laws could spur New Jerseyans – retirees in particular – to sell their homes and move into rental spaces, according to … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 170 Comments

Hey Murphy – want to stick it to Trump?

Posted on December 19, 2017 by grim

From Bloomberg: These Are the Tricks States May Use to Get Around the SALT Deduction Exploiting tax loopholes is a sport associated with rich people and their fancy accountants. State governments may have to start getting fancy, too. Republican Senate … Continue reading →

Posted in National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 185 Comments

“No one gets creamed more than New Jersey from this tax bill”

Posted on December 18, 2017 by grim

From the NY Times: In One New Jersey Town, Pending Tax Changes Create Anxiety Politically speaking, Livingston is not the bluest of the suburbs surrounding New York City. But there are few places where people are feeling any more anxious … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 126 Comments