Category Archives: Politics

Flooding kicks off new wave of Blue Acres buyouts

Posted on February 13, 2024 by grim

From ABC News: Flood-stricken New Jersey residents look into government-funded home buyout program The flooding in parts of New Jersey over the past few months left mounts of headaches for residents. Countless residents from those affected areas came out to … Continue reading →

Posted in Crisis, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Unrest | 77 Comments

NYC’s rent controlled time bomb

Posted on February 11, 2024 by grim

From Bloomberg: Why NYC Apartment Buildings Are on Sale Now for 50% Off Even in the crisp afternoon sunlight, the two-bedroom Manhattan apartment has a ghostly pallor, its cracked walls yellowing like an ancient black-and-white photograph. Paint chips are falling from … Continue reading →

Posted in Crisis, Demographics, Economics, NYC, Politics, Price Reduced | 55 Comments

Best geopolitical news in a decade

Posted on February 8, 2024 by grim

Has nothing to do with real estate, but our neighbors on this side of the world really should be our strongest trade partners. From Quartz: The US imported more from Mexico than China for the first time in decades For … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Politics, Unrest | 106 Comments

Blame taxes for the inventory?

Posted on January 30, 2024 by grim

From CNN: Boomers are not moving out of their big homes. Here’s why After 33 years and four children, Baby Boomers Marta and Octavian Dragos say they feel trapped in what was once their dream home in El Cerrito, California. … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, Politics, Property Taxes | 94 Comments

NJ Homes for $1

Posted on January 29, 2024 by grim

From Patch: $1 Homes For Sale In Newark; Public Lottery Will Mark Milestone Buy a house for a buck? That’s the dream that’s about to become reality for some lucky Newark families on Monday, when the city launches its first … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 64 Comments

Cheers!

Posted on January 19, 2024 by grim

From 42 Freeway: New Jersey Liquor License Overhaul Signed.  Much More To It Than The Press Release So it’s clear that New Jersey lawmakers are not happy that over 1,500 full alcohol plenary licenses are sitting unused for years, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 57 Comments

Online gaming not good for the economy?

Posted on January 7, 2024 by grim

Who could’a knew? From Gambling News: Report Argues New Jersey iGaming Has Harmed the Economy The gambling industry can provide significant economic boosts to certain areas, creating new jobs and generating millions in tax money. This argument continues to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Employment, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 17 Comments

No unintended consequences here…

Posted on December 13, 2023 by grim

From the NJ Monitor: N.J. Senate approves penalties for discriminatory real estate appraisals Senate lawmakers approved a bill Monday that would create steep penalties for real estate appraisers who undervalue homes because of the owner or buyer’s protected characteristics, with Republican critics … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Politics | 97 Comments

Pretty sure this won’t end well, whichever way it goes

Posted on December 12, 2023 by grim

From Yahoo Finance: ‘Stay Out Of The Markets’ — Kevin O’Leary Urges Government To Not Get Involved In Housing — Says New Bill That Would Ban Hedge Funds From Buying Homes ‘Is Very, Very Bad And Destructive’ Real estate investors … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, Politics | 9 Comments

Don’t let the money leave

Posted on December 8, 2023 by grim

From ROINJ: Murphy appoints new task force designed to cut property bills in half for New Jersey seniors A new task force charged with cutting property tax bills in half for New Jersey seniors has been created, according to a … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 146 Comments

Please don’t raise rates

Posted on October 12, 2023 by grim

From CNBC: Housing industry urges Powell to stop raising interest rates or risk an economic hard landing Top real estate and banking officials are calling on the Federal Reserve to stop raising interest rates as the industry suffers through surging … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Mortgages, Politics | 114 Comments

All your money are belong to us

Posted on September 24, 2023 by grim

From CNBC: These are the U.S. states with the highest property taxes—New York and California aren’t in the top 10

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 46 Comments

You’ll need to find another way to launder money

Posted on August 11, 2023 by grim

From Reuters: US set to unveil long-awaited crackdown on real estate money laundering The U.S. Treasury Department will soon propose a rule that would effectively end anonymous luxury-home purchases, closing a loophole that the agency says allows corrupt oligarchs, terrorists … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, Politics | 74 Comments

Fed presses pause

Posted on June 15, 2023 by grim

From CNN: The Fed holds rates steady, pausing its rate-hiking campaign The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would pause its historic rate-hiking campaign as it waits for the effects to trickle further through the economy, but signaled that additional rate hikes are … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Employment, Mortgages, National Real Estate, Politics | 93 Comments

Filling it in

Posted on June 12, 2023 by grim

From the Jersey Journal: Jersey City considers allowing ‘cottage’ industry that could ease city’s housing dilemma Need a little extra income? Looking to move an aging relative or out-of-work college grad back home, but just don’t have the room? Jersey … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Development, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 49 Comments