Category Archives: Politics

Value in consolidation or just smoke and mirrors?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by grim

From the Star Ledger: At Caldwell town hall meeting, Christie calls on N.J. towns to share services Gov. Chris Christie today told a hospitable audience at the Caldwell Community Center that after school funding, the duplication of municipal services is … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 117 Comments

What’s our cut of the settlement?

Posted on February 9, 2012 by grim

From the Daily Record: NJ gets $837.7M in nationwide mortgage and foreclosure settlement New Jersey’s share of the $25 billion mortgage settlement announced Thursday is expected to bring financial relief to at least some of the state’s homeowners who are … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing Recovery, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Risky Lending | 117 Comments

Which gets cut: Income taxes or property taxes?

Posted on January 27, 2012 by grim

From Bloomberg: Christie Pushes Income-Tax Cut as Democrats Eye Property Levies Governor Chris Christie told a group of business leaders that Democrats in the Legislature may jeopardize New Jersey’s economic recovery by putting social issues ahead of job-creation and tax … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 283 Comments

Mortgage settlement near?

Posted on January 24, 2012 by grim

From Bloomberg: Bank Foreclosure Deal Reviewed by States as Delaware Drops Out State attorneys general reviewed a proposed settlement with banks over foreclosure and mortgage- servicing practices that negotiators are pressing to complete as Delaware said it would reject a … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreclosures, Housing Recovery, Politics | 167 Comments

I’d like a tax cut, but can we afford it?

Posted on January 19, 2012 by grim

From the APP: Gov. Christie takes rosy look at state revenues By calling for a 10 percent income tax cut, Gov. Chris Christie must believe boom times are coming to state finances. Because with the scheduled increases for pension payments … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 149 Comments

2010 – Lowest property tax increases since 1992

Posted on January 9, 2012 by grim

From the Star Ledger: Special Report: Did N.J. property tax reform help most taxpayers? New Jersey homeowners paid an average of 2.4 percent more for property taxes in 2011, the smallest increase in nearly two decades, showing Gov. Chris Christie’s … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 135 Comments

Farmland assessment must be fixed

Posted on December 2, 2011 by grim

The fix is simple, adjust the $500 minimum requirement (in 1964 dollars) for inflation, and ensure it adjusts for inflation every year going forward. $500 was a significant sum … in 1964 when the original law was passed. Had the … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 203 Comments

Princetons to merge – A new trend for NJ?

Posted on November 9, 2011 by grim

From Bloomberg: Two Princeton Towns in New Jersey Vote in Favor of Consolidation Voters in the two New Jersey towns that share the Princeton name with the Ivy League university approved a ballot measure to merge. The proposal to combine … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 190 Comments

Support for O’s housing bailout already waining

Posted on September 13, 2011 by grim

From CNBC: ‘Friction’ in Obama’s Refi Proposal The response to President Obama’s recent proposal to refinance more borrowers into lower interest rate mortgages was at best underwhelming and at worst scathing. The plan would expand the government’s so-far disappointing, Home … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, National Real Estate, Politics | 129 Comments

The cost of open space

Posted on March 14, 2011 by grim

From the Star Ledger: In many N.J. towns that undergo revaluations, homeowners end up paying more open space taxes In the nation’s most densely populated state, Garden State residents value their space. But they may not be so thrilled about … Continue reading →

Posted in New Jersey Real Estate, Politics, Property Taxes | 219 Comments

How many bailouts need to fail before they realize it won’t work?

Posted on March 9, 2011 by grim

From CNBC: More Borrowers Underwater: Why We Should Care Falling home prices at the turn of the year pushed more borrowers into a negative equity position, meaning they owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. In Q4, … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Housing Bubble, National Real Estate, Politics | 87 Comments

Goodbye 30 year?

Posted on March 4, 2011 by grim

From the NY Times (Hat tip Shore): Without Loan Giants, 30-Year Mortgage May Fade Away How might home buying change if the federal government shuts down the housing finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage loan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Mortgages, National Real Estate, Politics | 188 Comments

No more mortgage interest deduction?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by grim

From HousingWire: Mortgage interest tax deduction may be in danger President Obama’s 2012 budget proposes an across-the-board 30% cut to itemized deductions for high-income taxpayers. This includes the mortgage interest tax deduction. Currently, interest on a mortgage taken out to … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, National Real Estate, Politics | 115 Comments

Sell Hamptons, buy LBI, and move your pied-a-terre to Hoboken

Posted on February 11, 2011 by grim

From the WSJ: Out-of-State Owners Could Face Tax Bill Connecticut and New Jersey residents with a Hamptons summer cottage or a Manhattan pied-a-terre are about to get a nasty surprise: New York state wants more taxes from them. A New … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, New Jersey Real Estate, Politics | 139 Comments

No easy choices for Paterson (The shape of things to come?)

Posted on February 4, 2011 by grim

From the Record (Hat tip Gator!): Paterson officials will argue to limit tax increase City officials will travel to Trenton on Monday to plead their case for a lighter municipal tax increase. The state Department of Community Affairs, which must … Continue reading →

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