The number of contracts to buy previously owned homes rose more than forecast in November, a sign sales are recovering following a plunge after the expiration of a tax credit. The index of pending resales increased 3.5 percent after jumping a record 10 percent in October, the National Association of Realtors said Thursday in Washington…. Read more »
Monthly Archives: December 2010
Commercial Real Estate Market Improving in US
Ross Moore has changed his outlook for the better in these last few weeks of 2010. As national chief economist for commercial real estate services company Colliers International, Moore follows about 100 economic indicators that keep his finger on the pulse of the economy and the commercial real estate industry. And since the beginning of… Read more »
Is US Real Estate Market In For Double Dip?
Housing markets have taken a turn for the worse, with the widely followed S&P/Case-Shiller index declining more than analysts had forecast in October, lending credence to the housing bears who have predicted a double dip. The real-estate sector has been one of the sticking points in the Fed and the government’s attempts to revive the… Read more »
Where is the San Diego Real Estate Market Going in 2011?
It’s that time of the year: The real estate industry is rolling out the shop-worn playbook of optimistic forecasts for the New Year. In San Diego these canned phrases are: Solid signs of a firming market, With interest rates near all-time lows, Buying now is a no-brainer, Get in now, before the huge pent-up demand… Read more »
Today’s Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Michael McDonald, Santa Cruz, CA
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly Santa Criz Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Buying or selling a home often means a major life change. Michael feels privileged to serve his clients in this… Read more »
Tucson’s Retail Real Estate Market Recovering
As 2010 comes to a close, many of the gaping holes in shopping centers across Tucson have been filled. Burlington Coat Factory settled into a 65,000-square-foot space once occupied by Dillard’s at El Con Mall. Peter Piper Pizza opened a massive, 20,000-square-foot parlor across the street from Park Place in space vacated by bankrupt fabric… Read more »
What Do San Francisco’s Year End Prices Say About 2011 Real Estate Market?
With December upon us, we look back at 2010 to assess San Francisco’s real estate market, not only to see what was, but to predict what will be. Online brokerage Redfin has released its final quarter data, among it this graph showing the price San Francisco properties commanded per square foot. The graph, which correlates… Read more »
After Two Months, New Orleans Real Estate Records 85% Restored
The New Orleans civil court clerk says about 85 percent of the real estate records lost in an October computer crash have been restored. Clerk Dale Atkins also said that the original estimates of how much information was lost were greatly overstated. Instead of the 60,000 conveyance records Atkins first reported missing, she now estimates… Read more »
Real Estate Negotiation Tips
Find out as much as you can about who you’ll be negotiating with before you start the process. Sellers need to know if the buyers are financially qualified to close a deal. Most sellers get hung up on the price. But, the highest price doesn’t always come from a buyer that can actually close the… Read more »
Summer Real Estate Sales in Ogunquit in 2010 Much Improved
Summer 2010, at least compared to the previous summer, was very good to the real estate market in Ogunquit. The total value of sales of houses and condominiums there grew by almost 200 percent, according to an analysis of data contained in declaration of sales on file with the town. In neighboring Wells, total sales… Read more »
Would Legalizing Gay Marriage Lower Mortgage Rates?
In an interview conducted by Lori Hahn with M.V. Badgett, author of When Gay People Get Married, Dr. Badgett discusses how the Dr.’s homeland of the Netherlands gives 3/4 of the rights and benefits to gay couples simply if they live together.  From the article it can be construed that by including the right to marry for… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Philip Altland, New York
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly New York City Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Philip has been in business since 1978. Douglas Elliman is the largest residential real estate firm in New York… Read more »
Ask An Expert: Still a Good Time to Refinance?
Have a question about the housing or mortgage markets? Louis Spagnuolo of WCS Lending in Boca Raton has answers. To submit a question that Louis may answer next week, click here. Q: With interest raising rising for the past month, has the window closed to refinance my home? — Neil A: There’s no question interest… Read more »
World’s Top Ten Most Expensive Real Estate Markets
Today we are returning to our series of top ten lists, relating to real estate. Below, we have excerpted People’s Daily Online lists the most expensive real estate markets in the world, from Mumbai to Monte Carlo. 10. Mumbai, India: 851 U.S. dollars per square foot. Same amount of land+ growing population = high rent…. Read more »
US Foreclosure Rates Plunged in November
RealtyTrac, the mortgage research firm, reports that foreclosures fell sharply in November. It may be a sign that the housing market has hit bottom. The company said, “its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for November 2010, which shows foreclosure filings  default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions  were reported on 262,339 U.S. properties in… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Nicholas Yale, Phoenix, Arizona
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly Phoenix Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Nicholas is a Realtor with Realty Executives Realty in Phoenix, Arizona. He has worked in the Phoenix real estate market since… Read more »
Seattle Real Estate Sales Enter Winter Decline (Interactive Map)
A couple days ago Redfin released their November market data. Here’s an excerpt from the narrative: While median prices might be holding steady the time it takes to close has been lengthening. “About half of the buyers I’ve been working with have had their loans extended, and this is pushing out the buyers’ closing date,”… Read more »
Real Estate Mortage Database Crash Still Lingers in New Orleans
Fifty days after the real estate database crash in New Orleans, it appears the ground breaking for the new LSU teaching hospital, set for this month, will have to be delayed since a database fix isn’t expected until January 2. According to the state, more than half the land needed for the project, can’t be… Read more »
Chicago Real Estate Market Improves
In about a week and a half the Illinois Association of Realtors will be releasing the home sale statistics for Chicago, the region, and the state. Once again the actual closings will be abysmal relative to last November. I estimate that they will report sales down about 40% from last year – with their usual… Read more »
St. Petersburg’s Gay Community Growing
Although Florida’s fourth-largest city has seen a minimal increase in population over the past 30 years, this sunny metropolis on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico has changed a great deal demographically. Once unflatteringly dubbed “God’s Waiting Room” for its predominant retirement-age population, the city and surrounding beach towns have become… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: David Maplesden, Takoma Park, MD
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly Location Realtors and Real Estate Professionals in Maryland David is originally from Brighton, England, in the United Kingdom. He’s been licensed as a Washington, DC Realtor since… Read more »
Great Deals in the Vancouver Real Estate Market
If you’re looking to purchase, sell or rent apartments, condos, town houses or lofts, the very best place to look is the Vancouver real estate marketplace. It is a large thriving marketplace with properties to fit just about any pocket. To get the best real estate deals, it is essential that you hire the services… Read more »
Vancouver: New Lesbian West End Residents Association Leader Talks Affordable Housing
At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news to share with you about the gay real estate market – both lgbt real estate news and news specific to gay and lesbian real estate meccas. She’s the first female and gay president of the West End Residents Association. Christine Ackermann was elected at WERA’s annual general… Read more »
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand a Great Place to Live for Most Gays
Welcoming and open-minded or parochial and exclusive? Caitlin Nobes talks to gay and lesbian people about their experiences in Hawke’s Bay. People move to Hawk”s Bay from cities for the lifestyle – the sun, sand, wine, and food. But for gay or lesbian people, how does life in the provinces compare to the big cities?… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jeff Lempke, Delray Beach, Florida
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly West Palm Beach Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Jeff is a Multi-Million Dollar Producer, and is dedicated to making the negotiation process as easy as possible for… Read more »
Gay Realty Watch: Seattle Posts Strong Waterfront Real Estate Sales
At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news to share with you about the gay real estate market – both lgbt real estate news and news specific to gay and lesbian real estate meccas. Seattle waterfront real estates sales are finishing out a strong year, with five November sales of waterfront homes. That number brings… Read more »
Gay Realty Watch: New York Woman Sentenced in Real Estate Ponzi Scheme
At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news to share with you about the gay real estate market – both lgbt real estate news and news specific to gay and lesbian real estate meccas. PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ANTOINETTE HODGSON was sentenced yesterday in… Read more »
Gay Real Estate: New Zealand Real Estate Market Improving
At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news to share with you about the gay real estate market – both lgbt real estate news and news specific to gay and lesbian real estate meccas. Residential property prices in New Zealand are beginning to stabilize but are still 5.6% below the market peak in 2007, according… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Bobby Peebles, Phoenix, Arizona
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly Phoenix Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Bobby puts a lot of effort into his client relationshipts, working to locate the perfect dream home or investment property for… Read more »
New Zealand Gay Couple Alleges Bias in Building Permit Dispute
A gay couple who run a five-star bed and breakfast in Queenstown claim “bias and bigotry” are behind their neighbours’ opposition to their resource consent for building rights on an adjoining block. Mike Harris and Bill Bailey run the White Shadows Country Inn in Hunter Rd, off Malaghans Rd between Queenstown and Arrowtown. They have… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Ann Leviton, St. Paul, Minnesota
Periodically we’ll feature one of our real estate professionals here to let our readers know about some great Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, and Other Real Estate Professionals. Gay Friendly Location Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Ann earned her Minnesota real estate sales license back in in 1994, and became an ERA Dakota-Metro Realty agent shortly after…. Read more »
Refinancing Tips for Gay/Lesbian Homeowners
Mortgage interest rates recently fell so low that they broke all-time historical records, and rates have managed to remain extremely cheap and attractive for the past couple of months. Even before they shattered those longstanding records mortgage rates were already a bargain, however, and in this kind of highly appealing and extremely rare mortgage environment… Read more »
