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 Raleigh, North Carolina Realtors and Real Estate Professionals I’m in this business because I thrill at being able to find the neighborhood and perfect home for my… Read more »
Los Angeles: South Bay Real Estate Slows Down in April
The local housing market remained slow in April, as the real estate market continued its choppy recovery. Prices and inventories were down in the South Bay – excluding the Palos Verdes Peninsula and Inglewood. The median price of a single- family home was $505,000 in April, a 14 percent drop from the same month a… Read more »
MA: Foreclosures Dropped Sharply in April
For the month of April, Massachusetts foreclosure activity remained at levels dramatically below those recorded last year, according to data released this week by the Warren Group, a Boston-based real estate data provider. However foreclosure petitions, which mark the first step in the foreclosure process in the Bay State, posted their highest number so far… Read more »
US: Real Estate Recovery Delayed Until 2014?
More than half U.S. homeowners and renters say housing won’t recover until at least 2014, reflecting a deepening pessimism about the real estate market, according to a survey by Trulia Inc. and RealtyTrac Inc. The survey, taken in April, found that 54 percent of respondents don’t expect a recovery for at least three years, up… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Wesley Gleason, San Miguel de Allende
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 Mexico Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Wesley knows San Miguel inside and out, and would love to assist you in purchasing property here. He spent his first… Read more »
Repercussions of Real Estate Downturn Will Linger for Years
The repercussions of the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression continue to ripple through multifamily and commercial property markets, and real estate agents and brokers helping their clients manage their investments need to stay on top of economic, regulatory, and legislative issues affecting lending, tax policy, health care and energy. Charles Achilles, chief legislative… Read more »
Eastern Ontario Real Estate Sales Plunged in April
The bottom at least temporarily fell out of the local real estate market during what the president of the local real estate board called an unusual month. However, Doug Paterson said he remained confident the coming months would see a turnaround for local realtors. April featured a 100-unit plunge in property sales registered on the… Read more »
Turning Real Estate in Mexico Into a Good Investment
Many people buying Mexico real estate as a vacation property or for retirement like to see their property as an investment; while there is a very strong aspect of lifestyle investment, as well as the large savings enjoyed in comparison to owning a vacation property or retiring in the U.S. or Canada, a true investment… Read more »
NJ: Real Estate Rebound Postponed to 2013?
New Jersey real estate pros are reading tea leaves, searching for positive signs — anything remotely positive, really — that point to a rebound in the state’s tortured housing market. They want to tell home buyers and sellers there is hope, so they point to trends ticking slightly upward: low mortgage rates that indicate it’s… Read more »
MT: Great Falls Real Estate Market Improving
It’s been the best of times and the worst of times the last few years for residential real estate transactions in Great Falls. It’s a good time to buy or sell a house in the first-time buyer range of less than $200,000, Great Falls real estate brokers say, but a slow time to unload upper… Read more »
Southern California Home Sales at Lowest Level in 3 Years in April
Southern California home sales fell to the lowest level in three years for the month of April, according to DataQuick who monitors real estate activity nationwide. Distressed sales, Foreclosures and Short Sales, were down slightly. April marked the 10th consecutive month in which Southland sales fell year-over-year. The median price paid for all new and… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Andy Kogan, Kansas City
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 Missouri Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Andy is a Realtor with Weichert(R), Realtor’s, Sharon Sigman Five Star. He is a Kansas City native, and is very experienced… Read more »
Lots of Real Estate Inventory on Vancouver Island
Slow and steady wins the race. At least, that was the lesson from The Tortoise and the Hare, and it might be the only consolation for Vancouver Island realtors and home sellers comparing their market conditions to those of the Lower Mainland. While sales activity and prices in Greater Vancouver are surging, the market in… Read more »
How Much Does Buyer Psychology Influence Continuing Real Estate Slump?
The housing market remains soft, so we’re told, and the best minds of central economic planning are struggling to understand why and what new government gimmicks can be applied. I’m wondering if former homeowner sentiment has been factored in. This article from Zillow says that approximately 37 percent of home sellers are selling at a… Read more »
Renting in Toronto’s Gay Village
It’s the kind of day photographers love. A soft, grey, late afternoon light gives the view of downtown Toronto from Sonja Scharf and Kelly Kyle’s south-facing, 20-by-20 foot deck a haunting glow reminiscent of photographer Bret Culp’s show, currently featured in the gallery at their year-old business, Akasha Art Projects, a framing and installation shop… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Marjorie Fiorenza, Carmel, 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 Central California Coast Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Marge has worked in the California real estate market for over twenty seven years, and would love to be… Read more »
Affordable Vacation Properties Not Without Risk
Home prices continue to fall across the country, and vacation properties are no exception. Thanks to the real estate bust, bargains abound in many popular vacation and second-home markets. Although these properties are available at attractive prices – close to their five-year lows in some areas – the bargain prices may come with adverse trade-offs…. Read more »
Toronto Home Sales Down from Last April, But Prices Up
Greater Toronto realtors reported interesting results this past April. Deals were completed on 9,041 homes, representing a 17% decline compared with April 2010 when sales spiked to a new record. Looking at April 2011 sales from a longer-term perspective, the level of transactions were in line with the April average over the previous five years…. Read more »
San Francisco: As Gay Businesses Close, is The Castro Going Straight?
There’s an old saying in San Francisco: Market Street is straight, until it reaches the Castro. Cartographically true, it refers to the city’s famously gay mecca. But these days, there are concerns that the neighborhood is becoming slightly less bent. A Different Light Bookstore, which specialized in gay and lesbian literature for 26 years, shut… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Brian Elder, Toronto
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 Brian has been successfully assisting clients buy and sell homes within the many unique and exciting neighbourhoods of Toronto since 1991…. Read more »
Canada: Quebec Foreclosure Rates Drop
The number of properties that went into foreclosure, or were seized by mortgage lenders because of non-payment of debt, fell by 15 per cent in Quebec last year to 2,356. That compared with 2,782 properties seized in 2009. The findings were reported recently by economist Paul Cardinal of the Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards…. Read more »
NC: Coastal Real Estate Market Improving
Area businesspeople are looking forward to more activity this summer. Some are even confident enough, or at least venturesome enough, to invest in more merchandise and even remodeling. Meanwhile, real estate sales have also improved. … Along with the retail side of business, prospects have also been improving for the real estate market. According to… Read more »
VA: Hampton Roads Real Estate Stagnant
Peninsula-area home sales in April were flat, compared to April 2010, while the median sales price dipped nearly 9 percent to $178,000. About 40 percent of last month’s sales across Hampton Roads were distressed sales, such as bank-owned homes and short sales, according to the Real Estate Information Network Inc.’s monthly report. And that’s an… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jose Castillo, Fort Lauderdale
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 Fort Lauderdale Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Jose takes great pride on his knowledge of the Fort Lauderdale real estate market, and of the inns and outs… Read more »
CA: Sacramento Real Estate Continues Decline
Around this time last year, a number of experts said the housing market had finally hit bottom. Turns out those were just branches on the way down. New figures released this week show that median sales prices continue to fall across the region and nationwide as distressed properties maintain their grip on the market. So… Read more »
Northern Virginia Real Estate Prices, Sales Drop in April
In a word, the performance of the Arlington real estate market in April was dreadful. But there are some explanations in order. Home sales for the month totaled 209, a whopping 28 percent decline from the 289 transactions recorded a year before, according to figures reported May 10 by RealEstate Business Intelligence, an arm of… Read more »
US: Ten Real Estate Markets Hardest Hit By the Great Recession Named
Homeowners in ten cities across America have seen the value of their properties drop by up to 69 per cent in just five years as prices continue to plummet. The news comes just days after real estate data firm Zillow announced home values fell by three per cent in the last quarter, the biggest decline… Read more »
US: What’s Next for Home Prices?
The news today is that the value of your most valuable asset is in trouble again. A report from website Zillow, which lets you look up what your house is worth, says that home prices in the US fell 3% in the first quarter. Worse, Zillow says housing prices could fall as much as 9%… Read more »
Zillow: Denver Real Estate Prices at 2000 Levels
Today’s report by Zillow.co shows that the overall value of a home sold in the Denver area in March is $192,300, the lowest point since December 2000. However, as the saying goes, all real estate is local, and there are wide differences even in a local market. When Zillow, the real estate website, drilled into… Read more »
MN: Twin Cities Real Estate Hasn’t Hit Bottom Yet, Zillow Says
Twin Cities home values fell 15 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier to a median of $159,000. That’s according to a Zillow report released today predicting that the housing market will bottom out next year at the earliest. The Twin Cities first-quarter value fell more steeply than the nation overall. Nationally, home… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jeff Escher, Rockville, 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 Maryland Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Jeff Escher is a full-time Realtor who specializes in working with first-time homebuyers and move-up sellers in Montgomery County and NW… Read more »
Phoenix Offers Some of the Best Real Estate Deals in the US
Phoenix is one of the many Sun Belt cities where housing markets have taken a big hit during the recent real estate bust, with residential prices down nearly 45 percent since 2006. That, plus high foreclosure and vacancy rates, make for a dismal market for sellers. For homebuyers, of course, it’s a very different story,… Read more »
Vacation Rental Market May Not Recover For Years
The buyers’ market for vacation homes is likely to continue for years, with activity largely limited to buyers with enough cash to circumvent a tighter, post-recession lending environment. Thirty-six percent of all vacation-home buyers in 2010 did not use a mortgage — versus 29 percent the year before — while more than half of them… Read more »
Mortgage Buyers Losing Out to Cash Buyers
For home buyers who need to finance their purchase using a mortgage, a cash buyer can be their worst enemy. That’s because when a buyer makes a cash offer, the seller knows it’s a solid deal–and that financing hiccups won’t delay a closing. Sometimes, that’s enough for the seller to accept a lower bid for… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Bonnie Roseman, Portland, Oregon
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 Portland, Oregon Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Bonnie was born in Philadelphia, and grew up in Berkeley. She moved up to Portland, Oregon in 1990 and has… Read more »
NH: Condo Sales Lead Sluggish Seacoast Real Estate Market
April sales of single-family condominium units led a lukewarm Seacoast spring real estate market, according to monthly statistics of the 13 sample towns released by the Seacoast Board of Realtors this week. The sample towns are Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, New Castle, Newington, North Hampton, Portsmouth, Rye, Stratham, Exeter, Newfields, Newmarket and Seabrook. Condominium sales,… Read more »
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Weakened in Central Michigan
Central Michigan real estate agents suffered through the worst first quarter of the century so far, with home sales in the Gratiot-Isabella region 15 percent below the five-year average. January started out a little above average, but the pace of home sales began to weaken in February, according to figures released by the Michigan Association… Read more »
MI: Madonna’s Childhood Home For Sale
Madonna’s childhood home in Michigan has been placed on the market for a paltry $48,600. The pop superstar spent her youth in the four-bedroom Rochester Hills house with her parents and six brothers and sisters before relocating to New York in her search for fame and fortune. At Gay Realty Watch, we look for news… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Tim Singer, Fort Lauderdale
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 Fort Lauderdale Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Tim is a Fort Lauderdale area realtor with a staff of full-time Ft. Lauderdale real estate professionals, and is very… Read more »
Seattle Real Estate Sales, Prices Slipped in April
How did King County’s real-estate market perform in April? That depends on where you look — and whom you ask. Countywide, the number of houses sold and the median price they fetched both fell nearly 7 percent from April 2010’s figures, according to statistics released Thursday by the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Last month’s median… Read more »
New Jersey High-End Real Estate Top Heavy
WHEN a newly built house beside the beach in Sea Girt went into contract for $3.6 million last month, it was sort of a good news-bad news occurrence, in the eyes of real estate brokers and agents. The good news — obviously — was the handsome price, fetched in a market overflowing with expensive homes… Read more »
Connecticut’s High End Real Estate Showing Improvement
CONNECTICUT’S housing market went into hibernation during the first quarter of 2011 as sales took a dive and prices continued to deteriorate. Blame the harsh weather, says Candace Adams, the president of Prudential Connecticut Realty. “There’s always the unpredictable,” Ms. Adams said, “and for us, what I will call the Black Swan of 2011 was… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: John Giardina, Pasadena, 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 os Angeles Area Realtors and Real Estate Professionals John has always loved music, and has sung professionally around the United States, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. John… Read more »
FL: Sarasota Real Estate Market Has Slight Dip in April
Closings for Sarasota residential real estate showed a 9 percent decrease in April compared to March. The decrease, however, is not indicative of a destabilization again in the market but rather an annual trend. March typically is the peak month each year for property sales in Sarasota. A total of 474 residential properties were closed… Read more »
US: Pushed By Foreclosures, Home Prices Go Into Double Dip
Home prices have double dipped nationwide, now lower than their March 2009 trough, according to a new report from Clear Capital. It was inevitable, and it was predicted (by me for sure) that a surge in sales of foreclosed properties and a big push by banks to facilitate short sales would force home prices down… Read more »
Seattle Real Estate Market Not As Hot As Advertised?
Real estate companies say heat is returning to the area’s housing market. But the numbers still don’t show it. “While buyers remain cautious, they are ready to pounce on attractive, well priced homes and the open house traffic is very heavy,” Mike Skahen, president of Seattle’s Lake & Co. Real Estate, said in a news… Read more »
OR: Central Coast Home Prices Almost Down to Great Recession Levels
Housing prices along Oregon’s central coast are falling, with “values nearly back to levels of the Great Recession,” according a recent 60 Minutes report and a closely watched real estate market that caters to the rich who can afford a summer beach home here; meanwhile, lower income people report mortgages are harder to come by… Read more »
Real Estate Dilemma: When Your Condo Neighbor is Into Leather
A new condo owner in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco is in a bind — he sunk all of his money into a place for himself and his 10-year-old son. But when he went to remove the carpeting, his downstairs neighbor informed him that he enjoys “leather sex” and that it would be… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Tim Tanz, St. Louis
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 Missouri Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Tim received his Missouri real estate license in 1997, and he gives his St. Louis real estate clients superior customer service… Read more »
Idaho: 6 Year Supply of Million Dollar Plus Homes on the Market
Real estate agents in northern Idaho say there is a six-year supply of homes valued at $1 million or more on the real estate market. The Spokesman-Review reports that in 2002, there were just four homes in the region listed for sale at more than $1 million, and just two sold. Compare that to last… Read more »
Calgary: April Sales Down Year Over Year
MLS sales for single-family homes and condos fell in April compared with a year ago, according to the Calgary Real Estate Board. In releasing its monthly data on Monday, CREB said single-family transactions were down nearly 10 per cent from April 2010 to 1,217 sales. However the average sale price rose by almost 4.2 per… Read more »
FL: Anna-Maria Island Real Estate Outpaces Mainland
Island real estate agents always say that the “Island is not the mainland” when it comes to comparing property sales between the two areas. This time, however, the Island and mainland could be on the same course for property sales. In fact, the Island could be outdistancing the mainland in sales. The Florida Association of… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Ken Calhoun, Fort Lauderdale
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 Fort Lauderdale Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Ken can help make your Fort Lauderdale real estate experience happier and almost stress-free. He listens to what his clients… Read more »
TN: After Flood of 2010, Nashville Homeowners Rebuilding, Upgrading Homes
Resiliency is the best word to use in considering the real estate market (and much more) after the Flood of 2010. Property owners and many others have lots of questions about what happens to the value of homes and other real estate directly affected by an event such as the flood. The answers are complicated,… Read more »
NY: Rochester Real Estate Prices Steady
As many housing markets across the country struggle mightily in the aftermath of the 2007-09 recession, home prices in the Rochester area remain solid and the real estate industry expects a pickup in activity this year after a mild slowdown. The fact that Rochester came through the recession in better shape economically than most metropolitan… Read more »
US: Pending Home Sales Rose Again in March
March saw another increase in pending home sales, with contract activity rising unevenly in six of the past nine months, according to the National Association of Realtors(R). The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 5.1 percent to 94.1 in March from a downwardly revised 89.5 in February. The index… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Denny Horner, Washington, DC
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 Washington DC Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Denny is one of the Washington DC area’s hardest working realtors. he has the education, skills, and knowledge to help… Read more »
Clearwater, Florida Real Estate Offers Miami Atmosphere at Cut-Rate Prices
If “south of the border” means either Arizona or Mexico to you, you’ll need to get out your map or Google this small, friendly city northwest of Miami. Clearwater has 106,081 residents on the Gulf Coast. The Tampa International Airport is just a 25-minute drive away. Famous for pristine beaches that stretch for miles, the… Read more »
Negotiating the New Normal in Real Estate
Most locals know that real estate prices have corrected significantly from their artificially high peak. As a result, the real estate landscape has changed–here’s how those changes may impact buyers and sellers. You may have heard that many homes today are “underwater”–but that isn’t a reference to flooded basements. It means that the house is… Read more »
Mortgage Crisis Mystery Solved: The Gays Did It
“Just as a child is far less likely to suffer abuse in the home of his/her married, heterosexual parents, so the opposite is true. Where the structure is sin-based, other sins are more likely to scurry in through the cracks. Substance abuse and self-destruction accompany sexual deviance. And some of this means poor decisions about… Read more »
Canadians Buying Up Arizona Real Estate
Residential property in Arizona continues to be a hot commodity for Canadians. According to the Canada Arizona Business Council, there has been a $1-million luxury home sold to a Canadian buyer every week in Arizona for nearly two years. “And the statistics does not reflect the total residential and commercial real estate categories where Canadians… Read more »
WA: Seattle Real Estate Market Heating Up
Wednesday afternoon, Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman posted an interesting story on Redfin’s Seattle blog: “Everything Changed in the Past Six Weeks” Bryon Ziegler, part of Redfin’s crack Capitol Hill team, just wandered into my office to talk about bidding wars. The last ten straight offers he has handled all turned into bidding wars. This isn’t… Read more »
Florida Home, Condo Sales Rose in March
Florida’s existing home and existing condo sales rose in March, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors(R). Existing home sales increased 12 percent last month with a total of 18,522 homes sold statewide compared to 16,540 homes sold in March 2010, according to Florida Realtors. Statewide sales of existing condos last month… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Sylvia Pardo, Asheville, NC
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 Western North Carolina Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Sylvia is an Asheville resident with an inside-out knowledge of her Fairview neighborhood and the rest of the Greater… Read more »
MA: Home Prices and Sales Dropped in March
Single-family home sales in Massachusetts declined in March when compared with the same month last year. The Massachusetts Association of Realtors said home sales fell 22.4 percent while The Warren Group – a real estate tracking firm – said sales dropped 14.4 percent. The two organizations use different numbers to track home sales. In Bristol… Read more »
Northern New Jersey Home Prices Still Shaky
Home prices dropped 3.1 percent from February 2010 to February 2011 in the New York metropolitan area, which includes North Jersey, the Standard & Poor’s Case-Shiller index reported Tuesday. Nationally, prices declined 3.3 percent. What it means: Prices and the number of sales have fallen dramatically in real estate since the housing boom of the… Read more »
NY: Brooklyn’s Gayest District Missing that Gay Vibe
The Columbia Street Waterfront District in Brooklyn boasts sweeping views of lower Manhattan, pleasant low-rise architecture and even a live poultry market. But it doesn’t have a single gay bar. Nor do rainbow-hued flags flutter outside the cafe, the antique shop or any of the other new businesses dotting the neighborhood’s main thoroughfare. And, for… Read more »
Oregon Real Estate Market Slowly Recovering
A new report out Wednesday says Oregon’s economy is recovering better than many have expected. But it projects that growth to slow over the next few months. The forecast comes from the Center for Economic Research and Forecasting at California Lutheran University. Bill Watkins is the Executive Director. He says the preliminary data show strong… Read more »
Real Estate Sales, Prices Fell in Riverside County in February
The median house price in Southwest Riverside County slipped to $200,500 in February as sales fell to a three-year low, according to data from the Riverside County assessor’s office. The median house price has lingered within a range of $200,000 to $215,000 for the 17th consecutive month, roughly the same value as in 2002. Buyers… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Amy Celeste Wilson, Jacksonville, 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 Northern Florida Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Amy Celeste was born and grew up in Atlantic Beach, Florida. She’s watched the Jacksonville area transform into one of… Read more »
Developer Plans New Condo Building in Downtown Miami
A family-run, South American residential development company is prepared to bet its fortune that the Greater Downtown Miami condo market is on the verge of entering a new growth phase in the real estate cycle. The development company, the Melo Group, founded by father Jose Luis Melo with sons Carlos and Martin, is moving forward… Read more »
After Crash, Many Americans Now Shun Homeownership
Victoria Pauli signed a one-year lease last week to stay in her rental home in Fair Oaks, Calif. She had considered buying in the area, where property prices have slumped 57 percent since a 2005 peak. In the end, she decided it was not worth it. “I know people who have watched their home values… Read more »
US: Nearly Half of All March Real Estate Sales Were Distressed Properties
Sales of distressed properties rose to 48.6 percent in March – the second highest level seen in the past 12 months, according to the Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey. The monthly survey of more than 3,000 real estate agents nationwide each month also found that demand among both current and first-time buyers declined slightly… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Bill Pearson, Denver
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 Denver Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Bill is a professional Denver real estate consultant, and client satisfaction is very important to him. Bill isn’t satisfied until his… Read more »
Northern New Jersey Real Estate Off to Slow Spring Start
To hear Realtors tell it, this is not your typical spring market. Some homes are being reduced by $50,000 to $100,000 in Montclair after sitting for weeks; others are simply not moving due to unrealistic pricetags. “In short, sell-through is low, meaning buyers are cautious and don’t see value and don’t want to fix/remodel anything… Read more »
WI: A Tale of Two Sides of the Street
Four years ago, the address West Burleigh Street at Highway 45 glistened with promise as a developer’s diamond in the rough. Swathes of land covered by asphalt, concrete, car dealer showrooms, mechanic garages and warehouses lured real estate investors to seal deals on acres that sold for slightly more than $200,000 to up to $1.32… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Sheila Barnard, Nashville
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 Tennessee Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Sheila is a 30-year resident of the Nashville area, and is very knowledgeable about the region. She knows what it means… Read more »
MN: Is Twin Cities Real Estate Finding the Bottom?
Falling sales prices, fewer new listings, fewer closed sales. The picture the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors paints of the local housing market in the first quarter of 2011 is, by most accounts, a grim one. The average sale price for homes in Inver Grove Heights stood at $192,654 in the first quarter of 2011… Read more »
British Housing Institute Publishes Guidelines for Housing Associations With LGBT Tenants
The Chartered Institute of Housing has published advice for housing associations on how to provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender tenants. The guide contains advice on how to meet the provisions of the Equality Act 2010, which is intended to simplify discrimination law and place sexuality on an equal footing with other characteristics… Read more »
Bulgaria, New Vacation Home Hot Spot for European Gay Couples?
The Sofia News Agency (www.novinite.com) reports many European gay couples, looking for a second home in sun, are heading for Bulgaria. Notaries have announced that properties along the picturesque Black Sea coast are said to be the top choice among Dutch, German and British same-sex families. Property prices there are relatively inexpensive, offering a great… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Robert H. Leininger, Baltimore
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 Robert is friendly, professional, and easy to work with – he has 24 years experience in banking and retail management, and… Read more »
US Census Reveals Ten US Cities With Most Gay/Lesbian Couples
The 2010 census marked the first time that same-sex married couples will be counted as such in the decennial population count. During the 2000 census, even when no state recognized same-sex marriages, many gay couples listed themselves as spouses; now that five states, plus the District of Columbia, issue licenses to same-sex couples, the bureau… Read more »
Tips for Gay/Lesbian Homesellers
Before potential buyers tour the home, a seller should take specific steps to help make a strong and positive impression. That will greatly improve the chances of getting a prompt purchase offer at a higher price. Here are some tips from experienced real estate professionals that can enhance success for sellers in any market —… Read more »
Sacramento Still Mired in Recession
Seemingly nothing trumps Sacramento’s economic misery. The latest statewide forecast released Tuesday by the Business Forecasting Center at the University of the Pacific in Stockton took special note that “the government and housing-dependent Sacramento economy remains the only area in Northern California still mired in recession.” “The gap between Sacramento and other areas that appeared… Read more »
Tampa Home Sales Surged in March
Tampa Bay’s existing home sales skyrocketed in March to levels not seen in nearly five years. Maybe even better news for homeowners is that average sale prices also rose last month in several area counties. Sales of previously occupied homes in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties jumped nearly 32 percent, from 3,258 in February to… Read more »
Four Great Places to Buy Gay Real Estate
As the springtime buying season begins, many popular LGBT destinations offer rare bargains and unique investment opportunities. Below are four that show exceptional promise according to the world’s biggest LGBT online real estate network, www.GayRealEstate.com. #4) Asheville, North Carolina: The housing market in Asheville has been somewhat overpriced in recent years and the job market… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Dan Joy, Oakland, 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 San Francisco Bay Area Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Dan combines business savvy with great people skills in the Oakland Real Estate Market. Dan has a Bachelor’s… Read more »
MA: Real Estate Along the Boston Marathon Route
The 26.2 mile Boston Marathon dashes past some of the priciest real estate on the planet. The race kicks off in middle class territory – Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham and Natick. But as the runners cross the Natick line into Wellesley, the median home price immediately doubles. And as they hit their stride, the Marathon runners… Read more »
US Real Estate: Where is the Bottom?
Over recent years, a favorite past time of most real estate shoppers, watchers, and pundits, has been to make multiple guesses as to when the market bottom has arrived, will arrive, or is arriving. Buyers who seek to time a market and purchase at the exact summit of the decline appear to be most interested… Read more »
US: Investors Bought a Million Homes in 2010, NAR Says
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), “nearly 1 million homes were bought as investment properties in 2010″[1]. While real estate investors and real estate agents have not always been the best of friends, this development has encouraged many realtors to extend their services to investors more willingly in hopes of also extending their… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Michael Wilcox, Vancouver, BC
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 British Columbia Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Michael prides himself on sharing his knowledge and passion for real estate with his clients. After living abroad for 4… Read more »
CA: Is Chatsworth Real Estate on the Mend?
Recession Over? Depends on Who You Ask So reads the title of a recent article by Mark Brenner on the website Labor Notes. The same could be said of Chatsworth’s housing market, except that it also depends upon which factors you’re looking at and the periods of time being compared. For instance, according to Trulia.com,… Read more »
March Brings Increase in Sales, Prices for Chicago Real Estate
The metropolitan Chicago real estate market saw more homes sold and at higher prices in March than in February of this year, according to an analysis by RE/MAX of sales data compiled by Midwest Real Estate Date, LLC. Overall, however, the 2011 housing market still lags behind the brisk pace set during the first six… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Frank Silva-Berger, Milwaukee
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 Wisconsin When buying or selling homes in Milwaukee’s real estate market, you need to be confident in your Milwaukee real… Read more »
CT: Hartford Area New Home Listings, Pending Sales Dip
Unemployment, shaky consumer confidence and a rough winter are among the factors that have slowed the real estate market lately, according to area real estate agents. Statistics for Greater Hartford show a decline in the number of new, single-family residential listings, as well as drops in pending and closed sales in the first two months… Read more »
Calgary Home Prices Rise Slightly
The average MLS sale price of a residential property in Calgary has increased slightly so far this year compared with 2010. The Canadian Real Estate Association reported Friday that year-to-date, for the first quarter of 2011, the average residential price was $398,558, up one per cent over the first quarter of 2010. In Calgary, sales… Read more »
BC: Vancouver Home Sales Jumped 30% in March
Sales of existing homes in Canada held steady in March from the previous month, with stable demand in most large urban centres, the Canadian Real Estate Association said Friday. On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, home sales edged up 0.1 per cent from February, CREA said. But Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist at BMO Capital… Read more »
TX: 40 Month Low for Dallas-Fort Worth Foreclosures
For the first time in more than THREE YEARS, foreclosures are diminishing in Dallas Fort Worth. George Roddy Sr. of Foreclosure Listing Service, Inc. reports some good news preceding the spring market: Dallas-Fort Worth residential foreclosure postings have dropped to a 40-month low. Roddy says that for the upcoming auctions on May 3, only 3,719… Read more »
Southern California Real Estate Market Still Weak in March
Southern California home sales turned in another lackluster month in March, the result of a fussy mortgage market, slow job growth and a continued wait-and-see attitude among potential buyers and sellers. There were signs, however, that the market was a little less dysfunctional than in recent months, a real estate information service reported. A total… Read more »
Beach House From “Beverly Hills 90210” on Market for $9 Million
Mention the ZIP code 90210 and it’s easily one of the most recognizable postal codes in the United States due to its fame in the ’90s hit series “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Although this home doesn’t boast the famous ZIP code, it’s titled as the “90210 house” for its role in the show. The property was… Read more »
GA: Cherokee County Real Estate Sales Up While Prices Drop
Home sales in Cherokee County crept slightly higher in March, but still fall short of last year’s numbers. There were 153 homes sold last month throughout the county, according to the First Multiple Listing Service, a data services provider for real estate professionals. The total may increase, as not all sales are immediately reported. That’s… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Jon Becker, Traverse City
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 Michigan Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Jon was born and raised in midwest Michigan (in the Big Rapids region), and he has lived in the area and… Read more »
Las Vegas: Home Sales Spike As Prices Continue to Fall
Based on a new report by the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors (GLVAR), local home sales soared and prices slipped in March compared to the previous month and year. “Local homes were already selling at a strong pace, but sales increased significantly in March,” said GLVAR President Paul Bell. “As for the slight decrease… Read more »
CA: Palo Alto Real Estate Market Booming
The other day as I was getting groceries out of my car an enterprising young man approached me and asked if I was willing to sell my house. “My client, a senior executive at Facebook, is interested in moving into this neighborhood,” he explained. The man was well dressed, clean cut, and his business card… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Andrew D. Daily, Plymouth, Michigan
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 Michigan Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Andrew helps sellers using the best of current technology, including property marketing services and advanced buyer tools, to give you a… Read more »
AL: Central Birmingham Real Estate Still Stuck in Low Gear
Nearly five years after the foreclosure crisis started to take hold in metro Birmingham, neighborhoods at the core of the city remain hotspots for such activity, with little relief in sight. In Ensley, Five Points West and East Lake, almost 5 percent of homes with a mortgage are in foreclosure, a level that surpasses the… Read more »
NJ: Low End of Real Estate Market Losing Value Faster
North Jersey’s lower-priced neighborhoods were hit harder by the housing downturn last year, as home values plummeted by 9.1 percent in Passaic County, while Bergen County saw a milder 1.9 percent drop. The split reflected higher rates of foreclosures and unemployment in lower-income areas, as well as tighter mortgage standards for marginal buyers. Bergen County’s… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Brad Millington, Scottsdale, AZ
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 & Central Arizona Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Brad has a detailed understanding of the Phoenix real estate market, and works diligently to help buyers and… Read more »
Is it a Good Time to Invest in Mexico?
President Felipe Calderon declared that the key to ensuring the development of sectors of the economy such as real estate is to boost economic competitiveness. To this end, Federal Government is making every effort to improve the conditions of real estate development in order for firms to grow and create jobs. During the inauguration of… Read more »
Six Common Mistakes Home Sellers Make
Selling a home during this real estate downturn can be stressful on the seller. It’s not unusual for some homes to sit on the market for months on end, and many areas are still working through a backlog of foreclosure inventory, which also drives down home prices. Fact: 36 percent of homes nationwide sold for… Read more »
US: HUD Launches Campaign Against Gender Stereotyping in Housing
Though federal fair housing laws don’t protect against anti-LGBT discrimination, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has launched a campaign to protect against discrimination on the basis of gender stereotypes. The effort is part of HUD’s “Live Free” campaign that will run through the year in print ads and online initiatives. Passed in 1968,… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Avi Dan-Goor, Las Vegas
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 Las Vegas Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Transplanted from Israel over ten years ago, I have called Las Vegas ‘home’ for the past decade. In that time,… Read more »
BC: Fraser Valley Real Estate Sales Improve
Last month was the busiest March for Fraser Valley realtors since 2006. The Fraser Valley real estate board processed 1,818 property sales in the month, an increase of 16 per cent compared to the 1,565 sold in March 2010. It was also an increase of 42 per cent over February’s 1,279 sales. It is still… Read more »
NY: The West 70’s – Manhattan’s Suburbs
WHEN Paul Kahn was growing up on the Upper West Side in the 1980s, he recalled recently, it was pleasant and livable but a neighborhood that might seem surprising in hindsight. There were some blocks his parents didn’t let him walk on; many children, himself included, went to private school; and his Little League, which… Read more »
Million Dollar Listing’s Gay Realtor Releases New Book
Josh Flagg of Bravo’s hit TV series “Million Dollar Listing” ended Season 4 with a memorable and life changing revelation. His “coming out” with partner Colton not only allowed viewers to get an even more personal glimpse into his ‘million dollar’ life, but showcased how nothing could ever hold this reality and realty star down…. Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Patrick Tester, Dallas, TX
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 Dallas Realtors and Real Estate Professionals I came into Real Estate after 25 years in education and non-profit management. The skills I developed in those areas have… Read more »
Hartford, Connecticut Real Estate: Jobs to Help
Adam and Clare Baroncelli have been on the open-house circuit for several months and have seen good homes get snapped up more quickly. The increased activity drove them off the fence. They have made an offer on a $370,000, four-bedroom home in Simsbury, near Hartford. “There’s a lot more activity,” says Clare, 34. The Baroncellis… Read more »
Stockton, California Real Estate: Pain & Opportunity
Few areas have been through a longer and darker tunnel than this central California city. Since peaking in 2006, Stockton’s median home price is down 62 percent. For three of the past four years, Stockton ranked in the top five nationwide for foreclosures, says market researcher RealtyTrac. In January, six of 10 homes for sale… Read more »
Fort Meyers, Florida Real Estate: New Values “Wow” Buyers
Ray Bayer, 59, of Pittsburgh has long planned to retire in Florida, but prices were too high. In January, the postal worker finally bought a $255,000 Fort Myers home that he says would have fetched $400,000 at the market’s peak. Bayer and his wife, Kathy, 57, a nurse, expect to retire to it in a… Read more »
Columbus, Ohio Real Estate: Getting In Young & Cheap
First-time home buyers are having a hard time in today’s market, given tight lending standards and competition from all-cash buyers. In February, 34 percent of existing-home buyers were first-timers, a National Association of Realtors survey says. In a healthy market, that would be 40 percent, the NAR says. But Columbus and the five other markets… Read more »
Vallejo, California Real Estate: Bruised, But With Good Bones
Realtor Ramon Torres has a front-row seat on the housing wreckage in this San Francisco suburb. Seated next to a living room window during one of his recent open houses, he saw just one couple coming up the steps in the first hour. They stayed less than five minutes, apparently underwhelmed by the $269,000 five-bedroom… Read more »
Las Vegas, Nevada Real Estate: Flat is the New Up
Investors are betting that the home market here has bottomed – or is about to. Daniel Callihan, 57, a former mortgage company officer, sees that when he hits foreclosure auctions held in a parking lot near downtown. There are twice as many bidders as a year ago, Callihan says. He’s bought and sold 10 Las… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Brad Hinckley, Seattle
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 Washington State Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Brad is a licensed Seattle Realtor(R) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has two degrees from Stanford University: an… Read more »
Montreal Real Estate Market Leaving First-Time Buyers behind?
Rising Montreal housing prices have left young families buying their first home with limited choices in the city, raising the spectre of continued urban sprawl, a report suggests. During January and February, only 89 single-family homes on Montreal Island were listed for $250,000 or less – a price point within the means of local first-time… Read more »
IA: Des Moines Foreclosures Rising, But Delinquencies Fall
Foreclosure rates in the Des Moines metro area increased in January compared to a year earlier, but the percentage of mortgages seriously delinquent fell, said CoreLogic, a California-based real estate analytics company. The rate of foreclosure among outstanding mortgage loans was 2.83 percent in January, an increase of 0.63 percentage points over January 2010, CoreLogic… Read more »
CA: Lake Tahoe Ski Condos to Be Auctioned Off On April 30th
Seventeen luxury Tahoe condominiums are going up for auction April 30. Starting bids range from $130,000 to $185,000 – well down from the $375,000 to nearly $1 million price tags they fetched during the boom. Auctioneer Kennedy Wilson, a real estate investment and services company, is auctioning the 17, fully furnished, ski-in, ski-out condos in… Read more »
Will Brazilians Save South Florida Real Estate?
If south Florida’s real estate market returns from the dead, thank a Brazilian. Brazil’s upper middle class have been buying properties in Miami and Orlando since the 1990s, when high interest rates and high taxes forced many of them to invest overseas in a way to avoid tax authorities. Now, the middle class is buying… Read more »
Michigan Realtors Cautiously Optimistic About Future
At the start of the millennium, home sales in Jackson County soared and new builds were the norm. But few could have predicted the turn Michigan’s housing industry would take. By 2007, the area had plunged into the foreclosure crisis that gouged neighborhoods nationwide. Local industry leaders say they have seen signs of recovery in… Read more »
NY: Brooklyn’s Gayest Neighborhood
Suck it, Park Slope! According to new Census data, the highest percentage of same-sex couples can be found in the Columbia Street Waterfront District–not a real neighborhood, but a real census tract, from Atlantic Avenue to Degraw Street, from Columbia Street to the BQE–where 11 percent of 549 households identify as same-sex, the Brooklyn Paper… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Brad Hinckley, Seattle
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 Washington Satte Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Brad is a licensed Seattle Realtor(R) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He has two degrees from Stanford University: an… Read more »
What’s More Important, the Credit Card or the Mortgage Payment?
There once was a time in the not too distant past when a homeowner’s mortgage would be paid even if every other payment was made late or not at all. A current mortgage, after all, meant that there would always be a place to live. Things have changed, and changed in a big way. Transunion… Read more »
Northern New Jersey Seeing Rising Home Vacancies
A growing number of houses and apartments sit empty in North Jersey, a result of the four-year-old housing bust. From affluent to middle-class to poor neighborhoods, the percentage of vacant homes was higher in 2010 than in 2000, according an analysis of U.S. census data by The Record. The vacant homes include a Saddle River… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Eric Joy, Portland, Oregon
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 Portland, Oregon Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Eric is a Portland, Oregon realtor who is committed to excellence and to giving his clients professional, result-oriented service. He… Read more »
New York City Real Estate Still Five Times the US Average
Just why do so many people love New York City? What with the miserable weather for 9 months every year, the grid-locked streets, packed restaurants and dirty subway stations, things couldn’t get any better, could they? Well apparently they just did for some. According to a new market report from the real estate Miller Samuel,… Read more »
BC: Victoria’s Housing Market Sees Improvement in March
Greater Victoria’s real estate market had a slight spring in its step in March as total sales and average prices increased from the previous month. However, sales in the first three months of 2011 hit 1,449 units, well behind the same time frame in 2010 when sales reached 1,828. Maria Dominelli, a Victoria mortgage broker… Read more »
AB: Edmonton’s Downtown Faces Golden Opportunity
This is a city that can’t help but grow, as the city’s chief economist likes to say. For Edmonton, it’s already baked into the pie. The real question is: What kind of growth does this city want? Will it remain an esthetically challenged, relentlessly utilitarian industrial burg -the “boiler room” of Canada, as Mordecai Richler… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Peter Tortorello, Chicago
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 Illinois Realtors and Real Estate Professionals “Your home is that special place where you share the most intimate moments with your family and friends. Choose it carefully.”… Read more »
Huntsville, Alabama’s Mill Towns Seeing Renovations
First came Twickenham and Old Town in the 1970s. Then Five Points in the 1980s and beyond. Of the historic properties in town, the former mill village neighborhoods in northeast and southwest Huntsville were the only ones that had not received large restorations. But there are strong signs that historic preservation has arrived in many… Read more »
LA: New Orleans to Auction Off Properties Damaged By Hurricane Katrina
Several properties in New Orleans are scheduled to hit the auction block this weekend as part of a recovery effort to reclaim real estate damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 94 properties in 27 neighborhoods throughout New Orleans will be up for sale. Of the 94 homes, at least 20 are vacant, and most are… Read more »
AZ: Is Scottsdale Home Market Bottoming Out?
It’s still a buyer’s market, but a shrinking inventory of homes and fewer foreclosures are giving analysts and real-estate agents hope that housing prices are flattening out. The overall median price in Scottsdale of $375,000 fell 6 percent last year from 2009. But that follows two years of double-digit percentage price declines in most Scottsdale… Read more »
Featured Gay Friendly Realtor: Michael Souza, Burlington, Vermont
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 Vermont Realtors and Real Estate Professionals Michael’s Burlington, Vermont knowledge and his extensive real estate experience will help you whether you want to buy or sell a… Read more »
KS: Farmland Sales Going Strong
A recent auction of seven dry land Kansas farms attracted a strong field of 51 registered bidders, leading to sale prices that reflect the continued upward trend in prices of agricultural land, according to R.D. Schrader, president of Schrader Real Estate & Auction Company, which conducted the sale. On March 25, Schrader successfully sold the… Read more »
Australian Home Builder Moving Into Seattle Real Estate Market
As reported by Eric Pryne of the Seattle Times, an Australian home builder is making a big move into the Seattle real estate market. By building 500 homes in the area, it will immediately become one of the largest builders in our market. New construction starts have been down significantly in recent years, and as… Read more »
Foreign Investors Buying Up Tampa Bay Real Estate
Foreign investors have more than doubled their purchases of Tampa Bay real estate in the last year, as buyers look beyond Miami for bargains. At $120 million, overseas purchases in Tampa Bay in the last 12 months trailed only Miami at $127 million and Palm Beach at $275 million. In the previous two years, according… Read more »
Canada: Vancouver Island Real Estate Lagging Behind Mainland
Nanaimo’s condo market is flatlining, as condominium sales improve in B.C.’s bigger markets. Slashed prices are being used to push unit sales at one of Nanaimo’s biggest downtown condo towers, while another building remains shelved for the foreseeable future. Greater Vancouver is enjoying a bullish market, especially in condo sales, fuelled by Chinese investors looking… Read more »
Home Prices in Tampa Still Dropping
In the first half of the aughts (2000-2005), home prices rose dramatically in the U.S., and few places soared higher in property values than in the Tampa Bay area. Although some real estate representatives boasted at the time that home values would only continue to rise, we all know that in fact they had peaked… Read more »
What Gay and Lesbian Homeowners Need to Know for Tax Season
Not only did LGBT Americans lose an hour of sleep by setting clocks forward in March, but many of them are still losing sleep as they worry about looming state and federal tax filing deadlines. To take full advantage of any tax breaks and benefits that are available to LGBT real estate buyers, sellers, or… Read more »
13% of US Homes Are Vacant
High residential vacancies are killing many housing markets, as foreclosed homes sit on the market and depress sale prices and property values. And it’s only getting worse: The national vacancy rate crept up to just over 13% according to last week’s decennial census report. That’s up from 12.1% in 2007. “More vacant homes equal more… Read more »
Banks Seeking Judgments Against Foreclosed Homeowners
He once lived just steps from the ocean in a home valued last decade at more than $500,000 . But John Ericksen has fallen – far – and the bank that took away his Juno Beach home last year isn’t done with him yet. In November, Riverside National Bank won a $151,461 claim against the… Read more »
When Will Housing Market Begin Recovery in Earnest?
What passes for optimism on the housing market these days is a pale reflection of the glory days of five years ago. “Housing is dead,” writes MarketWatch’s Rex Nutting. “There is no doubt about that. Housing is as dead as a door nail.” The good news, such as it is, is that “housing is just… Read more »
