Category Archives: Best Of The Storm

The best recent articles on the real estate economy, the real estate process, banking and finance, public policy, and everything you need to know about buying and selling real estate.

Foreclosure Completions Collapse in October

Bank of America, PNC, Ally Bank, and others halted foreclosure sales in the wake of the robo-signing scandal. The result is that fewer homes are actually being foreclosed upon at trustee salesBank of America, PNC, Ally Bank, and others halted foreclosure sales in the wake of the robo-signing scandal. The result is that fewer homes are actually being foreclosed upon at trustee sales and, consequently, lower REO inventory levels. Continue reading

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Foreclosures, Investing, Real Estate Data | Tagged Foreclosure-Gate, Foreclosures, REOs, trustee sales | 1 Comment

S&P, Fiserv, Expecting 7-10% Home Price Declines in 2011

Two well-respecting analytics firms are expecting a double-dip in home prices that would erase gains from the last year.
Continue reading

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Home Economics, Real Estate Data | Tagged Home Prices, Housing Bubble, Interest Rates, Tax Credits | 1 Comment

Slow-Mo Commercial Real Estate Cliff-Dive Gathers Speed

No need for a fancy report to see the signs of decay in CRE. Signs of the ongoing CRE meltdown are everywhere–empty storefronts, mall shops and vacant office complexes abound. Continue reading

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Commercial Real Estate, Fresh Perspectives, Investing | Tagged Commercial Rents, Office Vacancy Rates, Retail Rents | 1 Comment

Home Price Glass Half-Full in Third Quarter

Fully half of metropolitan areas tracked in the third quarter continued to show modest home price increases from a year ago, despite a sharp decline in home sales after the deadline for the home buyer tax credit, according to the latest survey by the National Association of REALTORS®. Continue reading

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Home Economics | Tagged Home Prices, NAR | 1 Comment

Housing Affordability Set to Improve

With both prices and interest rates going down, affordability is expected to improve throughout 2011. Continue reading

Posted in Best Of The Storm, Fresh Perspectives, Home Economics | Tagged Foreclosures, Home Prices, Interest Rates, Mortgage Delinquency Rates | Leave a comment