Positive Growth? The Drawbacks - 03/15/12 06:04 AM
Positive Growth? The Drawbacks
We have been accused of being too optimistic in our projections. For example, last year when economists were calling for a double dip recession, we downplayed this threat. When analysts have pointed towards a housing market that will not recover for years, we pointed out the economic factors which could turn things around quickly. These factors include projected population growth, increased household formulation in a recovery and continued governmental aid for the sector. Now we are looking at the other side of the coin. What if the economy starts to heat up from here? Certainly, the stock … (1 comments)

Housing's Future: Immigrants - 03/14/12 06:22 AM
Housing's Future: Immigrants 
Immigrants are expected to make up a large number of the future home buyers of America in the coming decades, according to a new report, "Assimilation Tomorrow: How America's Immigrants Will Integrate by 2030" by the Center for American Progress, authored by Dowel Meyers, professor in the School of Policy, Planning, and Development at the University of Southern California, and John Pitkin, senior research associate in the USC Population Dynamics Research Group.Myers' report finds that at astonishingly high levels, immigrants are projected to learn English, buy homes, acquire citizenship, and attain solid economic footing in the United States. … (1 comments)

Progress on Foreclosures - 03/13/12 06:50 AM
Progress on Foreclosures 
The foreclosure crisis seems to be abating. The number of homes in foreclosure shrunk by 130,000, or 8.4%, in 2011, according to a report from CoreLogic, an economic research firm. There are dual reasons for the inventory drop, according to Mark Fleming, chief economist with CoreLogic. "The pace at which properties are entering foreclosure is slowing," he said. "And servicers nationwide stepped up the rate at which they were able to process distressed assets."After foreclosures are completed and the homes are back in the hands of their lenders, the homes are being sold very quickly. "This is the … (1 comments)

Rents Continue to Rise - 03/04/12 09:23 AM
Rents Continue to Rise 
The apartment vacancy rate is at its lowest level since late 2001 as the rental market continues to soar, according to the latest fourth-quarter data by Reis Inc. As demand increases, the vacancy rate for apartments dropped in the fourth quarter to 5.2 percent compared to 6.6 percent a year prior. "Multifamily property has been the star of the real-estate sector for more than a year, generating profits for landlords but headaches for renters struggling with the economic downturn," an article in The Wall Street Journal notes. "Demand has swelled from people being foreclosed out of their … (1 comments)