Research

Here you can find articles & video with the latest news that's important to real estate investors, charts to make the information clear and papers from the best minds in the industry. Click on the headlines to open the full story.

Home Prices in U.S. Cooled in July After Tax Credit Expired

Posted: September 28th, 2010


ARTICLE, BLOOMBERG, 09.28.2010
The S&P/Case-Shiller index of property values increased 3.2 percent from July 2009, the smallest year-over-year gain since March, the group said today in New York. The gauge is a three- month average, which means the July data are still being influenced by transactions in May and June that may have benefitted from the government homebuyer incentive.

U.S. Housing Starts in August Topped Forecasts

Posted: September 21st, 2010


ARTICLE, NY TIMES, 09.21.2010
Housing starts in the United States increased more than expected in August to their highest level in four months and permits for residential construction also rose, government data showed on Tuesday, suggesting that the embattled market was starting to stabilize following the end of a tax credit.

Home prices rise in June, but a drop may be looming

Posted: September 3rd, 2010


ARTICLE, LA TIMES, 09.03.2010
The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index shows a modest 1% gain over May figures, with prices in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco increasing. However, some experts predict that the expiration of federal tax credits will have a negative effect.

U.S. Home Sales at Lowest Level in More Than a Decade

Posted: August 25th, 2010


ARTICLE, 08.24.2010
The National Association of Realtors said Tuesday that the seasonally adjusted annual sales rate of 3.83 million was 25.5 percent below the level of July a year ago.
“Prices will have to drop again in most markets before buyers come back in force,” Mr. Kelman said, “and so sales volume will probably be in the tank at least until next spring.”

Southern California Home Sales and Median Price Dip in July

Posted: August 18th, 2010


ARTICLE, MDA DATAQUICK, 08.18.2010
Southland home sales saw their biggest year-over-year drop in more than two years last month as the market lost most of the boost from the federal home buyer tax credits. The median sale price dipped for the second month in a row, the result of a shaky economic recovery, continued uncertainty about jobs, and the expiring tax breaks, a real estate information service reported.

Home prices tick up 1.3% in May

Posted: July 27th, 2010


ARTICLE, LA TIMES, 07.27.2010
Home prices tick up 1.3% in May
It was the second straight monthly increase, according to the Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller index of 20 U.S. cities, but experts warn it is not likely to last. Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco are among the gainers.

What the bond guru sees coming

Posted: July 20th, 2010



ARTICLE, MONEY, 07.20.2010
The important thing to recognize is that if you’re looking for 10% returns (from stocks or bonds) to pay for college or to retire on, they’re not going to be there. We’ve been an asset-growth-based economy for so long. We’ve skimmed off the top, living off second and third mortgages on homes, and capital gains on stocks and even on bonds. Now instead of having money work for you, you’ve got to work for your money.

U.S. Home Construction Declined 5% in June

Posted: July 20th, 2010


ARTICLE, NY TIMES, 07.20.2010
“Financial distress on the part of many households, ongoing labor market weakness and vicious competition from an enormous overhang of existing homes all point to a very tough slog for homebuilders in the months and quarters ahead,” Joshua Shapiro, the chief United States economist for MFR Inc., said

Sequoia Investment Partners, July 2010 Investor Market Summary and Forecast

Posted: July 6th, 2010


OPINION, SREP, 07.07.2010
However, in times like these I am always reminded of Warren Buffett’s sage advice to be “greedy when others are fearful, and fearful when others are greedy.” That is, with so much uncertainty comes substantial opportunity, and it is my view that longer-term trends are very favorable for those willing to commit capital to value-add residential real estate, despite the likelihood for continued volatility and anemic economic growth at best during the next couple of years. These trends are as follows: …..

U.S. Housing Starts Declined 10% in May

Posted: June 16th, 2010


ARTICLE, ASSOC. PRESS, 06.16.2010
Home construction plunged in May to its lowest level since December, as builders scaled back after a federal tax credit to lure buyers expired.

Chart of Sales Spike as a Funtion of Expiring Tax Credit

Posted: May 18th, 2010


CHART, LA TIMES, 05,18,2010

U.S. Mortgage Program Stalling, Data Shows

Posted: May 17th, 2010


ARTICLE, NY TIMES, 05.17.2010
“The program is dying,” the blog Calculated Risk concluded after examining the data.

But the number of new trials is beginning to level off, leading to worries that the potential pool of eligible households is rapidly diminishing. Furthermore, many borrowers have a great deal of difficulty making it out of the trial period. The number of canceled trial modifications is nearly as large as the number of permanent modifications.

Housing Optimists Are “Not Paying Attention” to the Facts, Says Dean Baker

Posted: May 13th, 2010


ARTICLE & VIDEO, YAHOO FINANCE, 05.13.2010
“I think we’re going to see a big fall-off in purchases for the rest of 2010 and even into 2011,” Baker says. “So the idea that somehow the market is stable, that housing prices will rise anytime soon – it’s really hard to make a case for that.”

“I Understand” by Tom Barrack jr. of Colony Capital

Posted: April 15th, 2010


OPINION: However, the most salient and timeless answer echoes from the soft and timid voice of Chance the Gardener, Peter Sellers’ character in the famous movie “Being There.”

As Fed’s mortgage purchases end, eyes turn to investors

Posted: April 12th, 2010

ARTICLE, LA Times March 31, 2010
The government’s $1.25-trillion program to prop up the housing market by purchasing mortgages came to an end Wednesday — in a small, messy room at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with four desks and a Nerf basketball hoop.

Designing Loan Modifications to Address the Mortgage Crisis and the Making Home Affordable Program

Posted: December 3rd, 2009


PAPER, FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF D.C., 12.15.2009
This paper presents preliminary findings and is being distributed to economists
and other interested readers solely to stimulate discussion and elicit comments.