There’s a convincing argument that real estate is today’s best long-term buy.
real estate
Homeownership: Still Popular But Not Seen as a Smart Investment
Americans have long overindexed on the value they place on owning a home when compared with people in other western countries. That white picket fence in the age-old imagery of the American Dream? That stands for real estate.
When Billionaires Move
Alexander Rovt, a Ukrainian billionaire who made his money in fertilizer, just bought one of Manhattan’s most storied mansions off Central Park for some $30 million. As a result, he’s selling his “old” house — which he spent …
Is Your House Giving You Asthma?
More than 17 million American adults and 7.5 million children currently have asthma, and the rates are rising. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4.3 million more people were diagnosed with asthma …
Real Estate’s in the Tank? Not in the Land of IPOs
It’s been what my grandmother would call “a month of Sundays” (i.e., a long, long time) since we’ve heard of a local housing market that wasn’t in the doldrums. In fact, much of the country is now officially in the …
Mortgage Giants Wells Fargo and Bank of America Opt Out of Reverse Mortgage Business
At the height of the real estate market, I recall driving past a Bay Area billboard for an apparently conservative financial advisory firm that read something like: “Your home is not a retirement plan.” At the time, the …
What Should I Bid on a House?
Let me revisit a classic home buyer's question ("What should I bid on a property?") with some insights for today's modern, love-to-bargain, Internet data-filled world. It's a re-examination of home buying in a Groupon …
Is It OK to Walk Away From Your Mortgage?
In spite of the mild economic recovery we’re experiencing, the percentage of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages — that is, they owe more than their homes are worth — has barely budged.
3 Hot Real Estate Markets That You’ve Likely Never Heard Of
Rarely does a week go by without someone publishing a list of real estate markets that are recession-proof, or that have recovered already, or that they predict will recover sooner than others.
The Newest Real Estate Trouble: “Flopping”
Real estate markets are somewhat inefficient. This shortcoming allows me to make my living, because as an agent, I can add value with a keen sense of pricing. However, the imperfect market also allows room for scams. Meet the …
Man Gets Foreclosure Notice, Demanding He Pay $0.00 or Else
Earlier this year, a Massachusetts man received a worrisome letter, stating that his house might be foreclosed on. But he could avoid his fate — by paying $0.
The Case Against High-End Rentals
Today’s piece by Diane Cardwell in The New York Times made the case that demand is robust and living is easy at high-end rentals, apartments or townhouses — where monthly rent starts at $10,000. The picture is half-right. As an …
