Meredith Whitney, who a few years ago was the first to accuse the financial emperor of having no clothes, still maintains there’s going to be a double-dip price drop in housing, though she said it will probably be a “light” double dip. She blames the shadow inventory of homes and a broken bank model for [...]

Boston’s luxury condo market is starting off 2010 in better shape, after suffering through a rocky couple of years. Excerpts of a radio interview with Tracy Campion on WBUR 99.9 fm: Tracy Campion sells units at one development, Bryant Back Bay. She said the crash rattled her clients, even the ones who pay with cash. [...]

Boston condo sales data: 1/1/08 – 3/11/08 – 707 condos sold, avg. price per sq ft – $489 1/1/09 – 3/11/09 – 464 condos sold, avg. price per sq ft – $363 1/1/10 – 3/11/10 – 574 condos sold, avg. price per sq ft – $437 Another sign that the worst is over? File Under: [...]

Julius Caesar once observed that ”After 20 battles, a mule is still a mule.” Such pithy sayings made him a hit on the dinner-party circuit in downtown Rome, circa 70 B.C., but they often left his audience puzzling over what he actually meant. Sorry some of you had to wait over 2,000 years, but what [...]

State officials sound confident they’ll secure federal funding for the new Green Line extension through Somerville, opening up five new stations by 2014. Considering the overly long time it seems to take to finish any state project, it doesn’t take a cynic to wonder if the T’s timetable is a bit rosy. But cynicism aside, [...]

Actually, it would be living at the site of the old L’Espalier restaurant at 30 Gloucester St. in the Back Bay — now available for $1.5 million. The article adds: “Or, you can make an offer for the whole building and create an elegant single-family home.” One thing is clear: It’s a beautiful, landmark building. [...]

This blog post may suprise you. According to a recent Boston Herald news report, Boston apartment rents may be on the rise. The following excerpts are from the Herald: Vacancy rates in Greater Boston’s apartment buildings are expected to decline in 2010, pushing up rents slightly, according to a forecast by CB Richard Ellis. The [...]

The Federal Housing Administration warned in Congressional testimony that a double-dip decline in housing prices may result from even a slight increase in minimum down payments on FHA-backed loans. An excerpt from WSJ: An increase in down payments to 5%, from the current minimum 3.5%, would limit new FHA-backed loans by 40%, equivalent to 300,000 [...]

Comparing Boston condos sales for $300,000 and below. Jan & Feb 2008 Boston condo sales $300,000 and below Number of condo sales – 189 Avg. price per sq ft – $345.00 Avg. days on the market – 99 Jan & Feb 2009 Boston condo sales $300,000 and below. Number of condo sales – 221 Avg. [...]

Another day, another dead development project in Boston. Just days after developers pulled the plug on the proposed Columbus Center project over the Pike, planners have nixed plans for the New Center for Arts and Culture on the Rose Kennedy Greenway: The center’s move is the latest setback for the 27-acre Greenway, which was once [...]