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Archive for the 'subprime lending crisis' category


This is the solution to our problems

What is the best way to get the US real estate market / economy going?

A) lower interest rates to 4.5% for new / first-time homebuyers (Ben Bernanke’s plan)
B) lower interest rates to 3.0% for those facing foreclosure (at least three-months behind in payments) (Sheila Blair’s plan)
C) wait until home prices drop enough to bring new [...]



Who are losing their homes?

You might think that the foreclosure crisis is mainly hitting innocent people taken advantage of by unscrupulous lenders.
Truth is, the reality is a lot more complex.
in an article in this week’s Dorchester Reporter, Chris Lovett reports that many homes in Boston’s Dorchester and Roxbury neighborhoods appear to have been bought by speculators and flipped for [...]



The car wreck that is the option ARM loan

Back in the halcyon days that were 2004-2006, many buyers who should have known better took out what are called “option-ARM” loans.
As you know, and as Wikipedia describes, an option-ARM is “typically a 30-year ARM that initially offers the borrower four monthly payment options: a specified minimum payment, an interest-only payment, a 15-year fully amortizing [...]



Housing expert: US housing market has hit rock bottom

Housing expert and economist Karl “Chip” Case says the US real estate market looks close to its bottom and could rebound within 90 days.
He bases his opinion on the fact that new housing starts have dropped under the 1 million (annualized) rate, for the first time. In previous downturns, the market began to rebound [...]



Congress acts to save homeowners, but outlook is grim

How do you help a homeowner who can’t keep up his or her payments on a home loan?
You find him or her another loan, is what you do.
So that the borrower can default on that loan, too.
At least that’s what pessimists are saying will happen following Congressional approval of the new “housing rescue” bill, which [...]



$300 billion Barney Mae government rescue plan to become law

The Senate and the House of Representatives appear close to approving a $300 billion government rescue plan to help homeowners facing foreclosure.
Lou Barnes seems a bit skeptical about it:
Then there is this week’s housing bill. Barney Frank and Chris Dodd’s egomaniacal dream is going to fall flatter than Phoenix vacant land, so flat that it [...]



Wait, what? Presidential candidates take a pass on borrower legislation

Unbelievable!
From Inman News:
$300 billion FHA expansion clears Senate hurdle
A plan to expand FHA loan guarantee programs by $300 billion to help troubled borrowers refinance into more affordable loans cleared a procedural hurdle Tuesday, as the Senate voted 83-9 to move forward on a debate. The “Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008″ would also create [...]



Disturbing trend of the day: buy and bail

From the Journal:
Next month, Michelle Augustine plans to walk away from her four-bedroom house in a Sacramento, Calif., subdivision and let the property fall into foreclosure. But before doing so, she hopes to lock in the purchase of another home nearby.
“I can find the same exact house as what I live in right now for [...]



FHA to lose $4.6 billion in bad loans; promises more to follow

What a car-wreck.
The Federal Housing Administration guarantees loans for millions of borrowers.
The FHA is often the lender of last resort; it allows those with blemished credit to get loans, but more importantly, it allows you to borrow up to 97% of your purchase price – actually, sometimes over 100% (to cover closing costs).
Lately, having access [...]



Boston foreclosure and subprime data, 1990-2007

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston has put together a fantastic interactive map of foreclosures and subprime loan information covering each city and town in the Commonwealth over the past two decades (thanks to the Boston.com real estate blog for the heads-up).
I transferred the data for Boston to a table, below.
Fascinating information.
Compare 2007 with 1991-1993. [...]



Let's talk Boston real estate. The most recent real estate comments

  • sikka kaamna greens, Millennium vows to build a tall tower in the Big Hole: Thank you for providing useful...
  • Rich, New plans unveiled for Herald’s old South End site: My wife wants to see either a Whole Foods Market or a...
  • Rich, Downtown Crossing’s Big Hole to be filled?: This is of course good news. However, let’s not get too...
  • Seyi, Offer to purchase can be binding: I agree Gerry, I uusllay flag my listings until the home inspection issues...
  • Gloriane, Boston condo sellers: Can they specify a lender with an offer?: BS low – ratioalinty high! Really...
  • JohnF, Charles Street Retail Space Available for Rent: Thanks Bill, I spoke with your wife and I’m sure we can...
  • Bill, Charles Street Retail Space Available for Rent: I am looking for a small retail street level retail space for...
  • Funny, Rents hit record high in Boston: It’s not just Boston. Did you know rents in Worcester for a small 1...
  • John Ford, The economy and the local real estate market: Good info – thanks Nemo
  • Funny, To paraphrase Tom Brady: Mass. homes sales sucked in 2011: Imagine what would happen if 10-15% was shaved of...
  • Nemo, The economy and the local real estate market: The Labor Department does have a rate that includes all workers...
  • John Smith, A message from a Boston Real Estate Mortgage Broker: Thanks for your valuable post.I would like to know...
  • Rich, MetLife exits large portions of the mortgage business: MetLife is a very clever operator. In 2006, they sold...
  • Rich, Why the Fed didn’t see the housing crisis coming: Oh please. After the dot-com crash of 2000, the NASDAQ...
  • Funny, Is home ‘ownership’ a fraud?: smells of a gold digger. Next step is how we’re really all...
  • Suburban reader, Is home ‘ownership’ a fraud?: Incomprehensible indeed. It seems (I think) to assume that...
  • Rich, Is home ‘ownership’ a fraud?: I found the article incomprehensible.
  • SeanMarkup, ‘Back to 1990s home prices?’: Bangalore real estate prices are kissing skies day by...
  • Jaypee Kosmos, Beacon HIll Restaurant Space Available: Thank you !!! nice information found here… Jaypee Kosmos
  • Will F., I found the 1% and it’s not in Boston: This is true… Washington DC is a city of 600,000+...

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    ------------------------------- Beacon Hill Real Estate: Retail Space Available

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    New Beacon Hill condo

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    Classic Beacon Hill Duplex Condo

    Including Income producing In-Law Apartment. Two units for the price of one.

    Offered at: $879,000.00

    Gracious parlor level living area offers open floor plan, fireplace, dining area,revovated kitchen with custom cabinents.

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    Boston neighborhoods



    Boston Real Estate / Boston Condos



    Click on the links below for Boston condo neighborhood sales listings

    Boston Back Bay Condos

    Beacon Hill Condos

    Boston Charlestown Condos

    Fenway Boston Condos

    Boston South End Condos

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    Boston Back Bay Condos 3rd Q 2011





    Back Bay Condo Sales 3rd Quarter 2011 - 150. Number of Back Bay condo sales in the 3rd Q of 2010 - 126

    Back Bay average condo sales price in the 3rd Q of 2011 - $974,258.00. Back Bay average condo sales price in the 3rd Q of 2010 - $944,320.00

    Back Bay condo 3rd Q 2011 sales price per square foot $736.88 Back Bay condo 3rd Q 2010 sales price per square foot $731.88

    Boston Back Bay condos days on market 3rd Q 2011 - 125 Boston Back Bay condos days on market 3rf Q 2010 - 106 Back Bay condo sales stats Jan - Sept 2011:

    Number of Back Bay Condo sales Jan through Sept - 334

    Avg Back Bay condo sales price - $1, 173,927.00

    Med Back Bay condo sales price - $795,000.00

    Avg price per square foot - $780.00

    Days on market for Back Bay Condo - 131

    Back Bay Condos - Sales Stats 2011



    Back Bay Condo Sales form April 1, 2011 - May 1, 2011 - 27

    Avg. Back Bay condo sales price - $1,324,226.00

    Med. Back Bay condo sales price - $1,210,000.00

    Back Bay condo sales price per square foot - $787.00

    Avg. days on the market for Back Bay condo - 184

    Boston Back Bay condos sold from Jan 1, 2011 - April 28, 2011 - 105.

    Average sales price for a Back Bay condominium in 2011 - $1,317,969.00

    Median sales price for a Back Bay condominium in 2011 - $865,000.00

    Average price per sqaure foot for a Back Bay condo in 2011 - $805.00

    Average days on the market in 2011 for a Back Bay condo - 153

    Back Bay condos/real estate sales for the 1st Quarter of 2011:

    Average Back Bay condo sales price - $1,290,181.00

    Median Back Bay condo sales price - $828,895.00

    Average Back Bay condo sales priec per square foot - $804.00



    Back Bay Condos Sold Jan 1, 2011 - April 16, 2011

    Back Bay condos sales - 97

    Average Back Bay condo price: $1,407,795.00

    Median Back Bay condo sales price: $852,500.00

    Average price per square foot for a Back Bay Condo $863.00

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    Back Bay Condos Sold 2011

    Back Bay condos sold: 50

    Average Back Bay condo sales price:$1,367,003.00

    Median Back Bay condo sales price: $953,750.00

    Average Price per $/SF: $806

    Average days on the market for a Back Bay condo: 124

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    Beacon Hill Condos Sales Stats 2011





    Beacon Hill condos sold form Jan 1, 2011 - April 28, 2011 - 37

    Average Beacon Hill condo sales price - $799,809.00

    Median Beacon Hill condos sales price - $560,000.00

    Average price per square foot for a sold Beacon Hill condo - $704.00

    Average days on the market for a Beacon Hill condo to sell - 165

    Beacon Hill condo sales 2011 Jan - Mar

    Beacon Hill condos sold

    Avg Beacon Hill condo price $823,500.00

    Med. Beacon Hill condo price $524,500.00

    Avg. price per sq ft. Beacon Hill condo $632.00

    Avg. days on market Beacon Hill condo 222

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    Boston Condos Brighton Sales Stats 2011





    Boston Brighton Condo sales - 25

    Brighton condo avg. sales price $259,510

    Brighton condo med. sales price $262,000

    Brighton condo price per sq ft $283.00

    Brighton condo days-on-market 90

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    Boston Condos Charlestown - Sales Stats





    Charlestown condo sales - 25

    Charlestown average condo - $545,019

    Charlestown median condo - $470,000

    Average price per sq ft Charlestown condo $458.00

    Average days-on-market 123

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    Fenway Condos Sales Stats 2011







    Fenway Condo Sales 2011

    Fenway condo sales 7

    Average Fenway condo price $292,500

    Median Fenway condo price $282,500

    Fenway price per sq ft $435.00

    Fenway days-on-market 237

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