The Boston Globe reports on auctions. "The developer of a new luxury condominium project in Boston's financial district is resorting to a tactic last seen in the real estate bust of the 1990s: It's holding an auction for the 34 remaining, unsold condominiums. 'There's been a stalemate between the buyers and sellers,' said Jon Gollinger, whose firm will handle the auction. 'We want the market to determine the value,' he said. 'We're starting at a price that's laughably low.'"

"The last time auctions were popular around Boston, the real estate market was in crisis. 'I was around in the late '80s and early '90s when all that went on, and I kind of cringe. Are we doing this all over again?' said Diane Maloney, who markets the 44-unit loft building on Broad Street."

"The auction is a big risk for the developer. It would be financially ruinous to sell the rest of the Folio units at their minimum price, which range from 31 percent to 44 percent off the most recent asking prices. In some cases, the developer had already reduced asking prices."

"A one-bedroom currently offered for sale at $480,000 will be sold at or above its $325,000 minimum price. 'I wish I could've bought my unit for less money,' said Christine White purchased a one-bedroom on Folio's second floor in the 'low $400,000s' earlier this year."

The Times Herald Record from New York. "Local housing prices fell slightly this spring, according to a federal report released yesterday. It provides the latest evidence that the mid-Hudson housing boom is petering out. In Orange County, the inventory of unsold homes has doubled in the past four years."

"'I'm seeing offers coming in $20,000, $30,000 below asking price,' said Paula Meloi, (broker) in Port Jervis."

The Courier Post from New Jersey. "Agent Jeff Adams in Sicklerville and Westampton, said the market is shifting to benefit buyers, especially first-timers. 'In townhouses, we are actually seeing some prices coming down,' he said. 'The resale people are competing with the new homes, and builders are starting to drop their prices.'"

"In Burlington County, there are 3,849 homes for sale, up from 2,613 only three months ago. In Camden County, inventory ballooned from 2,473 to 3,617; in Gloucester, For Sale signs increased from 1,464 to 2,168."

"'Flippers and speculators are getting out of the market completely,' economist Ken Fears said."

The Hartford Courant from Connecticut. "Deep in the manicured woods beyond the Merritt Parkway, trouble is brewing. Across lower Fairfield County, for sale signs are as common as a new Lexus. On the Gold Coast the market has plummeted, with sales down by nearly 20 percent through the end of June, compared with last year. There's no panic, but a lot of people are wondering."

"'The two burning questions at this moment are why are so many people trying to sell and why aren't there more buyers?' said (realtor) Michael Tetreau in Fairfield. 'The problem is, following the baby-boom bubble, there is no bubble. There just aren't as many buyers,' said Tetreau. 'I don't see anything on the horizon that is going to change. We have two times as much inventory compared to a year ago.'"

"'There certainly are some danger signs. It is possible that things will go down a lot,' said John Clapp, a business professor at the University of Connecticut. 'But it's hard to see a dramatic decline in prices like in the 1980s.'"

The Union Leader from New Hampshire. "Holly Phaneuf needed to sell her condo, and fast. So she turned to one of the most popular real estate agents on the market today for a little assistance. His name is Saint Joseph. 'My mom laughed at me and said I was a superstitious fool,' said Phaneuf."

"After years of rising home prices, the U.S. housing market no longer appears to favor sellers. New Hampshire's housing market appears to be softening for the first time in close to 15 years. 'People are getting desperate,' said Priscilla Caza, a real estate agent in Hooksett. 'So there are a lot of St. Josephs buried out there.'"