The Housing Bubble Blog

A look at California housing bubble. "The median price of a San Bernardino County home increased 27.7 percent to $355,000 in January, up from $278,000 in January 2005, DataQuick reported Wednesday. The median price last month was down from a record $361,000 set in December." "'The buying group for...

The Arizona Republic is cautiously informing readers of the housing bubble. "Metropolitan Phoenix's housing market is cooling, but it still managed to snag the title of the nation's hot spot for home price gains in 2005. In the Valley, 2005 housing prices soared 48.9 percent above 2004 levels,...

The Chicago Sun Times has a 'warning' for condo speculators. "Q: My husband and I were on a great path to being financially stable. Before we were married, we purchased a condo in the loop. After we were married for a year, we decided to buy a second condo for investment purposes, and this is where...

The Boston Globe follows up on yesterdays' MAR report. "Cape Cod's housing market was hit harder by declining home sales last year than any other Massachusetts region, as buyers held back in hopes that prices for vacation homes would drop. Sales of single-family homes on the Cape fell 14.5 percent,...

CNN Money has this breaking story. "The pace of home building soared to the highest level in nearly 33 years in January, according to a government report Thursday that showed a real estate market that continues to top expectations." "The Census Bureau reported that housing starts reached an annual...

A pair of reports provide an update on the Florida housing bubble. "A planned high-rise condominium tower called 1390 Brickell Bay in Miami won't be built and deposits will be returned to buyers, the developer announced. 'Market conditions impaired us from doing this project,' said Kenneth Baboun....

USA Today has the latest from the NAR. "Home prices in 72 metropolitan areas showed double-digit increases in the fourth quarter last year, a record that was probably the peak in this real estate cycle, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday." "'I don't want to say this is the last...

A real estate columnist answers questions about renting and owning a home. "Q: My husband and I have thought about investing in rental real estate for added income, though we realize it would take time before we would have positive cash flow. Across the street from our house, an old townhouse has...

The Massachusetts realtors have the 2005 fourth quarter numbers out. "The good times sellers have long enjoyed in the state's expensive housing market began to disappear last year. The Massachusetts Association of Realtors reported that price increases moderated, with the median selling price for...

The Orange County Register has this report on home sales. "Orange County home prices took a tumble in January, with the median price falling below $600,000 for the first time in eight months. DataQuick reported today that the median sale price for all residences sold in January was $582,000, down 6...

The Star Bulletin reports on Hawaii's housing bubble. "The start of the New Year saw a continued lag in Kauai's housing market. The pace of house sales declined 34 percent, with as few as 35 homes changing hands. 'It's more of a realistic market, which ties in with the national vibe of people...

There is news on the interest rate front. "Mortgage applications fell for a third consecutive week as demand for loans to purchase homes dropped to its lowest level in more than two years. The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage application activity for the...

The housing bubble is changing in Florida. "Like many red-hot real-estate markets in Florida, the Palm Beach market may have started to cool. The number of properties on the market spiked in the fourth quarter from a year earlier, according to Robert N. Goldstein, chairman of the Realtors...

Some corporate news regarding the housing bubble. "MFA Mortgage Investments Inc., a mortgage real estate investment trust, said Tuesday it is postponing its fourth-quarter earnings release and conference call as its independent auditors need more time to complete their review. The release and call...

The northern Virginia home sales numbers are available. "Although the number of single family homes and condos sold in January was down by almost 30% when compared to 2005, the average sales price did top the 2005 January average sales price by 10.3%. Active listings increased dramatically when...

The Union Tribune has this follow-up on San Diego home sales. "Home prices in San Diego County continued to cool off last month with a gain of 2.5 percent over January 2005 level. But new-home prices took the sharpest month-to-month dive ever recorded by DataQuick for the San Diego market, a loss...

The Morning News has a rare update on the housing boom in Arkansas. "Home buyers will get bargains, and sellers may get less than they ask as the supply of single-family homes outstrips demand, according to a quarterly real estate report. The report said 'there are economic imbalances developing in...

Fitch Ratings has this release. "Beneath the strong performance of U.S. subprime interest-only (IO) mortgages in recent years may lie substantial payment shock to borrowers as the housing climate continues to cool and refinancing becomes more difficult." "'The payment increase for an IO at the rate...

A television station has this update on southern Oregons' housing market. "Two to three years of explosive growth in the Southern Oregon real estate market seems to be cooling off. Sales of new homes are down 22 percent compared to this time last year. Overall, home sales in our area are down 38...