The Housing Bubble Blog

The Washington Post reports the 'urban vision' is in question. "In Fairfax County's official vision for Tysons Corner, thousands of people live clustered around the Metro stops planned there. But in the reality of developers' blueprints, a different Tysons is emerging, one with a population smaller...

The Orlando Sentinel reports on some Florida speculators. "A year ago, if Shani Parkin delivered an eager buyer to a vacation-home builder in the red-hot Four Corners area, the Kissimmee real-estate consultant had little to show for her effort. Builders then had plenty of their own buyers, thank...

Thw Wall Street Journal has this report on the nations housing markets. "With the key spring selling season about to get under way, the inventory of homes on the market is climbing sharply in a number of major cities. It is the latest sign that the balance of power between buyers and sellers is...

The Metro West Daily News has this report on Massachusetts. "Housing prices are projected to drop 5 percent during each of the first two quarters of this year and Bay State residents remain highly concerned over the cost of housing, market analysts said yesterday." "A 'sharp' drop in Massachusetts...

The Arizona Republic reports on the Phoenix housing bubble. "Listings are up and houses are taking more time to sell as buyers regain the upper hand in the Valley's volatile resale market. Andre and Petrusia Bilyk are what's known in the housing market as motivated sellers.They put up their...

This San Diego Reader article from a few days back was sent in by a reader. "In..San Diego housing market today, two kinds of gamblers are leaving town in a hurry: (1) speculators, or people buying condos to sell them, not live in them, and (2) homebuyers taking on exotic mortgages so they can buy...

The financial media is reacting to the Toll Brothers guidance. "If you don't think the housing market has cooled off dramatically, just ask Robert Toll. 'Selling homes this first quarter was certainly more difficult than one year ago,' said CEO Toll. He noted that 'we experienced softening demand...

The Naples Insider has an update on that Florida market. "Real estate over time usually results in a very good investment. And this has been particularly true with Naples real estate. But real estate trends can run in cycles." "Overall the number of single family homes and condos available for sell...

Lots of predictions out today. "U.S. home sales will drop in 2006 as mortgage rates climb and house prices inch up at rates far below those notched last year, a trade group said on Tuesday, noting the long-awaited housing slowdown has begun. The outlook from the NAR came shortly after luxury home...

The Wall Street Journal looks at the way the housing market works. "As home prices soared in recent years, so did the percentage-based commissions charged by agents. Residential real-estate commissions in the U.S. totaled $61 billion in 2004, up 42% from 2000. But isn't this trend at least making...

The Pioneer Press reports on the housing bubble in the Twin Cities. "Attorneys Katie and Paul Bergstrom never expected to be shoveling snow this winter at their previous home in St. Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood. Last September, they moved into their dream home. But the Cathedral Hill home...

The Boston Globe reports on a new overall sales report. "The drop-off in Massachusetts home sales last year just got worse. The Warren Group reported yesterday that sales of single-family homes declined 7.6 percent last year. That is much larger than the 3.5 percent drop in 2005 sales reported...

Reuters has the latest on the homebuilders. "Luxury home builder Toll Brothers Inc. on Tuesday further reduced its forecast for home sales in the current year, as new orders for the first quarter fell 29 percent on slumping demand." "The company's deteriorating forecasts may indicate that the...

The Herald Tribune has the latest on the Florida condo bubble. "Two more apartment complexes, with a total of 586 units, are being converted to condos. Six months ago, these conveniently sited complexes would have sold out in a matter of months. Like most other sectors of the real estate market,...

The Star Tribune reports on another trend that appears when homes don't sell. "Super Bowl Sunday, is often considered a kickoff to the spring real estate market. Agents say activity so far suggests the market could be as busy as last year's near-record pace. But sales of the St Joseph statues...

Reuters reports on Fed officials speech. "Those anxious about the housing market have urged the Fed halt its tightening cycle before it does substantial damage to property prices. But Dallas Federal Reserve President Richard Fisher sounded less worried and said the high number of home owners with...

The Register-Guard reports that even the Oregon housing market is coming back to Earth. "Happy days aren't exactly here again, but projected solid job growth and a slowing, but still strong, housing market should keep the local and state economies rolling along this year, according to a five-member...

Several reports on homebuilders show the housing bubble is bursting. "A survey by the National Association of Home Builders found 62 percent of 406 builders are offering buyers incentives such as televisions or free heat for six months. Thirty-three percent are paying closing costs or fees....

The Sacramento Bee reports on distressed borrowers. "It took less than eight months for Dustin Suposs' '"American Dream' to become a nightmare. He and his girlfriend, both in their early 20s, got caught up in the better-buy-now mentality that fueled the Sacramento area's housing market last spring....

The News Press reports on the bursting Florida housing bubble. "Lee County's housing market is slowing after years of robust growth, and the worst may be yet to come as homes already being built flood the market. Every day, more than 400 houses go on the market, but only about a hundred are sold,...