Archive for April, 2006

Immigration Reform Will Impact Contruction Industry Very Hard

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Living in Atlanta you would never know that framing or roofing a house could be done by anyone but an immigrant. The building industry has been dominated in the last decade by Latin American workers. Now those in the [...]

24Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Top 10 Most Expensive Zip Codes For Home Sales

Forbes has put together a list of the most expensive zip codes to purchase a home in based upon median sale price. We have the top 10 for you to see, while the rest are available at Forbes.com.

11962 Sagaponack Suffolk NY 2,787,500
92067 Rancho Santa Fe San Diego CA 2,445,000
92662 Newport Beach Orange CA [...]

24Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

Subdividing Properties in Built Out Areas

There are parts of the country where land is so scarce that there is a trend to buy a home on a larger property, raze it, and then develop 2 or 3 properties on the original footprint. The Boston Globe has a very good article on this niche trend in the real estate market.

‘In a [...]

23Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

New Jersey Real Estate Fraud Case - Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

A Real Estate Investment company is under investigation as it promised returns over 85 percent to investors and now is unable to deliver them. The case against REI Group of Asbury Park is typical as peoples greed leads them into deals that when looked at with a jaundiced eye are crazy on the outside. If the [...]

23Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

Last Minute Closing Panic - Why HUD Forms are Never on Time

Every closing I have been involved in personally has had the HUD form, which shows all the costs involved with the selling and buying the house, has always shown up at the last minute. While most buyers are under the misconception that the form should be available a day ahead of time, the Hartford Courant [...]

22Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

18 of Top 25 Cities Losing Population Rapidly

The exodus from high tax large cities is occurring faster than the experts have expected. Of the 25 largest cities in the country, 18 lost population from 2000 to 2004. The combination of outrageous housing prices and exorbitant taxation have led to this situation.
The middle class is leaving the cities while the poor and the [...]

20Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Missouri Judge Postpones Eminent Domain Ballot Because of Potential Costs to Government?

A Missouri judge has postponed a vote over restricting eminent domain use because the proponents can not tell him how much it will cost government. So let me get this straight. The government has been seizing property at below market rates from individuals. If you or I did that it would be stealing.
People say [...]

19Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

Growth of Minority Home Buyers Initiates Changes In Industry

The growth of minority home ownership is creating new opportunities for real estate agents, but it is also forcing them to develop new skill sets. Recognition of different concerns and needs amongst non traditional home buyers is creating new niche opportunities for those who are willing to take the time to learn to fulfill these [...]

17Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

A Slowing Market Makes Builders Choose Their Future - Charge Ahead or Pull Back

Facing a tougher landscape, builders are in a very different position than last year. The market slow down is making them decide whether to aggressively continue their building plans or retrench and pull back. MSNBC has an interesting article today focusing on Centerline Homes in Central Florida, but the discussion could be taking place in many communities [...]

17Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Blogs Tell The story in Brooklyn Development of Atlantic Yards

One of the biggest construction projects in Brooklyn, New Yorks history is the development by Forest City Ratner called Atlantic Yards. Like most huge projects, it has its proponents and detractors. What is interesting is that both sides are using weblogs to get their story out. And it is working as the New York Times reports.

About [...]

16Apr2006 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued