Archive for October, 2007

The Housing Market - S&P Analyst Says Economy Not At Risk Of Recession

If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!We all want to know what the effect of the housing slowdown will be on both the housing market and the economy as a whole. Of course, real estate is all local, but when it comes to the stock […]

24Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Collateral Damage To The Housing Slowdown

Today in separate reports two construction supply companies are reporting much lower earnings as new construction is finally slowing. Both Norbord, who make oriented strand boards (OSB) and USG, maker of wallboard, are showing significant earning decreases.
While this is tough for the companies and their employees it can not be much of a surprise. They loaded up during […]

24Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

IRS Cracking Down On Charities Involved In Real Estate Deals

It looks like the IRS has set it’s sights on the Real Estate world. Last week we talked about how the IRS is cracking down on 1031 exchanges. Now they are going after charitable donations that create huge tax windfalls for the taxpayer but have very little exposure for them.

The transactions are potentially abusive […]

23Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 1 comment | Continued

Fed Chief Evans Says Federal Reserve Should Protect Economy Against Housing Woes

For those watching the Federal Reserve and how they will address the housing slowdown, Charles Evans, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President, has some insights. He says that the Federal Reserve should shield against high risk (insert housing slowdown) events and make sure their policies do not make the situation worse.

`To me, the uncertainties […]

23Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

UN Tells Canadians Your Housing Policies Will Look Like US - And This Was Not a Compliment

God help us from bureaucrats who are sanctimonious and full of beeswax. A report coming out of Canada that a UN official traveling the country is condemning the Canadians for their rise in homelessness and cost of housing.

Miloon Kothari, the UN’s special rapporteur on adequate housing, warned yesterday that Canadians are becoming complacent to […]

23Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Arasapha Farms and The Bates Motel in Gradyville, PA -Number 4 of Top 10 Haunted Houses in America

From the Bates Motel to the Haunted Corn Maze to the Haunted Hay Ride, the fears go all night at the Arasapha Farms outside of Philadelphia. As HauntFreaks.com writes, “A remarkable hayride, an exceptionally well-done corn maze, a large band stage with a big movie screen that played clips all night, made it an overall […]

22Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 5 comments | Continued

Top 10 Highest Residential Building Rates in USA in 2006

When trying to understand why the residential housing market is facing a hard time in certain markets, looking at the numbers may give us a big clue. Cities like Las Vegas, Austin, Orlando, Atlanta, and Phoenix all have few natural boundaries so expansion is possible. Cities like Los Angeles and New York have very few […]

22Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Commercial over Housing in California, Green Space over Housing on Long Island

San Jose is worried that the rush to build new homes is taking away from job production. Undeveloped land is quickly being converted to housing inventory and the locals are getting restless. By building up housing at the expense of commercial land, job prospects are being hurt in the region.

But whether the revisions - […]

22Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 0 comments | Continued

Shocktoberfest in Reading, Pennsylvania - Number 6 of Top 10 Haunted Houses in America

In our post last year we featured the Top 10 Haunted Houses in America just before Halloween. This year we will count down and feature each one of these haunted homes every day in anticipation of Halloween.
Coming in at number 6 is Shocktoberfest out of Reading, Pennsylvania. Billing itself as a haunted theme park, Shocktoberfest has […]

20Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 2 comments | Continued

95 Million Dollar Connecticut Estate For Sale By Liberty Travel Founder

If you are looking for a private estate in Stamford, Connecticut just outside of New York City, we have found it for you. The 263 acre estate owned by Liberty Travel founder Gilbert Haroche has come up for sale for the modest price tag of 95 million dollars.
The home is on one of the […]

20Oct2007 | Tom Royce | 3 comments | Continued