I came across a very interesting website, that of the Center for Economic Policy Research, an organization that’s done alot of looking into the housing bubble issue and that has alot of articles that you’ll find interesting and informative. What’s really noteworthy, though, is a unique bubble calculator that seeks to measure whether you’d be better off renting or buying by plugging in the price, mortgage terms, location and projected hold time into the fields, which then takes into…

Another View on the Bubble-No Bubble Coin Toss
Glenn Roberts, Jr. of Inman News today quotes from findings of the Anderson Forecast, an economic report out of UCLA. According to the report, housing is more likely to head for a crash rather than the gradually deflating balloon we’ve all be hearing about lately. For more, check out the article ( subscription required) at http://www.inman.com/hstory.aspx?ID=53488

Problems When the 1031 Tail Wags the Dog
Here’s an interesting article about what happens when investors, in their zeal to meet the stringent time requirements of a 1031 exchange, invest in properties in areas they’re unfamiliar with and do so without their usual degree of due diligence. http://www.realestatejournal.com/buysell/markettrends/20060615-hagerty.html?refresh=on

Noah’s Ark 2006
In the year 2006, the Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in the United States, and said, “Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a Few good humans.” He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, “You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.” Six months later, the Lord looked down and…

Expected Report of Year Over Year 2nd Qtr Condo Price Declines
Today’s NY Sun reports that an expected industry report on condo prices will show softening on a year over year basis for the second quarter. As the article recites, industry analysts opine on whether they foresee a repeat of the coop collapse of the late 1980′s when oversupply combined with softening demand and tax reform to cause a sharp drop in prices. Some, according to the article, feel the City’s overall healthy economy will prevent this recurrence in the case of…

Taxes and Commercial Real Estate Activity in NY
Today’s NY Sun has an interesting article sure to reinvigorate the timeless intellectual arm wrestling about whether booms and busts in real estate are primarily driven by tax policy or the business cycle. This article focuses on the infamous “Cuomo Tax”, formally known as the Real Property Gains Tax, enacted in the ’80′s by then Governor Mario Cuomo. In short, the tax that excluded townhouses and one and two family houses, surcharged capital gains on most other…