Weekend round-up

Here is a collection of real estate articles from around the world to comment on. What are you seeing out there in your area? Post your links and thoughts.

Farming the cream of the real estate crop

Sales figures compiled by the Real Estate Institute (REINZ) show the median farm price increased by 52 per cent between April 2007 and April 2008, ...

From boom to gloom?

Leave it to Garth Turner to throw cold water on the notion Canada can achieve a soft real estate landing, when history and the slump south of the border ...

Western prosperity buoys real estate in Maritimes

Western prosperity is helping boost prospects for Atlantic Canada's real estate markets, a major national realtor reported Monday. ...

US economy struggles to regain its balance

But the thing to remember is that it's not just residential real estate. The same factors that were behind the housing bubble were also at work, ...

Silicon Valley investors join in Vietnam's real estate frenzy

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam - A half a world away from Silicon Valley's anemic real estate market, agent Cindy Nguyen has little time for sleep while she sniffs out deals in one of the world's hottest property markets...

Why the Property Boom Bypassed Germany

Lured by remarkably low prices, property investors from the United Kingdom and Ireland have been snapping up real estate, especially in Berlin. ...

How long will the slowdown last?

For many real estate executives, 2008 is the year of radical changes. Building sales through the first five months of the year in New York's investment sales market have been moving at a snail's pace. Investment sales executives are marketing plenty of office and residential properties, yet very few are actually closing and investment sales are down by as much as 80%.
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The Wrong Side of a Real Estate Slump

A good article that imparts advice on how to sell in a down market. For those people in areas where the market is still holding up - this information is still relevant. Whether you are trying to keep yourself out of foreclosure, trying to maximize your return or flip quickly, these rules apply.

The problem with most people is that they are greedy. The fact that they have, say, a $50,000 to $75,000 + gain in home value in 9 to 12 months without lifting a finger to improve the home isn't good enough, they want that extra $10,000. In an increasing market this home will sell, not in two to three weeks but two to three + months when the market catches up with the asking price.

This greed aspect also holds true in declining markets. I understand that people don't want to lose money, but by having unrealistic expectations of what prospective buyers should you for your property will expand your loses in the end.

Final thoughts: All the points in the article I believe are helpful but by far "Price it right" is essential to quickly selling any property in any market. Time lost by holding out for that extra dollar is keeping you from getting your profit out of the deal and moving on to your next investment.

Weekend round-up

Here is a collection of real estate articles from around the world to comment on. What are you seeing out there in your area? Post your links and thoughts.

Real Estate Exchange Becoming a Popular Option in Down Market

US Banking System in Crisis- Why banks are Not lending?

Real Estate Investing Like The Pros

Real estate agents busted for low quotes

Chill felt in Toronto real estate

Real estate bloggers can protect themselves from libel lawsuits

Here is an article relevant to real estate bloggers and posters. This question and answer article broadly covers the issue of libel and being sued for inaccurate or defamatory comments.

Since most bloggers in this space are "home-bloggers" (professionals or people blogging from their home computer) they may not have an understanding of the kind of posts and comments that could result in a lawsuite.

Final thoughts: If you are a blogger or regularly participate in commenting on blogs or forums, this article is worth the read.

First Nations housing market

The Government of Canada is introducing a new financing plan that will allow First Nations people living on reserve to build, buy or renovate a house on-reserve.

The plan has three stakeholders; the Canadian Government (a.k.a the taxpayer), Canadian financial institutions and First Nations organizations.

The intention of the program is to create an on-reserve housing market that will encourage investment and home ownership.

Essentially, the Fund is designed to provide an extra safety net for the lender in the event the borrower defaults on the loan and the First Nation does not honour its obligation to step in using its own resources, to remedy the default.

Final thoughts: One item that I am not clear on is the ownership of the underlying land. IMO the land must be part of the home ownership if this is to work.

If First Nations people can only invest in the "house" on the land, then they are paying allot of money for a depreciating asset. Under this scenario the program is a money loser for all except the lender.

There are many challenges ahead for this program to create an "investment" type housing market on a First Nations reserve. Some of these challenges are covered in this post by Grassroots News .

It will be interesting to see how this "real estate market" takes form over the long term. If you have any additional information on this please leave a post.

Weekend round-up

Here is a collection of real estate articles from around the world to comment on. What are you seeing out there in your area? Post your links and thoughts.

Online property sales probed - Australia

Moody's: Commercial real estate prices slipping - USA

Real estate sector growth trends - Bulgaria

5-10 percent European property fall

Real estate wary of hot foreign money - UAE

Al Gharbia set to become a real estate hot spot - UAE

Israel is still a hot market for high-end real estate

Africa: Asset Managers Look to Continent

Japan faces backlog of unsold homes