Category Archives: Real Estate Law

The Associated Press reported this week that, “U.S. home prices climbed at a solid pace in August as more buyers competed for fewer available properties. “The Standard & Poor’s CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5.1% in August, after a 5% gain in July. Portland, Seattle and Denver reported the strongest year-over-year increases for… Continue Reading

Wall Street Journal writers Ben Leubsdorf and Jeffrey Sparshott reported last week that, “A pickup in home sales last month signaled stabilization in the U.S. housing sector despite continued pressure from tight inventory and rising prices. “Sales of previously owned homes rose 3.2% from August to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million in September,… Continue Reading

Michael Burge indicated in yesterday’s Los Angeles Times that, “Without a high credit score, you won’t qualify for the best mortgage rates available, which could mean you’ll end up paying more money over the term of your mortgage. Even with rates at historic lows right now, the difference between 3.5% and 3.75% can add up,… Continue Reading

The Associated Press reported earlier this week that, “One month after surging to their highest level in nearly nine years, sales of new homes nationwide retreated in August, with the exception the west, the Commerce Department reported Monday. “Sales of newly built houses in the west jumped 8% from a month earlier, while nationwide sales dropped… Continue Reading

Steven Russolillo reported in Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal that, “By some measures in the U.S., there has never been a better time to own a home. Wages are rising, unemployment is falling and interest rates are hovering near record lows.” The Journal article noted that, “And yet, all of that is little solace to adults… Continue Reading

Laura Kusisto and Eric Morath reported in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal that, “Sales of previously owned homes slipped in July, a sign that higher prices are taking a bite out of U.S. housing demand. “The pace of existing-home sales decreased 3.2% last month from June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.39 million, the… Continue Reading

Associated Press writer Josh Boak reported yesterday that, “Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes in July to the fastest pace in nearly nine years, the latest sign that low mortgage rates and a solid job market are helping support the residential real estate market. “New-home sales jumped 12.4 percent last month to a seasonally… Continue Reading

Alexandra Stevenson and Matthew Goldstein reported on the front page of yesterday’s New York Times that, “Alex Szkaradek is a landlord who seems to have the best of both worlds. “Mr. Szkaradek, 36, collects rent, but he never has to pay for repairs on any of the more than 5,500 homes — many of them… Continue Reading

Chris Kirkham reported in Monday’s Wall Street Journal that, “Spending on single-family home construction remains 40% below the levels of a decade ago, but new forecasts project that U.S. investment in residential remodeling and repairs this year will surpass records set during the housing boom. “Expense for repairs and remodeling is expected to surpass $300… Continue Reading