Traffic congestion's toll is $7.3 billion a year in Chicago area
It's the trucks. Check out how many trucks are on the road when there is a traffic jam. They need to impose peak hour fees. Also why are trucks allowed to block main streets as they pick up and drop off cargo? Why are buildings allowed to go up with inadequate loading space? (Yesterday | post #79)
Fannie faces glut of unsold homes
Yes, it goes up in the long term and, no, it's not possible to pick the bottom. However, people have got to stop thinking of real estate as an investment. It's not - unless you are a landlord. It's simply a place to live. If you look at it as an investment it pales in comparison to the alternatives: http://blog.lucidr ealty.com/2008/04/ 25/the-truth-about -chicago-area-hous ing-prices/ (Tuesday | post #9)
Don't assume real estate broker's fee is set in brick
It's amazing that this is news to some people. Of course, an even simpler option is to just use a discount broker who will give you a lower fee without haggling and still provide full service. And then there is the buy side where buyers can get rebates of a portion of their realtor's commission. (Tuesday | post #1)
And what about the responsibility of regulations in creating this mess? Like the Community Reinvestment Act? (Monday Aug 4 | post #1)
Web appeal: More shoppers starting online
Yeah, usually when there are no interior pictures it's pretty bad. I almost think it would be better if the listing agent showed the poor interior on the Web so that everyone could save themselves the time of a visit. Just getting someone in to look at the property is not going to convince them to buy the place if the pictures would have turned them off to begin with. (Sunday Aug 3 | post #1)
A $7,500 nudge for first-time buyers
Well, the article does say something about having to use the house as your principle residence so I hope you are wrong about your flipping scenario. However, even without flipping I find this bill another outrageous example of how the government is trying to prop up housing prices that should not have gotten this high in the first place with my tax money. (Sunday Aug 3 | post #2)
Fannie faces glut of unsold homes
Fannie's shareholders should get wiped out. If you want to profit from Fannie's ultimate demise you can buy puts on their stock. That's what I've done. (Sunday Aug 3 | post #1)
Action lags 1 year after Minneapolis bridge tragedy
I don't understand why this is so hard. If people use roads they should pay for them with gas taxes. If we don't have enough tax revenue then raise them. What's even another $.20 when gasoline costs $4.00 per gallon. I guess it's not politically popular. Then why do we have gasoline taxes paying for mass transit? People who use mass transit should pay for it with higher fairs. I keep hearing about mass transit losing more money because they have more riders. What kind of business loses more money the more customers you get? Geez! (Saturday Aug 2 | post #3)
Getting more for your money on move-up home
You would be surprised at how many people get hung up on the fact that they need to sell their home for less than they thought it was worth even though they can save even more money on a larger home. I think they would actually be willing to pay an extra $50k on the new home so that they can feel they made an extra $25K on their old home. People don't make rational decisions. There is an entire field dedicated to the way people make economic decisions. It's called neuroeconomics. (Friday Aug 1 | post #1)
81% afflicted with housing depression
BTW, if you have a modest house and savings you won't get financial aid. However, if you put all your savings in your house then the colleges will give you financial aid. Just another example of how this country's love affair with homes permeates every aspect of society. (Thursday Jul 31 | post #41)
81% afflicted with housing depression
I'm sure you're kidding but it's really not funny. Unless you're native American you have ancestors that weren't born here and they counted. (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #36)
Federal rules wreak havoc on condo sales
I have a mortgage broker that deals with 40 lenders and 5 insurers. He claims he can still put together a non-FHA loan with 97% financing from exactly 1 of those lenders, paired with 1 of those insurers. So there may be an alternative still out there, but it could dry up any day. (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #1)
You are absolutely right. Studies have shown again and again that having more STUFF does not make you any happier. Just ask my father who grew up with 11 siblings in a 3 bedroom house his father built himself on a farm. Now my father lives in a 5,000 sq. ft. house with my mother and he's no happier. (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #3)
The headline is a bit misleading isn't it? The index for Chicago has been relatively flat the last 3 months. You really need some historical perspective on this. I have posted various housing stats going back as far as 20 years here: http://blog.lucidr ealty.com/chicago_ real_estate_statis tics/ (Wednesday Jul 30 | post #1)
S&P/Case-Schiller: May home prices fell at steepest rate ever
You sound like a realtor. They've been saying that now is the time to buy for a couple of years now. Personally, my advice is to look at a house as a home and not an investment. Buy when you want to move. (Tuesday Jul 29 | post #9)
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