real estate

Since 91% of stocks are owned by the Plutocracy, the much-ballyhooed rise in the stock market as proof the recession is over is perception management/ propaganda.

Simon Property Group Inc., the nation's largest shopping mall owner, made a $10 billion hostile bid Tuesday to acquire ailing rival General Growth Properties.

An investigation by the nonprofit journalism operation, ProPublica, raises intriguing questions about reasons desperate homeowners are being turned away for the very government program aimed at helping them.

The shape of this economic recovery will not be in a “V”, as many pundits have promulgated, but instead may be the inversion of that letter…which will unfortunately look much more like a tepee. The upcoming downfall will surprise most investors who have been tricked into believing that a government can print and spend their way into prosperity.

A primary residence is not and should not be considered an investment it’s more of a variable savings account. Disregarding the occurrences in the real estate market over the past 2 years the land that a house is built on has increased each year for over 50 years, and yes it is partly due to inflation but nonetheless it has increased.

Editor Adam Lass discusses whether or not Toll Brother’s recent success in selling their high-end luxury homes is a sign of economic recovery- or consumers spending out of their means.

The following are comments compiled by Wall Street economist Jan Hatzius of Goldman Sachs. Notable for his bearish forecasts, he was listed atop of 52 Wall Street economists in The Wall Street Journal?s economic-forecast rankings. Read analysis at voicedup.com

Jacqui Smith, the former home secretary, is expected to apologise to the Commons today after being criticised by a committee of MPs for using the second home allowance to fund her family home.

The economy is in bad shape at the moment. Unemployment is up, the stock market is down and the financial credit crisis and housing markets are in turmoil.

Now the good news.

National Default Servicing, LLC (NDS), an established provider of default and servicing related solutions to the real estate industry, announced today the integration of its mortgage service operations under the new parent name, The National Groups (www.TheNationalGroups.com).

Today I was going to comment that part of the success equation on which newbies focus: the trading methodology. Specifically I wanted to ask the question: what constitutes a robust plan?

The biggest story from last week, and one which I am monitoring very closely, is the rise of interest rates in the US. The Ten year treasury bond yield which stood at 3.16% a month ago has moved to 3.83% on Friday.

Capital Market Comment | Equity (Stock) Trade Idea 1: L.TO | Equity (Stock) Trade Idea 2

The fundamentals for the home builders appear to be improving. In fact, an unexpected sales jump in February and a rise in mortgage applications in March may also signal the housing market is stabilizing. Even Pulte CEO Richard Dugas, explained, "We’re cautiously optimistic."