North Port builders see grim future [South Florida]

North Port builders see grim future [South Florida] Because of the dramatic downturn in the real estate market, home builders are now replacing scrub jays as the most endangered species in this once rapidly growing city. Ignoring the laws of supply and demand, those builders churned out far more homes than were needed during the …

How to Break Into the Housing Market, Even Now / (HINT: USE OTHER PEOPLE’S MONEY)

How to Break Into the Housing Market, Even Now It was about as far as you could get from Jeff Langholz’s and Karen Lowell’s idea of a dream house and still have four walls and a roof: a ramshackle double-wide on a weed-infested lot in rural Monterey County. A trailer for $169,000. Was this a …

FBI inquiry involves area home sales

FBI inquiry involves area home sales The FBI is investigating a convicted Florida cocaine dealer whose alleged mortgage frauds may involve homes throughout the Montgomery area and may leave investors with more than $1 million in potential losses. Federal agents received court permission earlier this year to search the offices of a real estate appraisal …

Salton City: The boom that wasn’t [San Jose]

Salton City: The boom that wasn’t [San Jose] Developers still add housing the remote, inexpensive area, despite rising gas prices and mortgage rates This lakeside hamlet is about as remote as you can get in Southern California and still have plumbing and pavement. Nestled on the western shore of the Salton Sea, the town doesn’t …

Post-boom hangover lingers [South Florida]

Post-boom hangover lingers [South Florida] The first thing you notice as you drive the hundreds of miles of crumbling roads in this once rapidly growing city is the enormous number of “For Sale” signs. Every 9th or 10th house is either listed for sale or will be as soon as foreclosure proceedings are concluded. All …

Getting Away by Pressing the ‘Up’ Button [New York]

Getting Away by Pressing the ‘Up’ Button [New York] “In many of these high-rise buildings,” Mr. Bedoya said, “there are fewer apartments the higher up you go, so it feels a bit more private and exclusive. And the views are certainly something that people value. When you’re entertaining, everyone is always impressed by a lot …