Survey: Iowa farmland values rise 13 percent

Iowa farmland rose in value by 13 percent in the year ending Oct. 1, stimulated by rising corn and soybean prices, according to a survey of bankers by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Iowa farm values rose by 6 percent in the period from July to October, as corn prices shot up from $3.50 …

The Trouble with Condos

In the housing meltdown, even outside the usual housing bust hotspots, some condominium owners are faring even worse than owners of single-family homes. In some gentrifying neighborhoods of Boston, for instance, where condo conversions of the city’s storied triple-decker row houses were rampant in the last decade, many owners now find they can’t sell their …

It’s a great time to buy, sort of

Home sellers continue to battle foreclosure-laden banks for the attention of home buyers, some of whom find themselves in a better position than they have been in decades. Yet some are hesitant to buy, thinking (fearing?) that prices will go lower and they could soon find themselves in a negative-equity position if they borrow money …

Orlando condos among cheapest in state [Central Florida]

The midpoint for Orlando condominium prices last month remained below $50,000 and was 40 percent below the statewide median price, according to a report released this week by Florida Realtors. Condo prices in Central Florida have been depressed for more than a year, with the metro area’s median price in September down 5 percent to …

Argentines risking it all to carry huge wads of cash

Argentines risking it all to carry huge wads of cash The “marker” lurks inside the bank, looking for people pulling large amounts of cash from a safe deposit box or a bank account. The gunmen linger outside, usually on motorcycles, waiting to make their move. For people such as Carolina Piparo, eight months pregnant and …