Nicaragua, the new beachfront frontier

Nicaragua, the new beachfront frontier – Los Angeles Times What second-home buyers yearn for in Central America is Costa Rica before the building boom. They want ocean views and unspoiled land, without the steep prices, crime and American fast-food chains. They want Panama before Donald Trump. Adventurous Americans, Canadians and Europeans willing to dodge livestock …

Overdue mortgages linked to risky loans

Overdue mortgages linked to risky loans An explosion in overdue mortgages tailored to home buyers with less-than-sterling credit has driven foreclosure filings to record highs in Massachusetts. These mortgages, known as subprime loans, charge higher interest rates to compensate the lender for the risks associated with customers who have low credit scores or large credit …

A cooling trend in real estate flipping

A cooling trend in real estate flipping If buyers have felt lonely making the sole bids on houses these days, it might be because home flippers, those who buy property with the intention of renovating and reselling quickly, haven’t been as active in the last year. “Flipped” houses, considered by analysts to be those owned …

Memo to Shrewd Condo Investors: Buy in Chicago

Memo to Shrewd Condo Investors: Buy in Chicago Any report on the condo development market routinely lists cities such as Miami and Las Vegas as the touchstones of a market gone mad. It’s just as easy to point to Chicago, where conversion of disused and historic office buildings has fueled a resurgent and, some say, …