Banks help keep borrowers afloat Andy Hallmark recently faced a financial squeeze familiar to thousands of Americans: The interest rate on his home-equity line of credit (HELOC) had shot up to uncomfortably high levels. But Hallmark decided to try something other than refinancing his loan or biting the bullet and paying big mortgage bills for …
Category Archives: Real Estate
‘Conversion, reversion’
‘Conversion, reversion’ As the market skyrocketed, area apartment complexes thought they could cash-in by converting the units into condos. After stale sales and little interest, many are reverting back to rental communities. Now come the reversions. In the past year, investors have flooded the market with apartments turned condo. While sales are moving slowly at …
Real estate bust hits home for area builders, buyers [South Florida]
Real estate bust hits home for area builders, buyers [South Florida] Leonard Sondheimer knows firsthand the perils of the real estate boom. The 68-year-old — retired until he and his wife sought to diversify their investments into the Southwest Florida real estate rush — now finds himself working full time again as a mattress salesman …
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REITs That Still Sport High Yields
REITs That Still Sport High Yields The average yield for property-owning real estate investment trusts has fallen below 4%. But one category — medical REITs — stands out. It used to be that when REIT yields dipped below 6%, it meant that the stocks were overvalued and it might be wise to stay away or …
Area rents surge in the wake of rising property values
Area rents surge in the wake of rising property values Denise Johnson, who just a year ago thought she had found her dream apartment, now faces losing it as her rent rises along with her landlord’s property tax bills. “I honestly don’t know where I will go,” said Johnson, a former registered nurse and paralegal …
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Buy Low(er) – How to Navigate the New Real-Estate Market
Buy Low(er) – How to Navigate the New Real-Estate Market Carol Candiano walked into the sales office of a new condo in west Chelsea last December looking to buy. She asked to tour a few units and fell in love with a 736-square-foot one-bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and a small terrace. But the agents didn’t …
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