A report from PB Monthly in California. "The median home price in San Diego County blew past the previous record to hit an all-time high of $634,000 in July. Rich Toscano, a partner at San Diego financial firm Pacific Capital…
A report from Reuters. "U.S. home builder confidence rose for a third straight month in August to match its highest level ever as record-low interest rates spur buyer traffic, data showed. But even as home builder confidence surges, more homeowners…
A weekend topic starting with Housing Wire. "This week, FHFA Director Mark Calabria and the GSEs have rolled out an across-the-board 50 bp delivery fee on all refinances. Since the onset of COVID-19, and despite heroic efforts by the Fed…
It's Friday desk clearing time for this blogger. "'It was becoming clear the economic boom of the past 10 years was not sustainable, and that the 2020 assessment roll would reflect the apex of 10 consecutive years of economic prosperity,'…
What's your housing bubble prediction? From six months ago. "The end of the year is going to be very different from the beginning of the year. The year will start off well, and those in defensive positions (cash, The Precious)…
An editorial from Jonathan Miller in Forbes. "When the Covid-19 crisis began half way through March, the Manhattan housing market was placed on 'pause,' as were many housing markets around the country. That was the beginning of the problem this…
A report from the Wall Street Journal on New York. "The coronavirus lockdown has frozen Manhattan’s luxury real-estate market, with the volume of deals slowing to a trickle over the past three months. But one developer said he’s seeing signs…
A report from the Vancouver Sun in Canada. "The advertised rent for a two-bedroom apartment has plunged by 15 per cent in the city of Vancouver, one of the biggest drops in Canada, as COVID-19 makes its bewildering way through…
A weekend topic starting with the Globe and Mail. "So who is paying for this massive wave of purchases by the Fed, the Bank of Canada and others? For now, nobody. Central banks are simply crediting themselves with the funds…
A report from Bloomberg. "The nascent market for private U.S. mortgages is teetering on the brink of collapse as the coronavirus crisis imperils years of work to lessen the government's role in home lending. Several firms that issue mortgage bonds…