The month of December 2011 saw a rise in construction starts for both single-family residences (SFRs) and apartments and condos. However, only 21,420 SFR starts took place statewide in 2011, 6% below 2010. The overall trend for SFR construction remains flat, with little change from 2010 expected until 2015. 25,595 multi-family starts were initiated in [...]

California is about to discover it has an oversupply of classic subdivision housing, according to a report released by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) analyzing demographic and construction trends in California’s metropolitan regions. Generation Y (Gen Y) individuals are gearing up to form households this decade, and developers anticipate a diminished demand for large single [...]

A digest of recent court cases affecting real estate.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) announced that it would delay the roll-out of the new condominium (condo) purchase loans to November 2, 2009. The rules were originally scheduled to become effective October 1, 2009. In addition to the delay, the FHA is considering tightening several of their policies, most notably: eliminating “spot approvals” of condo [...]

Prospective condominium (condo) buyers with less than a 20% down payment, and their agents, must brace for the lender bias against condo units. This should come as no surprise since condo prices and sales volume during a business cycle are extremely volatile. Condos are the last to jump in price, and price inflation is far [...]

A digest of recent court cases affecting real estate.

This article reviews the loan application process the transaction agent (TA) must guide his buyer through to ensure the buyer closes on the most advantageous loan terms available. Role of the transaction agent (TA) The ability of a buyer or an owner to obtain financing is an integral component of most real estate transactions, whether [...]

A digest of recent court cases affecting real estate.

A look at the legislation affecting real estate enacted during the 2008 Legislative Session.

With people cutting back on travel in the current recession, the hotel industry has struggled for business. Numerous hotels along the east coast are likely to be forced into bankruptcy or foreclosure in the upcoming months, if they have not already. Luxury hotels, which have larger staffs and higher operating costs, are in especially dire [...]