Posts with tag Housing Watch

On-the-lam film director Roman Polanski has traded a jail cell for roomier digs at his Swiss chalet. But you have to wonder, what is better? Polanski had to pony up $4.5 million bail to be sprung from a Swiss jail, which was clean and sparsely furnished with a sink, bed, toilet and television. Still, it was quiet and... Continue Reading »

Another "biggest deal in history" is falling apart.Back in 2007, when Tishman Speyer paid $1.7 billion for six office towers in Chicago's Loop, the local press proclaimed it the "biggest real estate deal in Chicago history." Now, a part of the $1.4 million package of loans on the properties is in default - and Tishman... Continue Reading »

Just when you thought it was safe to open a newspaper, there's some bad news: There could be an additional 4.8 million foreclosure sales between 2009 and 2011, said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com in West Chester, Pennsylvania in an interview with Reuters.That's almost twice the 2.7 million foreclosure... Continue Reading »

Average interest rates for home loans have never been lower -- at least not since the economists at Freddie Mac first started keeping track in 1971.The average interest rate for a 30-year home fixed-rate mortgage fell to 4.71 percent, according to the Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released December 3.That's... Continue Reading »

Have you ever thought about putting solar panels on your roof? Now might be the time to do it. Prices for solar panels have plummeted, and industry experts anticipate a continued decline.The culprit is an oversupply of silicon, an essential component of most solar panel systems. "Raw silicon that used to be $450 bucks per... Continue Reading »