James Stewart at SmartMoney hits the nail on the head. If you’re a first-time buyer looking to purchase a primary residence and you can easily afford the down payment, ongoing mortgage, taxes, and upkeep – just do it. Don’t try to time the market, just do it. Current mortgage... Read More »

As sales prices have risen, and rents have dropped, San Francisco’s residential “rent ratio” has climbed to a nation-wide high of 34.1 (according to The New York Times). We’re higher than New York City (25.4) and San Diego (28.9), and up from a rent ratio of 12.5 in 2000.... Read More »

We don’t know whether to be extremely terrified or slightly intrigued. Quite honestly, we’re a little bit of both. Promoted as an opportunity to “Hedge, Speculate, and Invest” in specific real estate markets without actually buying property, HedgeStreet’s “Hedgelets” allow just about anyone to take a position on the... Read More »

In a self-described rant on Inman News, columnist Lou Barnes shares his perspective on the recent explosion of financial press coverage regarding a real estate “bubble”. In Lou’s own words: There is no evidence whatever that home prices are unsustainable, nor any evidence of widespread default. The bubble is... Read More »

While dismissing a national bubble, Alan Greenspan acknowledged signs of market “froth” and local housing bubbles during his address to the Economic Club of New York this evening. A couple of choice quotes: “We don’t perceive that there is a national bubble but it’s hard not to see …... Read More »