Posted by Leonard Steinberg of Urban Compass on January 16th, 2015 As New York City tax coffers swell to record-level surpluses, it was announced that real estate taxes are about to rise dramatically……of course with a characteristically un-American sense of un-equalness that has become the hallmark of our messed up New York real estate tax… [Read More]
REAL ESTATE TAX LAWSUIT: DEBLASIO’S PARK SLOPE PAYS LOWEST TAX
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on February 27th, 2014 In this morning’s Wall Street Journal, Josh Barbanel writes about a class-action lawsuit launched posing a constitutional challenge to New York City’s complicated property-tax system, a formula that has mystified skyscraper owners and renters for a generation. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303801304579407651052464532?mod=WSJ_NY_MIDDLETopStories&mg=reno64-wsj It is charged that the system unfairly affects blacks and… [Read More]
3.5% Downpayment insanity?
The FHA has come out to guarantee mortgage loans on a few new buildings in Manhattan: While the idea is brilliant, and long overdue, the plan is a perfect example of how governments can take a great idea and muck it up really badly. As we exit (very slowly and grindingly and uncerytainly) from the worst… [Read More]
RETAIL UP 0.3%! A REFLECTION ON REAL ESTATE?
Led by a big gain in electronics, U.S. retail sales increased 0.3% to a seasonally-adjusted $355.5 billion in February, despite three major snow storms in the East, the Commerce Department estimated Friday. Sales have risen in four of the past five months, and were up 3.9% compared with a year earlier. Most categories of retailers… [Read More]
ENCOURAGING SIGNS? IS LUXURY MANHATTAN REAL ESTATE ‘HOUSING’?
Today, reports came out on home groundbreaking. (Am I the only one annoyed at how figures are constantly ‘revised’?) So December’s figures were slightly inaccurate….why? And why the month-by-month-drama-queen reporting? I am a firm believer in watching pricing on a month by month basis, but it ceases to amaze me how many people formulate world-shattering conclusions from… [Read More]