Category Archives: Over Seas
Military First-Time Homebuyers Get New Assistance Program
In an effort to help both veterans and active-duty military members participate in today’s housing market, the Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) Foundation is offering a new program to first-time, military homebuyers called the Dream Makers Program[1]. The program is designed to help eligible military members – including employees of the U.S. Department of Defense … Continue reading
Foreign Investors Double Down on Anticipated U.S. Commercial Recovery
Last year, foreign investment in U.S. real estate more than doubled, and international investors show no sign of slowing down when it comes to taking advantage of the widely-predicted U.S. commercial real estate market recovery[1]. According to Jones Lang LaSalle, foreign investment in U.S. real estate doubled last year to $13.37 billion, and that trend … Continue reading
Florida Governor, Realtors Courting Canadian Investors
Last week, the president of Florida Realtors and Florida governor Rick Scott took a trip up north. The goal: to encourage Canadian companies to do business in Florida, which both parties hope will benefit the state’s troubled real estate market[1]. “Canadians, by far, make up the largest percentage of international buyers and investors in the … Continue reading
U.S. Government Files Suit against Deutsche Bank for $1 Billion
Alleging “blatant disregard” for whether or not borrowers could make loans and “repeatedly lying” in order to get into a federal program to have mortgages insured by the FHA against default, the United States government is seeking triple damages and penalties, around $1 billion, from Deutsche Bank for violating the federal False Claims Act and … Continue reading
Global Luxury Property Demand Keeps NYC Real Estate on the Rise
While many areas of the United States certainly are continuing to struggle with their real estate markets, those that can make the argument that they are “rarified” can expect to see gains in property values and demand as international investors and “high net worth individuals” return to the property market and are ready to buy[1]. … Continue reading
Wedding Registries Offer Down Payment Assistance
In Canada and parts of the northern U.S., a new service called “Home for the Honeymoon” offers wedding well-wishers the opportunity to contribute to a down payment for a new home instead of the traditional silver and china[1]. The service, which is offered by a pair of real estate agents in Canada who specialize in … Continue reading
UAE Perspective on Development to Change: From “Return on Ego to Return on Equity”
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not been known for its restraint in real estate in recent years – or in much of anything else for that matter. From $11 million Christmas trees draped in fine jewelry to artificial, palm-tree islands (that are slowly sinking into the ocean[1]), “real estate glitz” has been the byword … Continue reading
Commercial Recovery Still Coming, Probably, Says Deloitte
International investing firm Deloitte released a report yesterday indicating that as far as their experts are concerned, commercial real estate in the United States is clearly “fostering early stages of recovery”[1]. While many analysts were beginning to make similar predictions by the end of 2010, most preferred a “wait and see” approach rather than taking … Continue reading
UW-Madison Reports US Is Top Choice For Foreign Real Estate Investors
Despite the real estate market crash, the United States real estate market seem to have done something right – foreign investors are looking at putting their money in the country’s real estate market this year. Though most of them choose to invest in just choice cities, the news is still welcome to investors and analysts … Continue reading
China: Homebuyers Brawl Over Hangzhou Apartments
If you think the United States real estate market has it bad, wait until you hear what has happened with an apartment building in China. When the sale of apartments in Deyi Konggang International Garden residential compound near Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport was announced, hopeful purchasers flocked to it. But anomalies over unfair distribution of … Continue reading