Date Archives July 2005

Bubble Links

here are a couple of good bubble links …RealestatejournalNYTimes – thanks to Curbed for the heads-up (registration required) – go here for a password.”So far, the mortgage-backed market has generated cash and profits galore…. That said, the industry should still be regulated somehow, someway.Volokh – The concern, as I understand it, is that people who have interest-only loans (for instance) are going to be hurt if home prices fall (although it is not clear why they would, if everyone is adopting the new mortgages–but I digress). The idea is that if housing prices fall, and if they have to sell their house, they will be forced to come up with a big wad of cash to make up for the shortfall.

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Albemarle Places creeps closer

The 80-acre site surrounding the Sperry Marine facility will eventually hold almost 2 million square feet of leasable space and is projected to include a 150-room hotel, a 14-screen cinema, 780 apartments, office space, a grocery store, restaurants and a variety of large retail outlets.Just what we need at one of the busiest, most dangerous intersections in the area. Prior to the land’s rezoning, the county extracted a variety of conditions from developers, who agreed to fund more than $5 million in transportation and capital improvement projects in the area.I didn’t find these proffers/concession at Albemarle’s site; probably wasn’t looking hard enough. If I sound bitter, it is because my office is located between this development and the 29/250 interchange.

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