Market Trends and Condition

Is everyone seeing property tax rates go up? And as gas prices continue to rise do you see that affecting the housing market in your area?
The property tax we pay on a duplex appraised at $184,000 here is almost $3,300 per year. That is within the city limits. Tax on the same building 10 miles away might only cost 1/2 that. And because gas prices are so high now, it is much easier to rent out places in town than just a short distance away. Until recently, anything available in the country was snatched up immediately. Now they are hard to rent out.

Is anyone else noticing the change?

Miami-area home sellers looking to unload their properties might want to make sure they have comfortable couches.

It looks like they're going to be there a while.

That's because Miami tops our list of the nation's most sedentary housing markets. These 10 spots feature a potent mix of dropping prices and sluggish sales rates. Also on the list: Denver, San Diego, Baltimore and Chicago.

Slideshow: America’s Worst-Selling Housing Markets
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Closing the Gap?*

There is still a gap between buyers and sellers. Sales have been slow in 2006 and 2007 because sellers want to obtain the best price possible for their property. This is understandable. Right now, however, because buyers have the upper hand in the market, sellers are finding that they simply can’t get the same prices that their neighborhood may have sold for just last year, or in 2006.

IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THIS MARKET IN DETROIT EVERYONE IS SAYING DONT BUY DETROIT PROPERTIES... I AM JUST STARTING OUT AND I DONT WANT TO GET MYSELF STUCK IN HOLDING AND PAYING ON A PROPERTY AND ADDING A EXTRA BILL. HOW CAN I ATTACK THE REAL ESTATE INVESTING WORLD IN DETROIT.

Hey,

I'm 26 and don't own a home yet. I'm looking at a condo on the Big Island of Hawaii. The 1972 condo is going for 185K for a one bed one bath that is 572 sq ft with a HOA of $360 per month.Its very inexpensive compared to the $474k condo that I rent now. I'm wonder if I should just get my feet wet and buy it. I know Location, location, location!! It's close to town, but no ocean view. Not sure, any advice??

I haven't seen much information in the way of Green investing. Let me know if I'm wrong in thinking this.

I subscribe to Realty Times and in Reading Dean's book on Market Conditions and Up and Down Markets provides a great tool for becoming aware of National Trends on the overall. The Realty Times also has many interesting articles on Market Trends and Condition.

As the old saying goes, "it is better to be an idiot on an uptrend than a genius on a downtrend". One of the reasons I chose to start investing 450 miles away from where I was living was the trends. Jobs were being created and homes were selling in the area I chose. The city was right in the path of development, homes were priced right and I felt like there was a definate uptrend coming. The city I was living in at the time was still moving in a downtrend. There is no sense in investing in an area still moving down because the best deals are still to come.

Hello,

I am new to the idea of investing in real estate. Is there anybody on here that's from North Carolina by any chance?

Melissa

I just ordered Dean's book and am so excited to start. I know about the foreclosure crisis across the country, however, I live in North Dakota and right now it is booming due to oil productivity. I find myself in a completely different housing market than many of Americans. Most of North Dakota has a very small percentage of foreclosure homes--if any in some areas. I don't want to be left out on this great opportunity because of geogragphy and a state economy not reflecting the national trend. Any advice or suggestions?

Kelly