Finance & Mortgage

UAE Commercial Real Estate Mapping Speedy Recovery: RICS Survey

The commercial real estate market of the United Arab Emirates has been rebounding and showing great signs of recovery, according to a recent quarter survey by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Due to increased foreign investment and interest in the sector, the region’s growth has accelerated commendably.

NAHB Report: August Sees 247 Improving Markets in US

The First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released Thursday the list of improving housing markets in the U.S., which included 247 metropolitan areas.

President Obama Pitches Plans to Support US Housing Recovery; Overhaul Mortgage and Lending Market (VIDEO)

U.S. President Barack Obama pitched some new mortgage and lending plans to the public in his economic speech Tuesday at Dobson High School in Mesa, Arizona. In his speech he sketched out various plans to overhaul the lending market and asserted on the importance of private lending without ruling out the government involvement in the sector.
EDITOR'S PICKS
  • The Empire State Building REIT Saga Continues; Bids Could Delay IPO
    The Empire State Building in New York City is one of the most iconic and legendary structures of the country. Nothing about it is mediocre. Therefore, when Malkin Holdings LLC, the company that manages the building, decided to roll it into a public Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), an equally controversial series of events followed. Since the Malkins victory over the opposing shareholders, continuous bids to purchase buildings part of the portfolio have been pouring in. Many affluent developers and investors have been betting some good cash on the Empire State Building alone.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • Brookfield Asset Management Raises $4.4 Billion for Real estate Fund Surpassing Target
    Brookfield Asset Management Inc, the Canadian asset managing firm, has reportedly raise $4.4 billion for its global real estate fund. The amount is one of the largest raised since the financial crisis and has surpassed the $3.5 billion target, the company actually affixed, according to several media reports.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • US Home Sales Drop Unexpectedly in June; Remain at 3.5 Year High
    Home sales in the U.S. witnessed a slight unexpected dip in the month of June as average mortgage rates climbed a little. However, the current figures of sales remain at a three and a half year high, according to the data released by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).
    By Rapti Gupta
  • London Home Prices Reach Record High in June on Foreign Investment
    Home prices in London, U.K. went up to reach a record high in the month of June as more number of foreign investors poured in money into the real estate market of the city.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • U.S. Mortgage Rates Hit a 2-Year-High
    The average 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to 4.51 percent, reaching a two-year high following the anticipation that the Federal Reserve would lower future bond purchases, according to Freddie Mac.
    By Staff Reporter
  • Fannie Mae Selling Mortgage Bonds Worth $1 Billion
    U.S. Mortgage financier, Fannie Mae is reportedly planning to sell mortgage bonds worth $1 billion in an upcoming private auction slated to be held on Thursday, July 11. The lender will be selling these bonds without any involvement or backing from the government, according to several media reports.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • The Effects of Government Curbs on Hong Kong’s Real Estate Market
    Hong Kong’s property sector is the most expensive real estate market of the Asia Pacific region. Home prices have been high since 2009 due to lack of steady supply, low interest rates and the influx of Chinese buyers in the region. To cool the conditions down, the government had introduced various measures in the past few months. But has the government actually achieved its target with these curbs? How have these measures affected the market?
    By Rapti Gupta
  • Singapore Introduces New Home Loan Regulations
    In an effort to cool down the heated real estate market of the country, the government of Singapore has introduced a new set of rules and benchmarks for banks before granting a home loan to an individual.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • Thomson Reuters Launches Two New Investable Real Estate Indices in Asia Pacific Region
    Thomson Reuters, a leading business intelligence firm has teamed up with Global Property Research (GPR) and Asia Pacific Real Estate Association (APREA) to launch two new investable real estate indices that are a part of its larger composite family launched in January 2013.
    By Rapti Gupta
  • US Mortgage Rates Fall After Two-Month Increase
    Mortgage rates in the U.S. fell slightly after inching up for the past two months. However, experts believe that the fall is only brief and rates will surge depending upon the Federal Reserve’s decision to cut down its bond purchasing scheme, according to several media reports.
    By Rapti Gupta