Looking at Morgan Stanley’s $8 Billion Real Estate Problem

On Wednesday, the Journal reported that losses at a Morgan Stanley real-estate fund could wipe out nearly two-thirds of its $8.8 billion investments–likely the biggest dollar loss in the history of private-equity property funds. In this video Anton Troianovski explains how this happened and why Morgan Stanley is in the process of starting another real-estate fund. READ MORE

Builders Get Back in Game

By DAWN WOTAPKA, Wall Street Journal, March 3, 2010

In St. Petersburg, Fla., close by Tropicana Field, an unusual structure is emerging from a construction site: a rental apartment building. READ MORE

Take Three: Will Congress Extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit?

By Nick Timiraos, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 22, 2010

It’s that time of year again: time for lobbyists to convince Congress to extend the home buyer tax credit. READ MORE

Better to Wait Until Home Buyer Tax Credit Expires?

By Emily Friedlander, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 25, 2010

The home builders and Realtors are jazzed for the home buyer tax credit’s remaining weeks. It’s tempting for home buyers to get caught up in the hype. But perhaps you’re better off waiting? READ MORE

Why Existing Home Sales Are Flat, Not in Free Fall

By James R. Hagerty, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 26, 2010

Ignore today’s headlines on U.S. home resales. If you strip out the effects of tax credits, the underlying trend looks about flat, says from Tom Lawler, a housing economist in Leesburg, Va., who monitors local sales across the country day to day. READ MORE

For Landlords, the Numbers Are Starting to Look Better

By M.P. MCQUEEN, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 20, 2010

Home prices are falling, rents are tumbling, and apartment vacancies are rising. So why are thousands of small investors becoming landlords? READ MORE

Freddie Mac Abandons Ship on Interest-Only Loans

By Nick Timiraos, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 26, 2010

Freddie Mac said on Friday that it would stop buying and securitizing interest-only loans in September because those mortgages have performed so poorly. READ MORE

Vegas House Bargains Dry Up

James Hagherty, www.online.wsj.com, Feb. 23, 2010

Jonathan Griffin, Michael Pawlak and Chris Iuso all are chasing bargains on foreclosed homes here. It should be easy. Las Vegas is one of the foreclosure capitals of the U.S., with about one in four households behind on house payments or in mortgage foreclosure. READ MORE

Mixed Results from Housing Index

Wall Street Journal, Feb. 24, 2010
Mixed Results from Housing Index READ MORE