Thursday Links

• Fed May Be Finished Cutting Rates as Inflation Risk Increases [bloomberg.com]
• GDP's 3.9% Surge May Be Tough to Match [wsj.com]
• Straw poll shows Mont. Co. Council in favor of more fees [washington.bizjournals.com]
• New zoning rules could ignite Wheaton projects [washington.bizjournals.com]
• D.C. to accept bids to redevelop NW library and school [washington.bizjournals.com]
• Fed cuts rates by another quarter point [ft.com]
• Helping frantic homeowners [baltimoresun.com]
• Making good on a bad real estate bet [cnn.money.com]
• For sale: 2 million empty homes [cnn.money.com]
• Subprime: Bankruptcy bill faces roadblocks [cnn.money.com]

CANADA TRIP

For those who have been following my blog I have not written for some time now. Partly is because I went on a trip to Montreal and have recently returned and partly because I have been working on other projects.

As many of you know the real estate market is going through a period of turmoil and uncertainty right now, but one thing is certain in every real estate market there are winners and there are losers. So where do you want to be in the winners circle or the losers circle?

Grasp the opportunities in front of you and don't let today's problems be your downfall tomorrow.

What's better: a foreclosure or a short sale?

Recently talking with a mortgage broker I was given a short but important lesson about the differences between a foreclosure and a short sale. Here are the main points:

• A foreclosure is reported on your credit report as opposed to a short sale.
• A foreclosure will prohibit you from buying again until you pay off any judgements and tax liens reported on your credit report and in a short sale you still have to pay off the tax allocation but it helps build your credit.
• A foreclosure causes a psychological stigma as opposed to a short sale.

Do you have any other differences between a foreclosure and a short sale? Let us know.

Tuesday Links

D.R. Horton's Orders Fall 39 Percent on Mortgage Woes [bloomberg.com]
Bernanke Spots Relief in Markets [wsj.com]
Bonus pay [marketwatch.com]
Using a credit counselor [marketwatch.com]
Crystal City's potential future becomes clearer [washington.bizjournals.com]
See-through condos [baltimoresun.com]
Hispanics vulnerable to predatory lending [baltimoresun.com]
Goodbye subprime, hello FHA [cnnmoney.com]
Do-It-Yourself Builders [nytimes.com]
'Tax' on Interest Deductions Gains Support [washingtonpost.com]

Thursday Links

• Home Foreclosures Doubled in September on Loan Rates (Update1) [bloomberg.com]
• The United States of Subprime [wsj.com]
• Douglas Development trying to bring Whole Foods to Penn Quarter [washington.bizjournals.com]
• Housing market to rebound in 2008, economist says [wichita.bizjournals.com]
• Condo plan splits Bowleys Quarters [baltimoretimes.com]
• Land bank against blight [baltimoretimes.com]
• Mortgage applications up 2.4% [cnnmoney.com]
• Langley Park project highlights immigrant issues [gazette.net]
• Coalition to help avoid foreclosures [miamiherald.com]
• Why Renters Need Insurance [nytimes.com]
• Proper investments needed to help counteract inflation [examiner.com]

DC Luxury Market Update

Presenting the newest luxury listings on the DC block:

• $8,500,000- 3100 Woodland Dr NW, Former embassy that has been meticulously restored over the past 2 years, grand scale rooms for entertaining. Subdivision: Mass Ave Heights
• $8,500,000- 3314 O St NW, One of the grand houses in the Village. Truly one of the grand houses in the Village. Subdivision: Georgetown
• $5,995,000- 2216 Wyoming Ave NW, Masterful renovation, embassy sized entertaining spaces, expansive roof patio. Subdivision: Kalorama
• $5,499,000- 2346 S St NW, Brick and limestone mansion exemplifies the best of Beaux-Arts architexture. Located on Embassy Row. Subdivision: Kalorama
• $4,900,000- 3232 Ellicott St NW, Stately, sunny stone colonial with circular driveway with spectacular garden and pool. Subdivision: Forest Hills.
• $4,100,000- 2801 Tilden St NW, Sited on 1.25 acres with breathtaking views of Rock Creek Park. Subdivision: Forest Hills
• $3,999,000- 2241 Bancroft Pl NW, Classic Georgian offers amazing entertaining spaces, and beautifully landscaped private grounds. Subdivision: Kalorama.
• $3,295,000- 5054 Millwood Ln NW, Rare find! 1/2 acres lot with enchanting, wooded grounds and terraced stone patio. Subdivision: Kent

Pic of the Week

Black Hill Regional Park, Germantown, MD. Pic by D Romero.