Cross Border Pro

Kelo Ruling Bolsters Private Development As Public Use

  "Urban developers looking to assemble land parcels have a powerful new ally: the U.S. Supreme Court. With last week’s 5-4 decision in Kelo vs. City of New London, the Justices ruled that courts — particularly the federal courts — will defer to local governments on the economic development front. The closely watched Kelo case hinged on working-class residents who refused to sell their homes in advance of a 90-acre, mixed-use project championed by New London, Conn.’s economic development arm. Simply put, the ruling broadens cities’ power to condemn single-family homes through eminent domain in order to develop commercial projects."

via:  National Real Estate Investor

Although this ruling happened in the U.S., it would appear that this type of condemnation is happening in other parts of the world.  Canada is dealing with the same issues.  What are your thoughts?  Should the government use eminent domain only for public use projects or should it now be the acquisitions department for private developers?

Cross Border Properties

Put the Real-Estate Boom in Your Portfolio

  "It's a familiar story. Like everything else having to do with property, real-estate investment trusts have been on fire. Even with an early-year pause, the stocks are up 20% a year over the past five years.

Despite those gains, the REITs should continue to climb, so long as interest rates stay low. And the best-informed buyers -- industry insiders -- don't appear to think the shares are too pricey. Twice in the last week, major real-estate investment trusts have been taken over or taken private, each time at a premium to market prices."

via:  CNBC

What are your thoughts?  Is there a real estate bubble?  Some markets would seem to be overheated, yet the population is increasing, people are buying, the demand would seem to be there.  It scares me to hear some "industry experts" say that the real estate markets are going to keep going indefinitely.  Yet I don't see the end anytime soon.  What do you see happening in your market?

Cross Border Properties