Here are a few recent stories that have been covered elsewhere and are worth at least mentioning here.
Latest foreclosure statistics: Seattle P-I, Foreclosures in Seattle higher, but much lower than nation’s
The Seattle area had about twice as many foreclosures in May as it did a year earlier but continued to have a far lower foreclosure rate than the country as a whole, according to new reports.
King and Snohomish counties had a combined 881 trustee-sale notices and bank repossessions in May, one for every 1,219 households, according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., company that tracks foreclosures. The area’s rate put it 148th out of 229 metro areas the company ranks.
FHA tries to ride in to the rescue housing bubble (they’re a little late for that). Coverage:
- Seattle Times, Number of FHA loans jumps locally
- Seattle P-I, FHA is waiting to give you a loan
The much-vaunted commercial real estate market is apparently showing signs of weakness as well: Seattle Times, Commercial real estate brokers worry about Seattle buildings
After climbing for years, are office lease rates in downtown Seattle getting ready to turn south?
Some commercial real-estate professionals think so.
…
More than 2 million square feet of new office space — the equivalent of 1 ½ Columbia Centers — will come on the market in greater downtown next year. Almost none of it is pre-leased.
And lastly, Christine Gregoire is taking her turn beating the dead horse that is Countrywide. Where was she when they were busily pumping the housing bubble up with all of these ridiculous loans? Not running for re-election, that’s where. Coverage:
- Consumer Smarts (P-I Blog), State wants to yank Countrywide’s license
- Seattle P-I, State accuses Countrywide of bias
- Seattle Times, State accuses Countrywide of discriminatory lending
- Rain City Guide, What do Governor Gregoire’s actions mean for local Countrywide employees and short selling homeowners?
Did I miss any recent stories that should have been included?
(Aubrey Cohen, Seattle P-I, 06.13.2008)
(Elizabeth Rhodes, Seattle Times, 06.13.2008)
(Aubrey Cohen, Seattle P-I, 06.16.2008)
(Eric Pryne, Seattle Times, 06.26.2008)
(Phuong Cat Le, Consumer Smarts (P-I Blog), 06.25.2008)
(Phuong Cat Le, Seattle P-I, 06.26.2008)
(Susan Kelleher, Seattle Times, 06.26.2008)
(Jillayne Schlicke, Rain City Guide, 06.25.2008)
