Investing
Crown Estate Annouces Record Profit; Portfolio Value Goes up to $12.3 Billion
Hines Teaming Up with Asian Investors to Finance Manhattan Luxury Tower Project
Thomson Reuters Launches Two New Investable Real Estate Indices in Asia Pacific Region
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. US Home Mortgage Rates Up Slightly
The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage climbed to 4.01 percent, while the number of applications for purchases dropped by 3 percent, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which publishes the results of a weekly applications survey on Thursday. Donald Trump Announces Luxury Hotel-Condo Tower Project Worth $350 Million (VIDEO)
Donald Trump, the famous property mogul has announced his latest conquest. Trump has reportedly formed a partnership deal with Malaysian and Canadian developers to build a 65-story Trump Tower in Vancouver, Canada worth $350 million, according to several media reports. Speculation on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s Future Continues
The American administration has been speculating the future of two famous government-backed mortgage lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac since 2011. Though the pace at which decisions about the two entities are being made is slow, the government is diligently working on various proposals to determine a new future for the now-profitable lending giants. Weyerhaeuser Buying Longview Timber for $2.6 Billion
In what might be called the third-largest forestry acquisition of North America, Weyerhaeuser Co., a U.S based real estate investment trust that owns timberland is buying Longview Timber LLC, a forestry industry leader for $2.6 billion. The former will be acquiring the latter fully, including debt, according to various media reports. US Home Foreclosures Up 11 Percent in May
Foreclosure activity in the U.S. hiked to reach 11 percent in May, up 2 percent from the figures of April but still down 29 percent from the figures recorded a year ago, according to the data released by real estate intelligence firm, RealtyTrac.com. Carlyle Group LP Planning to Raise $4 Billion for Seventh Real Estate Fund
Carlyle Group LP, the famous American private equity firm is reportedly planning to raise $4 billion for its seventh real estate fund. The target, if achieved, would make it the firm’s largest property fund since the financial crisis. More Dutch Offices Being Converted into Student Housing Units
Amid high vacancy rates in the commercial property market of Netherlands, the Dutch have finally found a way to fill up the empty buildings. A number of property developers are refurbishing office space to convert them into student boarding or housing facilities. Blackstone Buying Majority Stake in Gafisa’s Alphaville Urbanismo for $651 Million
Blackstone Group LP and its Brazilian sister firm, Patria Investimentos have reportedly entered into an agreement to buy 70 percent stake in Brazilian luxury property developer, Gafisa’s residential community developing unit, Alphaville Urbanismo for $651 million. Number of Improving Housing Markets in US Rises in June, NAHB Report
The number of improving housing markets in the U.S. rose to reach 263 in June, according to the “The First American Improving Markets Index” (IMI) of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
