Real Estate Crowdfunding Grows Beyond Expectations

Real estate has become one of the latest crowdfunding trends. As the public perception of crowdfunding continues to progress, these investment strategies are proving to be real and lasting. Masssolution reports that crowdfunding investors injected $1 billion into the U.S. real estate market last year, and that number should climb to $2.5 billion by the end of 2015. For accredited investors who like the idea of pooling small sums to purchase large properties, crowdfunding is the way to go. Today's fast-tracked technology and helping more and more investors to seek out and evaluate such opportunities. 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/vanessagrout/2015/03/24/with-2-5-billion-in-investments-predicted-for-2015-real-estate-crowdfunding-is-open-for-business/2/

The Top 10 Most Expensive Real Estate Tax Bills Are Found In Just Two States

While the median U.S. real estate tax bill was $2,132 in 2013, that number is down almost 25% from the prior year's median of $2,800. While real estate taxes generally have not been on the rise in recent years, the current rise in home prices may change that. Below are the top 10 most expensive counties for real estate taxes: 

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2015/04/23/top-10-most-expensive-real-estate-tax-bills-found-in-just-2-states/

Financial Giants Set Up Tech Hubs In Manhattan

While companies like Google having a well-known reputation for innovation and unique company culture, amenities such as multicolored lego blocks in the conference room and ping pong tables are no longer limited to hip new technology start-ups. MasterCard is just one of several big-name financial services setting up tech divisions in prime Manhattan real estate. The thinking of the company officials is that "a vibrant tech center in a hip urban neighborhood withe edgy tech firms allows them to quickly tap into new ideas and to hire from one of the country's richest talent pools." With push-up competitions and rowdy ping-pong matches, MasterCard is challenging the stiff Wall Street culture which has dominated the finance industry, making such a place very attractive to be an employee for young people such as myself.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/financial-giants-set-up-tech-hubs-in-manhattan-1430301601

Owner of the Houston Rockets Lists Manhattan Penthouse for $49.75 Million

Leslie Alexander, the owner of the Houston Rockets, is putting his Manhattan penthouse on the market for $49.75 Million, just two years after purchasing it for $42 Million. A sprawling 6,300 square feet, this luxury duplex has four bedrooms, four terraces, a hot tub, a swimming pool, and a sun deck. Although selling the penthouse for a  projected profit of $7.75 million dollars in two years, Alexander claims he never planned to flip the home, but that he bought it with the "intention that he would be there a lot."

http://www.wsj.com/articles/houston-rockets-owner-leslie-alexander-lists-in-new-york-for-49-75-million-1430401880

Why the Rich Are Getting Richer

In this Wall Street Journal video, "Why the Rich Get Richer," wealth inequality in the 21st century is explained. The widening wealth gap in the United States has been a hot and controversial topic in recent years, and is troubling some of our best and brightest economists and financiers. The last time in our country's history there was this much a disparity in wealth distribution was in the lead up to the Great Depression. The Federal Reserve Chairwoman, Janet Yellen, claims rising inequality of wealth and income is impeding the economic mobility "at the heart of American Values." With economists believing this wealth gap can only continue to expand, the polarization of wealth in the United States is clearly unsustainable.

http://www.wsj.com/video/why-the-rich-get-richer-wealth-inequality-explained/5DD155E1-99E0-4677-82EC-077AEF2E695C.html

Is It Getting Harder To Afford A Home?

In her article titled, "It's getting harder to afford a home," Kathryn Vasel from CNN Money claims that although a rebound in home prices is good in the wake of the housing crisis, "there can be too much of a good thing." As home prices rise 13 times faster than nationwide wage growth, some markets of becoming out of reach for the "ever-important first-time homebuyer." Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtlyTrac, says these first-time buyers a re crucial in keeping momentum in the housing industry.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/26/real_estate/home-affordability-real-estate/index.html

New Condos in Manhattan Will Cost Upwards of $3 Million Next Year

Real estate listing and data website CityRealty forecasts the median sale price of new condos in Manhattan to reach $3.35 million in 2016, and $3.625 million in 2017. With prices of new condos in manhattan soaring the director of research at CityRealty, Gabby Warshawer, claims "we are shaking off the hangover of late 2008." Although the New York housing market may be on the rise, these new and expensive luxury condos are taking up space like "McMansions in the sky." As the prices of new condo units outpace the rest of the Manhattan condo market, with new development sales expected to bring in $27.6 to $33.6 billion from 2015-2019, its clear the richest among us in our ever widening wealth gap  have some quality luxurious listings to browse.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/04/28/real_estate/price-manhattan-new-condo/index.html