Tag: housing
Chinese land reform efforts move ahead with more fits than starts
China's rural economy is at a cross-roads. As the government begins reforms designed to give farmers ownership of that land, that effort is running into the cold reality that land sales back the spending of local governments. And that can only happen when farmers land is taken for little compensation....
My Micro NY creates smaller living for New York City
Micro-unit apartments are gaining popularity in big cities, running out of space. Through smart design and creativity, the winner of New York's adAPT NYC competition has created a plan for smaller units, with smart design. ...
Spanish city's locksmiths say they'll no longer assist with evictions
Spanish banks looking to foreclose on delinquent mortgage owners in and around Pamplona will no longer have the assistance of the community's locksmiths. Last month, they announced they would no longer change the locks on people banks want to evict....
Spaniards take to streets to call for reforms in country's eviction law
Spain has one of the strictest eviction laws in the world. Not only do people lose their homes, but they remain liable for the full value of the mortgage -- as do their descendants. But after at least three eviction-related suicides, much of the country has said enough is enough. ...
Presidential debate arrives where roots of financial crisis can be traced
When President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney debate Monday night in Boca Raton, they'll be doing so, almost literally, in the shadow of the housing crisis and economic collapse. While the topic of the debate is foreign policy, Boca is where the financial products that built up the housing bubble were conceived....
Permanent housing an enduring problem in Haiti
Many in Haiti are still without permanent housing, years after the earthquake that rocked the country. Many of them live on land belonging to others, or in situations that may be dangerous, and they're upset be efforts to move them out....
With evictions already high, tensions boil over Spanish bank bailouts
Spain's banks are moving to get rid of homeowners who aren't paying their bills. But, at the same time, they're turning to taxpayers to give them a hand, with a multi-billion dollar bank bailout. That has Spanish activists taking to the streets in protest....
Libor manipulation scandal may have cost cities and states millions in losses
Government investigators are zeroing in on a once-little known financial index known as the London Interbank Offered Rate, or Libor. Allegations have been made that banks manipulated the rate and may have cheated governments, investors and even small businesses out of money....
Shanghai residents lose homes to civic progress; still looking for new homes, compensation
When Shanghai was preparing to host the Expo in 2010, a number of apartment buildings were cleared to make way for new facilities. But at least some of those who lost their jobs didn't receive compensation, they say, nor were they relocated to new homes. They're pushing back and demanding answers....
Toronto's housing market rocketing upward in price, height
Toronto's economy is booming, and its housing market is booming right along with it. The city has an enormously large number of sky-rise buildings under construction, and many of them hardly get finished before they're purchased — usually for top dollar. All that has some wondering if Toronto might be heading for an American-style housing bubble....
