Here are the news stories you might find interesting today:
Planners sketch out new interstate to Las Vegas
Valley apartments rebound after ownership woes
Six months ago, Valley apartment renters who held leases in complexes owned by Bethany Group were worried.
Irvine, Calif-based Bethany went of business because of financial problems and walked away from its 13 apartment communities across the Phoenix area. Some tenants began to complain about trash bins, green swimming pools, overgrown landscaping and lack of maintenance staff.
International Buyer Demand for U.S. Real Estate Decreased Due to Recession
Washington, D.C.–Interest in U.S. real estate from international buyers declined due to the worldwide recession and severe credit crunch, according to the 2009 National Association of Realtors Profile of International Home Buying Activity.
PwC Survey: Defaults Could Jump-Start Stalled Distressed Buying Opportunities
Despite rapid deterioration of commercial real estate fundamentals, equity investors have been frustrated with the lack of distressed buying opportunities. However, according to the third-quarter PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Korpacz Real Estate Investor Survey, investors anticipate near-term defaults combined with looming due dates on commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) maturities to jump-start distressed buying opportunities during the next year.
Commission to discuss Chandler sign laws
| The proposed relaxation of Chandler sign laws to help local businesses during the ongoing economic downturn will be a topic of discussion at Wednesday’s Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. |
Orbital to officially open Chandler facility
| Orbital Sciences Corp. will officially open its new Arizona Program Management Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. Thursday at 3377 S. Price Road, Chandler. |
Bernanke says recession ‘very likely over’
| WASHINGTON – Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday that the worst recession since the 1930s is probably over. |
Wallick & Volk opens Glendale office
| Wallick & Volk, a Wyoming mortgage banker, is expanding its Arizona presence with a Glendale office. |
Metro ridership exceeds projections
| Ridership on the Metro light rail increased in August, as transportation officials had hoped. There were 882,328 boardings in August compared with 750,551 in July. |
NRF: Retail sales up in Aug. for first time in six months
| Retail sales – excluding automobile sales boosted by Cash for Clunkers – saw its first gain in six months, a sign consumers may be turning the corner, according to a leading retail group. |
BofA CEO says economy may rebound faster than expected
| The U.S. may pull out of the Great Recession at a faster clip than many anticipate, Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis said Tuesday. (BAC) |
Stimulus to help tribe build complex for D-backs, Rockies
| Federal stimulus money will help the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community build a $100 million spring training complex on its reservation for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. |
Survey results: The crisis–one year on
A year after the global economic system nearly collapsed, many companies are finally finding ways to increase profits under the new economic conditions. But almost as many expect profits to continue falling, and executives also indicate that their broader economic hopes remain fragile. Many expect more government involvement in economies and industries over the long term.
Read more on the McKinsey Quarterly >
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