Today’s News Synopsis:

Consumer confidence in Canada increased to 59.9 with the increase in consumer optimism over the economy and housing market.  A new MERS fee was just upheld by the Connecticut Supreme Court that could prevent future lawsuits against the system.  Real estate investors are continually wondering which market will start to see a slowdown in the housing market, many keeping their eyes on Seattle.

In The News:

 

Bloomberg – “Economy, Real Estate Drive Canadian Consumer Confidence Higher” (8-8-16)

“Consumer sentiment rose for a fifth week with Canadians becoming more optimistic about the economy and housing market, weekly polling showed.”

Pensions & Investments – “Which real estate market is next?” (8-8-16)

“When it comes to the technology arena, real estate investors are holding their breath and waiting to see what other hub might start to slow next”

DS News – “Goldman Sachs Re-configures Employee Compliance Program” (8-8-16)

“The Federal Reserve Board ordered Goldman Sachs Group to pay a $36.3 million civil money penalty for its unauthorized use and disclosure of confidential supervisory information and to implement an enhanced program to ensure the proper use of confidential supervisory information, according to a recent release from the Federal Reserve.”

CityMetric – “Who owns the city?  How urban real estate became the corporate asset class of choice” (8-8-16)

“The term “gentrification” does not quite capture the massive changes that have been happening in a growing number of cities worldwide in the last few years.”

Pensions & Investments – “Real estate overthrows large-cap equities as top-performing strategy” (8-8-16)

“Real estate securities strategies claimed nine of the top 10 spots in Morningstar Inc.’s domestic equity separate account/collective investment trust database for the year ended June 30, overthrowing large-cap value equity, which occupied six of the top 10 spots last quarter.”

Housing Wire – “MERS game changer?  Connecticut Supreme Court upholds new fee on lending industry” (8-8-16)

“States long imposed fees to record documents in land records.  The Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems loan registry system, created in the mid-1990s, meant lenders no longer needed to record security interest assignments in county land records each time they transferred a promissory note.”

Business Wire – “ABC, AIA and NAHB Chief Economists to Deliver Midyear Economic Forecast” (8-8-16)

“Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Chief Economist Anirban Basu, American Institute of Architects (AIA) Chief Economist Kermit Baker and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Chief Economist Robert Dietz will deliver a collaborative midyear economic forecast Monday, Aug. 15 at 2:00 p.m. EDT.”

Inman – “How computer vision is changing the real estate experience” (8-8-16)

“Have you ever felt your eyes begin to cross after hours of sifting through listings on the MLS? Trust me — your clients have, too. In a time where both consumers and real estate agents have so much information at their fingertips, it can be overwhelming”

 

Bruce Norris will be presenting his newest talk Stay Put, Cash Out, Or Change Seats? at the REI Expo in San Francisco Thursday-Saturday, August 11-13.

Bruce Norris will be presenting his newest talk Stay Put, Cash Out, Or Change Seats? with InvestClub for Women on Wednesday, September 21.

Bruce Norris will be presenting Stay Put, Cash Out, Or Change Seats? with InvestClub for Women and Robert Hall & Associates on September 28.

Bruce Norris will be presenting Cashing In On a Boom: Investing in Quadrant 4 at the Back Bay Conference Center on Saturday, October 8.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting the 9th annual I Survived Real Estate 2016 on Friday, October 21.