Author: barthorowitz

Don’t Be Rattled By Scary Headlines

Don’t Be Rattled By Scary Headlines

Mar 26, 2020 | |

There’s a lot of anxiety right now regarding the coronavirus pandemic. The health situation must be addressed quickly, and many are concerned about the impact on the economy as well. Amidst all this anxiety, anyone with a megaphone – from the mainstream media to a lone blogger – has realized that bad news sells. Unfortunately, we will continue to see a rash of horrifying headlines over the next few months. Let’s make sure we aren’t paralyzed by a headline before we get the full story. When it comes to the health issue, you should look to the Centers for Disease...

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Is Now the Right Time to Refinance Your Staten Island Home?

Is Now the Right Time to Refinance Your Staten Island Home?

Mar 25, 2020 | |

With interest rates hitting all-time lows over the past few weeks, many homeowners are opting to refinance. To decide if refinancing your Staten Island home is the best option for you and your family, start by asking yourself these questions: Why do you want to refinance? There are many reasons to refinance, but here are three of the most common ones: 1. Lower Your Interest Rate and Payment: This is the most popular reason. Is your current interest rate higher than what’s available today? If so, it might be worth seeing if you can take advantage of the current lower rates. 2....

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Will the Stock Market Correction Impact Home Values? Probably Not

Will the Stock Market Correction Impact Home Values? Probably Not

Mar 24, 2020 | |

With the housing crash of 2006-2008 still visible in the rear-view mirror, many are concerned the current correction in the stock market is a sign that home values are also about to tumble. What’s taking place today, however, is nothing like what happened the last time. The S&P 500 did fall by over fifty percent from October 2007 to March 2009, and home values did depreciate in 2007, 2008, and 2009 – but that was because that economic slowdown was mainly caused by a collapsing real estate market and a meltdown in the mortgage market. This time, the stock...

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COVID-19 is Hitting Economy, But For How Long?

COVID-19 is Hitting Economy, But For How Long?

Mar 23, 2020 | |

More and more economists are predicting a recession is imminent as the result of the pullback in the economy caused by COVID-19. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research: “A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.” Bill McBride, the founder of Calculated Risk, believes we are already in a recession: “With the sudden economic stop, and with many states shutting down by closing down schools, bars and restaurants…my view is the US economy is now in a...

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An Economic Slowdown Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis

An Economic Slowdown Does Not Equal a Housing Crisis

Mar 20, 2020 | |

All things considered, a recession does not equal a housing crisis, and current economic conditions will not lead to a repeat of 2008. The COVID-19 pandemic is causing an economic slowdown.The good news is, home values actually increased in 3 of the last 5 U.S. recessions and decreased by less than 2% in the 4th. The information contained, and the opinions expressed in articles, videos, or infographics posted or shared by the Staten Island Board of Realtors® (SIBOR) are not intended to be construed as investment advice. SIBOR does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the...

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