Gehry’s Beekman Tower construction update, online real estate ad demand soars … and more

1. Average price of online real estate ads more than doubles, following increased demand [NYT]
2. “Real Housewife” Jill Zarin slashes price on Her 401 East 60th Street condo [CityFile, 1st item]
3. Frank Gehry’s Beekman Tower construction continues [A Fine Blog]
4. Former Treasury Secretary W. Michael Blumenthal bought apartment at 1095 Park Avenue [CityFile, 2nd item]
5. NAR August real estate outlook report released [Square Feet blog]
6. S&P slashes rating for shopping center management group, Developers Diversified [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
7. Failed bank tally hits 81, following four more closures [The Deal], but bank and FDIC officials say there is no cause for alarm [CNBC]
8. Real estate database PropertyShark.com named one of 2009’s best Web sites by Time [Time]
9. Congress feeling pressure to extend first-time homebuyer tax credit [Chicago Tribune]
10. Wall Street’s repackaged debt causes “deja vu” to some economists [USA Today]
11. Outlook appears brighter for short sellers [The Deal]
12. China Investment plans to purchase $2B in U.S. mortgage-backed securities [Real Estate Bloggers]