San Francisco
An activist group for renters in San Francisco is pushing for maximum density for proposed projects, no matter how expensive the apartments are. Formed last year in response to Related California’s plans to build more than 300 new units in the Potrero Hill neighborhood, the San Francisco Bay Area Renters Federation has sent people to testify at dozens of city hearings in support of development. The group’s stance that more housing at all price points is needed to address the shortage of affordable housing in the city reflects arguments made by other advocates for high-density construction, but is in contrast to the more typical fights against development that crop up in response to building plans. San Francisco’s rents rival New York’s as the highest in the country, with average market rate apartments asking nearly $3,400 per month, an 11 percent jump in the past year.
Oregon
Oregon is attracting twice as many people as it’s sending away. A study from United Van Lines that tracked 128,000 moves in Oregon found that 66 percent of interstate moves brought residents into the state, rather than taking them elsewhere. CNN Money reported Oregon topped the list of desirable states for a second straight year, reflecting a trend of migration to southern and western states where housing costs are lower — Oregon’s median housing price is just $239,000. Additional draws include temperate climates, easily accessible outdoor activities and job growth above national average rates. Other popular destination states were South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and Vermont. New Jersey and New York had the highest percentage of moves out of state. They were followed by Illinois, North Dakota and West Virginia.
Delaware
Hundreds of apartments are being built in a downtown district of Wilmington, Delaware, best known in recent years for pawnshops and check-cashing stores. The construction is aimed at young professionals, who are more likely to live in urban centers with transit-oriented development that can provide car-free commutes. The Philadelphia Inquirer and the New York Times reported that 380 units are due to pop up along Market Street, the city’s main drag, by the summer of 2016, representing $91 million in private investment in the city with a population of 71,000.
Los Angeles
Remodeling contractors are turning down bids due to an uptick in demand. Michael Grosswendt, owner of Big & Tall Construction’s All Coast Construction in Los Angeles, told the Wall Street Journal he’s too busy to bid on all the jobs he is invited to pursue. The company, which specializes in large scale construction between $5 and $20 million, lately has done many jobs for foreign homeowners looking to put more money into their U.S. properties. That’s just one factor driving the surging remodeling market, which is expected to increase by up to 5 percent this year, to approximately $330 billion, and could top 2007’s $324 billion, according to a recent study from the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies. But growth may be tempered by the fact that the overall U.S. housing market is still struggling. Homeowners are less likely to do pricey renovations if their home equity isn’t growing rapidly.
Los Angeles
Pop singer Jennifer Lopez is aiming to sell her 17,129 square foot, nine-bedroom home for $17 million. Lopez and former husband Marc Anthony purchased the manse in 2010 for $8.2 million. Features include a large dance studio and gym, 20-seat entertainment theater, professional recording studio, eight wood-burning fireplaces, landscaped gardens, a pool and outdoor barbecue area.
Boston
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz listed his three-bedroom, three-bath penthouse in the city’s Brighton neighborhood — not far from Fenway Park — for $3.2 million. The 3,100-square-foot condo features two terraces with sweeping views, a master bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and comes with five flat-screen TVs and a surround sound system. A 330-square-foot deck off the kitchen overlooks three neighborhood baseball fields, where “Big Papi” liked to watch kids play ball.
Palm Springs, California
The longtime home of late comedian Bob Hope and his wife Dolores, first listed in 2013 for $50 million, saw its price cut to $25 million. The 23,000-square-foot 10-bedroom home features a futuristic design that includes a curving copper roof that some say resembles a UFO. The property also includes two pools, putting greens, tennis courts and a spa.
Washington, D.C.
Paul Tagliabue, the National Football League commissioner from 1989 until 2006, listed his 5,040-square-foot brick Colonial home in the Burleith subdivision northwest of Georgetown for $3.195 million. The five-bedroom, six-bath home features wood floors, arched windows, a large master suite, two fireplaces, decks and terraces with two-car garage. The private, gated community boasts a pool, tennis and play areas.