By Stephen Moock

Staff Writer

Plan on investing about 80 times the average annual income of a Beijing resident for a standard 1,000 square foot apartment. Prices have not al-ways been so high. In 2009 China’s real estate market grew at a rate that put the pre-crisis US housing market to shame. According to Bloomberg News, average housing prices rose over 57% on the year. While at first, the rapid growth of China’s real estate economy was viewed as a testament to China’s successful stimulus package which expanded lending to individuals seeking to finance their homes. However, soon analysts began to realize the rate of growth could not be withstood for much longer without the formation of a bubble prime for popping. “It’s definitely a bubble,” said Beijing real estate broker Xu Xiangdong.

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By Sunny Wong

Senior Staff Writer

The Obama administration recently announced a new housing bailout program to bolster the ailing housing market.  Although there have been slight improvements, foreclosure rates are still increasing and overall housing prices are still increasing and overall housing prices are approximately 30 percent lower than in 2007.  Their plan aims to assist local and state housing agencies to provide cheaper mortgages to first-time or low-income homebuyers.  The administration hopes that this program will help lower income families purchase homes in the midst of this tough economic storm.

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By Dmitri Shuster

Staff Writer

Go green.  Those two words certainly summarize recent trends across the United States and many other countries around the world.  More businesses and governments are turning to environmental friendly practices and are seeking ways to improve global environmental conditions.  In the United States, a very popular wave from the green revolution has to do with real estate – particularly real estate which has been given the LEED certification.

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By Fred Kim

Senior Staff Writer

Residential property does not just have to be for one’s personal residence; it can also be used as an investment instrument.  In fact, the total dollar amount of residential real estate in the United States in worth $23 trillion, which is twice as big as the total equity value of stocks listed on New York Stock Exchange.  Following a general overview of investing in stock markets from the last issue, we continue examinng yet another popular investing tool, real estate with focus on residential real estate.

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