Links - CRE Timebomb, Housing Tax Credit, Leverage Ratios... Oh My!

U.S. Office Vacancies Reach Five-Year High of 16.5%, Reis Says (Bloomberg via CalculatedRisk)

Fed Frets About Commercial Real Estate (WSJ via CalculatedRisk & NakedCapitalism)

Starwood Group Strikes Deal for Corus Assets (DealBook)

Manhattan Office Vacancies Reach Five-Year High (Bloomberg)

Apartment Glut Expands: Vacancy Rate Rises to 7.8% as Unemployment Dents Demand; Monthly Rents Slip (WSJ via Naked Capitalism)

US apartment vacancy rate hits 23-year high-report (Bloomberg via CalculatedRisk)

The Housing Tax Credit and the Consumer Price Index (CalculatedRisk) - Interesting take on how the housing tax credit is actually contributing to apartment vacancy and falling rents, and how that in turn could cause deflation... very interesting how all the parts fit together.

The Elusive Leverage Ratio (Reuters)  - There has to be a way to make the leverage ratio requirements at least remotely useful. As is in this country, they aren't worth much...

Random Links

Topple 2+ for iPhone free for a limited time - fun game, great price

Grumpy Bobby Bowden Interview - a big sigh for all my fellow FSU Alumni

The Canadians Are Coming - Deal Breaker - due to actually being regulated the Canadian banks are poised to take advantage of the US Banking Crisis.

Windows Mobile 6.5 Review: There's No Excuse For This - Gizmodo - While Windows 7 might have made you think there is still some life in MSFT, I might argue that the mobile market is more important for the future, and id doesn't look pretty for Gates and friends.

Comic Relief for the night:



This blogging sure is hard work, leave a comment if you are out there so I know if I should keep wasting my time! Thanks!