Mapping New England: heating fuel usage in southern New England

Two maps of southern New England tap 2006 American Community Survey data to show the heating fuels most often used in owner-occupied housing units versus the fuels favored in renter-occupied units.Energy consumption - New England

Foreclosure's price-depressing spillover effects on local properties: a literature review

The costs of foreclosure often spill over from foreclosed properties to other nearby properties. This short paper reviews some of the research on foreclosure's price-depressing impact on sales of nearby properties, only one of several forms of spillover effects. The studies reviewed here focus on various cities, use different datasets and methodologies, employ different assumptions, and cover different time periods. Their conclusions about foreclosure effects range from reducing nearby properties' sales value by as little as 0.9% to as much as 8.7%. Research also shows that negative spillover effects tend to diminish with distance and time, as does the marginal impact of each additional foreclosure. This paper also presents two studies with rough estimates on New England communities' possible losses from foreclosures' spillover effects on nearby property values.Foreclosure ; Foreclosure - New England ; Housing - Prices ; Housing - Prices - New England

Mapping New England: child poverty by county

Childhood poverty is a concern in itself and also because it often leads to adult poverty. Communities & Banking looks at the region’s changing child poverty rate between 1997 and 2007.Poverty - New England ; Poor children - New England

Mapping New England: real estate owned properties in New England

Lenders often end up owning places they foreclose on. Understanding where such real estate owned (REO) properties cluster may help communities to target stabilization funds better.Foreclosure ; Real property

Foreclosure prevention and intervention efforts in New England

As foreclosure rates have risen across New England, many have been asking for clarification about the full range of resources available to borrowers. This article describes the foreclosure prevention and intervention efforts currently underway in New England. We highlight the region’s largest initiatives as well as discuss the challenges these programs are facing as they work to provide assistance to consumers.Foreclosure - New England ; Mortgage loans - New England

The golden years dilemma

With 3.2 million baby boomers eligible to retire this year, how many will be able to meet daily financial needs and still preserve home equity? The author advises seniors to plan carefully and learn about the many forms of assistance available.Retirement income ; Home equity loans ; Baby boom generation ; Population aging - New England

Receivership : a coordinated strategy to stabilize troubled properties

With the impact of municipal debt burdens, coupled with the effects of declining real estate prices and the US financial crisis, municipalities are looking for novel and cost-effective approaches to address abandoned, blighted and/or foreclosed properties that threaten the quality of life of their communities. Receivership, the use of statutory power to seize buildings and place properties under control of a judicially supervised 'receiver', can be an effective tool to tackle the problem of troubled properties which repeatedly violate safety and sanitary codes. Despite its potential, receivership requires significant coordination, as well as a committed team, in order to implement the intricate process of running a successful receivership strategy.Foreclosure - Massachusetts ; Housing policy - Massachusetts

The myth of the irresponsible investor: analysis of southern New England's small multifamily properties

Comparing the borrowing trends of owner-occupants versus investors in small multifamily properties reveals that investors may not engage in as much risky behavior as public sentiment leads one to expect. The authors investigate data from Southern New England and debunk several myths about the “irresponsible investor.”Rental housing - New England

Mapping New England: community colleges serve local needs

The spatial distribution of community colleges in New England generally corresponds to the concentration of potential applicants.Community colleges - New England