Weekly Roundup: Sales and prices rise in Manhattan, surfeit of celebs on the move, U.S. stats up and down, yet another historic low rate

Manhattan sales jump 9.3 percent over year earlier in third quarter, median prices climb 2.7 percent

Residents praise lifestyle of small spaces, and developers show big interest in them

Much desired sponsor apartments in co-ops bear scrutiny

11 groups lodge lawsuit seeking to block NYU expansion

Prices of single-family homes in broad region off 2.6 percent from prior year, bucking national trend

10th annual Open House New York weekend to celebrate city’s architecture, design

Land-use committee approves massive Lower East Side development

To developer’s dismay, those billionaires strive to leave individualistic impressions on One57 tower

Oscar winner sells Upper West Side penthouse for more than $1.7 million

Actress’ puts Ojai retreat legally on the market for $10 million

Nick and Meagan seek

Weekly Roundup: Renters reject commissions, pending sales up over year, rates set record, list IDs ugliest mansions, recovery talk ignites debate

Although able to buy multimillion-dollar residences, some very rich folks choose to rent at sky-high prices instead

Fire Department takes dim view of dangling air conditioners and undertakes strong action

Landlord’s empire of apartment buildings collects thousands of code violations

City comptroller expects large residential properties to maintain value

40 percent of renters say they won’t pay broker’s fee purely on principle

Some Brooklyn renters moving back to Manhattan, where they find cheaper digs

With luxury home sales hitting record, surging Hamptons activity nearly matches 2007

City Council overwhelmingly approves NYU expansion plan

Sales, prices of new condos in Brooklyn boom in Q2 vs. prior year

Westchester communities experience parent drain after commencements

Broadway couple trades hit musical for the Hit Factory

She kisses good-bye to Tribeca condo at a small loss

Filmmaker decides it’s time to sell California estate at an asking price of $9.5 million

Index of contracts signed in June

Weekly Roundup: Condo sales spike, rents don’t quit, U.S. prices flat to up, rates once again set record, refi activity grows, media rooms fading

Condo sales volume spikes in May, listing prices fall as Manhattan inventory dwindles

With supply plunging 17.7 percent from May 2011, contract activity for Manhattan condos and co-ops soars 36 percent over a year earlier

Manhattan’s dollar volume of residential sales swamps other boroughs together at 62.5 percent of city’s total

When it comes to buying a home, the superrich are decidedly different from rest of us

Ease of finding a short-stay apartment is linked, of course, to how much tenant will pay

Buyers besieging brokers in Brooklyn neighborhoods

Applications for some affordable housing are starting to appear online

Compared with Grand Central and the Empire State Building, residential architecture often gets short shrift, magazine says

NYU expansion plan moves step closer to reality

Rents again establish record in Manhattan

Young singer’s family

Weekly Roundup: Rent control, record low, rates, renovations, rosier forecasts. . . much more!

Three-year extension of rent control becomes law

Area single-family homes experience 2.9 percent drop over 12 months

South Bronx burns no more

Trulia says it’s cheaper to rent than buy in Queens

Selling condos to moms and dads often comes down to child’s play

Harlem’s renaissance enjoys revival

Following reports of rent scams by Queens man, attorney general issues Craigslist alert

NYU’s Furman Center documents plunge in

Weekly Roundup: Manhattan market improves, pending U.S. sales surge, rates still low, more

Take your pick of predictions of the Big Apple’s housing market

NYU says property values approach peak in Manhattan, only borough where prices higher than the last year

Couch potatoes would do well to avoid some buildings

Foreclosures in October decline for fifth consecutive month

Number of Manhattan condo sales barely budges over one month or a year

Tribeca and SoHo most expensive neighborhoods in Q3

Developers target sales commissions for themselves

New program helps buyers of foreclosed homes

Seven signs that it’s time to jettison your broker

Strong rental market generally stable in November

Dominated by residential construction, number of stalled sites shrinks

November sales in Manhattan rise above October but not two prior years, supply dips

Perhaps the stars will shine through clear skies on this $5.5 million listing

Price cut on actor’s home ranks among the big shockers

One of the Vikings conquers

Weekly Roundup: The Big Apple and beyond. Rates hit record low, lower Manhattan surges

Change is good: Weekly Roundup, which I will continue to post on Fridays, will now be combined with a shorter (and admittedly less work-intensive) version of  The Big Apple.  I hope you like the results.

Developers are beginning to build smaller

And condo conversions are coming back

By the sea, by the beautiful sea sees rising. . . interest

Lower Manhattan becomes one of city’s fastest-growing residential sections

Fed’s Beige Book finds continued ‘sluggish’ residential construction and sales in tri-state region

NYU launches subsidized housing information project with information on 235,000 rental units

Appraiser assesses impact on housing market of two memorable events

Region’s foreclosure rates continue to rise, exceeding the nation’s

Donna does it again. . . in

Drumbeat intensifies against home subsidies

Finance Professor Viral V. Acharya of NYU's Stern School of Business

An op-ed piece in the New York Times this week drew a tweet from a broker friend of mine saying that the authors’ points were “inane.”

Even as a dedicated social and economic liberal, never mind real estate broker, I have to disagree with him.  In earlier posts, I have confessed to finding myself in the uncomfortable position of questioning why the American Dream has to consist of homeownership.

A roof over heads is a roof, whether owned or rented.  Shelter is shelter.

Since the contention that home ownership stabilizes neighborhoods has yet to be proved, what are the other justifications for homeownership?

Try to enumerate the advantages of homeownership, and I’ll bet