1. A Fraud Case in Palisades Park, NJ
- Mr. K (YoungSin GunKang) accused of taking about $1 Million out of ‘KYE’ in Korean + $500,000 (Loan from individual) and fleeing
- $3000 per account, Total 31 accounts / Each turn, each member will get $90,000
- Mr. K’s store was vacated / He moved out form his house in Palisades Park as well
- Victims are getting together to determine the possible legal action
- They believe Mr. K is in US still → decided to file criminal case
- Previously Mr. K was filed for $80,000 check fraud
2. Emerson Golf Club (Korean owned) becomes Bergen Co Public Golf club
- Bergen Co passed the purchase unanimously at $8.5 Million
- Opened in 1963 / 135 Acre. Korean owner (Emerson Management LLC) purchased at $10 Million in 2008 (Semi-private: Annual membership $4,000, Family $6,000, Company $18,000)
- Closing will be within a few weeks → Renovation during winter → Open next Spring
- Total 6 Public courses: Overpeck, Darlington, Orchard Hill (Paramus), Valley Brook, Rockleigh
- Question for profitable operation → Valley Brook course made $518,000 net profit
3. The Modern in Fort Lee is being accused of violation of fair housing regulation
- According to Star Ledger (10/11/2017), FSHC (Fair Share Housing Center) filed suit against The Modern
- 2 buildings (47th floor each: 900 Units): 1st Building was built 2012 ~ 2014. 2nd building is being built. The tallest building in Bergen County
- Agreement with the Town → 20% will be low-income units, but currently NO units
- Current Rent → Studio: $2,000 / 3 Br: $7,300
- FSHC is handling about 350 violation suits in NJ. In the past about 100 cases resolved
4. NYC claimed Unfair Tax Access for non-white residence area
- Flushing, Bayside, Queens claimed for higher property than other area with more white residence
- TENNY (Tax Equity Now NY) filed legal suit
- Flushing: White → 2% / Real value vs Access Value → 101.24%
- Bayside: White →5% / Real Value vs Access Value → 103.5%
- Queens: White → 8% / Real Value vs Access Value → 102.25%
- Manhattan Battery Park: White → 3% / Real Value vs Access Value → 49.92%
- Manhattan Murray Hill, Gramacy: White → 3% / Real Value vs Access Value → 87.19%
- TENNY claims that minority area paid $376 Million tax more than actual value
5. NYC proposed ‘Making Rent Count’ program
- To help people with bad credit → Good rent payer can get positive credit
- So far, no system to collect this type of data
- Only Experian has system with landlord’s participation.
- Proposal suggests to apply this system only to desired participants.
- Participating Landlord’s incentive (options):
1. Collect rent from a bank → bank reports to credit company
2. Get loan for 1 year rent → tenant pays back to the bank - NYC projects 76% of renters credit will be increased
6. Millennium Generation (18~34 year old) is heating up the RE market
- According to ‘Realtor.com’, Millennium Generation is moving into RE market, mainly suburban area
- Among 32,000 cities, most active 10 cities are selected → Millennium Generation owner: 50%
- #1 is Texas, Fort Worth suburban: Median price: $164,441.
#2,#3 are Michigan, Livonia and Kentwood: Median prices $223,780 and $118,833
#4 is MA, Medford(Boston suburban): Median Price $541,158
#5 is Colorado, Littleton
#6 is CA, Castro Valley (Median price $728,267) → Cheaper CMT Silicon Valley
#7 is Colorado, Colorado Springs (Median Price $273,332) → Millennium Generation owner: 86%
7. AMAZON 2nd HQ competition → Very Steep
- 238 proposals from 238 cities (Expected about 100 cities)
- NYC: 4 places (Midtown West, Financial District, Queens LIC, Brooklyn Triangle)
- NJ: Newark (Offered $7 Billion tax exemption)
- Amazon’s Economic Effect for 7 years (2010~2016) in Seattle: $38 Billion
- Negative side: Housing price / Rent goes hike
8. If Tax Reform passed, Mortgage interest deduction will be decreased sharply
- According to ‘Zillow.com’, Mortgage interest deduction tax report will be decreased → by 1/6 level
- Current 29.6% → 5.4% (NY State: 76.9% → 19.6% / San Francisco, CA: 98.5% → 58.9% / Boston, MA: 79.2% → 13.8%)
- Tax payers will select standard deduction which might be higher than mortgage interest deduction → Trigger more renters than home buyers
- In addition, if property tax deduction is deleted → negative effect to future home buyers