Hi Jamie,

It would be really useful to locate the median prices for the Baltimore metro area going back more than 1 year, say the last 10 years. Otherwise, it seems as though Baltimore metro is experiencing price declines for no reason.

Aside from the obvious reason of the bubble we experienced, I wonder how much of this has to do with the "super size me" mentality of new home construction. The days of families with 4 or more children are long gone. Most families have 0-2 children now and it is beyond me why builders construct these huge boondoggles. The heating/ac alone is enough to make me shy away.

And you're right about the really pricey homes; let's face it, this economic downturn does not affect the upper income brackets. Donald Trump just sold a house for $100 million. That's really not a factor/consideration for most of us.

Good suggestion, anon. I don't have new-home stats going back that far -- they're not as readily available as existing-home stats -- but I'll try to get them for future reference. In May 2006, the median price was about $440,000, Hanley Wood says.

I expect the downward pricing pressure on new constuction to continue. The end of seller consessions on FHA loans will mostly like effect new construction pricing later in the year.

Building materials such as lumber are seeing pricing decreases. Hardware, and key fixtures are seeing price increases. I don't think builders have a clue as how to price new construction because of overall component price instability.

No it would not be useful going back ten years. Ten years ago in the city would be silly. 10 years ago the east-side had't boomed, their were murders in the local movie houses, and Baltiore was experiecing it's largerst population decline. The 90's where tough on Baltimore.

I get it that you and the blogger live in the 'burbs and have jobs to reflect that. Good work for you. Some of us work here, live here, and see the beauty of living in the city.

I realize you make your piunts finely, as does the blogger, but you are way off base. Neither of you have lived here, minus a brief stint. You think you know, but don't.

Where do you and Jamie live? She lives in the 'burbsa, are you suburban too? What's up? Why so angry?

Do you want to meet for a beer/dinner or what? I'll take you bowling, to a movie, what ever you want and pay for it.

Dunn, these statistics reflect the Baltimore metro area -- not just the city but also the 'burbs. There's no city vs. suburb issue here.

Jamie- I get your stance. It is obvious.

We have heard this before. You are a 'burb girl, and I am a City guy. I get it.

I don't think new construction trends differ much from the resale. The communities that are selling are in a decent location and priced well. For instance, Ryan's Villages of Dorchester townhomes sells almost like hot pancakes. It's a desirable location in AA county (more tax-efficient for those with no or pre-school kids) and prices are affordable. At the same time, their Belmont community in Elkridge hardly sells and they even decreased the base price recently. Why? Because it's in the shady Rte 1 corridor, sandwiched between an industrial park and apartment complex. No one wants to live there.

This is actually a problem with many new communities - all the good lots are already taken. New ones are either in a middle of nowhere, next to a freeway or in the BWI low-flight zone.

Dunn says: "Jamie- I get your stance. It is obvious.

"We have heard this before. You are a 'burb girl, and I am a City guy. I get it."

At the risk of repeating myself, please -- show me where I have been anti-city. I hardly ever talk about anything but the metro area as a whole.

This week -- with the cost issue -- is unusual, and the posts were of the non-opinionated "please weigh in" sort. I'm not a columnist, I'm a reporter, and I take seriously the need to remove my opinions (not that I have many) from the equation. I'm befuddled by this continuing argument. I can only assume that you don't realize it's a serious charge to call a reporter's objectivity into question.

Dunn - "No it would not be useful going back ten years. Ten years ago in the city would be silly. 10 years ago the east-side had't boomed, their were murders in the local movie houses, and Baltiore was experiecing it's largerst population decline. The 90's where tough on Baltimore."

Actually, with the Washington Post (I'm sorry to reference a rival newspaper) reporting the risk to urban renewal due to the housing bubble, I think the historical data could find itself relevant.

In particular, it used Reservior Hill as an example of a neighborhood that was showing a trend of renewal in Baltimore but now, it is in so much peril that all of the ground it has made over the last 20 years could be undone.

Baltimore's developing neighborhoods are in more danger than some realize and unless the city's leaders are careful, the 2010's could be just as bad as the 90's.

Great! I suck, you rule.

Agian, does anyone here live in the city? Please!?

Again, Does anyone want to meet face to face? Instead of being a "message board warrior" I will welcome all and anyone to a dinner/beer/game of bowling, a jog along the pormanade, anything to get you from behind your keyboard.

You can tell me I suck to my face while buying you a beer. Jamie? Anyone? I am open all weekend, next weel until the 9th.

Jamie- You are killing me. While I thinkl your articles could bolster the city's progress, you could go back through and see your own negative stance. While I am a b**ch for poiting it out, you have a crew of followers who want to connect. Ultimately it makes no difference, my comments just provide fodder. Yea! let's gang up. Whatever. My hope is that you will all find happiness.

Not right now, I am currently looking though.

I did live (rented) in the city for 3 years while I has finishing my degree at UB. At the time I lived in Mount Vernon and loved it there. If I had a million dollars I would definitely move back into that neighborhood.

I consider myself an urbanite by nature and currently plan on buying in the city after some pricing correction has taken place. So don't think I'm a Baltimore City hater, far from it. I also hope you continue to express your honest views of current events as it is good to witness what the other side is thinking.

Dunn,

I am a renting city girl, but at this point am looking in both city and surrounding environs.

As for you, I wouldn't meet you on a bet. I find your attitude pugnacious and combative. Aside from you, and any other realtors coming here with an obvious agenda, we are gathering here to voice our opinions as potential purchasers. You are gathering here to drum up business. Like I said before, just shameless.

I have never detected any bias in Jamie's writing and would not know she was a suburbanite except for the blurb about her on this page.

I think what you're really saying is that the negativity expressed here by people like me is hurting your business. TOO BAD!

Or should we all buy one of those over-priced houses so you can make some money. That's what got us all into this mess in the first place.

Dunn, what are you, 5?

re: trends of new construction pricing vs. existing homes - they move in the same direction, although they can move apart for periods of time before coming back. In the long term it is not unlike new cars vs. used. The prices can't separate more than their norm for more than a short term. If the price of new came down too close to use, everyone would buy new. If the price of new got too high, no one would buy new, etc.

Anon - not everyone who disagrees with you or Jamie is a "Realtor" or real estate agent for that matter ("Realtor" is a term coined and trademarked by the National Association of Realtors...not every RE agent is a Realtor). You seem to really think that real estate agents caused prices to increase. Did you ever consider the federal reserve lowering their key interest rate to 1%, lenders providing loans to borrowers who were not qualified, and investors and primary occupants who committed fraud on their loan applications? Maybe without so much money available for next to nothing prices would not have increased so rapidly. I'm not sure how the actions of real estate agents as a whole created the current situation. In fact, nothing has changed about the business of buying and selling real estate for others in some time.

H - you make some good points about pressures on new construction in the near term (financing, rising costs, etc.)

Dunn - I'm happy to see your opinion voiced, however I must agree with Jamie that she's being objective and you're making assumptions.

Lastly, Hanley Wood certainly has their hands full trying to track the entire new home market (especially condo) so I wouldn't put a whole lot of stock in their numbers.

JT, have you found a source of new-home figures that you do trust? (Or is the market simply too hard to track?)

JT,

Dunn is a realtor, I didn't make an assumption. If you look at the comments under "US Home Sales Fall", you will see Dunn admit he is indeed a realtor.

And, I don't think realtors themselves caused the bubble, but they absolutely contributed to it.

Moreover, I do resent his coming here as a way to drum up business.