Latest News

Updated 12/4/2008

No Place Like Home For Savings (12/4/2008)
Home-related expenses account for a large portion of cost-of-living increases. Your home is also chock full of potential savings that can help you get into your next home.
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Choosing Storage Options (12/3/2008)
Do you have too much to store and too little space? NARI remodelers help homeowners find some much-needed storage space.
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Real Estate Outlook: Predicting the Stock Market's Affect on Housing (12/3/2008)
With the unprecedented shocks on Wall Street and the financial sector still pulsing through the national economy, it's difficult to predict just how all this will ultimately affect real estate.
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Condo Trends: Nationally, Prices Hold 1Q Despite Housing Downturn (12/3/2008)
The first quarter national report is finally out (in September) for existing condominium and cooperative sales from the National Association of Realtors and it seems condos have actually been quite resilient in an era of dropping prices and failing inventories. The NAR reports stable prices overall across the U.S., dropping an average of only 2.8 percent for the first quarter 2008, compared to the same time a year ago.
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Market Conditions (12/3/2008)
The latest report from the National Association of Realtors indicates that pending home sales surged in August -- jumping 7.4 percent. This level is even higher than the August 2007 stats.
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Investor Report: Investing by December 1st (12/3/2008)
If you're planning to buy investment property and financing it through a lender who sells to Fannie Mae, keep the date December First in mind. Nail down your mortgage commitments quickly -- in the next six weeks if you can.
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Real Estate Outlook: Real Estate Market Defying Odds (12/3/2008)
The panic and fear that have been shaking Wall Street aren't translating into negative numbers for real estate - in fact, it's been the reverse.
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Market Conditions (12/3/2008)
The latest report from the National Association of Home Builders shows that encouraging new development may be key in local governments creating new jobs and stabilizing property values.
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Lessons Learned From The Credit Crunch: We're On Our Own (12/3/2008)
Do your decisions have the same penalty-free "do over" option that the credit crisis proved is available to governments, lenders, corporations and the professionals they employ? PJ Wade offers suggestions for advances on our post-meltdown decision making .
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Bond Yields Drive Long-Term Mortgage Rates to Higher Levels (12/3/2008)
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.46 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending October 30, 2008, up from last week when it averaged 6.04 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.26 percent.
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Investor Report: Who is Lending? (12/3/2008)
If you can come up with a downpayment, and are prepared to document income, assets and a solid appraised value, there are still some willing and able funding channels open to you.
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Can't Sell Your Home? Why Not Rent it? (12/3/2008)
It may not always make sense to sell your home. If that's the case, renting it could be a good option. But understanding the rental process and using expert help will alleviate extra stress.
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Investor Report: Home Investors Booming (12/3/2008)
The economy may be flat, but it's boom time for investors who know how to buy houses at fire-sale prices, fix them up and sell or rent them out.
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Clean Sweep HOA Chimneys (12/3/2008)
In many homeowner associations, wood burning fireplaces are a warm and inviting amenity that boost market value and livability. Some use them passionately, burning cords of wood each season while others rarely use them except for special occasions like Christmas. Regardless of the usage, the homeowner association has an obligation to see that they all meet fire safety codes
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Washington Report: Uniform Disclosures Mandated (12/3/2008)
It took six years and major controversies with Capitol Hill, but last Thursday HUD published final regulations mandating uniform disclosures for all new home mortgages -- plus tougher rules requiring "good faith estimates" from lenders that accurately reflect the line items on consumers' settlement sheets at the end of a home purchase or refinancing.
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Holiday Wish List (12/3/2008)
With the holidays just around the corner, you better get busy shopping. Here's a short wish-list of this years must-have gadgets and gizmos for the home. These modern gifts are sure to get your motor running while also enhancing the functionality and livability of your household
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Real Estate Outlook: Housing in Recovery (12/3/2008)
With all the turbulence and losses in stocks and bad economic news in the headlines lately, you can easily lose perspective on what's really going on in the real estate sector
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Educated Homeowners Surviving Housing Crisis (12/3/2008)
Low-income homeowners who take the time to learn how to own a home are much more likely, than unschooled owners, to hold onto the American Dream -- even during an economic crisis
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Market Conditions (12/3/2008)
What is the climate of your local economy? Now could be the time to see how your market is faring
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Tell All, Safest Way To Sell A Home (12/3/2008)
If you're putting your home on the market, better be sure you're ready to tell all -- good and
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Market Conditions (12/3/2008)
The National Association of Realtors is reporting that curb appeal may be just the way to get the most out of your investment.
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