July 1st, 2009
Click Here to read Top 10’s 100% independent, non-biased selection of the Top Ten “Coolest” Beach Homes in the entire U.S; selected after tons of research looking at hundreds of websites and talking to real estate agents to identify potential Top 10 beach home candidates (homes currently on the market at the time of publication). These are all independent choices from Top 10, and they have no connection with the listing agent or seller.
Do you know of another property that qualifies as one of the coolest beach houses in the USA…or elsewhere? If so, post the details on our blog.
Posted in Quick Facts and News Headlines | No Comments »
June 30th, 2009
In their eagerness to conserve water and escape the drudgery of yardwork, many California homeowners are replacing their H20-guzzling lawns with artificial turf. Despite worries about its high lead content, more and more consumers are willing to try artificial turf. Although it remains a small part of the overall market for U.S. lawns, the industry says it has grown by an estimated 20 percent annually for the past five years, according to Emmet Pierce for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Click Here to read the full article and to see pictures.
Do you have fake grass? What have you found to be the advantages and disadvantages?
Posted in Living Green | No Comments »
June 29th, 2009
Americans have not seen a boring housing market since the last millennium. You know – the average, ordinary kind of market where supply just about matches demand, prices are steady, and real estate ceases to be a topic of daily conversation. Instead, we’ve had six years of upside craziness followed by three years of downside terror. Now we’re in a tug-of-war between those who think we’ve finally found a bottom and those who are convinced that the overhang of unsold homes is going to push prices considerably lower. Click Here to read the entire article from BusinessWeek.
What do you think the price of your house will be in 2012? Higher than right now? Lower? The same?
Posted in Political & Real Estate News | No Comments »
June 24th, 2009
President Barack Obama hasn’t even signed the “Cash for Clunkers” legislation into law yet, but already criminals and some unscrupulous car dealers are using it to dupe consumers, according to Peter Valdes-Dapena for CNNMoney. Click Here to read the entire article.
Once the program is signed into law, will you participate? If so, what will you be trading in and what will you buy?
Posted in Money Management | No Comments »
June 23rd, 2009
Having a backyard barbecue and wondering whether to use charcoal or propane? A new study in the journal Environmental Impact Assessment Review compares the two and finds that propane, a fossil fuel, is better for the environment than charcoal, a biofuel. Propane, the author says, has a carbon footprint just above one-third of charcoal’s, according to Moises Valasquez-Manoff for The Christian Science Monitor To read the entire article, Posted in Living Green | No Comments »
June 18th, 2009
If an e-mail popped up in your inbox promising a house for $100, you’d expect to see it sent from a guy in Nigeria asking you to wire him several thousand dollars first. But this depressed housing market dream is real. Read the Rest of this CNN article by Ashley Fantz.
Do you know anyone who had the gumption to take on a similar project? Tell us the story.
Posted in Political & Real Estate News | No Comments »
June 15th, 2009
Brace yourself – there’s actually some good news about the economy. The economic news may be grim on many fronts, but mortgage rates are still low. Now may be a good time to refinance for some homeowners, according to John Blake of CNN. Click Here to read Tips for refinancing.
Are you considering refinancing? If so, what is your current mortgage situation?
Posted in Mortgage Info | No Comments »
June 10th, 2009
In the Sacramento Delta suburbs east of San Francisco – where home prices soared and fell as viciously as anywhere in the country – a housing market rebound is feverishly underway.
A 1,600-square foot rancher listed for $179,000 – after last selling for $425,000 in 2004 – drew multiple offers last month with a high of $210,000 in cash. The topper: The property was a “short sale” whose owner needs lender approval to sell for less than the mortgage owed – and which buyers wouldn’t touch just three months ago. Click Here to read the entire article by Chris Plummer for Market Watch.
Are you seeing signs of the recovery in your own community?
Posted in Quick Facts and News Headlines | No Comments »
June 9th, 2009
From Reuters - Reverse mortgages could be the next subprime mortgage product to experience rapid growth while taking advantage of a vulnerable segment of the population, top U.S. bank regulator John Dugan said Monday. To read the entire article, Click Here.
Would you consider a reverse mortgage? Why or why not?
Posted in Mortgage Info | No Comments »
June 8th, 2009
It may not have made a big splash on network news or in print, but for real estate it was the equivalent of a congressional declaration of war against mortgage fraud. Just as security and intelligence agencies were given huge funding boosts by Congress after 9/11, the FBI, the Justice Department, the Secret Service, and the U.S. Postal Service have just gotten a combined $500 million in new funding authority to investigate and prosecute individuals and companies who engage in mortgage fraud. President Obama signed the legislation May 20. Click Here to read the rest of Kenneth R. Harney’s story in the Los Angeles Times.
Do you know anyone who was the victim of mortgage fraud? Please share the story.
Posted in Mortgage Info | No Comments »
