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Today's Real Estate News and Advice
Updated: May 31, 2002
Rent Backs Can Backfire on Buyers
Sometimes real estate transactions call for creative negotiations. Owner financing, seller subsidies, paying off a buyer's debts, 100 percent financing are all creative ways of getting a buyer into a house who might not otherwise be able to buy without extraordinary moves. FULL STORY->
Ask George! Questions From Consumers
"What is a reasonable interest rate on the second mortgage in an 80/10/10 or an 80/15/5 loan? What do you think is too high an interest rate?" - Tax Conscious FULL STORY->
Pensacola: Waterfront Homes Rising
Historic Pensacola, Florida has a rich naval history and is home to the fascinating National Museum of Naval Aviation at the Naval Air Station. White sand beaches, protected species of birds and other wildlife, make vacationing or retirement a pleasure. FULL STORY->
An ARM and a Leg
It sure looks tempting, doesn't it. A mortgage rate of 4.00%. You're just licking your chops over that one, aren't you? Think of all the money you'd save with a rate like that. Sure, it's an adjustable rate mortgage, but ARMs have been quite stable over the past few months so why not take the plunge? Because ARMs are going nowhere but up, that's why. FULL STORY->
Don't Let A Garage Sale Cost You
Check the liability coverage of your homeowners insurance policy before you offer your garage sale goodies to bargain hunters. Broderick Perkins reports. FULL STORY->
Is A Redevelopment Plan Threatening Your Home or Small Business?
Local redevelopment plans often entail knocking down homes and small businesses and evicting their occupants. While many plans are needed to preserve the general welfare, some plans are more destructive than good. Stuart Lieberman explains how property owners can protect their rights. FULL STORY->
The Life Style Of The Home Working Parent
For parents, working at home has some special benefits money can't buy. The earning power of moms and dads with home-based businesses may actually diminish, but the trade off they experience raising kids is invaluable. FULL STORY->
Home Offices Are A Necessity For Working Americans
For some buyers, home offices go wherever a computer and modem can be easily fit - often as part of a bedroom. FULL STORY->
Calgary: Snowing A Seller's Market?
Calgary, located in the Canadian province of Alberta, is known for more than its terrific ski resorts near Alberta's Rocky Mountains. Once the host city for the winter Olympics, Calgary is a beautiful city on the banks of the Bow River, the home of progressive technology, oil and forestry companies, as well as great real estate buys. FULL STORY->
Orlando: Magic Sellers' Kingdom
Orlando, Florida, the home of Disneyworld, Universal Studios, Sea World, and numerous other attractions is as delightful a place to live as to visit, as a rising sellers' market attests. FULL STORY->
HOA Coat of Many Colors
In matters of both fashion and paint, color matters. In homeowner associations, it matters even more since the impact of the color palette is so much larger. And it's not just the colors you choose but how they are applied. FULL STORY->
FHA Faulted for High Default Rates
Long-time Federal Housing Administration nemesis National People's Act says the agency isn't doing enough to stop unscrupulous lenders from putting people into homes they can't afford and can't keep. FULL STORY->
Frenzy Returns To California Housing Market
Recovering from a market that went bust last year, California is booming again this spring with double-digits in both sales and prices. Broderick Perkins reports. FULL STORY->
Obtaining a Mortgage after Bankruptcy
The "alternative" lending business is thriving. Americans with credit problems are turning to these lenders for mortgages. FULL STORY->
San Diego: Catching The Wave Of A Sellers' Market
San Diego is so famous for so many things that it is difficult to even start a list. From the world-famous San Diego zoo to brunch at the turn of the century "Del" hotel, to surfing off the La Jolla coast, there is something fun for residents and visitors to do all the time. FULL STORY->
May Round-Up: Moving, Home Improvement Flourish in Strong Market
More than nine million people are on the move each year, home improvement sales are soaring but watch out for those termites. Peter G. Miller reports. FULL STORY->
As Grill Season, Don't Get Burned
Barbecue and grilling season is officially here. As you get up to your elbows in burgers and hot dogs, don't neglect safety and maintenance. Michele Dawson explains. FULL STORY->
Who Knows What Canadians Want to Know?
Sometimes Canadians just don't know where to start when it comes to tackling real estate and related issues. In part 1 of a 2 part series, PJ Wade contributes an excerpt from her latest book to illustrate how many excellent starting points consumers have. FULL STORY->
Get Prepared for Hurricane Season, FEMA Says
A major hurricane hasn't hit the U.S. in the past two years, leaving some coastal residents feeling complacent. But the federal government wants to make sure those who live in hurricane-prone areas are prepared for the next big one. Michele Dawson explains. FULL STORY->
Homes.com Puts Realty Times News On 12,500 Agent Web Sites
Homes.com has strengthened commitment to its ongoing distribution partnership with Realty Times by removing its previous news service provider and putting Realty Times consumer news on all 12,500 of the Web sites it hosts for its broker and agent customers. FULL STORY->
NAR Urges Greater Disclosure of Home Valuation Methods
The National Association of Realtors has adopted a new policy that would require lenders to disclose all the "valuation methods" used in making a mortgage to a home buyer or refinancer. Ken Harney reports that the new policy, if adopted by Congress and regulators, would make copies of "automated valuations," drive-bys, broker-price-opinion, "short-form" and other non-traditional collateral valuations available to borrowers for the first time nationwide. FULL STORY->
Cincinnati: First Quarter Home Prices Up
Like other big cities that want to improve home and business values by cleaning up, Cincinnati has launched "The Big Cincinnati Sweep." The city is known for its civic pride, and first such as the first career, not volunteer, firefighters in the nation. FULL STORY->
Arbitration VS. Litigation: A Difficult Choice
We plan to hire a home improvement contractor to do major renovations to our house. The contractor has given us for review a standard form contract published by the American Institute of Architect's (AIA), and we see that it contains an arbitration clause. In your opinion, is arbitration a better way to resolve disputes rather than litigation? FULL STORY->
Refinancing Declines Even As Mortgage Rates Remain Low
Although mortgage rates are at generationally low levels, refinancing should start to drop off, as just about everyone who had an incentive to refinance into a lower rate has done so," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist. FULL STORY->
Mold Not The Only Environmental Concern for Homeowners
Mold is not the only environmental attack you may be facing in your home. Long before mold became the buzz word in real estate circles, there have been environmental concerns for homeowners. M. Anothy Carr reports. FULL STORY->
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