justthinkjill.com

Real Estate Update (to subscribe to this email list just send me an email opting in).

2012-01-27T13:05:00.001-08:00

Prices are still up in the air, but activity
has picked up! http://www.kcmblog.com/2012/01/18/where-are-house-prices-headed-in-2012/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+KeepingCurrentMatters+%28The+KCM+Blog%29

Investors paying with Cash were a large percentage of Buyers in 2011
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/study-finds-38-of-homes-purchased-in-2011-bought-with-cash-2011-12-23

Condo Financing Issues for Low Downpayment Buyers http://info.radiusgrp.com/blog-0/bid/116087/condo-buyers-frustrated-in-hunt-for-fha-mortgages?source=Blog_Email_%5bCondo%20buyers%20frustra%5d

Short Sales are becoming easier http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/12/30/lenders-gain-more-acceptance-over-short-sales

RE/MAX 2012 Top 10 Housing Predictions

2012-01-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

I agree, lots more foreclosure inventory to come, and short sales will be a lot easier. In our local market, activity and sales are picking up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-mqj4iZlOs

Dave Liniger earned the "People's Choice" Most Influential Real Estate Leader title, announced Jan. 12 at Inman's Connect.

Survey Reveals 5 Homebuying Myths

2012-01-06T13:45:00.001-08:00

https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/notes/just-think-jill/survey-reveals-5-home-buying-myths/10150467690853359

"Green" Remodeling

2012-01-06T13:43:00.000-08:00

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-remodeling/saving-money-salvaged-building-materials/

Search worldwide in many languages!

2012-01-06T13:42:00.000-08:00

http://global.remax.com/

Five Inexpensive Fixes to Sell Your Home

2012-01-06T13:27:00.000-08:00

http://media.rismedia.com/video/news/1733/6905/59729/3606370/

Gravel

2011-12-30T12:58:00.001-08:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-09-29/rock-solid-beauty-gravel-is-friendly-to-your-budget-and-the-environment/

Loan Modification

2011-12-29T13:57:00.000-08:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-11-30/loan-modification-is-stressful-know-your-options/

HUD offers REO Homes for $100 down in select states

2011-12-22T10:08:00.000-08:00

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/hud-offers-reo-homes-for-100-down-in-select-states-2011-10-24
Not currently in Mass. but let me refer you to another great agent in your area!

The New Mortgage Crisis - NOT having one?

2011-11-30T12:15:00.000-08:00

http://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2011/10/13/the-next-mortgage-crisis/

On The Down Real Estate Market - Ignore the Hype

2011-11-18T10:57:00.000-08:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-11-14/the-best-of-rand-on-real-estate-doesnt-there-have-to-be-a-recovery-to-have-a-double-dip/

Common Fixes for Wet Basements

2011-11-07T13:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/basements/fix-wet-basement/

The next phase of the improper foreclosures (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision).

2011-10-27T09:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.massrealestatelawblog.com/2011/10/18/what-now-bevilacqua-v-rodriguez-leaves-titles-unclear-after-u-s-bank-v-ibanez/

Leaf Removal Tips

2011-10-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

http://www.houselogic.com/blog/landscaping-gardening/leaf-removal-equipment-tips/

Is it a good time to Buy? Is it a good time to Sell?

2011-10-08T07:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.brokeragentsocial.com/article/1297/it-couldn-t-be-more-obvious

Informative Article about the current market

2011-09-30T13:38:00.001-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-08-18/home-sales-down-in-july-but-up-strongly-from-a-year-ago/

I've been asked about trees many times over the years. Here's a great article regarding tree laws in Mass.

2011-09-27T12:14:00.001-07:00

http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=736615091&gid=1853086&type=member&item=68457194&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emassrealestatelawblog%2Ecom%2F2011%2F08%2F29%2Firene-mailbag-who-is-responsible-if-my-neighbors-tree-fell-on-my-house-car-shed-or-swingset%2F&urlhash=45SX&goback=%2Egde_1853086_member_68457194

Interesting blog from House Flippers

2011-09-25T09:12:00.001-07:00

http://www.flippingjunkie.com/

As they say, "How's that workin for ya"? :-)

2011-09-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

http://realtormag.realtor.org/daily-news/2011/08/09/forsalebyownercom-founder-uses-agent-sell-home

Investing in Real Estate

2011-09-13T12:56:00.000-07:00

http://money.cnn.com/2011/08/30/real_estate/rental_property_investing.moneymag/index.htm

Planting for Privacy

2011-09-13T12:55:00.000-07:00

http://members.houselogic.com/articles/home-privacy-screens/preview/

Just being practical - How well are you insured against flooding?

2011-09-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-03-22/how-well-are-you-insured-against-flooding/

Ocwen Offering Mortgage Modifications That Restore Equity for Underwater Borrowers but Let Loan Investors Share in Appreciation When Market Recovers

2011-08-15T07:49:00.001-07:00

http://www.linkedin.com/news?viewArticle=&articleID=662861361&gid=3245188&type=member&item=63745531&articleURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Emarketwatch%2Ecom%2Fstory%2Focwen-offering-mortgage-modifications-that-restore-equity-for-underwater-borrowers-but-let-loan-investors-share-in-appreciation-when-market-recovers-2011-07-26&urlhash=hMQm&goback=%2Egde_3245188_member_63745531

More Homeowners Staying Current on Mortgage

2011-08-15T07:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011062202?OpenDocument

The State of the Nation's Housing 2011

2011-08-03T14:07:00.001-07:00

http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/markets/son2011/index.htm

Married Households No Longer the Majority

2011-07-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011060103?OpenDocument

Dispose of Hazardous Waste Properly

2011-07-22T08:33:00.001-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-04-16/around-the-home-dispose-of-hazardous-waste-properly/

‎30 seconds - How the housing market is tied to the economy.

2011-07-09T12:09:00.001-07:00

http://bcove.me/msgwkysb

Purple Tile Bath?

2011-07-01T10:54:00.001-07:00

I saw an old ceramic tile bathroom in the color lilac, for the first time, on “Property Brothers” on HGTV. I have to say I liked it, but then again my favorite color is purple! I wouldn't recommend it to my clients though :-)

Savings through energy efficiency

2011-06-21T06:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.masssave.com/

Tips For Choosing Upgrades for a New Home

2011-06-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2011020906?OpenDocument

I have been enjoying Greg Rand's videos so I thought I'd pass this along!

2011-06-02T14:27:00.001-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-03-28/video-prospering-in-the-real-estate-revival-12-house-rich-rules-for-building-real-estate-wealth-rule-10-other-peoples-money/

12 Summer Upkeep Ideas To Add Curb Appeal

2011-05-26T13:28:00.001-07:00

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20408237,00.html?xid=hinewsletter-110405-toh

9 Reasons To Buy A House Now

2011-05-26T13:24:00.001-07:00

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Finvestopedia52532.DTL

Tips for your Home While You're Away

2011-05-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-02-10/10-tips-to-protect-your-home-while-away-on-vacation/

Vacation Rental Hot Spots

2011-05-12T13:13:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-03-10/getaways-top-vacation-rental-hot-spots-for-2011/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Rismedia+%28RISMedia+Real+Estate+News%29

Tax Credit For Energy Efficient Improvements

2011-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

http://www.hunterdouglas.com/tax-credit.jsp

Foreclosure Reports

2011-05-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2011/05/02/foreclosures-are-they-increasing-or-decreasing/

Landscaping Tips

2011-04-25T16:12:00.001-07:00

http://members.houselogic.com/articles/10-tips-saving-money-garden/preview/

Build Your Wealth as a Homeowner

2011-04-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2011/03/24/the-4-stages-of-wealth-building-as-a-homeowner/

Kitchen Trends

2011-04-13T13:47:00.000-07:00

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2011/03/14/what%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98in%E2%80%99-and-%E2%80%98out%E2%80%99-in-the-kitchen-10-trends-to-watch/ Each home is unique... be sure you are not "over-improving" your home if you intend to sell it in the short-term.

Here's something amusing for your Monday!

2011-04-11T09:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdi2ZipvLvY

Click for an interactive map of Median Home Prices and Commute Times

2011-04-07T14:43:00.001-07:00

http://www.realtor.org/rmonews_and_commentary/articles/2008/nar_research_maps_msa

Two major media sources with the same conclusion, it’s time to buy real estate.

2011-04-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2011/04/05/ok-you-win-stop-listening-to-real-estate-agents/

Massachusetts Homestead Act changes - click link for short article.

2011-04-01T13:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.marealtor.com/content/bsr_news_ticker.htm?view=46&news_id=1590&news=22

Distressed Properties: 17-22% Discounts and "patience" equity.

2011-03-29T19:48:00.001-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2011/03/25/distressed-properties-discounts-and-difficulties/

Live map of US searches being run on Remax.com

2011-03-25T15:43:00.001-07:00

http://workingforyou.remax.com/

Spring Market is here - Common Impediments to Selling

2011-03-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

Spring Time!!! Almost 70 degrees today in Boston, how we've missed it! Activity is picking up in the local market as it always does this time of year. I've got some great listings coming on the market this year.

http://rismedia.com/2011-01-31/for-your-clients-common-impediments-to-selling-and-how-to-overcome-them/

Energy Tips and Green Predictions

2011-03-10T15:18:00.000-08:00

http://www.greenresourcecouncil.org/listserve.cfm Tips for saving energy, and “Green” predictions for 2011. My top tip: Be sure to get your furnace or boiler cleaned and serviced once a year.

I love recycling!

2011-03-04T09:51:00.001-08:00

http://rismedia.com/2011-02-01/homeowners-decide-to-deconstruct-not-demolish-when-rehabbing/

2010-2011 Annual Cost Vs. Value Report

2011-02-18T15:27:00.000-08:00

http://www.remodeling.hw.net/2010/costvsvalue/national.aspx
http://www.realtor.org/rmohome_and_design/articles/2011/1101_costvsvalue

RE/MAX of New England 2011 Housing Market Outlook and Forecast

2011-02-11T10:36:00.001-08:00

"2011 Housing Market to see Stable Pricing, Increased Mortgage Rates and Escalating Foreclosures. Investors Poised to Reap the Rewards of Market Conditions"

Newspapers Are Not Selling Homes Anymore

2011-02-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/11/16/myths-the-eart-is-flat-and-newpapers-dont-sell-houses/

Hot Design Trends from the International Builder Show

2011-02-01T14:21:00.000-08:00

http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2011/01/14/hot-design-trends-debut-at-international-builders-show/

“A safe and healthy home for every person.”

2011-01-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/section/initiatives/

HUD's regional economic and market analysis interactive site

2011-01-24T18:27:00.000-08:00

www.hud.gov/datamap

Mass High Court revereses two foreclosures

2011-01-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40965934/ns/business-real_estate/

Recasting Your Mortgage

2011-01-20T07:19:00.001-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/realestate/mortgages/02Mort.html?_r=1

Key to Real-Estate Rebound: Solid Economic Growth .

2011-01-12T15:32:00.001-08:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203731004576045811887540604.html?mod=WSJ_RealEstate_LeftTopNews

A look at "Dr. Doom" and "Mr. Bear" in Real Estate then and now.... both just bought multi-million dollar properties.

2011-01-06T12:28:00.000-08:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/12/27/dr-doom-mr-bear-and-real-estate/

Study Ranks the Most Secure Places to Live in the U.S.

2010-12-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Here are the Farmers Insurance Group's Most Secure U.S. Places to Live for 2010:

Large Metro Areas (500,000 or more residents)
1. Madison, Wis.
2. Des Moines–West Des Moines, Iowa
3. Syracuse, N.Y.
4. Austin–Round Rock, Texas
5. Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine
6. Rochester, N.Y.
7. Honolulu, Hawaii
8. El Paso, Texas
9. Bethesda–Gaithersburg–Frederick, Md.
10. Seattle–Bellevue–Everett, Wash.
11. Pittsburgh, Pa.
12. Minneapolis–St. Paul–Bloomington, Minn.
13. Nassau–Suffolk Counties, N.Y.
14. McAllen–Edinburg–Mission, Texas
15. Bridgeport–Stamford–Norwalk, Conn.
16. Raleigh–Cary, N.C.
17. Albany–Schenectady–Troy, N.Y.
18. Wichita, Kan.
19. Buffalo–Niagara Falls, N.Y.
20. New Haven–Milford, Conn.

Mid-Size Cities (150,000–500,000 residents)
1. Olympia, Wash.
2. Sioux Falls, S.D.
3. Bellingham, Wash.
4. Kennewick–Richland–Pasco, Wash.
5. Fargo, N.D.–Moorhead, Minn.
6. Rochester, Minn.
7. Duluth, Minn.–Superior, Wis.
8. Binghamton, N.Y.
9. Lynchburg, Va.
10. Burlington, Vt.
11. St. Cloud, Minn.
12. Green Bay, Wis.
13. Yakima, Wash.
14. Appleton, Wis.
15. Spokane, Wash.
16. Bremerton–Silverdale, Wash.
17. Boulder, Colo.
18. Cedar Rapids, Iowa
19. Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers, Ark.
20. Las Cruces, N.M.

Small Towns (Fewer than 150,000 residents)
1. Lewiston, Idaho–Clarkston, Wash.
2. State College, Pa.
3. Ithaca, N.Y.
4. Bismarck, N.D.
5. Logan, Utah
6. Wenatchee, Wash.
7. Morgantown, W.Va.
8. Billings, Mont.
9. Corvallis, Ore.
10. Midland, Texas
11. Sioux City, Iowa
12. La Crosse, Wis.–Winona, Minn.
13. Elmira, N.Y.
14. Rapid City, S.D.
15. Oshkosh–Neenah, Wis.
16. Eau Claire, Wis.
17. Mount Vernon–Anacortes, Wash.
18. Fond du Lac, Wis.
19. Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford, Va.
20. Grand Forks, N.D.–Crookston, Minn.

Future Housing Trends

2010-12-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010111604?OpenDocument

Builders, Consumers Perceive Green Homes as Affordable to Live in But Expensive to Build

2010-12-08T11:12:00.001-08:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/11169

Which Way is the Market Headed?

2010-11-22T09:17:00.001-08:00

http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/pages/News2010110801?OpenDocument

New FHA PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice.

2010-11-20T08:19:00.001-08:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/11038

Discrimination against sexual orientation barred by Realtor Association

2010-11-19T09:14:00.000-08:00

By a wide margin, the National Association of Realtor's Delegate Body approved changes to the association's Code of Ethics to bar discrimination against real estate practitioners, buyers, and sellers on the basis of sexual orientation.

RE/MAX contest $500,000 towards your new home with 75 Patriots Touchdowns!

2010-11-17T13:35:00.000-08:00

http://www.remax-newengland.com/remax-takes-you-to-the-house/

Energy-Efficient Upgrades To Consider!

2010-10-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/10563

The Newest Foreclosure Mess and What it Means to You

2010-10-12T09:10:00.000-07:00

Breaking News: Bank Of America has halted foreclosures in all 50 states. Sellers with equity, which is the cleanest type of sale, should get more attention until this newest mess shakes out.

http://kcmblog.com/2010/10/12/the-new-foreclosure-mess-what-it-means-to-you/

10 Reasons To Buy a Home

2010-10-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

The Wall Street Journal 9/16/10 "10 Reasons To Buy a Home", by Brett Arends

1. You can get a good deal.
2. Mortgages are cheap.
3. You can save on taxes.
4. It will be yours.
5. You’ll get a better home.
6. It offers some inflation protection.
7. It’s risk capital.
8. It’s forced savings.
9. There is a lot to choose from.
10. Sooner or later, the market will clear.

10 Markets Most Likely to Appreciate

2010-09-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

Forbes magazine turned to real estate research firm Local Market Monitor to figure out which markets have the greatest likelihood of price appreciation because they offer a mix of jobs weighted toward growth industries.

These are the top markets, the research company concludes:

1. Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
2. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
3. Austin-Round Rock, Texas
4. Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, Tenn.
5. San Antonio, Texas
6. Colorado Springs, Colo.
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
8. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, Colo.
9. Springfield, Mo.
10. Indianapolis-Carmel, Ind.

Source: Forbes, Francesca Levy (09/13/2010)

Statistics are always, just that. Interpretation is key.

2010-09-18T10:30:00.001-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/09/14/dont-pay-attentionscary-to-scary-headlines-coming/

Risky Home Improvements

2010-08-26T12:52:00.001-07:00

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/110244/risky-home-improvements

Owning Vs. Renting

2010-08-17T13:07:00.000-07:00

http://www.inman.com/buyers-sellers/columnists/stevebergsman/balance-shifts-in-rent-vs-own-debate

Fences - Some Good Info!

2010-08-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/9502

2009 American Home Survey results. Interesting statistics about American Homes.

2010-08-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.brokeragentsocial.com/markbrian/blog/6662/

Bank of Amercia Puts Short Sales ahead of REO

2010-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.reo-insider.com/news/bank-of-americ-puts-short-sales-ahead-of-reo

Most Affordable Popular Retirement Locations

2010-07-18T11:06:00.003-07:00

The real estate downturn has turned some very popular retirement destinations into bargains.

To determine where the prices are most attractive, U.S. News & World Report examined price-to-income data for 384 metropolitan statistical areas. This expresses the relationship between owner income and home values.

Here are 10 retirement havens where homes are most affordable by this measure:

1. Bend, Ore.
2. Napa, Calif.
3. Fort Meyers, Fla.
4. Fayetteville, Ark.
5. Las Vegas
6. Sante Fe, N.M.
7. Punta Gorda, Fla.
8. Phoenix
9. Santa Cruz, Calif.
10. Burlington, Vt.

Source: U.S. News & World Report, Luke Mullins (07/08/2010)

Most Affordable Popular Retirement Locations

2010-07-18T11:06:00.001-07:00

Walking Away

2010-07-01T08:21:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/06/29/walking-away-the-impact-on-housing/

Forecasters are Split

2010-07-01T08:18:00.000-07:00

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-06-24/betting-who-s-right-in-house-price-debate-baker-whitney-vs-maki-harris.html

Job Creation: Only Solution For A Housing Recovery

2010-06-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/06/21/job-creation-only-solution-for-a-housing-recovery/

I love this. And promise to watch it often. Customers telling it like it is 1 minute video.

2010-06-23T12:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.wellcomemat.com/video/CA/Oakland/news/6DF8FF1C76/

Bill to Prevent Avoidable Foreclosure Clears California Senate

2010-06-17T15:47:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/8749

Anatomy of A Modern Bank Failure

2010-06-17T15:46:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/lowes/8355/8745

FHA Rehab Loan helps you Buy and borrow fix up money at the same time!

2010-06-17T15:45:00.001-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2009/12/17/money-to-purchase-and-renovate-your-home/

How will home prices fare the second half of 2010?

2010-06-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/06/15/the-post-tax-credit-housing-market-part-3/

After Foreclosure: how long until you can buy again?

2010-06-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/28/real_estate/homebuying_after_foreclosure/index.htm

10 Steps to an Earth-Friendly Yard

2010-05-22T08:14:00.000-07:00

http://rismedia.com/2010-05-08/around-the-home-10-steps-to-an-earth-friendly-yard/

Housing Recovery Starts in 2011 Says Panel of Industry Experts

2010-05-21T18:41:00.000-07:00

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/housing-recovery-starts-in-2011-says-panel-of-industry-experts-2010-05-21

How to understand the "foreclosure" number reports.

2010-05-18T08:40:00.000-07:00

http://kcmblog.com/2010/05/17/the-truth-about-foreclosure-facts/

The Home Affordable Unemployment Program, effective July 1, 2010

2010-05-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

Treasury Releases Details on Mortgage Program for Unemployed

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/treasury-releases-details-on-home-affordable-unemployment-program-2010-05-12

Short Sales - A Better Alternative

2010-04-08T11:48:00.000-07:00

Don't Foreclose! Do a Short Sale
http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/29/real_estate/short_sale_explosion/index.htm

Heating Law Changes Effective July 1st for all homeowners in Mass

2010-03-22T21:08:00.000-07:00

By July 1, 2010, you must upgrade your home heating system equipment to prevent leaks from tanks and pipes that connect to your furnace. By making a relatively small expenditure now, you can prevent a much greater expense in the future. Massachusetts has a new law to address oil leaks from home heating systems (see Chapter 453 of the Acts of 2008). This law has two major provisions that require: the installation of either an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with protective sleeve on systems that do not currently have these devices; and insurance companies that write homeowner policies to offer coverage for leaks from heating systems that use oil. Most homeowner policies do not currently include such coverage, leaving many to pay for costly cleanups out of their own pocket. Although it is mandatory that insurance companies offer this coverage, the insurance is an optional purchase for homeowners. The effective date for both provisions is July 1, 2010. To download information on oil heating law changes, click here for .pdf https://www.passrealtors.com:447/lamps/Documents/Oil%20Heating%20System.pdf
Source: Plymouth and South Shore Board of Realtors.

Banks Pressed to Write Down Second Liens

2010-03-22T21:00:00.000-07:00

Many homeowners are seeking to sell homes in short-sale deals, but banks are reluctant to approve them, pushing these distressed homeowners into foreclosure. Now lawmakers are stepping in to apply pressure to encourage banks to eliminate the most obvious stumbling block – second mortgages. U.S. Rep Barney Frank, chair of the House Financial Services Committee, recently wrote a letter to the four largest U.S. banks urging them to write down second mortgages. Frank wrote that while second loans often have little value, “because accounting rules allow holders of these seconds to carry the loans at artificially high values, many refuse to acknowledge the losses and write down the loans."While most first mortgages are now held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or other investors in mortgage securities, about $766.7 billion in second liens are held by commercial banks, savings banks, and credit unions.
Source: The Wall Street Journal, James R. Hagerty (03/08/2010)

Analyzing the Real Forces Behind Current Housing Supply and Demand

2010-03-11T12:44:00.000-08:00

http://seekingalpha.com/article/192842-analyzing-the-real-forces-behind-current-housing-supply-and-demand

By the Numbers: How long will your appliances last? It depends

2010-03-07T16:42:00.000-08:00

http://blogs.consumerreports.org/home/2009/03/appliance-life-expectancy-national-association-of-home-buildersbank-of-america-home-equity-study-of-.html
-Thank you to Bonsai Home Inpsection for this link!

Selling or Buying a Home With a Loan Under Water

2010-02-24T10:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/22/business/AP-US-Service-Package-Short-Sales.html?_r=2

Mentions credit impact on Seller in a Short Sale

15 Top Retirement Cities

2010-02-19T09:32:00.000-08:00

Boomers are willing to move farther than previous generations when they retire, and they are choosing places unlike stereotypical retirement hotspots, says Tom Brokaw in his report on Boomer retirement, airing on CNBC, Thursday, March 4 at 9 p.m. ET.The top places listed by AARP and explored on the show are:

1. Loveland/Fort Collins, Colo.
2. Las Cruces, N.M
3. Rehoboth Beach, Del.
4. Portland, Ore.
5. Greenville, S.C.
6. Sarasota, Fla.
7. Ann Arbor, Mich.
8. Tucson, Ariz.
9. Montpelier, Vt.
10. Honolulu
11. Santa Fe, N.M
12. Atlanta
13. Charleston, S.C
14. Northampton, Mass.
15. San Diego, Calif.

Source: CNBC, Paul Toscano (02/05/2010)

Rural Housing Purchase or Repair Grants from Federal Government

2010-02-12T22:32:00.000-08:00

http://www.brokeragentsocial.com/ki/blog/4331/