Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-15/weekly-real-estate-roundup-%e2%80%93-101811/
Monday, October 31, 2011
Weekly Real Estate Roundup ? 10/15/11
Headlines that caught our eye this week: “Foreclosures Empty Homes, and Criminals Fill Them Up” [NY Times] “Homeowners could cash in on banks’ foreclosure mistakes” [KPHO.com] [...]
Selling Homes Near Dead People
Today's housing market is scary enough. Who needs a home that might actually spook someone? Maya Pope-Chappell has details on Lunch Break. Source:
http://online.wsj.com/video/selling-homes-near-dead-people/3BAD6EB2-EA31-4E10-8748-B820DC9A68ED.html
2011 Foreclosure.com College Scholarship Program Set To Expire Soon
Foreclosure.com today reminded college students nationwide who are enrolled in undergraduate programs that the deadline to submit essays for its 2011 scholarship program is approaching quickly on Dec. 1, 2011. Foreclosure.com encourages all students (high school students, graduate students and law students are excluded), regardless of major, to apply for the scholarships, which total $9,000 [...]
Video Game Mogul Richard ?Lord British? Garriott Has Really Great Manors
Some people live in houses. Some people live in mansions. Some people live on estates and others live in castles. Then there’s�Richard Garriott, a video game [...]
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
Home of the Week: Guitar-Shaped Grounds at Alabama Mansion
You would expect that someone who owned a home with guitar-shaped landscaping to be an avid guitarist, or perhaps a collector, or at least some sort of music buff.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-24/home-of-the-week-guitar-shaped-grounds-at-alabama-mansion/
Video Game Mogul Richard ?Lord British? Garriott Has Really Great Manors
Some people live in houses. Some people live in mansions. Some people live on estates and others live in castles. Then there’s�Richard Garriott, a video game [...]
Grounds of Historic Wissahickon Creek Home Boosted Spirit of Edgar Allan Poe
In a literary life racked with much pain and suffering, Edgar Allan Poe found few places of earthly comfort. One of those rare spots was in [...]
Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices
Office Hours 10/28/11 or "my first twitter!": Mark Zuckerman Answers Your Questions on Twitter
On Friday October 28th, Mark Zuckerman tweets about college affordability and student loans for White House Office Hours (Photo by Mori Rothman)
Today, Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of Domestic Policy Council, answered your questions on the President's announcement this week that will help make college more affordable and make it even easier for students to repay their federal student loans.
Check out the full questions and answer session below, or over on Storify. Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse on Twitter for updates from the White House and for more chances to engage.
Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners
Why We Can?t Wait: Taking Action to Reduce Prescription Drug Shortages
President Barack Obama talks with the media before signing an Executive Order directing the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action to help further prevent and reduce prescription drug shortages, protect consumers and prevent price gouging, in the Oval Office, Oct. 31, 2011. From left: pharmacy manager Bonnie Frawley from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Mass.; Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; cancer patient Jay Cuetara from San Francisco, Calif.; and FDA Commissioner Peggy Hamburg. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Sometimes the most important component of a patient’s treatment is the type of medication they receive and the consistency at which they receive it. For some Americans, a change in their treatment regimen or a substitution of a medication can seriously threaten their ability to get better.
Between 2005 and 2010, the number of prescription drug shortages nearly tripled. While the FDA successfully prevented 137 drug shortages between January 1, 2010 and September 26, 2011, prescription drug shortages continue to threaten the health and safety of the American people. Today, too many people are waiting for their prescription to become available. Some are forced to switch from the medication they prefer, while others go without their medicine altogether. In some cases, drug shortages can even force people to stop a course of treatment before it finishes.
We cannot control the factors that cause these drug shortages. But we are committed to doing our part to counteract them. Which is why President Obama signed an Executive Order today that will lead to earlier FDA notification of any impending shortages for certain prescription drugs. Early notification can help prevent a shortage from becoming a crisis by allowing hospitals, doctors and manufacturers to take action to ensure medications remain available.
In addition, the President’s Executive Order will call on FDA to work with the Justice Department to examine whether “gray market” profiteers are responding to potential drug shortages either by hoarding medications or charging exorbitant prices. In recent months, we’ve heard reports of enormous markups such as a blood pressure medicine usually priced at $26 being sold for $1,200. And under this Executive Order, the Justice Department will watch the market closely to make sure companies are not exploiting drug shortages to raise their profits at the expense of patients.
Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate
Agent Email Newsletter Tips
As you know, the job of an agent/broker can continue on past the sale of a house and, if done correctly, contact you have with customers post-sale can lead to more business. One way to continue communication and stay relevant with past clients is through your own email newsletter. Here are some do?s and don?ts [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/09/08/agent-email-newsletter-tips/
Update on Medicare and Vouchers
Still not exactly sure what House Republicans will offer next week in their budget, though some are still expecting a voucher program, as I mentioned in my last post.
Today House Majority Leader Eric Cantor offered his views in a briefing for reporters:
"Most of us 54 and younger are not going to be able to enjoy the same type of programs that are in existence now. There have to be changes. The numbers just don't add up."
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/03/update_on_medicare_and_voucher.html
Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes
Harvard Report: Remodeling Activity Appears to be Slowing
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies has released the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) designed to estimate national homeowner spending on home improvements. The LIRA, issued at the end of each quarter, projects the remodeling market for the quarter just ended and the subsequent three quarters in order to help identify future turning points in the business cycle of the home improvement industry. The information released on Thursday projects remodeling activity through the first half of 2012 and anticipates a continued softening of the remodeling market through most of that period.
According to the indicator, approximately $116.8 billion was spent on home improvements during the third quarter of 2011, up from $114.2 billion in the second quarter. The four quarter moving rate of change in the third quarter was 4.5 percent. The indicator predicts spending in the fourth quarter will decline to $111.0 billion and decline again to $105.0 billion in the first quarter of 2012 before rebounding to fourth quarter levels in Q2. The moving average change will be -0.5 this quarter, -4.8 in Q1 and -3.5 in Q2.
"After pulling through the worst of the downturn in home improvement spending, we appear to be entering another period of softening," according to Eric S. Belsky, managing director of the Joint Center. "The ups and downs in the economy are being reflected in home improvement activity."
"Absent a more sustained upturn in the broader housing market, particularly in the sales of existing homes, there's not much to propel growth in home improvement spending," said Kermit Baker, director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center which produced the report. "Homeowners are continuing to undertake smaller jobs, but are still nervous about larger discretionary projects."
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/10202011_home_remodeling.asp
Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate
Ex-Kyrgyz PM Holds Early Lead in Presidential Poll
Almazbek Atambayev is leading a field of 16 candidates
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
Buy a House, Get a Visa: Congress Looks to Lure Foreign Nationals
Attention Canadian snowbirds, well-heeled Brazilians and boom-era Chinese nationals looking for a little piece of that�increasingly elusive thing called “The American Dream.” America has your number [...]
Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans
Over 1.7 Million White House Visitor Records Released
In September 2009, the President announced that – for the first time in history – White House visitor records would be made available to the public on an ongoing basis. Today, the White House releases visitor records that were generated in July 2011. This release brings the total number of records made public by this White House to nearly 1.8 million records—all of which can be viewed in our Disclosures section.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/28/over-17-million-white-house-visitor-records-released
FHFA Announces Expansion of Program for Underwater Homeowners
In advance of a speech in Nevada later today in which President Obama is expected to expand on the initiative, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced major changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). FHFA unveiled what is essentially a widening of HARP to reach more borrowers in another effort to reverse the continuing flood of delinquent mortgages heading down the pipeline to foreclosure.
HARP is unique among programs designed to assist distressed borrowers in that it is intended to help those who are current on their mortgages but underwater, that is who owe more on their mortgages than the current market value of their homes. Several studies have identified these borrowers as being likely to strategically default on or walk away from their mortgages. Although Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) which are under FHFA conservatorship, have assisted about 9 million homeowners to refinance into lower-cost mortgages over the last few years, only about 10 percent of those were aided through HARP. HARP, like the other major government foreclosure prevention initiative HAMP, the Home Affordable Modification Program, has been impeded by a lack of enthusiasm among lenders and servicers integral to the programs' success. In the case of HARP, the lenders objected to the possibility they might have to buy back delinquent loans if they weren't scrupulously underwritten. They thus tended to cherry pick the best loans which in turn limited borrowers from refinancing with other than their current lenders.
The current HARP limits the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio for a new loan to 125 percent (the program originally had a limit of 105 percent). This effectively eliminates the most underwater homeowners and even leaves whole states, such as Nevada where large percentages of homeowners have negative equity above that amount, out of the program.
While regulations and guidance for the plan won't be finalized for several weeks, relevant changes to HARP that were announced today include:
- Removing the current 125 percent loan-to-value ceiling on refinanced mortgages;
- Waiving risk-based fees on borrowers who take shorter term mortgages and reducing those fees for others;
- Eliminating the need for a new property appraisal where there is a reliable AVM (automated valuation model) estimate provided by the GSEs;
- Eliminating certain representations and warranties required of lenders to obtain the GSE guarantee. This will protect lenders from many of the buy-back requirements they face under current guidelines.
- Extending availability of the program through the end of 2013.
FHFA said the changes to HARP were made with input from lenders, mortgage insurers, and other industry participants. According to The Wall Street Journal, among the concessions made by the industry are agreements from private mortgage insurers to facilitate the transfer of existing mortgage insurance coverage and from most of the major lenders to ease the process of subordinating existing second mortgages to the new loans.
The changes in the program may double the number of borrowers using HARP according to some estimates, but still will serve only those borrowers who are current in their loans and who have loans owned or guaranteed by one of the GSE's that were delivered to Fannie or Freddie prior to July 2009. Thus it will impact only a small percentage of distressed borrowers in the country.
"We know that there are many homeowners who are eligible to refinance under HARP and those are the borrowers we want to reach," said FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco. "Building on the industry's experience with HARP over the last two years, we have identified several changes that will make the program accessible to more borrowers with mortgages owned or guaranteed by the Enterprises. Our goal in pursuing these changes is to create refinancing opportunities for these borrowers, while reducing risk for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and bringing a measure of stability to housing markets."
Charles E. "Ed" Haldeman, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Freddie Mac released the following statement on the program. "This new phase of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) will help reach more borrowers with negative equity so they can refinance into new Freddie Mac mortgages at today's historically low-rates. These changes mark another step on the road to recovery for the nation's housing market and underscore Freddie Mac's vital role in making affordable mortgage financing available to America's homeowners and future homebuyers."
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/10242011_harp_foreclosure_prevention.asp
Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams
Turkey Earthquake Cleanup Under Way as Searches Wind Down
Officials say the quake killed 582 people, wounded 4,000; at least 230 people have been pulled alive from the ruins
Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment
Fixer uppers: How to find that foreclosure ?diamond in the rough?
Look for the shabbiest house on the nicest block in town. Spruce it up. Sell for profit. That’s a real estate investing recipe for success more often than not, especially if you can discern between money pits and money makers. When it comes to flipping foreclosures, or even purchasing a discounted distressed property as a [...]Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/09/fixer-uppers-how-to-find-that-foreclosure-diamond-in-the-rough/
Robert Redford?s Former CT Digs for Sale
Robert Redford's former home was recently listed on the Weston real estate market for $1.3 million.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-24/robert-redfords-former-ct-digs-for-sale/
Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment
Senators want to see Fannie, Freddie REO plan
Foreclosed homes may be converted into rentals
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/OJyvVWC-Two/senators-want-see-fannie-freddie-reo-plan
Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams
Blast at Yemen Air Base Temporarily Shuts Sana'a Airport
Authorities said mortar shells landed at the al-Daylami air force base, causing a massive blast
Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners
A pro's take on restaining deck
Prep work, UV resistance among keys to success
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/4vHhY2-oWYY/a-pros-take-restaining-deck
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Dips Below 4 Percent, Remains at Historically Low Levels
Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 3.95 percent, down from 4 [...]
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Top 10 Facebook-related apps for iPhone and iPad
Most popular free and paid mobile downloads
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/EX0smBjBaYg/top-10-facebook-related-apps-iphone-and-ipad
Open For Questions: Crisis in the Horn of Africa
War, famine and drought are currently devastating 13 million people in the Horn of Africa. The worst drought the world has seen in 60 years is devastating farmlands, uprooting families and killing tens of thousands in Kenya, Ethiopia, Dijibouti and Somalia. If long-term changes are not made soon, there will be more extremism, more threat and more instability in this part of the world.
To respond to this crisis, U.S. Agency for International Development announced the FWD campaign to raise awareness across America about this worsening situation.
In a special "Open for Questions," USAID Administrator Raj Shah and Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of the National Security Council Gayle Smith shared their knowledge, took your questions and explained how Americans can contribute. Aired live on whitehouse.gov/live, Office of Public Engagement Director John Carson moderated the conversation and took questions from the audience, as well as Twitter followers who used the hashtag #askFWD.
You can jump to see answers to specific questions posed by the audience and Twitter followers by clicking on the links below.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/26/open-questions-crisis-horn-africa
RE BarCamp South Florida 2011
Here is the scene this morning from RE BarCamp South Florida 2011, which is an all-day workshop held at The Boca Beach Club (Penthouse 2), a luxurious oceanfront location in Boca Raton, Florida. What’s RE BarCamp, exactly? REBarCampSouthFL.com explains it best: “Essentially it?s a day full of technology-driven break out sessions led by other REALTORS� [...]Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/10/re-barcamp-south-florida-2011/
Are you so far ahead that you?ve left yourself behind?
The late comedian Mitch Hedburg once said, “I am tired of following my dreams.� I am just going to find out where they are going and meet them...
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Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama
America?s Most Haunted Houses
These creepy homes top the list for fright.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-25/americas-most-haunted-houses/
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Zillow Names 20 Best Cities to Trick-or-Treat in 2011
Get ready to fill those pillowcases with sweets. The data heads at Zillow have taken a break from churning out serious research briefs and Real Estate [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-19/zillow-names-20-best-cities-to-trick-or-treat-in-2011/
An Honest Conversation about Medicare
House Speaker John Boehner this week called for "honest conversations" about Medicare.
Fair enough. Let's begin this honest discussion by admitting no one knows for sure how to reduce Medicare costs. And that's a problem, because Medicare expenditures are projected to grow almost 6% a year for the rest of the decade.
To understand why program costs are exploding, you just have to look through the annual Medicare Trustees report on the financial condition of the program. The 2011 report comes out on Friday, but it will surely have the same analysis you can find in all the other reports. If you want to engage in this honest discussion, a good place to start is on page 45 of the 2010 report. There you will find the four trends driving Medicare costs:
- Growth in the number of beneficiaries
- Increases in the prices paid per service, which reflect both higher wages for health care workers and higher prices for the goods and services purchased by health care providers
- Increases in the average number of services per beneficiary ("utilization")
- Increases in the average complexity of services ("intensity")
Let's take these one at a time. The number of Medicare beneficiaries will soar over the next 25 years, rising from almost 49 million this year to 85 million in 2035. The only way to cut costs here is to kick people out of the program. I don't see that happening.
Wages and prices are the next cost driver. Only two things can be done here. Lower wages for doctors and nurses or make them more productive -- meaning get more work out of doctors and nurses then you get today.
Congress tried to lower wages. It capped payments to physicians using a formula. But when the formula became too tough, forcing deep cuts in wages, Congress relented. Thus the "doc fix" was born. Meaning, Congress voted to pay doctors more. I am not arguing the merits of the formula here, just pointing out that the effort failed.
What about productivity? No surprise, it is harder to measure productivity in a hospital than it is in an auto plant. The hospital's product is good health and an outcome like that is hard to quantify. There is no dispute though that if you could accurately measure health care productivity, it would be low and perhaps even negative!
Some studies found as much as one-third of the spending in our health care system does not improve health, adding up to a staggering waste of more than $700 billion.
What can be done about this? The President has created a panel of experts to study ways to use new payment systems to reward innovation and more efficient treatment of disease.
A worthy goal, but as the Trustees Report points out, efforts to eliminate waste and increase productivity through payment and delivery system reforms:
"These outcomes are far from certain . . . . Many experts doubt the feasibility of such sustained improvements and anticipate that over time the Medicare price constraints would become unworkable and that Congress would likely override them, much as they have done to prevent the reductions in physician payment rates otherwise required by the sustainable growth rate formula in current law."
Republicans want to give consumers more power to choose efficient plans on the theory that this will reward innovation and efficiency. But what happens when the "premium support" payments that Republican propose fail to keep up with the cost of health care? The same thing that happened to physician payments. Congress would likely override them too.
The real problem in Medicare comes when we get to cost drivers three and four. Health care costs are driven by people using more services and more complicated services -- utilization and intensity. In other words, Medicare beneficiaries see health care providers more often and those health care providers are performing more expensive tests and surgeries using new technologies.
Now we are at the heart of the Medicare cost problem. If we're being honest, we must change the way we deliver and consume health care. This is not something that happens overnight or because a bill is written in Washington. It will require constant innovation and reform. We will have to get better at determining which treatments improve health and which do not.
The Brookings Institution's Barry Bosworth put it well in an email: "I think the basic problem is that we cannot say no."
Are we willing to change that? And if not, are we willing to pay for Medicare's rapid growth?
You can having an honest conversation on Medicare means confronting some very difficult questions.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/05/an_honest_discussion_on_medica.html
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
10 states with the biggest houses
Realtor.com: More than half of states with largest median home size are in West
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/nBIOhhK6_-8/10-states-with-biggest-houses
Changes Underway in Freddie Mac's Governance
In a joint press release issued Wednesday Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that three members of Freddie Mac's board would be leaving their positions over the next few months. Two, John Koskinen, the board chairman, and Robert Glauber who is currently Chairman of the Governance and Nominating Committee, will be retiring in February having reached Freddie Mac's mandatory retirement age. The third, Laurence E. Hirsch recently announced that he will not be seeking re-election when his current term expires.
To promote a smooth transition, Acting FHFA Director Edward J. DeMarco said that Christopher Lynch, the current Chairman of the Audit Committee will replace Mr. Koskinen as Chairman effective at the December 2011 board meeting.
In addition to the board changes, Current Freddie Mac Chief Executive Officer Charles E. "Ed" Haldeman Jr. recently informed the board of his desire to step down once a suitable transition can be established. DeMarco has asked the outgoing and incoming board chairs to work with the board and FHFA on developing a succession plan for the position of CEO.
Christopher Lynch is retired as a partner with KPMG, LLP and is a director of the American International Group Inc., where he became a member of the AIG board after that Company received an infusion of funds from the U.S. Treasury Department.
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/10262011_freddie_mac.asp
Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties
Confessions of a Real Estate Junkie/Data Feed Landscape
With the recent acquisition of ListHuB by Move, Inc, the possibility and in fact likelihood that the landscape for moving real estate listing content...
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30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Dips Below 4 Percent, Remains at Historically Low Levels
Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 3.95 percent, down from 4 [...]
Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners
An Artist's Duplex in TriBeCa
When owner Gianluca Berardi first purchased this duplex in TriBeCa in 2002, it was an uninviting white box. But after 18 months and some $2 million dollars in renovations, he transformed the space into a lavish home.Source:
http://online.wsj.com/video/an-artist-duplex-in-tribeca/4D16BDC6-0848-48DB-94DB-EB4A873BCCF1.html
Freddie Mac Mortgage Crisis Real Estate Agents Housing Market
Back to Basics: Mortgage and Refinance Calculators
How low rates could affect your refinancing and real estate options depends on a little math.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-13/back-to-basics-mortgage-and-refinance-calculators/
Making the most out of your video tours
We talk a lot about how valuable social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. are to networking. But one that may go unmentioned (but not unnoticed) is YouTube. Having a video tour of a house is not a new concept by any means, but getting the video out there is much easier than you [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/09/30/making-the-most-out-of-your-video-tours/
How President Obama Is Helping Lower Monthly Student Loan Payments
President Obama has made historic investments in making college more affordable for millions of students. But many people who took out loans to pay for their education are struggling to make monthly payments on those loans, making our tough economic times a little bit more challenging. We can't wait to help these people keep up with their student loans.
Today, the Obama Administration announced steps we are taking to help borrowers better manage their student loan debt by moving forward with a new “Pay As You Earn” proposal that will reduce monthly payments for more than 1.6 million people. Starting in 2014, borrowers will be able to reduce their monthly student loan payments from 15 percent to 10 percent of their discretionary income. But President Obama realizes that many students need relief sooner than that. The new “Pay As You Earn” proposal will fast track the initiative to begin next year.
The questions below will help you understand income based repayment and find out if you are able to take advantage of these changes.
CONFESSIONS OF A REAL ESTATE JUNKIE/TOP 5 MEDIA TRENDS FOR 2011
Like many of us in this business I have been awe struck by the rate of decline in almost everything related to the housing industry over the last...
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Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama
RE BarCamp South Florida 2011
Here is the scene this morning from RE BarCamp South Florida 2011, which is an all-day workshop held at The Boca Beach Club (Penthouse 2), a luxurious oceanfront location in Boca Raton, Florida. What’s RE BarCamp, exactly? REBarCampSouthFL.com explains it best: “Essentially it?s a day full of technology-driven break out sessions led by other REALTORS� [...]Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/10/re-barcamp-south-florida-2011/
Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook
Donald Trump?s CA Estate Sells for $7.15M
Donald Trump's home in Ranchos Palos Verde sold for a loss.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-20/donald-trumps-cali-estate-sells-for-a-loss/
Little change in home loan rates
Cost of borrowing could climb if mortgage bonds fall out of favor
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/A99OGhK4YR0/little-change-in-home-loan-rates
Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes
No More Home on the Range: Dennis Quaid Cutting Loose His Montana Ranch
Dennis Quaid wants to be footloose and fancy free of his spread near Yellowstone National Park, ranch for $14 million Quaid has owned the Montana property [...]
Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties
Jesse Metcalfe?s Home Re-listed for Sale
"Desperate Housewives" star Jesse Metcalfe's home is back on the Beverly Glen real estate market as an active listing.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-21/jesse-metcalfes-home-re-listed-for-sale/
Realtor.com to run ads next to listings
Listing brokers can opt out of program, get free pictures if they go along
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/Trzifjjktfo/realtorcom-run-ads-next-listings
Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages Household Moving
RE BarCamp South Florida 2011
Here is the scene this morning from RE BarCamp South Florida 2011, which is an all-day workshop held at The Boca Beach Club (Penthouse 2), a luxurious oceanfront location in Boca Raton, Florida. What’s RE BarCamp, exactly? REBarCampSouthFL.com explains it best: “Essentially it?s a day full of technology-driven break out sessions led by other REALTORS� [...]Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/10/re-barcamp-south-florida-2011/
Saturday, October 29, 2011
8 stunningly beautiful fireplaces
They will keep you warm and transform your home into an art museum.
Source: http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=31085590
Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment
Consumer spending debunks new recession theories
Commentary: European debt deal is another 'can-kick'
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
It?s Tuesday Taste Test! (Oct. 18, 2011)
Every Tuesday, we pit two homes for sale against each other and ask Zillow?s Facebook fans which home they like better. The homes are in the [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-18/it%e2%80%99s-tuesday-taste-test-oct-18-2011/
Like us on Facebook and win a Android Tablet!
We’re so proud of our�new Android Tablet App that we think everyone should get the chance to try it out. That?s why we decided to give away a brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab to one lucky winner!
Entering is super simple and takes less than a minute. All you have to do is go to our�Facebook [...]
Entering is super simple and takes less than a minute. All you have to do is go to our�Facebook [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/B_ujmbLJkFY/
Office Hours 10/25/11 or "We'll Keep Pushing": Brian Deese Answers Your Questions on Twitter
This week, President Obama kicked off a new effort to urge Congress to pass the American Jobs Act, piece by piece, to put folks back to work and strengthen the economy. During a session of White House Hours, Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council, answered your questions about the Jobs Act and steps the President is taking to help homeowners refinance their mortgages.
See the full questions and answer session below, or on Storify.
Follow @Whitehouse for the latest from the Administration and upcoming opportunities to engage. Have ideas on how we can improve Office Hours or our online program? Share feedback with us using the hashtag #WHWeb.
On Tuesday, October 25th, Brian Deese Tweets back at followers for White House Office Hours (Photo by Mori Rothman)
13 NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan Suicide Attack
Car bomb went off next to armored bus carrying NATO forces in Kabul, turning heavily armed vehicle on side, engulfing it in flames
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Deadly-Attacks-Hit-Afghanistan-132844198.html
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
The Politics of Refinancing
Barron's Washington editor Jim McTague and Mean Street host Evan Newmark discuss a new plan that removes some hurdles for homeowners interested in refinancing, and the politics behind it. AP Photo/Charles Rex ArbogastSource:
http://online.wsj.com/video/the-politics-of-refinancing/036CBF2E-2491-4F68-B48E-A3EFDCDC32D9.html
Update on Medicare and Vouchers
Still not exactly sure what House Republicans will offer next week in their budget, though some are still expecting a voucher program, as I mentioned in my last post.
Today House Majority Leader Eric Cantor offered his views in a briefing for reporters:
"Most of us 54 and younger are not going to be able to enjoy the same type of programs that are in existence now. There have to be changes. The numbers just don't add up."
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/03/update_on_medicare_and_voucher.html
Geometry Lesson: Homes for Sale by Shape
This list of list has homes that forgo traditional and utilize shapes found more commonly in the pages of a geometry book
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-18/geometry-lesson-homes-for-sale-by-shape/
Robert Redford?s Former CT Digs for Sale
Robert Redford's former home was recently listed on the Weston real estate market for $1.3 million.
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-24/robert-redfords-former-ct-digs-for-sale/
Syrian Forces Strike Homs for Second Day
Activists, residents say heavy shelling could be heard as government forces in armored vehicles pushed into area
Insider?s Guide to Success with Short Sales
Many real estate agents steer their clients away from a short sale because they think they take too long, that their commissions will be lowered, or [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-28/insiders-guide-to-success-with-short-sales/
Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes
Get Familiar with KeepSum.com
Now I know you have all heard of sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, but recently a newer site hit the scene that really caught my attention. KeepSum.com is comparable to other group discount sites, however it?s aimed completely at the Real Estate industry and can get you anywhere from 25-60% off all sorts of useful [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/10/07/get-familiar-with-keepsum-com/
At Least 4 Killed in Syria Protests
Activists say forces have fired shots at demonstrators in areas including flashpoint cities of Homs, Hama
Weekly Address: We Can?t Wait to Create Jobs
President Obama says that we can’t wait for Congress to take action to grow the economy and create jobs -- and highlights actions he took to help families refinance their mortgages, put veterans to work, and lower the cost of student loans.
Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/10/29/weekly-address-we-can-t-wait-create-jobs
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Geometry Lesson: Homes for Sale by Shape
This list of list has homes that forgo traditional and utilize shapes found more commonly in the pages of a geometry book
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-18/geometry-lesson-homes-for-sale-by-shape/
Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams
Radar Logic: Housing Prices Start Seasonal Fade
The seasonal decline in home prices that always proceeds the holidays and continues through the cold winter months has already begun, appearing earlier and sharper than usual. Radar Logic reports that its RPX Composite Price which tracks housing prices in 25 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) fell 0.8 percent between the data points of July 18 and August 18 and was 4.7 percent lower than on August 18, 2010. This was the largest decline in the Composite Price at this time of year since 2008 and the year-to-date gain in the RPX through August was the smallest in the Composite's history except for 2008, a notably terrible year for housing.
Month-over-month price changes were positive in only two metropolitan areas; Washington, DC saw an appreciation of 0.4 percent and New York City was up 0.7 percent. The biggest losers pricewise were Milwaukee (-7.7 percent) and Columbus, Ohio (-5.5 percent). On a year over basis only Washington was up (2.5 percent) while Milwaukee saw a 13.1 percent decline and Las Vegas a 13.0 percent loss. Three cities, Detroit, Boston, and Jacksonville, Florida were neutral as to price changes for the year.
Home sales have also come down more quickly than is usually the case in late summer. The 25-MSA RPX transaction count declined 5.2 percent from July to August. Looking back over the previous 10 years (with the exception of 2010 where the June 30 expiration of the housing tax credit made the remainder of the year anomalous,) the July to August change, whether positive or negative, has been around 2 percent. The transaction count increased 13 percent year-over-year through August, but this change had more to do with disruptions caused by the tax credits than strong sales during the year. RPX said that these year-to-year gains from the tax credit reaction in 2010 will disappear by the end of the year if home sales hold to their usual seasonal patterns.
St. Louis, Missouri had a spurt of nearly 40 percent in sales during the month and an increase for the year-to-date of 46.7 percent. Other MSAs with positive changes in transactions since July are Las Vegas, and Boston. Transactions dropped 19 percent between July and August in Charlotte, North Carolina and 15.0 percent in Tampa. Charlotte is also in negative territory for the year (-6.5 percent as is Detroit (-6.4 percent) and San Jose, California (2.2 percent.) The remaining 22 MSAs have seen increases in transactions year-over-year; Boston has the highest positive change (48.4 percent) followed by St. Louis and Minneapolis (29.2 percent).
Radar Logic restated its contention from May that the change in conforming loan limits that were effective October 1 will not significantly impact the RPX Composite Price nor significantly affect most prices it tracks at the MSA level. The company said that a close look shows that rather than reducing the overall demand for homes and thereby reducing aggregate home prices, the new loan limits affect only a small percentage of sales because most housing markets were not considered high cost areas. Even in those markets that were designated high-cost, sales in the price band between the old elevated limits and the new ones make up only a small percentage of total sales. For example, in the three areas with the largest percentage of sales in the "reduction zone," New York, San Francisco, and San Jose, less than ten percent of sales will be affected by the change. "There may be a shift in the mix of sales out of the reduction zone toward lower price levels, but given the small percentage of sales affected, the impact of such a mix-shift on MSA-level RPX prices will probably be minimal."
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/10202011_home_prices.asp
Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties
$53M Calif. Estate, Zynga's Pincus Asks $8.9M
A Silicon Valley estate that was owned by a great-grandniece of Levi Strauss has sold for $53 million, Zynga co-founder Mark Pincus asks $8.9 million for his home. Plus, a $15 million listing in San Francisco. Juliet Chung has details on Lunch Break
The Best of our Blogs: Oct 24-28 2011
This week you’ve been carving pumpkins, doing candy runs to the drug store and perfecting your apple bobbing technique. We couldn’t blame you if you missed some of our great posts this week. So here’s the best of this week, �all in one place for you. Happy Halloween!
The good, the bad and the ugly on [...]
The good, the bad and the ugly on [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/ujK1KppovQ8/
Enough about me. Let?s talk about you.
Ah . . . the joys of giving.�
Be generous this holiday season.� Here are 3 ways to give to home buyers and home sellers in your advertising and a...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] 
Be generous this holiday season.� Here are 3 ways to give to home buyers and home sellers in your advertising and a...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRealEstateBookBlog/~3/ocPW5kwYNBo/
Zillow Forecasts 3.7% Yearly Decline in Case-Shiller Index
Tomorrow, the August 10- and 20-City Composite Case Shiller Home Price Indices will be released, and Zillow is predicting the non-seasonally adjusted 20-City Composite Home Price [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/2011-10-24/zillow-forecasts-3-7-yearly-decline-in-case-shiller-index/
How President Obama Is Helping Lower Monthly Student Loan Payments
President Obama has made historic investments in making college more affordable for millions of students. But many people who took out loans to pay for their education are struggling to make monthly payments on those loans, making our tough economic times a little bit more challenging. We can't wait to help these people keep up with their student loans.
Today, the Obama Administration announced steps we are taking to help borrowers better manage their student loan debt by moving forward with a new “Pay As You Earn” proposal that will reduce monthly payments for more than 1.6 million people. Starting in 2014, borrowers will be able to reduce their monthly student loan payments from 15 percent to 10 percent of their discretionary income. But President Obama realizes that many students need relief sooner than that. The new “Pay As You Earn” proposal will fast track the initiative to begin next year.
The questions below will help you understand income based repayment and find out if you are able to take advantage of these changes.
Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook
Top 10 Facebook-related apps for iPhone and iPad
Most popular free and paid mobile downloads
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/EX0smBjBaYg/top-10-facebook-related-apps-iphone-and-ipad
Friday, October 28, 2011
30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Dips Below 4 Percent, Remains at Historically Low Levels
Mortgage rates for 30-year fixed mortgages fell this week, with the current rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace at 3.95 percent, down from 4 [...]
2011 Foreclosure.com College Scholarship Program Set To Expire Soon
Foreclosure.com today reminded college students nationwide who are enrolled in undergraduate programs that the deadline to submit essays for its 2011 scholarship program is approaching quickly on Dec. 1, 2011. Foreclosure.com encourages all students (high school students, graduate students and law students are excluded), regardless of major, to apply for the scholarships, which total $9,000 [...]Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes
Office Hours 10/28/11 or "my first twitter!": Mark Zuckerman Answers Your Questions on Twitter
On Friday October 28th, Mark Zuckerman tweets about college affordability and student loans for White House Office Hours (Photo by Mori Rothman)
Today, Mark Zuckerman, Deputy Director of Domestic Policy Council, answered your questions on the President's announcement this week that will help make college more affordable and make it even easier for students to repay their federal student loans.
Check out the full questions and answer session below, or over on Storify. Be sure to follow @WhiteHouse on Twitter for updates from the White House and for more chances to engage.
Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners
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