Today's Real Estate News and Advice

Updated: June 23, 2006

NeighborWorks Prepares For Flood Of Mortgage Delinquencies
Preparations to help home owners survive mortgage delinquencies are reaching levels typically associated with natural disaster preparedness and that underscores potential for financial catastrophe. FULL STORY->

Wake Up Buyers -- Deals Abound
It's not a buyers market officially in a lot of areas, but it's now starting to favor buyers after years of transactions where buyers had to escalate prices by the tens of thousands and nix home inspections, appraisals and the like. FULL STORY->

One-Year ARM At Highest Level In Almost Seven Years
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.71 percent, with an average 0.5 point, for the week ending June 22, 2006, up from last week's average of 6.63 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.57 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been higher since May 31, 2002, when it averaged 6.76 percent. FULL STORY->

Ask Realty Times
Can I get paid for suggesting a property to an investor? Is it fair for buyers to renegotiate offers on the basis of home inspections? Is assessed value the same as the market value? Peter G. Miller looks at the week's most interesting questions for Realty Times. FULL STORY->

Solar Energy Emergency
The public is becoming aware that coal burning plower plants are the single largest cause of global warming. That coupled with rising energy costs are pushing solar energy to the forefront of homebuyers minds. FULL STORY->

The Radon Testing Problem
Radon gas can be a very big problem -- especially when it comes to detecting it. FULL STORY->

Realty Industry Image Makeover -- One Agent at a Time
The Pittsburgh, PA-based Rocks-DeHart Public Relations offers a list of public relations faux pas to avoid at a time when real estate industry mistrust is rampant. FULL STORY->

Creative Advertising? Heck No, It's False Advertising
As the housing market softens and interest rates rise, lenders are becoming bolder in using deceptive advertising in order to bring in business. Consumers beware, Henry Savage warns. FULL STORY->

Keeping the Kids Out of the Contractor's Way
We often remodel to increase the space for growing families. But it isn't easy having kids spend weeks or months knee-deep in debris. FULL STORY->

Student Housing Cramming Opens Investment Opportunity
A burgeoning group of college-bound, young Americans face a student housing shortage you can turn into an investment opportunity, provided you bone up on the prerequisite investment fundamentals. FULL STORY->

Growth Can Be Good
Study finds that growth brings better jobs and a larger tax base, which are necessary to sustain the wider array of goods and services many people want. Lew Sichelman has the details. FULL STORY->

Ask the HOA Expert
"Our Board is considering hiring a resident member to be a resident manager. The candidate is retired and needs extra income. Is this a good idea?" Richard Thompson answers this question and more in this week's column. FULL STORY->

Vancouver Hosts World Urban Forum for Sustainable Cities
The UN's World Urban Forum explores "the good, the bad and the ugly" of cities--at the present and as they evolve. PJ Wade suggests that the session underway in Vancouver, BC, may be a source of ideas or cautions for those who see urban living in their future. FULL STORY->

TREB: Market Stays Hot in June
The year's strong spring housing market remained active in the first half of June with 4,074 homes changing hands, Toronto Real Estate Board President John Meehan announced today. An average of nearly 300 homes per day sold through the first 15 days of the month. FULL STORY->

Why New Home Prices Are Too High
Are government regulations the reason new home prices are so high? Columnist Peter G. Miller looks at how the world really works. FULL STORY->

California's Housing Economy
California's housing industry is golden. It spurs the economy more than any other sector, including the vaunted computer technology sector and the professional-scientific-technical services sector. FULL STORY->

Title Problems Mount With Housing Boom
Along with the housing boom there's been a "boom" in title problems, but discovering the increase is a good thing. If the title doesn't clear the home loan won't close. FULL STORY->

Two Year Investigation Alleges "Pervasive" Discrimination
African-American and Hispanic mortgage applicants were quoted higher rates, steered to subprime lenders and offered fewer loan options by mortgage brokers, according to a "paired tester" investigation in six metropolitan markets by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition. The coalition is filing federal complaints against brokerage companies based on the investigation. Ken Harney reports. FULL STORY->

Housing Counsel: Land Sales Contract, A Useful Tool
There is no question that the real estate market is slowing down. Houses which went under contract within a few days in the past two years are now sitting, sometimes as long as a month or two. FULL STORY->

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