Today's Real Estate News and Advice
Updated: July 21, 2010
Another Week of Record Low Mortgage Rates
Uncertainty in the global economy has kept mortgage rates at record lows for over a month. This week mortgage-backed securities prices, which drive mortgage rates their opposite, have again posted gains as investors continue to favor safer bets, helping mortgage rates. FULL STORY->
HOA Committee Charters
Committees serve an invaluable role in assisting the board. They allow owners to participate on focused issues without committing to years of service on the board. Each committee appointed by the board should have a written charter or marching orders which defines expectations. Here is a sample charter which can be adapted to other committee functions. FULL STORY->
Basic Tips for Rose Gardening
Rose gardens are the pride and joy of many homeowners and communities. Caring for them, however, takes times and a few expert tips. FULL STORY->
Cleaning Up After a Flood
It's been another bad year for flooding across Canada. If you've been the victim of the flood, here are the priorities to minimize flood damage and get your house back to a liveable condition. FULL STORY->
Pending Legislation Aims to Extend California Anti-Deficiency Protection
On June 3 of this year, Senate Bill 1178 (Corbett) was passed by the California State Senate and sent on to the Assembly. A California Association of Realtors news release described this as a "victory for consumers." Inasmuch as not all consumers, nor their real estate agents, may realize the exact nature of this victory, it seems worthwhile to devote some attention to it. FULL STORY->
Cleaning Up After a Flood
It's been another bad year for flooding across Canada. If you've been the victim of the flood, here are the priorities to minimize flood damage and get your house back to a liveable condition. FULL STORY->
Basic Tips for Rose Gardening
Rose gardens are the pride and joy of many homeowners and communities. Caring for them, however, takes times and a few expert tips. FULL STORY->
Mixing Business with Business: Are You Sending Mixed Messages?
An acupuncturist who also sells Pre-Paid Legal Services memberships. A sales trainer who also distributes organic chocolate bars. A land development consultant who also sells purified water machines. A real estate agent who also sells beauty products. FULL STORY->
Mortgage Basics
Points, fees, and adjustable rates. If you are brand new to the home buying arena, then mortgage terminology can be as foreign as reading Greek. FULL STORY->
Real Estate Outlook: Market Report
We all know how important a role consumer confidence plays in any economic recovery, and most definitely in home buying decisions. Now a new national poll of consumer attitudes offers some encouraging news for the months ahead. FULL STORY->
Housing Tax Credit Closing Extension Helps Some; Others Finding Market Ripe With Good Deals
It's not a lot of time, but a three-month homebuyer limited tax-credit extension will help some. "I think it was one of relief by lots of homebuyers who had loans and real estate transactions in the pipeline and couldn't close by the June 30th deadline. The extension gives them the opportunity to finish up their deals and close by September 30th," says Lucien Salvant, National Association of Realtors spokesperson. FULL STORY->
Seven Steps to Success
Success is an elusive concept to many people. It has as many different definitions as there are people on earth. To truly achieve success, one has to create their own vision of exactly what it is they want and desire. FULL STORY->
Mortgage Rates Stable This Week
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS). 30-Year Mortgage Rates tied last week's record low. FULL STORY->
Easy Access to All Mortgage, Closing Costs
RESPA mandates that you get the "Good Faith Estimate (GFE)," the "Settlement Statement HUD-1," and the "Shopping For Your Home Loan: HUD's Settlement Cost Booklet," a guidebook to walk you through the other two documents. FULL STORY->
30-Yr Fixed Rate Unchanged this Week
30-year fixed mortgage rates are unchanged this week and at 4.25 percent for well-qualified borrowers paying 1 point origination. 15-year fixed mortgage rates, also unchanged, are at 3.75 percent. Both rates were verified by FreeRateUpdate.com research of wholesale lenders' rate sheets and are all-time record lows. FULL STORY->
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