Today's Real Estate News and Advice

Updated: July 23, 2008

 Whatever Happened to Piggyback loans?
The once-popular piggyback loan is toast, nicely browned on both sides according to Realty Times columnist Peter G. Miller. FULL STORY->

Condo Trends: Boomers Driving Trend of Less is More
When it came to the golden years, traditionally there was nothing unusual about down-sizing for the silver-haired generation. In the 21st century, however, downsizing is speeding up as baby boomers (50 million-plus of them) start moving into the lifestyle change of empty-nesting. FULL STORY->

Mortgage Rate Locks Become Crucial
Use a mortgage interest rate lock to put the brakes on the interest rate roller coaster ride to be sure your mortgage remains affordable until you sign on the dotted line. FULL STORY->

Real Estate Marketing Strategies: The Top 10 Self Limiting Beliefs
Having been a business coach for the past 12 years, Dr. Maya Bailey has noticed that everyone has an abundance of self limiting beliefs. Sometimes these lie dormant for years, but when you are building a business, they often stop you dead in your tracks. FULL STORY->

Realtors Push Back Against Negative News Spin
It is no secret that the real estate industry has an ambivalent relationship with the news media. On the one hand, real estate agents and real estate companies spend substantial amounts of money placing advertising in various news media. This remains true even in the face of a significant shift of advertising efforts to the Web. FULL STORY->

HOA Board Directors: Lone Ranger or Tonto?
As a director on the board, you wear two hats: one as an elected official and another as a member of the HOA. While you are clearly entitled to your personal opinion, you need to be careful how and when you express your opinion as a board member. FULL STORY->

Consumers Remain Nervous About Market
The majority of consumers don't believe a new president will immediately improve the housing market, but that hasn't robbed them of visions of the American Dream, according to a new Harris Poll. FULL STORY->

New Homes: Give Them Gas Cards and They Will Come
How hard is it to get prospective new homebuyers to drive out to the hinterlands to walk through, let alone purchase a new home? Just to get them to hit the highway, homebuilders across the nation are going to great lengths. FULL STORY->

Can I Get My Property Taxes Lowered?
tba FULL STORY->

Canadian Government Tightens Mortgage Rules
To protect Canada's housing market from a 'U.S.-style housing bubble,' the government will no longer support 40-year amortizations and down payments of less than five per cent. The news was met with mixed reactions, reports Jim Adair. FULL STORY->

Stretching Your Advertising Budget with Remnant Ads
Advertising costs can strain your budget, but you can gain a lot more advertising real estate for less money by using remnant ads, also known as stand-by advertising FULL STORY->

Market Conditions
With all the talk in the market that "now is the time to buy," many first time homebuyers are weighing their options -- and the mixed opinions of experts in the field. FULL STORY->

As the Pendulum Swings
As the stock market attempts to work its way out of its funk, and the national economy slows down, we are faced with decisions involving the transfer of investment dollars from the stock market into real estate. FULL STORY->

Washington Report: Congress Versus Homeowners in Foreclosure?
Could a dysfunctional Congress totally blow its only opportunity to help thousands of home owners avoid foreclosure? Last week Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill began a high-stakes game of political chicken that could cause the long-awaited federal housing relief bill to stall and go nowhere. FULL STORY->

Wild, Wild West: Arizona Mandates Licensing For Originators
Arizona is getting tough on loan originators with new regulations that will effectively put violators out of work in their industry in a region with the nation's highest rates of foreclosure. FULL STORY->

When is Sale Complete?
tba FULL STORY->

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