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Real Estate
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Today's Real Estate News and Advice
Updated:
September 23, 2004
Predatory Lending Pandemic In Rural
America
Even rural Americans can't escape the
scourge of predatory lending. In fact, rural homeowners are more likely than
some of their urban cousins to feel the financial neck boot of some forms of
predatory lending. Broderick Perkins reports. FULL STORY->
Pilot Tests New Source Of Upfront
Cash
Low-income families may have a new source
of money to cover their downpayments and closing costs under a promising
experimental program. "This is a very big deal," says the head of Neighborhood
Housing Services of America, which is spearheading the pilot with Fannie Mae. FULL STORY->
Small North Carolina Towns Report Good Seaside
Housing Buys
In North Carolina seaside towns
like Sneads Ferry and Topsail Island, local Realtors report brisk business in
their areas, largely due to the bargain prices of homes and new development. FULL STORY->
Consumers Still Don't Know The
Score
Consumers Federation of America reveals
for the second time most consumers don't know the score and that the lack of
knowledge can cost them when it comes time to apply for a mortgage. Broderick
Perkins has the story. FULL STORY->
HOA Rules: Less Is More
Expanding the Codes, Covenants & Restrictions (CC&Rs) is one of
the HOA Board's greatest challenges. It can be done by amending them or adding
Rules and Resolutions. When expanding, take your time and get member input.
Richard Thompson explains. FULL STORY->
Suggestions For Canadians Wanting To Work In
Real Estate
Taking a real estate course or two
may help Canadians develop an understanding of the workings of the real estate
industry. PJ Wade outlines the first "back to school" steps. FULL STORY->
How Property Owners Are Getting
Wealthy
Figures from the Federal Reserve show
that we each gained more than $2,000 in new wealth recently. The catch, says
Peter G. Miller, is that some us gained a lot more than others. FULL STORY->
Fort Worth, Texas Realtors Say Culture Is The
Big Draw
Realtors in Fort Worth, Texas say the
many cultural opportunities that are available, from the Old West historical
sites to the most sophisticated arts and entertainment centers, are the main
attraction to visitors and residents. FULL STORY->
Forewarned Is Forearmed If You Have An
ARM
Consumer Reports offers advice for
homeowners clinging to adjustable rate mortgages while keeping a wary eye on
interest rates that have not yet risen as previously predicted. FULL STORY->
It's Your House - Or Is It? Planning And Zoning
Woes, Part I
From counties to cities to
homeowners associations, some entity is often there to cut your ideas off at the
knees. So if you're eyeing a new house with renovations in mind (or even if
you're not), it pays to do a little investigating before you make an offer. FULL STORY->
Who To Phone When Trouble
Calls
You've heard the horror stories -- buyers
move into their newly purchased home and not long after, a huge catastrophe
occurs. Maybe the plumbing goes bad, the roof leaks or electrical systems go
awry. Who would you call in this situation? FULL STORY->
Howard County, Maryland Real Estate Is
Hot
Howard County, Maryland real estate is so
hot that Realtors are recommending buyers have preapproval letters from lenders
in hand before they even start looking at homes. FULL STORY->
Low-Downpayment Homebuyers Get "Date Certain"
Mortgage Insurance Cancellation Option
New
private mortgage insurance program promises to terminate premium payment
requirements after a date-certain 60 months. New Radian Guaranty plan cuts
payment requirements far faster than the 8 to 12 years typical of
federally-mandated "automatic" terminations. Ken Harney reports. FULL STORY->
Wyoming Towns Offer Quality Of Life, Say Local
Realtors
Realtors in Gillette, Jackson and
Cheyenne, Wyoming say quality of life is bringing new housing demand to their
towns. FULL STORY->
San Francisco Bay Area Housing
Boom
Damn the bubble forecasts that could
torpedo the market. San Francisco Bay Area buyers are going full speed ahead
buying into the benefits of home ownership in one of the world's most desirable
regions. Broderick Perkins has the details. FULL STORY->
Long-Term Mortgage Rates Slip This
Week
Freddie Mac released the results of its
Primary Mortgage Market Survey in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM)
averaged 5.75 percent, with an average 0.8 points, for the week ending September
16, 2004, down from last week when it averaged 5.83 percent. FULL STORY->
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