C21AGVoices

Super Bowl Weekend traditionally marks the start of the Spring Buying Season in real estate. Anecdotally, real estate agents will tell you that buyer activity tends to tick higher at this time of the year. Meanwhile, with mortgage rates still trolling near all-time lows and Congress debating a first-time homebuyer tax credit, 2009 may bring […]

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The Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged last week.  It remained within a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. In its press release, the FOMC reiterated most of the key points from its December 2008 statement, including: The U.S. employment outlook continues to deteriorate Consumers and businesses continue to cut […]

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Photo courtesy of Creativecommons.org Are you ready for change in the new year? Are you tired of worrying about layoffs? 2009 can be the year you start a new career in real estate- If you read all of the doom and gloom articles about the real estate market for the past 18 months, you might think this […]

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When a homeowner sells his home and decides to buy a new one, there are 3 basic options for the residence — sell it, keep it, or rent it. In doing that, new mortgage guidlelines make it more important than ever that people sell and setttle their old home before they settle on their new […]

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Don’t let the plunging median sales price fool you — December’s Existing Home Sales data has home sellers smiling. Just one month after falling below the 5-million unit trend line, sales volume roared back by 300,000 homes in December, surprising housing analysts and making a case that this spring’s Buying Season could be a competitive […]

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After a weak holiday shopping season, annual retail sales declined in 2008. It marks the first annual Retail Sales decline since the government started tracking the data 40 years ago. It also gives credence to the notion that the U.S. economy is suffering through a deeper recession that previously thought. A pullback in spending — […]

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Ironing boards can be bulky and awkward — especially in a cramped laundry room or a small apartment.   Instead of fumbling with a folding board for a quick press, look to the Touch-Up Topper instead. The Touch-Up Topper is a heat-resistant, portable ironing surface that rolls or folds for storage.  Using sewn-in magnets, the […]

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Image via Wikipedia I hate to be cliche, but it is January  and there is just nothing like the New Year’s theme.  A lot of people have been saying things like “here’s to a better 2009” and I am all for that.  Not that there was anything wrong with 2008… This year is going to be a […]

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The New Year is not yet one week old but that’s not stopping market “experts” from predicting what’s in store for 2009. The calls on housing and mortgage rates run the gamut: Home prices have farther to fall Home prices have touched bottom Mortgage rates will dip Mortgage rates will rise Put it all together and […]

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Even though its effective date is April 1, 2009, mortgage applicants should start seeing Fannie Mae’s new fee structure from lenders beginning this Monday, January 12. The reason why Fannie Mae’s mandatory loan fees are hitting lender pricing so far in advance is because lenders can take up to 30 days to package and sell a loan […]

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