Want to be part of a nationwide short sale website? - 12/29/09 12:33 PM
I am launching a nationwide short sale website. I will have a national database for Realtor referrals as one of the resources on the site. I'd love to have some fellow Rainmakers on the site. If you want your info included in the database, please leave me a comment with your contact information. You can also email me at blairgroup@gmail.com. Thanks!
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The Biggest Real Estate Flops of 2009 - 12/15/09 10:49 AM
As I was getting on the computer this morning, this headline, The Biggest Real Estate Flops of 2009, caught my eye. 2009 was no doubt a tough year in real estate, but a $65 MILLION dollar price slash?! Wow! This article was on my Yahoo homepage, but it looks like it was originally written for TheStreet.com. 
 
The Biggest Real Estate Flops of 2009
by Jason NotteTuesday, December 15, 2009provided by

New-home sales rose 24% and pending home sales jumped 32% in October from a year earlier, but estates with wine cellars, infinity pools and servants' quarters saw their prices … (1 comments)

Tools For The Home : 16-In-1 Black And Decker ReadyWrench - 12/14/09 03:00 PM
 

When it comes to DIY projects, one socket size rarely fits all.  So, for light jobs around the house, the 16-in-1 Black & Decker socket wrench can come in handy.  Its official name is the ReadyWrench.
The ReadyWrench won't replace a complete socket set, but because it features the 16 most popular socket sizes, it can simplify your work. The tool fits SAE sizes (5/16 inch, 3/8 inch, 7/16 inch, 1/2 inch, 9/16 inch, 5/8 inch, 11/16 inch, 3/4 inch) and metric sizes, too (8mm, 10mm, 11mm, 13mm, 14mm, 16mm, 17mm, and 19mm).
The head rotates to 45 and … (0 comments)

Foreclosure Activity Falls For The 4th Straight Month - 12/10/09 11:06 AM
Since peaking in July 2009, national foreclosure activity has dropped through 4 consecutive months. 
On a month-to-month basis, November's foreclosure activity fell another 8 percent. 
However, national foreclosure activity continues to be dominated by a minority of states.
As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of November's foreclosure-related activity sourced from just 4 states:
California Florida Illinois Michigan These are the same 4 states that topped October's foreclosure activity despite three of them posting month-to-month declines last month.
The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity include Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.
If you've been actively looking … (1 comments)

How To Increase Your 2009 Mortgage Interest Tax Deduction - 12/08/09 04:29 PM
For many American homeowners, interest paid on a mortgage is tax-deductible in the year in which it was paid.
Knowing that, eligible homeowners can increase their 2009 tax deductions just by making their January 2010 mortgage payment before the end of the year.
By paying in 2009, the mortgage interest paid can be applied against 2009's itemized tax deductions even though the payment isn't technically due until 2010.
It can reduce your tax burden come Thursday, April 15, 2010.
And lest you think you're paying the mortgage "in advance", remember that mortgage interest is paid in arrears; a payment due January 1 accounts for interest that … (0 comments)

The Hidden Household Hazard That Will Send 40,000 People To The ER This Year - 12/07/09 12:33 PM
As temperatures turn cooler and home heating systems get fired, homeowners should learn to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and how to safeguard against it. Watch this video from CBS News for more info.
Carbon monoxide poisoning presents like the flu -- headache, dizziness, and nausea.  As a result, many people confuse the two. 
Sometimes, the consequences are fatal. Each year, carbon monoxide sends 40,000 Americans to the emergency room and, as we learn from CBS News, those that survive are far more likely to develop and die from heart disease later in life.
Stay safe in your home.
Don't heat your … (0 comments)

As Unemployment Rates Fall, Mortgage Rates Rise - 12/04/09 10:10 AM
This morning's jobs report is causing mortgage rates to rise, capping a week during which rates have already jumped 3/8 percent off all-time lows.
The government's November Non-Farm Payrolls report reinforced the notion that the recession is nearly over, if not over already.
Just 11,000 jobs were lost last month -- much fewer than analysts had expected -- as the Unemployment Rate fell to 10.0%.
If it seems strange to be talking economic recovery while Americans are still losing jobs -- 7.2 million since 2008 --  remember that data always needs context.
See, analysts view employment figures as a lagging indicator for the economy.  This is because business owners … (1 comments)

Store Credit Cards : The Hidden Cost of "Instant Savings" - 12/03/09 11:22 AM
'Tis the season to do shopping -- and get bombarded with offers to open credit cards.
The deals are tempting, too. "Open a charge card today" and save up to 20% on your purchase. Considering that the average Black Friday ticket was $343, that's $68 saved per store.
For big-ticket items like televisions, the savings are even bigger.
But for people in the market for a new home -- or looking to refinance -- taking advantage of in-store savings could be a long-term money loser.
Every time you apply for a credit card, your credit score drops.
According to myFICO.com, "new credit" accounts … (1 comments)

Pending Home Sales Data Forecasts Higher Home Values Ahead - 12/02/09 03:29 PM
When a home seller accepts a contract on an MLS-listed property, the property's status changes from "Active" to "Pending".
This means the home is scheduled to sell, but not yet sold.
Each month, the National Association of Realtors® tallies the number of pending homes and publishes the data as the Pending Homes Sales Index report.
In October, for the 9th straight month, the index gained. It's the longest such streak in Pending Home Sales history.
Because a "pending" home sale is just a contract between buyer and seller, it's not as important to the economy as actual home sales.  However, the Pending Home Sales Index can … (1 comments)

Home Inventory Plummets, Pushing Prices Higher - 12/01/09 11:53 AM
The supply of newly-built homes fell to its lowest levels since 2006, offering additional proof of a housing market in recovery.
Home supply is defined as the amount of time it would take to sell the current inventory of homes at the current pace of sales.
In October, for the 8th consecutive month, home supplies fell. Since peaking in January 2009, it's now down by almost half.
Lower supply leads to higher prices.  This is Economics 101.
Furthermore, supply is expected fall into 2010. According to the government, builders are breaking ground on new homes at a declining pace, even as sales ramp up.
Builders are … (0 comments)