New Home Sales slowed into the New Year but the market for newly-built homes remains strong. For home buyers in Florida and nationwide, December's New Home Sales report is yet one more signal that the housing market recovery may be underway. According to the Census Bureau, the number of new home...

01/31/2012

5 Simple Ways To Declutter Your Home

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When a home is listed for sale, its "clutter" can be the difference between a rapid sale and no sale at all. Clutter, in its strictest sense, is defined as anything untidy; or in a disorderly state. In real estate, the term is broadened to include unnecessary furniture pieces; unwieldy artwork or...

01/30/2012

Pending Home Sales Index Posts Second Best Month Since April 2010

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After 3 consecutive months of growth, the housing market appears to have eased a bit in December. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, December's Pending Home Sales Index slipped 4 percent from the month prior. The index measures the number of homes under contract to sell nationwi...

01/27/2012

A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (January 25, 2012)

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Wednesday, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed Funds Rate has been near zero percent since December 2008. For the third consecutive month, the Fed Funds Rate vote was nearly...

01/25/2012

The Federal Reserve Meets Today : Mortgage Rates Expected To Move

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The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from a scheduled 2-day meeting today, its first of 8 scheduled meetings this year. The FOMC is a designated, rotating, 12-person committee within the Federal Reserve, led by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke. Members of the FOMC sub-committee are th...

01/25/2012

Existing Home Sales Approach Bull Market Territory

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The housing market finished 2011 with strength, and is carrying measurable momentum into 2012. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, December's Existing Home Sales climbed by 120,00 units overall from the month prior on its way t...

01/24/2012

When Should I Change My Home's Air Filters?

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How long has it been since you last changed your home's air filters? Home air filters trap and remove dust and particles from the air you breathe; leaving "clean air" to circulate your home. Clean air in your home is important because it promotes better health. One way to keep to keep your home's...

01/23/2012

Behind The Housing Starts Headlines, The Story That Matters

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When it comes to housing data, sometimes you have to look past the headlines. December's Housing Starts data offers a terrific illustration of why. Each month, the Cen...

01/20/2012

Home Builders See More Sales, Higher Prices Ahead

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Homebuilder confidence is soaring. For the fourth straight month, the National Association of Homebuilders reports an increase in its Housing Market Index. The index climbed 4 points to 25 this month -- its second four-point gain since October. With home sales activity increasing across all four...

01/19/2012

Foreclosure Filings Fall To 49-Month Low

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Foreclosure filings are fewer these days, according to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac. In December 2011, the number of foreclosure filings nationwide fell 9 percent from the month prior. Not since November 2007 has foreclosure activity been this sparse across the country. The drop does not...

01/18/2012