austin real estate: Mortgage Lenders under Government Scrutiny - 11/23/09 01:24 AM
Topping the list of institutions under fire are the familiar faces of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the poster children for good intentions gone bad. The government entities faced renewed federal scrutiny earlier this year. What to do with the troubled HUD groups, however, is still up in the air. The … (1 comments)
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austin real estate: Stimulating the Economic Numbers - 11/23/09 01:18 AM
Statistics can be tricky. It all depends on who is doing the math and for what purpose. The latest report on how many jobs can be attributed to the workings of the stimulus package is a perfect case in point. The Obama Administration came out at the end of October with … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Investing in Real Estate Overseas - 11/23/09 01:09 AM
How do you find the best deals and safely invest overseas? There are lots of opportunities to choose from, since many countries in the world are opening up their markets to foreign investors.
In order to invest safely, however, you'll want to be cautious, plan carefully and understand the particulars … (2 comments)
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austin real estate: Preparing to Buy a Home - 11/16/09 01:06 AM
Are you preparing to buy a home for the first time? Or have you closed on a number of homes in the past and are preparing to buy your next home? Regardless, you'll want to keep in mind the steps necessary to successfully navigate the preparations for buying that next home.
… (1 comments)
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austin real estate: The Ripple Effect of Foreclosure - 11/16/09 01:01 AM
Having the bank seize your home is nobody's idea of a good time. A word that was hardly part of the American vernacular two years ago, foreclosure is all too common these days. While the number of homes in some state of foreclosure is decreasing each month, the fact is that … (4 comments)
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austin real estate: Crazy Weather from Coast to Coast - 11/16/09 12:56 AM
After an exceptionally hot, dry summer, the rain has finally come to Central Texas. Just how much rain will it take to alleviate the current drought conditions? Considering this is the worst drought Central Texas has experienced since the 1950s, the answer to that is difficult to quantify. Don't expect any … (1 comments)
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austin real estate: Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall - 11/16/09 12:51 AM
While the expectation has been that mortgage rates would start to rise they have fallen for the last 2 weeks. This week the 30 year rate fell from 4.98 to 4.91 (last week it fell from 5.03 to 4.98). Besides October 8th its the lowest rate we have seen since the … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Famous Historic American Homes - 11/06/09 03:17 AM
There are a plethora of historic homes existing in the U.S. today. Some are noted for their connection to our heritage as a nation. Others are famous for their association to crime, criminals and movie stars. And, of course, you've got literary greats, real estate tycoons, media moguls, publish giants and … (2 comments)
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austin real estate: Storm Clouds on the Solar Horizon - 11/06/09 03:10 AM
This is the conundrum of doing good things for the environment: How do you embrace green energy without the old technology providers becoming broke and obsolete in the process? That is the dilemma faced by the City of Austin and Austin Energy as they try to promote solar energy.
Austin … (2 comments)
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austin real estate: Traditional Home Loan or ARM? - 11/02/09 01:16 AM
If you're obtaining a mortgage and contemplating whether to get a traditional home loan or adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), there are definitely some things you'll want to consider.
Before deciding on either, you'll want to understand the dynamics and look into the advantages and disadvantages of each. Some considerations to … (1 comments)
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austin real estate: The Income Gap Widens - 11/02/09 01:09 AM
The Great Recession is not the great American equalizer after all. It's been widely reported recently that this recession hit middle and low income families the hardest, while the wealthy have continued to prosper. It may be chic to save and everyone brags about coupon clipping, but the idea that "we … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Why Recession Recovery Will Be Slow - 10/25/09 12:11 AM
Austin is one of 79 metro areas across the country to be officially out of the recession, according to Moody's. Although the state of Texas is still considered to be suffering the constraints of the recession, Austin and seven other Texas cities have been given the all clear. This determination was … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Options for Avoiding Foreclosure - 10/25/09 12:01 AM
If you are having trouble keeping up with your mortgage payments, you're not alone. If you are three months or more behind in your mortgage payments, then you are one in an estimated 3 million or more who are currently in one state or another of default.
In this situation, … (1 comments)
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austin real estate: The Great Recession Has Been a Bumpy Ride - 10/16/09 04:25 AM
It is hard to believe just two years ago in October the Dow Jones industrial set a record high of 14,164. According to the Associated Press, just one year after that it was at 8,451 in mid October 2008. Today the Dow is around 9,800. Stocks have rallied recently on signs … (29 comments)
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austin real estate: Making a Dent in Mountains of Debt - 10/16/09 04:15 AM
One of the reasons given over and over for the slow recovery from this recession is the amount of debt so many Americans are buried under. The soaring house values of just two years ago made people feel rich and the financial future looked promising. The future look so promising, in … (1 comments)
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austin real estate: Federal Mortgage Home Loan Programs - 10/07/09 02:32 AM
In need of a loan to buy a house, make repairs on your home or buy a house and make repairs on a home? Are you thinking you might not qualify, though, so you've not started the process? You just might be surprised. The federal government currently has a variety of … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Energy Efficiency Can Start at Home - 10/07/09 01:24 AM
Now that long hot summer is over, it's time to reset the thermostat. While there are still plenty of warm days ahead--one of the great things about living in Austin--we hopefully won't be breaking any heat records. Cooler weather means resetting the thermostat, which saves both energy and money.
According … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Madoff's Mansions on the Market - 09/30/09 01:11 AM
Marshalls are preparing to put Madoff's mansions on the market, and victims of his ponzi scheme are hoping to cash in big time. Based on court records, the FBI is revving up to sell an estimated $30 million in real estate and property, all of which will go to his victims. … (3 comments)
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austin real estate: Investing in Rental Property - 09/30/09 01:04 AM
Foreclosure City has created the perfect storm in many major cities in the U.S. - the perfect storm for investors to find great real estate deals, that is.
Large inventories, low interest rates and homeowners hungry to sell all make certain cities ideal for picking an affordable home or two. … (0 comments)
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austin real estate: Foreclosures of Rich and Famous People - 09/22/09 03:05 AM
Although the rich and famous are rich and famous, it doesn't mean that they are impervious to the popping of the real estate bubble. Many have succumbed to real estate woes as of late.
Ed McMahon had tabloids a talking when his real estate troubles became front page news last … (1 comments)
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