March Existing Housing Sales Down, Demand Up - 04/19/12 07:40 AM
Well, existing home sales data for last month is out and the numbers were lower in March than in February.  According to the NAR press release existing home sales were down 2.6%.  Lawrence Yun, the National Association of Realtors Chief Economist, blames the lower sales on the lack of homes for sale.  He also says that the level of activity is higher year over year.  The reported data seems to confirm his opinion.
Average prices are up in most broad markets, due probably to more buyers and fewer homes for sale.  Although it is harder to find an opportunity today that … (4 comments)

City of Burnsville Offers Rebates for 2012 Home Additions - 04/03/12 11:45 AM
If you live in Burnsville and have been thinking about adding extra space to your present home, the City is offering some help in the form of rebates on the price of building permits and site review fees.  According to a press release from the city, "The rebate program began in early 2012 and is applicable to any building project that increases the livable square footage of a single-family, two-family or townhome dwelling in Burnsville. Rebates are available for room and second-story additions as well as full-home demolition and rebuilds. The rebate does not apply for decks, garages, accessory structures, interior … (1 comments)

Don't Be Sucked In By The HSUS - Support Your Local Animal Shelter - 04/01/12 10:50 AM
Bonnie Vaughan, a Pennsylvania real estate professional with a reputation for aggressively representing the interests of her clients, has written a revealing post about an organization that uses questionable tactics and claims to skim money from people across the country.  Bonnie makes a plea to animal lovers to donate to local shelters where the money is needed and actually used directly to benefit animals in need.
 
Via Bonnie Vaughan CNE SFR - Buyers/Sellers Lackawanna & Surrounding Counties (Re/Max Home Team):
I re-blogged a post by Realtor Larry Brewer regarding National Humane Societies on Active Rain a few weeks ago.
This … (2 comments)

Housing Industry Solution -- Run It Like Health Care - 04/01/12 06:46 AM
I got what my insurance company calls an "Explanation of Benefits" in the mail yesterday.  It was what they consider detail for a charge for a routine annual physical.  The doctor did the usual stuff which took him several minutes, I got a tetanus shot, a flu shot, and had a vial of blood taken for the usual routine checks.  The bill was $648. 
My insurance provider's explanation of benefits indicated that they paid the clinic a whopping $98.86, and I will have to pay $48, for a total to satisfy the entire $648 bill of $146.86.  Does that sound like … (5 comments)