Chris's Blog

Dodd: Bernanke prepared to use 'all tools at his disposal' Wednesday, August 22, 2007Inman News  Expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut the federal funds rate this year rose Tuesday after Sen. Chris Dodd said Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke is "prepared to use all the available tools at his dis...

This was in an article I was reading earlier. " Commissions aren't add-ons. Don't add the real-estate commission to the value of the home to come up with your asking price, says Tyson. If you use an agent, the fee comes out of your share of the profits. Otherwise, "you're going to get penalized f...

Countrywide Financial (CFC, news, msgs)may be getting a big-name backer. Investment guru Warren Buffett could be interested in buying parts of the troubled mortgage lender, which has suffered immensely in the market's recent turmoil, The Wall Street Journal is reporting. Countrywide, which was tr...

As you know, much of the news lately has been focused on the woes of mortgage lenders around the country.  American Home Mortgage Investment Corp., the nation's 10th largest residential lender, has filed for bankruptcy... Countrywide is shifting its mortgage loan production into its banking divis...

"Katrina aid goes to condo buyersReal estate investors take advantage of GO Zone tax breaksBy Jay Reeves The Associated PressTUSCALOOSA | With large swaths of the Gulf Coast still in ruins from Hurricane Katrina, rich federal tax breaks designed to spur rebuilding are flowing hundreds of miles in...

"TUSCALOOSA | Tuscaloosa Police officers will be providing cold bottled water to people during their daily patrols.Chief Ken Swindle said that officers have been called to check on people in their homes as temperatures have soared higher than 100 degrees."Many times we respond to perform welfare ...

Mayor Walt Maddox called for voluntary water conservation for all citizens north of the Warrior today.  He is asking that residents with odd numbered addresses are asked to water their lawns on odd numbered dates while residents with even-numbered addresses are asked to water their lawns on even ...

What do you think?  I believe there is a direct correlation between people not wanting to get out and look at homes when there is a heat wave like there has been here for the past week or so.  Today it is 108 accross the street at the bank.  The humidity is 110% and none of my home buyers I am wo...

July 2007 Housing Statistics# Homes Sold:  252New Const Sold:  67(27%)# Homes on Market:  1969New Const Active:  638 (32%)AVG DOM:  112AVG Selling Price:  $179,739Median Selling Price:  $152,220 July 2006 Housing Statistics# Homes Sold:  241New Const Sold:  62 (26%)# Homes on Market:  1518 Avg DO...

The U.S. Department of Education decided that only eight public school systems nationwide were examples of successful efforts to improve their schools. The Tuscaloosa County School system was one of them.The school system will be featured in an upcoming publication put out by the Department of Ed...