Today's Real Estate News and Advice

Updated: July 8, 2008

 American Dream Deferred
Call it the "American Dream Deferred." Home prices are down, but not enough to offset shrinking incomes, higher interest rates, tight credit and the economic pressures of fuel and food costs. FULL STORY->

New Homes: Radio-Controlled Lighting Hits the U.S. Market
For homebuilders, this new technology is a huge breakthrough. A lighting system that eliminates wires and batteries is the new wave of the future. FULL STORY->

Realty Viewpoint: Housing Price Declines Flatten
It looks like the beginning of the end to one of the worst housing markets ever. Although inventories are still rising, home prices declined only half a percent, and only eight-tenths of a percent for the past three months, according to the Real-Time Housing Market Report, published by Altos Research. FULL STORY->

The 5 Important Activities of Top Commercial Brokers: One-On-One With Dr. Jim Gillespie
What exactly is a commercial real estate coach? When looking at commercial real estate agents, what are some of the other characteristics you see in the students who do well with coaching? These questions and more in Peter Mosca's interview with Dr. Jim Gillespie. FULL STORY->

Dump Your Slump
Even top producing agents have slow days … or weeks or months. Maybe the economy is slow or it's that time of year. Perhaps you feel as though you have been saddled with some poor prospects or that you are just another victim of the mortgage meltdown. FULL STORY->

Recreational Market Slows in Canada, but Don't Expect "Fire Sales"
Real estate sales are slowing down in Canadian cottage country, hurt by a tightening economy, high gas prices and competition from the U.S. But if you are looking for a cottage, don't expect bargain basement prices. FULL STORY->

Interest Rate Update
Today's Interest Rates from Realty Times are based on a 30 year amortization rate, with good credit and no origination fees. With no major economic news today to report, mortgage rates remain the same. FULL STORY->

Wild, Wild West: SF Shouts 'Solar!' From Rooftops
Add San Francisco's new solar panel rebate to existing incentives and the cost for a typical $30,000 photovoltaic system is slashed nearly in half. A $0.00 electric bill also boosts affordability. FULL STORY->

Washington Report: Nationwide Registration?
With the Senate poised to pass major housing legislation this week -- even as early as tomorrow -- critics are taking a harder look at some of the bill's lesser-known provisions. Though its details have gotten almost no media coverage, the legislation would create a vast new nationwide system of licensing and registration. FULL STORY->

Interest Rate Update
Today's Interest Rates from Realty Times are based on a 30 year amortization rate, with good credit and no origination fees. Early indications are that investors are again betting on Wall Street, pulling money out of mortgage bonds and into the stock market. FULL STORY->

Realty Viewpoint: Discount Broker Leaves Sellers Stranded
Rumors were flying last week that Iggy's House, a discount broker is out of business. If they're not, they sure are acting like it. Iggy's House was an IPO-bound company founded by former Wall Street hotshots who based their business model on cutting real estate commissions to zero to put sellers homes into multiple listing services. Which just goes to show -- you get what you pay for. FULL STORY->

Market Conditions: Yolo County, California
Ken and Linda Pillard, market experts in Yolo County, California, say default notices have jumped from 197 to 488 since 2007. FULL STORY->

Lose the Pool, Lose the House?
tba FULL STORY->

Many Metros to See No Job Growth as Mortgage Crisis Worsens
Builders, plan accordingly. A new economic report during the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Miami reveals that U.S. economic growth for 2008 has weakened considerably, while unemployment and consumer prices have risen sharply. According to the report, a sustained recovery is not expected until mid-2009 at the earliest. FULL STORY->

Defining Your Service Standards
By delivering excellent service on a consistent and ongoing basis, your current client relationships will spawn repeat business and referrals that draw new clients into your business. FULL STORY->

Real Estate Outlook: Resales Up, Rate Dip
Definite signs of improvement continue to pop up in real estate around the country. Condo sales also jumped five and a half percent nationwide. Sales of existing homes were up even in some of the hardest hit local markets. FULL STORY->

Realty Viewpoint: Reroute The Commute
The nation is learning a tough lesson -- that designing our lifestyles around cheap gas was a short-sighted mistake. FULL STORY->

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