Freddie Mac repays former CEO

As a result of the recently issued order from the federal District Court of the District of Columbia, Freddie Mac today announced that it has begun the process of unfreezing compensation and paying amounts due to the company's former Chairman and CEO, Leland C.  more...

Real estate timeshares: Hook, line and sinker

I love to travel. As much as I love Los Angeles, there's really nothing better than seeing new places for the first time. I'd much rather vacation somewhere I've never been before than revisit a place I've already seen. 

So it makes my husband crazy that I'm a big advocate of timeshare properties. I can't resist the offers that arrive by mail for next-to-nothing room rates and other goodies. I've dragged him to more free weekends and made him sit through those high-pressured presentations more times than I would care to admit.  more...

Real estate market sizzles in Houston

Home sales in the Houston metropolitan area rose 6.4 percent in August from a year ago, posting record activity for the month, according to statistics released today by the Houston Association of Realtors.

Total sales for August reached 6,827, representing the highest number of sales ever recorded in the month of August. Additionally, year-to-date existing-home sales continue to rise ahead of last year's record-setting pace, with 48,787 listings sold. Year-to-date existing sales through August 2003 totaled 43,839.  more...

Real estate agent safety network debuts online

RealGuard, a division of Misiu Systems LLC, on Thursday launched the Real Estate Agent Safety Online Network (REASON), a Web-based forum where real estate professionals can exchange news and tips for maintaining workplace safety.

Membership in the online bulletin board system is free and it is open to all MLS boards, real estate associations, law enforcement agencies and brokerage offices.

"With several violent attacks against agents each month nationwide we feel that it is important to get the information out to the  more...

Builders group launches 'in-your-face' ads

A group of New Jersey-based companies in the home-building industry wants consumers to start asking questions about housing affordability.

The Builders League of South Jersey, a housing industry trade association that represents about 680 South Jersey-based companies, has launched a major public awareness campaign that includes "shocking in-your-face ads" on billboards, in print publications and on television, the group announced today.

The Builders League includes builders, developers, engineers, architects, engineers, profess  more...

Real estate: The week ahead

• Inman News' fall audio conference series begins Sept. 23, at 11 a.m. PST with "Alternative Real Estate Business Models." The event includes an interactive discussion on current commission levels, the traditional brokerage model and industry newcomers, among other topics.

• The Federal Reserve Board will meet on Sept. 21, to discuss monetary policy and decide whether or not to raise, lower or leave the overnight federal funds rate unchanged.  more...

Reward system may not help catch spammers

The Federal Trade Commission and other law enforcers face three hurdles in having a reward system for anti-spam investigations, according to a new FTC report.  more...

S.F. Bay Area real estate prices set record

The median price paid for a San Francisco Bay Area home edged up to a new record in August, and home sales posted their third-strongest month in more than 16 years, according to real estate information service DataQuick.

The median price paid for a Bay Area home was $520,000 last month, up 1.2 percent from July's $514,000 and up 16.3 percent from $447,000 for August 2003.  more...