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Widgets, widgets and more widgets

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Realtor.com has joined the widget craze and launched a search tool that enables consumers to have specific homes of interest automatically selected from the Realtor.com database and displayed on their desktops.  more...

Report finds subprime loan servicers practicing forbearance Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

A new report by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services details steps subprime loan servicers are taking to help borrowers avoid foreclosure, but doesn't attempt to gauge how successful those efforts will be.

With estimates of more than $500 billion in adjustable-rate mortgages expected to reset to higher interest rates this year, the willingness of lenders to work with debtors to avoid foreclosure could mean the difference between a soft and hard landing for some U.S. housing markets in 2007.  more...

Commercial, multifamily mortgage debt outstanding jumps $333 billion Premium Content

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding hit $2.95 trillion at the end of 2006 after growing by $333 billion, or 12.7 percent, from the end of 2005, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association analysis of the Federal Reserve Board Flow of Funds data.

In the fourth quarter alone, the debt outstanding increased by $99 billion, or 3.5 percent, from a year earlier.  more...

TIC investors sink money into North Carolina

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Tenant-in-common investors on Monday purchased a 17-acre office park in Durham, N.C., for an undisclosed price.

Highwoods DLF 98/29 L.P. sold the Durham Office Portfolio, which comprises five office buildings totaling more than 276,000 square feet.

The property, which offers convenient access to major freeways, including I-85, I-540, US-70, I-40 and the Durham Freeway (Route 147), was 99 percent leased at the time of sale to five tenants, including Duke University Health System, Qualex and IBM.

Fordham Road complex gets $86 a square foot

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

The 301,860-square-foot Fordham Road Business Park in Wilmington, Mass., has been sold for $26 million, CB Richard Ellis reported Wednesday.

CB Richard Ellis represented CP/HERS Wilmington L.P., an entity controlled by ING Clarion, in the sale of the four-building complex to Everest Partners.

The property features a mix of office, flex and industrial space, and provides convenient access to Interstates 93, 495 and 95/Route 128.

Texas pursues appraisal, tax reform Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Worries about rising property taxes in Texas are fueling a wave of legislative proposals to reform the appraisal process and open up real estate price information to the public.

A state Task Force on Appraisal Reform, launched by Gov.  more...

Weekly mortgage rates flat

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Mortgage rates this week were mostly flat on lack of significant economic news, Freddie Mac reported today in its weekly survey.

According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage held at an average 6.14 percent, while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage inched up from 5.86 percent to 5.88 percent. Points, which are fees lenders charge for loan processing expressed as a percent of the loan, averaged 0.4 on the 30- and 15-year loans.  more...

Overnight real estate rates fall

By Inman News, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Long-term mortgage interest rates were down Wednesday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield rose to 4.54 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average slipped to 5.67 percent, and the 15-year fixed rate was down at 5.42 percent. The 1-year adjustable sank to 5.27 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield was up at 4.7 percent.

Rates are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Mortgage rate figures are according to Bankrate.com, which publishes nightly averages based on its survey of 4,000 banks in 50 states.  more...

If foreclosures are the earthquake, watch out for the credit crunch tsunami Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Editors note: Part four of a four-part series on the crisis in subprime mortgage lending looks at why lenders underestimate the cost of making risky loans during housing booms, and how the credit crunch may play out in the marketplace.  more...

The noisy neighbor from hell

By Robert Griswold, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Question: My partner and I own a loft in a small eight-unit building, and we are members of our building's homeowner association (HOA). We share a common wall with our neighbor, who lives in our sister building next door, which has a different address and separate HOA. Our neighbor plays very loud music all day and night. We have called the police many times, written polite letters to her and even suggested mediation to resolve this problem. Our neighbor has refused mediation and hasn't responded to our letters.  more...

Pet owners, handicapped face home-search obstacles

By Helene Lesel, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

Q: I'm having a difficult time finding a place to rent and suspect it's because I'm handicapped. What are my rights?

A: First, it's important to know what federal law defines as handicapped. According to Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations, a handicap is "any physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of a person's major life activities, a record of having such impairment or being regarded as having such impairment".  more...

Real estate license creates trouble for investors

By Robert Bruss, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.

DEAR BOB: I just want to ask if I need to get a state certificate or license to become a real estate investor? Where can I get the license? --Myrna A.

DEAR MYRNA: You do not need a real estate license or certificate to be a real estate investor. Millions of real estate investors do not have any license or certificate.  more...

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Agent Space, from Coldwell Banker

By toddwcarpenter@gmail.com, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.
Coldwell Banker is getting into the blogging game. According to Blogging Systems' Realty Blogging site, "Agent Space will prove to be a powerful marketing tool for Coldwell Banker agents with a Profile page. It's an opportunity for them to publish...  more...

Widgets add new layer to Sunday stroll

By Jessica Swesey, Wednesday, March 14, 2007.
You may look out your front window one day and notice a couple standing in front of your house with their cell phones out. But they're not talking -- they're actually looking up your home's estimated value on Zillow. It's...  more...