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Agents, stop wasting money on advertising Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Most real estate agents advertise, but very few have effective marketing campaigns. Do you know the difference?

Jennifer Cummings is America's leading real estate marketing coach. She helped Christina Martinez, America's top-producing real estate agent, increase her commission earnings from $4 million to $7 million in only seven months. What's the secret to her success? Marketing -- rather than advertising.  more...

GFCI electrical outlets are lifesavers

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Q: What is a GFCI electrical outlet? Are outlets of this type required in all homes, and if so, where? --Allen D.

A: GFCI stands for ground-fault circuit interrupter. A GFCI outlet reacts much more quickly to the presence of an electrical short circuit than a standard circuit breaker does, so they provide additional protection against the possibility of injury should an appliance, tool or other electrical device malfunction.  more...

Double-hung windows on a Normandy?

By Arrol Gellner, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Can't distinguish a double-hung from a double-boiler? Then here in a nutshell are the most common window types, along with the architectural styles they're usually associated with:  more...

Study: Wealth no protection from discriminatory lending

By Matt Carter, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

An analysis of mortgage lending patterns in 2006 reveals that minorities were more likely to get high-cost loans than whites, and that the problem was even more pronounced as income levels increased.  more...

Real estate firm charged with racial discrimination Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Thursday, July 31, 2008.

The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a fair-housing organization, charging a RE/MAX brokerage and an affiliated agent in northern Illinois with housing discrimination.

The lawsuit, filed July 18 in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, charges that testing conducted by the National Fair Housing Alliance revealed discrimination based on race and national origin.  more...

Loan servicers rewarded with double pay

By Inman News, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Freddie Mac offers carrots for short sales, loan workouts  more...

Mercury Cos. exits three states Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Thursday, July 31, 2008.

Mercury Companies Inc. is closing down its title and escrow subsidiaries in California, Texas and Arizona, after the Colorado-based company was denied additional credit by lenders.

In California, Mercury subsidiary Financial Title Co., a title and escrow service provider with 57 offices in 10 counties, closed its doors Wednesday much the way sister company Alliance Title did in December -- abruptly, and with little warning to employees, clients or regulators.  more...