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New CEO named at REA Group

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Australian-based REA Group, which operates RealEstate.com.au in Australia, nine other country-specific sites and a global property site, on Thursday announced the appointment of Greg Ellis as the company's new chief executive officer.  more...

Represent REOs with caution Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Up to 50 percent of all transactions in many markets are foreclosures, short sales and REOs. Like it not, these types of transactions are part of the landscape. While you're busy protecting everyone's interest, are you taking the necessary measures to protect yourself and your brokerage?

Back in the early 1990s, I specialized in representing REOs (properties that the banks had taken back in foreclosure).  more...

Don't let home inspector out of your sight

By Paul Bianchina, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Q: In as much as there are a great number of current issues regarding disclosure to the purchaser of real property, when, if ever, is it going to be the responsibility of the purchaser to investigate particular items of relevance to them? --George D.  more...

Urban planning's future: people, not cars

By Arrol Gellner, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

What's an architect doing writing about cars, anyway?

I always get indignant e-mails asking me this whenever I criticize some aspect of our autocentric society -- whether it's our parking-obsessed city planning, our mania for fruitless road widening and freeway building, or our laughably primitive traffic control systems.  more...

Fixed-rate mortgages more affordable

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 6.4 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending Aug. 21, down from 6.47 percent a week ago and 6.67 percent a year ago, Freddie Mac said in its weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.93 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from 6.00 percent a week ago and 6.12 percent this time last year.  more...

Rehava, a one-stop real estate shop Premium Content

By Glenn Roberts Jr., Thursday, August 28, 2008.

It's no coincidence that rehava, a real estate company that offers rebates to buyers and flat-fee services to sellers, chose to open in a retail mall in South Carolina.

Rehava (pronounced REE-haw-vah) offices are intended to operate much like typical retail shops in offering real estate brokerage, mortgage, home insurance and legal services, said Steven DeGuzman, the company's founder and broker in charge.  more...

British Columbia home sales at decade low

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Home sales in the Canadian province of British Columbia during July fell to their lowest level this decade amid a rising number of for-sale inventory and increasingly cautious buyers, according to a report this month in The Vancouver Sun.  more...

Forecaster iEmergent sees 2009 bottom in lending

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Purchase mortgage lending volume will bottom out in late 2009, but won't get back in step with long-term trend lines until 2011 or 2012, market research and forecasting firm iEmergent projects.

The Des Moines, Iowa-based company estimates that total purchase mortgage volume will fall 4 percent in 2009, to 4.95 million loans totalling $837.9 billion. Total mortgage volume, including refinancings, will range from a low of $1.53 trillion to a high of $1.61 trillion, iEmergent said in its Preliminary Mortgage Volume Forecasts for 2009-2013.  more...

Formulas for a real estate recovery Premium Content

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Editor's note: The following is a collection of real estate professionals' views on an industry-related topic.

QUESTION: What is the key to the housing market recovery in your market area?


Dominic Labriola
Associate broker
Selman & Associates
387 South Lake Havasu Ave.
Lake Havasu City, Ariz.  more...

FHA to discontinue risk-based pricing Oct. 1

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Bowing to Congress, the Federal Housing Administration will discontinue risk-based premium pricing on its loan guarantee programs for one year beginning Oct. 1.  more...

Fannie, Freddie 'profiteering' off borrowers?

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Editor's note: The following is a reader comment in response to an Aug. 18 Inman News story, "Buyers flock to FHA, government-backed loans."  more...

Dreaming of a low-rate future

By Inman News, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

Dan Green of The Mortgage Reports in a recent blog post gives readers a breakdown of the effects of the surging dollar on mortgage rates. Green contends that not only is the surging dollar good short-term, but long-term as well, as it will help to curb inflation pressures. He goes on to predict that if inflation is held in check, the Federal Reserve is unlikely to raise rates any time soon. Check out the full post: "What the Surprising Strength of the U.S.  more...

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Help make Inman News Better

By Joel Burslem, Thursday, August 28, 2008.

It's survey time again. We want you to help us create a better Inman News.  more...