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Homeowners no longer denying lost equity

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

Although more than half of those surveyed in Zillow.com's Q4 Homeowner Confidence Survey believe their own home lost value in 2008, more than two-thirds appear to believe that the worst may be over.

According to the fourth-quarter-2008 survey, some 70 percent of those surveyed believe their home's value will either increase or stay the same in the first six months of 2009, while only 30 percent expect a decrease in value.  more...

Feb

10
2009

The truth about real estate compensation

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

This month, Inman News is focusing coverage on the issue of percentage-based real estate commissions and other industry compensation practices.

We value your views and insight. Tell us about pressing problems in real estate compensation practices; what is working or isn't working about commission-based services; compensation trends in your market area; and alternative compensation models -- or pick your own topic related to compensation.  more...

Stimulus bill, 'TARP II' offer housing incentives Premium Content

By Inman News, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

A $15,000 homebuyer tax credit, higher loan limits for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA, and government spending to lower mortgage rates are all in play as Congress and the Obama administration near agreement on an economic stimulus bill and financial stability plan for banks.

The Senate today approved an $838 billion economic stimulus bill that includes a $15,000 homebuyer tax credit, just hours after President Barack Obama's new Treasury secretary unveiled a multitrillion-dollar financial stability plan that includes $50 billion for foreclosure prevention programs.  more...

Seller, agent in cahoots?

By Barry Stone, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

DEAR BARRY: When we bought our home, the agent was selling it for his mother, and they told us that it was a maintenance-free home, in perfect condition. That was five years ago, and now the undisclosed problems have surfaced.  more...

The real estate litmus test

By Alison Rogers, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/striatic/3834364/in/photostream/" target=blank>striatic</a>.

Life is very exciting. I have two, count 'em, two whole listings, with two more, count 'em, two more, coming down the pike.

Two of those are rentals, which historically have been considered to be lower status in New York, but at this point are the most marketable things around.

So I'm fairly busy for me, and you would think that would make me more focused and better at guarding my remaining time.  more...

A pay-as-you-go real estate model Premium Content

By Pooja Kumar, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/beglen/158379611/">David Boyle</a>.

Seattle-based real estate company RT Brokerage Services Inc. has rolled out hourly fees for its real estate services as an alternative to its traditional commission-based compensation structure.

Real estate brokerages typically charge a commission rate that is based on a percentage of the home's sale price to sell a home. And this total commission tends to be in the range of 4 percent to 7 percent, though this can vary.  more...

Home-price indices: Which is most accurate?

By Dian Hymer, Tuesday, February 10, 2009.

Experts dispute the validity of home-price indices commonly used in the residential housing industry and often quoted in bold headlines in the press. Recently, a headline in the San Francisco Chronicle reported a "Big drop in October home prices."

This eye-catching lead was based on data from the Standard and Poor's/Case-Shiller 10-City Composite Index that declined 19.1 percent in October 2008 from a year ago. The S&P 20-city index dropped 18 percent. The San Francisco metropolitan region index plunged a whopping 31 percent.  more...