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Stimulus bill restores Fannie, Freddie, FHA limits Premium Content

By Inman News, Friday, February 13, 2009.

Congress today voted on a $790 billion economic stimulus bill that includes a modest expansion of a first-time homebuyer tax credit and restores to $729,750 the upper loan limit in high-cost areas for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA loan guarantee programs.

Voting along party lines -- no House Republicans supported the bill, and only three voted for Senate passage -- lawmakers approved nearly $1 trillion in new spending and tax cuts championed by the Obama administration as needed to save or create 3 million to 4 million jobs.  more...

Treasury launches Normandy-like bank rescue Premium Content

By Lou Barnes, Friday, February 13, 2009.

Tim Geithner's inaugural speech fell flatter than an egg in Kansas, but the problem lies in the audience, not in the speaker or the content.

The gripes were unanimous, if varied: Geithner was part of the problem and can't be the solution -- no details, no plan at all, no engagement with the crisis, the Obama administration is all dance and no delivery, the White House never should have allowed high expectations for the speech ... on and on -- and that was from the Democrats.  more...

Instant home values on WashingtonPost.com

By Inman News, Friday, February 13, 2009.

Visitors to WashingtonPost.com's real estate section have a new tool at their disposal: HomeGain.com's instant home valuations.

Those who type in a U.S. street address along with a city, state or ZIP code will receive an instant free home valuation estimate along with information on recent home sales and comparable home data.  more...

Long live the arch

By Arrol Gellner, Friday, February 13, 2009.

If you've ever seen a picture of Stonehenge, the prehistoric monument near Salisbury, England, you'll recognize the structural system known as post and lintel. It consists of two upright blocks -- the posts -- with another block -- the lintel -- spanning the gap between them. This was the earliest type of structure used to span open space.  more...

Got workbench?

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, February 13, 2009.

Workbenches are one of those staples of the home workshop. They can take any number of forms, from the very basic to the very ornate, and there is no right or wrong way to set one up. The main thing is that the workbench be sturdy and solid, and that it achieves what you need it to achieve.

BUILT-IN WORKBENCHES  more...

Real estate: Location, location, commission

By Inman News, Friday, February 13, 2009.

In today's rugged economy, location can be a key driver in real estate commission rates throughout California, say agents and brokers across the state.

Commissions can run up to 7 percent in regions saddled with foreclosures and sales of bank-owned homes, for example, while a more typical range in the luxury market of Pacific Palisades is 5 percent to 6 percent, and in some rural areas agents report commission rates on the order of 5 percent, said agents and brokers interviewed for this article.  more...

Bankers to new HUD chief: Axe RESPA changes Premium Content

By Inman News, Friday, February 13, 2009.

Eight groups representing the banking and financial services industry are asking newly-appointed Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan to scrap the Bush administration's changes to rules governing loan disclosures and the provision of settlement services like title insurance.  more...