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The illusion of economic stability

By Lou Barnes, Friday, April 17, 2009.
Flickr image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/3386180138/" target=blank>Dominic's pics</a>.

The Fed has succeeded in holding down Treasury and mortgage rates, but that is the only clear accomplishment by government so far this year.

A grand debate began last week between those who see Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's "green shoots" and those who don't. The Fed's Beige Book summary described a "moderation in the pace of decline ... some sectors stabilizing at a low level."  more...

FICO launches mortgage relief site

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

A new Web site that's a partnership between FICO and two nonprofits promises to help distressed homeowners determine if they're eligible for loan modifications or loan refinancings under the Obama administration's Making Home Affordable program.  more...

How not to use Twitter

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

A group of real estate and technology executives with expertise in blogging and the use of social media tools like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, are offering a "Certified Social Media Marketer" designation for professionals.  more...

ServiceLink offers appraisal management

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

Mortgage lenders can make sure they're complying with new rules governing appraisals on loans slated for purchase or guarantee by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac using a new Appraiser Panel Management product line from ServiceLink, the company says.

ServiceLink says its Appraiser Panel Management product line allows lenders to certify their compliance with the Home Valuation Code of Conduct, which goes into effect May 1, without abandoning relationships with appraisers they have developed over the years.  more...

Best fix for a cracked patio

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, April 17, 2009.

Q: I enjoy your column and have a question for you. We built a home last year and have a concrete patio at the rear. It already has a crack in it (not very large) and it's starting to stain. I would like to improve the appearance. What would be the best choice? Paint it, carpet it (I do not like the look of the turf like outdoor carpeting), lay down a stone covering over it, or something else? It is fully exposed, and we live where the winters are not very cold but the summers can get very hot. There are few trees around it so leaf stains are not really an issue.  more...

Report sees growth in pre-owned home sales

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

Analysts at PMI Mortgage Insurance Co. think sales of existing homes hit probably hit bottom in the first three months of the year, and are projecting they will rise each quarter for the remainder of the year.

Increased sales of foreclosed and distressed properties will push sales of existing homes from an annual rate of 4.6 million homes during the first quarter -- the worst quarter so far in the current downturn -- to an annual pace of 5.2 million during the last three months of the year, PMI projects.  more...

Union organizes protest at builder's meeting

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

A group of California and Nevada homeowners traveled to Lennar Corp.'s annual shareholder meeting in Miami on Wednesday to protest the builder's practices, which they alleged have contributed to foreclosures.  more...

Eppraisal offers second, third opinions

By Inman News, Friday, April 17, 2009.

A newly relaunched eppraisal.com now includes home valuations from Zillow.com and Cyberhomes, along with eppraisal.com’s own automated valuations.

In addition to offering "the top home valuation data from across the Web" in one location, eppraisal.com says consumers now have have access to expanded local information, including more comprehensive school data from Education.com, local job listings from CareerBuilder.com, and “walkability” scores from Walk Score.  more...