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Builder confidence climbs from basement

By Inman News, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

An index gauging the confidence of home builders rose for the third month in a row in September to its highest level in more than a year, but far more builders still see conditions as poor than good.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which measures builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes, rose one point from August to September, to 19 -- its highest level since May of 2008.  more...

Utility allowed to raze home's trees

By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/no3rdw/2172875874/">no3rdw</a>.

In the case Emily Rutherford v. Columbia Gas Transmission Corp., the gas company owned a utility easement across a portion of landowner Rutherford's property. In order to service the gas line under the easement, the gas company needed to cut down seven trees belonging to Rutherford, who then filed suit seeking an injunction prohibiting the trees from being cut down.

The district court ruled against Rutherford, and declared that the gas company had the right to cut down the seven trees on her property.  more...

House votes for boost in FHA staff, tech Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

The House has approved legislation that could allow the Federal Housing Administration to hire additional staff and upgrade its technology to handle increased demand for its mortgage guarantees and combat fraud and lax underwriting.

HR 3146, the 21st Century FHA Housing Act of 2009, is a response to fears that increased demand for FHA-backed loans is taxing the FHA's capabilities to oversee lenders, making the program more vulnerable to unnecessary losses.  more...

Flushing away water hammer

By Bill and Kevin Burnett, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

Q: It happened suddenly. The plumbing pipes in the bathroom would "hammer" whenever the toilet was flushed. We read your suggested remedy (drain the system) and tried it. It worked until my husband wanted more water pressure and turned the main shutoff valve another turn to bring more pressure upstairs.

Now the hammering continues until the toilet's water tank is filled. We turned off the water at the main again, and this time did not open the valve all the way, but it didn't help. Is there anything else that can be done to stop the noisy pipes?  more...

Card-carrying real estate status-seekers Premium Content

By Kris Berg, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.
Flickr image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/govert1970/3192634280">Michiel2005</a>.

I received an invitation in the mail yesterday to apply for a credit card. So, what's the big deal? Who doesn't get 47 of those every week? And at my house, these invitations are summarily hastened to a meeting with my other "important" mail in the big blue recycle bin.

Something about this one, though, caught my eye.

This offer was for the most prestigious and versatile credit card in the world, according to the very elegant and expensive-looking trifold.  more...

Demand for purchase loans down 10.3%

By Inman News, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

Demand for mortgages, both purchase loans and refinancings, fell during the holiday-shortened week ending Sept. 11, the Mortgage Bankers Association said today in releasing the results of its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.

Even after adjusting for the Labor Day holiday, applications for purchase loans were down 10.3 percent, and requests for refinancings were down 7.4 percent. All told, mortgage loan applications fell 8.6 percent from a week earlier.  more...

Forecast: Recovery a long, hard slog Premium Content

By Inman News, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.

The recession may be over, but consumer and business debt -- coupled with rising foreclosures and unemployment -- will make for a slow recovery, economists with the UCLA Anderson Forecast said in a report released today.

"Although the worst recession in seven decades likely ended in the current quarter, its negative effects will linger well into the next decade," said David Shulman, senior economist for the forecast, in one of several essays accompanying the report's statistical forecasts.  more...

Agent-review sites gaining ground

By Mary Umberger, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidbolton/1517460885/">DavidHBolton</a>.

If they were looking for someone to handle the biggest financial transaction of their lives, you'd think that most people would ask for something more substantial than a thumbs-up from the guy down the block.

Not that neighbors aren't to be trusted -- friend-to-friend recommendations hold a time-honored place in the marketplace, and recent studies show them to be the most-often-used method of finding an agent.  more...

The joy of real estate operations Premium Content

By Robert Hahn, Wednesday, September 16, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jm3/472149426/" target=blank>jm3</a>.

Realtors love sales and marketing. Get in a room filled with real estate brokers and agents and one simply cannot escape the conversation about selling, marketing and "relationship building."

This somewhat obvious point was recently reinforced when I attended RE BarCamp Ocean City in Maryland, a wonderful event with an amazing setting: starlight, waves lapping against the piers, swaying masts of various boats tied up next to the restaurant, and awesome conversation. The organizers deserve credit and thanks.  more...