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Real estate rates defy economic expansion

By Lou Barnes, Friday, November 19, 2004.

Mortgage rates are still holding against pretty good October economic data, and against the Fed's obvious intention to raise its interest rate at least another percentage point as quickly as it can.

October industrial production doubled its forecast increase, up .7 percent, as did industrial capacity in use, up to 77.7 percent. October CPI and PPI core rates were just under control, up .2 percent and .3 percent respectively, but the energy-distorted nominals soared .6 percent and 1.7 percent. There are limits to core comfort at the Fed.  more...

Personality holds clues to real estate success Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Friday, November 19, 2004.

(This is Part 2 of a three-part series. See Part 1: Understanding your strengths, weaknesses and Part 3: 13 tips for improving real estate performance.)

What personality characteristics predict real estate success?  more...

A refresher course in new-home design

By Katherine Salant, Friday, November 19, 2004.

These days all your friends, it seems, are building brand-new houses or adding half a house onto the one they already own. For months now the cocktail party chatter has focused on these preoccupations. You always nod your head knowingly, but, truth be told, much of the time you have no idea what anyone is talking about, and you're too embarrassed to admit it. What you need is a crib sheet.  more...

The easiest place to get a real estate mortgage

By Robert Bruss, Friday, November 19, 2004.

"Where is the easiest place to get a home mortgage?" That was the question I was asked during a break in a seminar I recently attended in Los Angeles. When my fellow attendee learned I write about real estate, she presumed I would know the easiest mortgage lender.

Then she explained how she had been trying to buy a modest condo or maybe a small house. But her problem is irregular income as a freelance writer. However, she proudly told me her FICO (Fair, Isaac and Co.) score is 672. That's quite good.  more...

Kitchen cabinetry gets overhauled

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, November 19, 2004.

A cabinet handle can be a whole lot more than just something to grab onto to pull a door or drawer open. It can be an expression of your personal sense of taste and style, a whimsical addition to an otherwise plain surface, or even a quick facelift for a tired room.

Cabinet hardware takes two specific forms: the pull, sometimes also called a handle, which connects to the door or drawer at two points and forms a recess you can slip your fingers into, and the knob, which only attaches at one point and has some type of raised lip or other protrusion that you can grip.  more...