Home

Real estate rates retreat on jobs report

By Lou Barnes, Friday, June 2, 2006.

Today's news of slowing job and wage growth has mortgages in retreat from another run towards 7 percent, and the 10-year T-note down to 5.01 percent from a 5.2 percent May high. A Fed pause at its June 29 meeting is again a medium probability.

The employment numbers provide substantial support for Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke. In the last month he made plain his belief in a soon-ahead inflation-dampening economic slowdown, and his desire not to overdo the Fed's 2-year, 16-hikes-so-far campaign. For his pains he has been widely criticized as an inflation-fighting pantywaist.  more...

For-sale-by-owner chaos

By Alison Rogers, Friday, June 2, 2006.

What does it mean to market a property?

I know all of you who are Realtors have your canned listing presentation answers. But actually stop and think about it for a minute, as though you're a FSBO.

The reason this question came up is that I befriended a FSBO in my building – and tried to help her out. I am one of those people who think that not every broker can be as great as my sponsoring broker, and that if people want to sell their own apartments well then, that's fine.  more...

Grow real estate clients through community events Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Friday, June 2, 2006.

(This is Part 4 of a four-part series. See Part 1; Part 2 and Part 3.)

What's the best way to cope with market shifts?  more...

Home improvement gifts to make Mom's day

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, June 2, 2006.

Got a mom who loves home improvement projects? As Mother's Day will be back next year, here are some great ideas for practical gifts she's sure to appreciate.

--barbara k! tools (www.barbarak.com): barbara k! offers a nice line of practical tools that are designed to be lighter and smaller without sacrificing anything in the way of quality or usefulness. In addition to individual tools such as hammers and staple guns, barbara k!  more...

Green building benefits start to grow on builders

By Katherine Salant, Friday, June 2, 2006.

(This is Part 2 of a two-part series. See Part 1.)

In conversations about home building these days, I often hear the terms "sustainable approach" and "sustainability." What exactly do they mean?

When I asked a number of architects, builders, engineers, environmentalists and ecologists, I got some interesting answers.

A sustainable approach is another name for green building, my informants said.  more...

Do home buyers need their own agent?

By Robert Bruss, Friday, June 2, 2006.

During this peak season when more houses and condos sell than during any other time of this year, prospective home buyers (especially first-timers) often wonder how to go about purchasing their first homes.

As I have often suggested, the first step is to get pre-approved in writing by a mortgage lender so buyers will know the maximum mortgage for which they can qualify.  more...