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A little too computer-dependent

By Alison Rogers, Friday, September 14, 2007.

I admit, I am fairly new at this game, but it seems to me that we're all getting a little bit too computer-dependent.

In Ye Olden Days, my sponsoring broker tells me, when a listing came in you put it on an index card. When a client walked in who needed to be housed and you didn't have an appropriate listing, you called the other brokers in the neighborhood and jawed with them until you found the thing that was just right.

Apparently, they got used to talking on the phone with you, and didn't try to bite your head off.  more...

Fed rate cut likely next week

By Lou Barnes, Friday, September 14, 2007.

The credit panic appeared to stabilize on Wednesday, interest rates rising a bit, but the crunch found new legs today on news of sinking retail sales. At week's end conforming mortgages are a hair under 6.5 percent, the gap to vanilla jumbos closing to roughly a 0.5 percent premium, half of the worst in August.  more...

Opportunity knocks online for Realtors Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Friday, September 14, 2007.

(This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Read Part 2, "VFlyer lets agents track return on marketing dollar.")

Consolidation is one of the key trends occurring in the real estate industry today. Are you ready to capitalize on this trend in your business?

Will there be a single multiple listing service for the entire country?  more...

Today's wood more prone to decay

By Arrol Gellner, Friday, September 14, 2007.

Wood is a remarkable material -- infinitely varied, easily workable, biodegradable and renewable to boot. But it does have an Achilles heel: Compared to many other building materials, wood is quite perishable. Hence, using wood in architectural details subject to weather is really asking for trouble down the road.  more...

Safety first when it comes to I-joists

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, September 14, 2007.

I-joists, an engineered lumber product for use as floor joists, ceiling joists, rafters and in other applications, have proven to be one of the most significant developments in the construction field in the last several decades. Strong, light, consistent and reasonably priced, I-joists have all but replaced solid-sawn lumber in most joist applications in today's homes.  more...

When home won't sell, consider 'rent-to-own'

By Robert Bruss, Friday, September 14, 2007.

You've been looking for months for your first home, or you want to upgrade to a nicer home in a better community. It's a great time to buy a home, everybody tells you.

Finally, you find the ideal home for sale, which has most of what you want (there is no such thing as the "perfect home.")

Purchase Bob Bruss reports online.  more...