Coldwell Banker pulls out of largest MLS

Coldwell Banker, one of the leading brokerages in Chicago-area real estate, this week severed its ties with the Multiple Listing Service of Northern Illinois, the largest MLS in the country.  more...

Alaska's home ownership rate surpasses national average

Alaska's home ownership rate reached an all-time high of 70 percent in 2003, surpassing the national rate of 68.3 percent, according to the latest U.S. Census data.

Alaska's home ownership rate was higher than the nation's once previously in 1997. The Census data show Alaska experienced a 13.4 percent increase in home ownership over the previous 10 years, the highest of any state in the nation.  more...

Hispanic, Asian populations likely to triple by 2050

The nation's Hispanic and Asian populations would triple over the next half-century and non-Hispanic whites would represent about one-half of the total population by 2050, according to interim population projections released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Overall, the country's population would continue to grow, increasing from 282.1 million in 2000 to 419.9 million in 2050. However, after 2030 the rate of increase might be the slowest since the Great Depression of the 1930s, as the size of the "baby boom" population continues to decline.  more...

Wizard conjures up better credit scores

CreditXpert recently announced a new tool for loan officers to use in helping applicants qualify for better rates and terms. Loan officers can enter a target credit score and Credit Wizard will identify possible steps to achieving it.  more...

Real estate writers to convene in Houston

The National Association of Real Estate Editors marks its 75th anniversary this year with its upcoming annual conference, The World Comes to Houston, scheduled for May 24-27 at the Hilton Americas hotel in Houston, Texas.  more...

Demand jumps for S.F. Bay Area real estate

San Francisco Bay Area home prices rose at their fastest rate in nearly three years and sales were at near-record levels last month, the result of continued demand and an accommodating mortgage finance environment, according to DataQuick Information Systems.  more...

Real estate brokers take preference on leads

As the Internet breeds more ways for real estate agents to connect with consumers, more companies are offering services to provide sales leads to brokers and agents.

When asked whom or what entity they'd prefer to pay for leads, 38 percent of Inman News readers responding to a poll said they'd rather pay their broker. About 22 percent said they'd prefer to pay a third-party referral or lead generation company.

Six percent chose to pay their franchise company for sales leads.  more...

Central Ohio enjoys real estate boom

Central Ohio home sales in February were 4.2 percent higher than sales the same month last year, with Realtors recording 1,405 closed transactions, according to the Columbus Board of Realtors Multiple Listing Service.

For the eleventh month in a row, Central Ohio home sales have exceeded sales in the same month the year before. Year-to-date home sales for 2004 are now almost 5 percent higher than sales in the first two months of 2003, according to the Columbus Board of Realtors.  more...

Mortgage rates move higher

Long-term mortgage interest rates were higher Thursday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield rose to 3.75 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average rose to 5.07 percent, and the 15-year fixed-rate climbed to 4.41 percent. The 1-year adjustable increased to 2.94 percent.

The 30-year Treasury bond yield climbed to 4.69 percent.

Rates are current as of 7:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.  more...