Lawsuit over exclusive listing offer

An independently owned Coldwell Banker brokerage company in Des Moines, Iowa, has accused a local competitor of anti-competitive practices in conjunction with a new incentive program used to attract exclusive home listing agreements. The Coldwell Banker company leveled the charge in a federal lawsuit filed Thursday.  more...

Builders urge Congress to extend flood insurance program

The nation's home builders today called on Congress to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for five years and for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address repetitive loss properties in order to ensure the long-term viability of the program.  more...

Fed to offer affordable housing incentives

The Department of Housing and Urban Development this week announced it would create a new funding incentive to encourage state and local communities to remove excessive regulations that inhibit the production of affordable housing.  more...

Coldwell Banker's Blue Edge survives

Coldwell Banker's Blue Edge Realty, a seller-side discount brokerage launched in 2001, is no longer operating as a separate company, but it is a continuing option that Coldwell Banker offers home sellers in the capital area of Illinois. Blue Edge services are also offered through the North Hills office of Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pa.  more...

Appraisal Institute gives failing grades to industry regulation

During Congressional testimony Thursday, a representative for the Appraisal Institute handed down a very unfavorable appraisal of industry regulation.  more...

Golf real estate brokerage seeks Realtors

GolfandHome Inc. has launched a canvassing campaign to seek out the best and brightest golf Realtors to add to its national golf real estate brokerage network.  more...

Countrywide, RE/MAX form joint venture

Countrywide Home Loans and RE/MAX Properties Unlimited have formed a joint venture, Integrity Home Loans, the companies announced this morning.

Integrity Home Loans will be an operating division of Countrywide Mortgage Ventures. Integrity will offer more than 130 loan programs, including zero downpayment loans and a variety of fixed and adjustable rate options with flexibility on rate and terms.  more...

Real estate: The week ahead

• The deadline for the Center for Economic and Policy Research's essay contest, "Why is the run-up in housing prices not a bubble?" is Wednesday, March 31. The Center is offering $1,000 to the most convincing essay and will publish the winner on April 6. More details are available at www.cepr.net.  more...

Florida real estate sales heat up

A total of 16,127 single-family existing homes changed hands in Florida last month for an 18 percent increase over the 13,642 homes sold a year ago, according to the Florida Association of Realtors.

The statewide median sales price rose 13 percent to $162,300 last month; a year ago, it was $143,400. In 1999, the statewide median sales price was $100,200, which shows an increase of 62 percent over the five-year period, according to FAR records. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half for less.  more...

Overnight mortgage rates inch higher

Long-term mortgage interest rates were higher Thursday, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury bond yield rose to 3.74 percent.

The 30-year fixed-rate average increased to 5.08 percent, and the 15-year fixed-rate rose slightly to 4.4 percent. The 1-year adjustable was up at 2.91 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...