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Case-Shiller: Prices back to 2003 levels Premium Content

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Prices were down from a year ago January in all 20 metro areas tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, with 13 of those markets seeing the steepest rates of decline since the downturn began.

Prices fell by more than 10 percent in 14 of the 20 metro areas tracked by the indices, and more than 20 percent in nine. The 20-city composite was down a record 19 percent from a year ago, and 29.1 percent from its peak, as average home prices returned to levels last seen in late 2003, Standard & Poor's said.  more...

RealeFlix offers free real estate video tours

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

RealeFlix, a free online service that launched in February, allows users to search and publish video tours of properties.

The site (RealeFlix.com) features a range of property types, including single-family homes, multifamily structures, vacant land, condos, commercial real estate, farms and timeshares. Users must register to publish video tours at the site.  more...

Fidelity to pay regulators $365K

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Fidelity National Title Company has agreed to pay $365,000 in penalties and reimbursement to California regulators to settle allegations that the company's Orange County office provided printing, gifts, travel and entertainment to Realtors and lenders in a position to refer the company business.

The California Department of Insurance announced the Feb. 17 agreement Monday, saying it related to illegal rebating activities that allegedly took place from 2000 to 2002. The department said it opened an investigation in September, 2002.  more...

Dramatic increase in prime-loan foreclosures

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Foreclosure starts and foreclosure sales of homes purchased with prime loans increased dramatically from January to February, and the percentage of homes completing the foreclosure process approached highs not seen since last summer.  more...

A Realtor's best friend

By Inman News, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

Realtors showing up to make a listing presentation to Candy Spelling -- widow of famed television producer Aaron Spelling -- first had to pass muster with her dog.

Agents hoping to land the job of marketing Spelling's $150 million Los Angeles mansion were first introduced to Madison, her Wheaten Terrier. If the dog didn't like the agent, "Spelling crossed them off the list," the Associated Press reports.  more...

IPhone spurs app revolution Premium Content

By Matt Carter, Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
Flickr photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamhook/2830319467/">William Hook</a>.

New mobile-phone applications tailored for real estate are moving beyond for-sale property searches and into areas once reserved for personal computers, such as lead generation and management, market research and analysis, and customer relationship management.

As is often the case in the fast-moving world of technology, yesterday's dazzling breakthrough -- the ability to access listings on the go using a mobile phone -- is becoming the norm. Now consumers and real estate professionals are demanding more.  more...