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Mortgage rates edge down

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages edged down to 5.14 percent with an average of 0.7 point this week, compared to 5.20 percent a week ago and 6.26 percent a year ago, Freddie Mac said in releasing results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey.

The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.63 percent for the week ending July 16, with an average 0.7 point, down from 4.69 percent last week and 5.78 percent a year ago.  more...

Foreclosure filings up again in June

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Foreclosure-related filings rose 4.6 percent from May to June, data aggregator RealtyTrac said today, and the 889,829 filings for the second quarter represented a 20 percent increase over the same quarter a year ago.

Unemployment-related foreclosures accounted for much of the increased activity, and the high number of borrowers who find themselves underwater -- owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth -- represent a potentially significant future risk, said Realty Trac Chief Executive Officer James Saccacio in a press release.  more...

Product Review: Real Estate Shows Premium Content

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.
RealEstateShows.com screenshot

Product: Real Estate Shows (RealEstateShows.com) free trial.

About: Real Estate Shows is an online tool for creating online video presentations that feature panning and zooming displays of still photos, along with text descriptions and a music track. Video options include 30-second, 60-second and 90-second videos. The site advertises that the videos "will look and feel like TV commercials." Real Estate Shows is managed by Bill Leider, Jeff Turner and Steve Zehngut.

Cost: The site offers a 14-day free trial and a subscription-based service for $125 per year for unlimited real estate shows.

Review team: Linda Davis (leader), Jim Fitzgerald, Mark S. Bergman.  more...

Product review: Real Estate Shows

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Reviewer: Mark S. Bergman
Product: Real Estate Shows free trial

1. Ease. Is it easy to use for real estate professionals? For real estate consumers? How steep is the learning curve?
RealEstateShows is relatively easy to use. Those familiar with other virtual tour products will be able to start creating tours and virtual fliers without reading the instructions, but read the FAQs or view the on-line video tutorials to get the most out of the service.  more...

Product review: Real Estate Shows

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Reviewer: Jim Fitzgerald
Product: Real Estate Shows free trial

1. Ease. Is it easy to use for real estate professionals? For real estate consumers? How steep is the learning curve?
The product is very easy to use and even the novice user can easily move through this product.

Strengths (250 words or less):
The strengths are the ease of the product  more...

Product review: Real Estate Shows Premium Content

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.

Reviewer: Linda Davis
Product: Real Estate Shows free trial

Note from the reviewer: "I have used Real Estate Shows in the past. It won't bias my judgment. Actually, there are tons more features since I last used it."

1. Ease. Is it easy to use for real estate professionals? For real estate consumers? How steep is the learning curve?
Real Estate Shows couldn't be much easier to use or more intuitive whether you are creating a show or just watching one.  more...

Gathering oodles of online ads

By Inman News, Thursday, July 16, 2009.
Craig Donato

Craig Donato had a brainstorm while building a cabin in the Sierra Nevada foothills.

"As I was searching for things, I realized how hard it was to use classifieds. I couldn't see all the listings in one place -- or ask for something," he recalls.

So he co-founded online classifieds site Oodle.com and serves as the company's CEO.  more...