Park Ridge, IL - Today's Real Estate News

Today's Real Estate News and Advice

Updated: January 8, 2009

Gladwell's Book About Success Contains Valuable Lessons
Real estate agents, brokers, and managers could all profit from reading Malcolm Gladwell's latest book, Outliers. Gladwell, the author of Blink and Tipping Point, has subtitled this work, "The Story of Success", and what he has to say about the topic both shatters some old myths and provides us with a better understanding of how success comes about. FULL STORY->

'Jumbo' Loans Getting Smaller
If you need a large home loan of up to $729,750, move fast and look hard. Loan limits are getting squeezed on jumbo loans with eased underwriting standards and that could shrink the size of the mortgage your lender will approve for you. FULL STORY->

Commercial Real Estate Market to Hit Bottom Next Year, Urban Land Institute
No matter the market, capitalizing on industry knowledge has always been a major ingredient to overall business success. For builders looking to better understand the real estate market, they should take note of a new report by the Urban Land Institute. FULL STORY->

Opening Doors
More than forty years after the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act, Dr. King's vision for a racially and economically inclusive society is being realized -- but as many studies document, not universally experienced. FULL STORY->

Ask the HOA Expert
One HOA has vacant homes. Does the HOA have a responsibility to secure and protect them? This issue and more in this week's column. FULL STORY->

Real Estate Outlook: What's in Store for 2009?
What will the new year bring for housing and real estate? Here's a different perspective to consider from one of the country's veteran financial analysts -- Richard Bove of Ladenburg Thalmann, the investment banking company. FULL STORY->

Commercial Real Estate Market to Hit Bottom Next Year, Urban Land Institute
No matter the market, capitalizing on industry knowledge has always been a major ingredient to overall business success. For builders looking to better understand the real estate market, they should take note of a new report by the Urban Land Institute. FULL STORY->

Opening Doors
More than forty years after the enactment of the Federal Fair Housing Act, Dr. King's vision for a racially and economically inclusive society is being realized -- but as many studies document, not universally experienced. FULL STORY->

Market Conditions
Along with many other housing indicators this past month, the National Association of Realtors' Pending Home Sales Index has shown a decline for November. FULL STORY->

Ask the HOA Expert
One HOA has vacant homes. Does the HOA have a responsibility to secure and protect them? This issue and more in this week's column. FULL STORY->

Study Says Land Transfer Tax Unfair and Wasteful
Land transfer taxes are a common way for governments to raise money when properties change hands, but a new analysis of Toronto's Land Transfer Tax says that simply raising property taxes would be a more effective way to boost government coffers. FULL STORY->

The Consumer Sales Funnel
It's referenced in nearly every sales training course under the sun. It comes in various shapes, sizes and colors. It still holds true and probably always will. FULL STORY->

Long-Term Rates Fall for Ninth Consecutive Week, Setting Another New Low
Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.10 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending December 31, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 5.14 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.07 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been lower since Freddie Mac started the Primary Mortgage Market Survey in 1971. FULL STORY->

Market Conditions
Sales are down nationwide -- including in the new home sector, which has experienced a 2.9 percent decline. FULL STORY->

Washington Report: Who Chooses Appraisers?
It's shaping up to be one of real estate's surprise hot potato issues for 2009: Who chooses appraisers when houses are sold and financed? FULL STORY->

More Real Estate News and Advice...

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