News / Features

Property Crimes Down 2.8 Percent

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) found that property crimes including burglaries, larceny/theft, and motor vehicle theft all decreased in 2010, with a decline of 2.8 percent in all city categories, according to

New A&E Show “Flipped” to Premiere in Late 2011

A new A&E series, “Flipped,” will follow Houston “Survivor” saboteur, Russell Hantz as he attempts to “buy low, renovate cheap, and sell high.” The series, which consists of seven one-hour episodes, is expected to premiere late in the

Know Before You Owe Project Proposes Altered Mortgage Document

“Knowledge is power” is the mantra implied by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) newly pitched Know Before You Owe project. The project aims to consolidate two federally required mortgage disclosures (the Truth in Lending form and the Good

According to Survey, Housing Recovery Estimated to Occur in 2014

Out of a pool of 2,018 adults, 54 percent believe that housing recovery will not occur until 2014 at the earliest, and 45 percent said that the government is not doing enough to avoid foreclosures, demonstrated in the latest

April Brings Slight Rise in Housing Listings

From March to April, nationwide housing listings typically increase by 5 percent (an average compiled from the last 28 years), according to Zelman & Associates; this year the monthly spike was measured at 1.1 percent in more than 140

HomeSteps- Incentives for Agents and Homebuyers

Freddie Mac will now be assisting homebuyers of REO properties with up to 3.5 percent in closing-cost assistance through their HomeSteps summer sales promotion. Agents will also benefit, receiving a $1,200 bonus for offers on eligible foreclosed properties, as

Foreclosure Data May Become Public Information

Listings of loans which are delinquent by more than 30 days, those delinquent by more than 90 days, foreclosures, and an accurate portrayal of the mortgage market may soon be publicly available in accordance with Section 1447 of the

New NAR Policy Requires Brokers to Opt-in

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) established an “opt in” ruling for brokers who want their IDX listings displayed on national franchise websites; the vote took place on May 14 at the Midyear Conferences, and the newly approved vote

Two FDIC Lawsuits Seek Combined Total of $283 Million

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has sued both CoreLogic, Inc. and Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) for a combined total of approximately $283 million, according to

Mortgage Debt Drops, Refinancing Rises

Federal Reserve statistics indicated a three-year drop of $700 billion in outstanding mortgage debt, according to

NAR Dues Increase Approved: $40 Increase in 2012

This weekend, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) gathered at the Midyear Meetings in D.C. The organization decided to raise dues by $40, a widely debated increase which aims to reshape campaign

Housing Affordability Different for Five Different Ethnic Groups

For the first time, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) quarterly index was broken down across five different races/ethnic groups to analyze differences in income and housing affordability in

NAR Holds Annual Meeting About Secondary Mortgages

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) and home finance analysts discussed that government involvement is too strong, speculating that secondary mortgages are coincidentally holding back growth in the housing market at their annual meeting this

ActiveRain Sold to Nikesh Parekh

ActiveRain, the online community that caters to 207,317 real estate professionals, was sold by co-founder and former CEO, Jonathan Washburn, to Market Leader, Inc. employee (and former consultant) Nikesh

NAR Members Voice Opposition on Dues Increase

RealTown poll results revealed that the majority of National Association of Realtors (NAR) members are opposed to membership due increases, with 2,502 (over 82 percent) members voting no on the Political Survival Initiative which would increase dues by $40/year

Green Designation Program to be Updated in Late Summer 2011

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has found that the desire for environmentally sustainable buildings is an ongoing trend, constantly gaining momentum, especially since the initiation of the Green Designation program in late

Oops! We could not locate your form.