NAR Says Housing Forecast Looks Stronger The forecast for home sales has trended up as the year progressed, fueled lately by added demand resulting from the impact of recent hurricanes, according to the National Association of Realtors. FULL STORY->
Real Estate Market: What Hurricane? Mother Nature who? Real estate speculators, buyers and sellers are moving full speed ahead in storm ravaged areas as the economic impact of the storms will likely spare the real estate market -- even in the most devastated areas. FULL STORY->
Stretching The FEMA Hurricane Housing Grant Displaced Gulf Coast residents with federal housing grant money can look to major Texas cities as locations where than can best stretch their funds for shelter, according to a unique survey. FULL STORY->
Your Lender May Be Watching Don't think you can sneak a second or third mortgage by your primary lender. Now, mortgage stakeholders have a new tool to root out the existence of subsequent financing that adds a significant element of risk to their investment in your property. Lew Sichelman has the details. FULL STORY->
The Tumble on Wall Street While there are no end to the worries about a possible housing bubble, Wall Street has been in the dumps all year. Peter G. Miller comments. FULL STORY->
Vacation Rental Investment 'Type' Crucial as Location Location is paramount when choosing a vacation rental investment property, but the type of property you choose can also impact your bottom line -- for better or for worse. Consider your options. FULL STORY->
Canadians Need Long-Term Energy Strategies Managing real estate investments by responding to daily fluctuations in gas pump prices may short change owners and buyers. PJ Wade suggests long-term strategies are essential to building property value and protecting it against economic fluctuations, including energy cost increases. FULL STORY->
A "World City": Miami, Florida Sunny Miami, where everyone wants to live. The heart of South Florida, with lots of things to do and places to see. It has it all -- beaches, shopping, dinning and dancing, something for everyone, say local Realtors. FULL STORY->
Guaranteed Good Faith Estimates the Remedy to Settlement Sheet Shocks? Several major lending trade groups have recently come out in favor of guaranteeing -- or at least "hardening" -- the standard good faith estimates of settlement costs provided home mortgage applicants. That could open the door for HUD to make good faith estimates, not controversial mortgage "packages," the centerpiece for it upcoming RESPA reform proposals. Ken Harney reports. FULL STORY->
Fraud Outbreak Expected In Gulf Coast Region A coalition of insurers and consumer advocates have joined forces to warn Gulf Coast residents of another gathering storm -- swindlers out to fleece anyone in their path. FULL STORY->
$34.4 Billion Hurricane Katrina A Record Disaster The first public accounting of hurricane-related costs for the insurance industry revealed this week that Hurricane Katrina was at least a $34.4 billion catastrophe, the costliest natural disaster ever. FULL STORY->
