RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—With the U.S. economy facing the lowest home sale statistics in 15 years and home values continuing to slide in many regions, it’s not surprising to hear that housing trends point toward a large percentage of American homeowners looking to improve and maximize their existing property investment versus buying a new home. [...]
Story
RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—Painting the exterior of a home can be a time-consuming and expensive proposition. But if you are budget-minded—and who isn’t these days—don’t despair. “A little ingenuity can go a long way towards giving your home a beautiful facelift, without breaking the bank,” says Debbie Zimmer, paint and color expert with the Paint [...]
Story
By John Voket, RISMedia Columnist RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—In a recent segment, I reviewed some of the high points of a talk with Sam Rashkin, national director of the Energy Star for Homes program. Rashkin recently spoke at a seminar for builders, contractors and architects hosted by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF). Besides focusing [...]
Story
RISMEDIA, September 8, 2010—An additional set of new regulations from the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act recently became law. Like previous changes, these new rules are designed to protect consumers by adding clarity and transparency to interactions between card issuers and holders. However, as these new rules take away revenue opportunities for [...]
Story
A: A standard policy protects against several natural disasters and catastrophic events, and covers your personal belongings. But it will not guard against earthquakes, floods, war, and nuclear accidents. The policy can be expanded to include these disasters as well as coverage for such things as workers’ compensation. In fact, the lender may require that [...]
Story
Trust deed. A document used in place of a mortgage in certain states; a third-party trustee, not the lender, holds the title to the property until the loan is paid out or defaulted. Also called a deed of trust. Copyright© 2010 RISMedia, The Leader in Real Estate Information Systems and Real Estate News. All Rights [...]
Story
RISMEDIA, September 7, 2010—Bolstered by favorable interest rates and low house prices, housing affordability remained near its highest level nationwide for the sixth consecutive month since the series was first compiled nearly two decades ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). The HOI indicated that 72.3% of all [...]
Story
By David S. Jones RISMEDIA, September 7, 2010—(Real Estate Center)—Some parents are warning their kids not to bank on inheriting the homestead. Why? Because some parents are considering a reverse mortgage. Such mortgages may not be beneficial for everyone, but their popularity is definitely on the rise. “Reverse mortgages are based on the home’s current [...]
Story
RISMEDIA, September 7, 2010—While millions of Americans throughout the nation prepare for traditional back to school activities, some families are searching for affordable housing based on local schools or desirable school districts. In some cases, proximity to quality schools is so important buyers may choose to rent close to a preferred school until the right [...]
Story
RISMEDIA, September 7, 2010—What does breakfast look like at your house? A quick toaster pastry or fast food sandwich? Or, perhaps there’s no breakfast at all. If so, your family is part of a growing trend that could have negative consequences. A new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reports that [...]
Story