Today's Real Estate News and Advice
Open Houses
Can Be a Useful Sales Tool
As the market slows, more sellers are demanding open houses from
their agents.
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Ontario
Gets New Real Estate Law in March
After years of study and consultation, Ontario's Real Estate
Business Brokers Act comes into force in March. Jim Adair looks at what it means
to consumers.
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California:
Conforming Loan Limits Still Too Low
Conforming loan limits are rising again and once again, outdated
reasoning leaves California and other expensive housing markets without the
benefit of special conforming loan levels that are 50 percent higher.
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HOA
Presence & Presents
At the core of every homeowner association is the principle of
"volunteerism." It is a noble calling which calls for personal sacrifice --
giving up self interest for the greater good.
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Holiday
Shopping Shouldn't Be On The House
Home equity is the difference between your mortgage balance and
the value of your home, not collateral for frivolous expenditures.
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Freddie Mac
to Implement 2006 Loan Limits
New Limits Will Save Borrowers Up to $24,700 In Interest.
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Higher Loan
Limits in '06
The limits on conforming and government mortgages will rise
substantially next year. The conforming loan ceiling will jump nearly 16 to
$417,000 beginning Jan. 1, while the FHA maximum in hist cost areas will go to
about $362,790. Lew Sichelman has all the details.
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November
Roundup
Mortgage rates slipped, free energy audits, and lender profits.
These topics and more in this month's roundup.
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ULI/PricewaterhouseCoopers
Housing Outlook For 2006
With so many factors to consider, it's difficult to paint a
clear picture of the housing market in 2006, but one thing is certain, the
housing market is clearly on the cusp of change.
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What To
Do In A Falling Market
In a number of areas across the country price appreciation has
begun to slow. As a result, says columnist Peter G. Miller, it may be worthwhile
to look at an old sales technique to create additional demand.
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PLE and
RICS Designations Unite Canadian Property Professionals
The complexity of real estate has given rise to a wide range of
specialized professions and professional designations in Canada and around the
world. PJ Wade introduces two umbrella organizations that offer benefits to
professionals and the public alike.
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Site To See:
Federal 'Recalls 'R Us' Website
Your tax dollars are at hard at work on a new federal website,
Recalls.gov, which lets you find recalls in ways you've probably never thought
about looking for them.
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Contest for
Kids Aims to Find Out What Makes a House a Home
It's not the size, the color, the number of rooms or how
expensive it is that makes their homes special. Kids all across the country are
finding creative ways to say what makes their house a home in a national contest
sponsored by Coldwell Banker and Scholastic Professional Magazines.
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Home Buyers
May Get Mortgage Insurance Tax Deductions
The Senate passed a massive tax bill that would give consumers
-- for the first time -- the right to write off mortgage insurance payments on
their federal taxes. A companion House bill does not include the write-off
sanction, but Congressional and industry sources say a Senate-House conference
in December is likely to accept the Senate plan. Ken Harney reports.
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Before
Seeking Out the Best Rate, Choose the Right Mortgage Program
A reader asks if a particular mortgage program is the best deal.
Everyone's situation is different, says Henry Savage. It's important to
establish objectives first.
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Real Estate
Bubble Theorists No More Than Squealers
The real estate bubble naysayers whine about the "bubble" as if
the whole national real estate market were nothing more than another
over-inflated stock exchange -- like the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.
Folks -- it's not.
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Mortgage Rates
Fall For the First Time in Thirteen Weeks
Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage
Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged
6.28 percent, with an average 0.6 point, for the week ending November 24, 2005,
down from last week's average of 6.37 percent. Last year at this time, the
30-year FRM averaged 5.72 percent.
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