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From The Florida Times-Union
“Jacksonville City Councilman John Meserve has been suspended by the governor, just hours after he was charged with a third-degree felony of conducting real estate transactions without a license.” John Meserve is a former mayor of Atlantic Beach, FL.
DHW asks: Do you think Meserve is the only public official practicing real estate [...]

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Tags: angela corey, atlantic beach, governor, jacksonville, john meserve, license, Real Estate, real estate commission

Despite the increase in real estate sales in 2009, commissions earned by real estate brokers and agents reached a seven year low. The National Association of Realtors reported that nearly 75% of homes sold last month were $250,000 or less. Housing tax credits and foreclosures are expected to lower the national median home price to [...]

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Tags: career, Housing, Real Estate, real estate sales, realtors

Analysts are forecasting a slow winter for home sales. In addition to the bitterly cold weather much of the nation is encountering this season, experts feel the extended tax credits and slightly higher interest rates will keep home sales (and prices) on ice. Sales are expected to come back to life next spring.
DHW asks: Will [...]

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Tags: home prices, home sales, Housing, interest rates, Real Estate, tax credit, winter

From the AP:
“Home sales far exceeded expectations last month, surging to the highest level in 2 1/2 years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of an expiring tax credit.
The National Association of Realtors said Monday that home resales rose 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.1 million in October, from a [...]

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Tags: $6500, $8000 tax credit, first time homebuyers, home sales, homebuyers, Housing, housing credit extension, housing news, Real Estate, real estate news, tax credit extension

During a speech to the National Association of Realtors in San Diego, FHA Commissioner David Stevens said his agency is not headed for the same fate as Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the subprime sector. Concerns about the FHA’s financial well being were raised last week when it was revealed in an independent audit that [...]

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Tags: 203, 203 k streamline loan, 203 k streamlined, 203 k streamlined loan, 203k, 203k lenders, 203k mortgage, 203k rehab loan, 203k streamline, 203k streamlined, buyers, commissioner, congress, david stevens, employment, fannie mae, FHA, fha 203 k, fha 203 k streamlined mortgages, fha 203k, fha 203k mortgage, fha 203k mortgage loans, fha 203k rehab, fha 203k streamlined mortgage, first time buyers, first time homebuyers, foreclosure, freddie mac, guidelines, home buyers, homebuyers, Housing, housing news, loan, mortgage, national association of realtors, Real Estate, real estate news, realtors, stevens, subprime

As any good Realtor will tell you, price moves a home. But sometimes Realtors (as well as sellers) are afraid to take their own advice. As housing evaluations have dropped around the country, listing prices have been slow to follow. To get the job done, and your home sold, a price reduction might be in [...]

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Tags: cities, home, home seller, home values, Housing, housing evaluations, housing news, housing prices, listing, price, price reductions, pricing a home, Real Estate, real estate news, realtor, realtors, Sales, seller, sold

Zero percent kitchen: n. a kitchen remodeled at the height of the real estate and credit bubble, between 2001 and 2006, featuring high-end details such as granite or Corian countertops; designer cabinets; stainless steel appliances and upgraded flooring (e.g. hardwood or travertine tile). Improvements were paid for with zero percent financing programs originated at home improvement [...]

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Tags: 0 percent interest rate, 203k, 203k lenders, 203k mortgage, 203k rehab loan, Builders, buyers, credit, credit card, FHA, fha 203 k, fha 203 k streamlined mortgages, fha 203k, fha 203k lenders, fha 203k loan, fha 203k mortgage, fha 203k mortgage loans, fha 203k rehab, fha 203k streamlined mortgage, first time buyers, first time homebuyers, foreclosure, home buyers, home depot, home improvement, home improvements, home seller, homebuyers, Housing, housing news, kitchen, loan, lowe's, lowe's home improvement, percent, Real Estate, real estate news, seller, short sale, zero, zero percent financing, zero percent kitchen

A survey released last week by Move.com, a real estate website, shows 1 in 5 Americans plan on purchasing a home within the next year. The survey also revealed these buyers are most likely to be 34 years of age or younger and live in the South or West.
It should be noted this survey was [...]

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Tags: $6500, $8000, $8000 tax credit, 6500 tax credit, 6500 tax credit extension, 8000 tax credit extension, americans, buyers, extension, home buyers, home sales, homebuyers, Housing, housing credit extension, housing news, housing report, Real Estate, real estate news, Sales, south, tax credit, tax credit extension, west, worker home ownership and business assistance act of 2009, worker homeownership and business assistance act of 2009

The Capital published an intriguing article addressing the potential side-effects of expanding the housing tax credits beyond first time homebuyers. The article raises some fair questions with regard to existing homes needing to be liquidated so that current homeowners can take advantage of the housing tax credits now afforded to them. The Capital article focuses on [...]

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Tags: $6500, $8000, $8000 tax credit, 6500 tax credit, 6500 tax credit extension, 8000 tax credit extension, buyers, congress, extension, first time buyers, first time homebuyers, home buyers, home sales, home seller, homebuyers, Housing, housing credit extension, housing inventories, housing inventory, housing news, inventory, Obama, president barack obama, President Obama, Real Estate, real estate news, Sales, seller, tax credit, tax credit extension, The Capital, worker home ownership and business assistance act of 2009, worker homeownership and business assistance act of 2009

Recovery of the commercial real estate market remains in question as the Moody’s commercial property index dropped 3 percent in October. The index is down over 32 percent from a year ago and over 40 percent from two years ago.
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported loan activity for commercial and multifamily real estate fell 54 percent in [...]

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Tags: banker, commercial, commercial loans, commercial real estate, commercial real estate market, commercial real estate recovery, Housing, housing news, loan activity, loans, moodys commercial property index, mortgage, mortgage banker, mortgage bankers association, Real Estate, real estate news, real estate recovery