When you’re driving, you want to be sure you’re covering all your blind spots in order to stay safe on the road. Well the same goes for fraud. “Just like legitimate businesses, fraudsters are planning ahead for 2013,” says James Gifas, head of RBS Citizens Treasury Solutions. “During and just after the holidays is when many fraud schemes pick up, as more people feel stretched with greater year-end expenses,” he says. “And as we look ahead into 2013,

December is National Write a Business Plan Month - so designated to encourage unhappy employees to become their own satisfied bosses. Whether your goal is to own your own business, become a consultant, a speaker or an author, you'll need to start with a business plan. Even if you launched your business years ago, it's important to revisit and refresh your plan. In recent years, the economy, technology and consumer habits have changed rapidly and dramatically, affecting every aspect of your business. That makes it absolutely vital to re-evaluate your short- and long-term strategies.

After years of coaching successful professionals in a variety of disciplines, I’ve come to see that when conflicts arise, many of us tend to care more about being ‘right’ than we do about finding the best course of action. I’m sure you’ve experienced this in your own life, at the office and perhaps at home too. A disagreement arises, and we’re so afraid of ‘losing’ that we won’t even admit there’s a possibility that there might be more to the situation than we can see. In our determination to ‘win,’ we refuse to acknowledge the other person’s perspective.

From luxury automobiles to high-tech electronics, the phrase "made in Japan" is synonymous with quality and reliability. The Japanese have a well-deserved reputation for their relentless pursuit of excellence, but it wasn't always that way. At the end of WWII, many Japanese cities lay in ruin, its manufacturing base destroyed and its economy devastated. General Douglas McArthur assembled a team of American business consultants to spearhead the rebuilding of the Japanese economic recovery. Dr. W. Edwards Deming, a statistician who worked at the US census bureau, was selected as a member of that distinguished team.

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing fixed mortgage rates easing slightly and remaining near record lows to keep homebuyer affordability high and attractive to those looking to refinance. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.32 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending December 13, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.34 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.94 percent. Additionally, the 15-year FRM this week averaged 2.66 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.67 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.21 percent.

RealtyTrac® recently released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™ for November 2012, which shows foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported

In this hot market the homes moving fastest have two types of increasingly web savvy buyers: First time homebuyers who take advantage of FHA financing and absentee buyers looking for investments. "All-cash purchases and absentee buyers are at nearly twice their historic 12-year averages," says Chris Pollinger, senior vice president of Sales for First Team Real Estate. "At the same time, FHA loans have dropped for another month even though they are still high, which shows that these two different groups are increasingly competing for single family homes in the price range of $225,000 to $400,000."

(MCT)—Pop star and singing competition judge Britney Spears has bought the Thousand Oaks home of former professional hockey player Russ Courtnall and his wife, actress Paris Vaughan.

The U.S. Treasury Department will be making some changes to the HAFA Program in 2013, and as a real estate professional, these changes will affect short sales in your local market. To prepare yourself for the upcoming changes, you can view this live webinar that will take place on December 17th at 4 p.m. ET with Laurie Maggiano, the Treasury's Director of Public Policy and Alex Charfen, CEO and author of the Certified Distressed Property Designation. During this live streaming broadcast, Maggiano and Charfen will discuss how these changes will impact the speed and success of your short sales and the foreclosure inventory that reaches our markets.

Despite continued uncertainty surrounding the fiscal cliff, Americans are showing increased confidence in the housing market and the direction of the economy. According to results from Fannie Mae’s November 2012 National Housing Survey, such improvement bodes especially well for continued strengthening in the housing sector, which in turn is likely to support overall economic growth. “Consumer attitudes toward both the economy and the housing market continue to gather momentum, with many of our 11 key National Housing Survey indicators at or near their two-and-a-half-year highs,” says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist of Fannie Mae.

All short sales are not alike—especially when an FHA-insured mortgage is involved. FHA short sales must advance through a very exact and systemized process. Here’s what you need to know:

Leo’s Luxury Listing (MCT)—Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has put a Malibu investment property up for sale at $23 million.

With the 2012 holiday season in full swing, HouseLogic, a comprehensive website for homeowners from the National Association of Realtors®, wants to inspire holiday celebrations with a chance to win

(MCT)—The nation’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.9 percent to 7.7 percent last month — the lowest in nearly four years — as businesses added another 146,000 jobs, the Labor Department reported Friday morning. The job gains were close to the average of 151,000 a month so far this year — enough new openings to slowly put the 12 million people who are job-hunting back to work. Nearly 50,000 fewer jobs were created in September and October than originally reported by the department, however, according to revisions based on more complete information from the states. The rate is lowest recorded since December 2008, just before President Obama took office.

With just a month left in 2012, the number of days to benefit from year-end home buying tax benefits is dwindling quickly. We consulted real estate experts from across the country to share what you need