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Home Owner News Archive


Remodeling Market Index Reaches Highest Level in Four Years

RISMEDIA, May 2, 2011—According to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI), the remodeling market is heading into recovery with an increase to 46.5 in the first quarter of 2011 from 41.5 in the fourth quarter of 2010. This marks the highest level for the RMI since the fourth


Home Buyers Shun ‘Fixer-Uppers’

RISMEDIA, May 2, 2011—(MCT)—In the overheated housing market of five years ago, buyers often felt they had to accept homes in woeful condition. But these days, most look at "as-is" properties and say, "No thanks." "I try to stay away from things that need a lot of work," says Michael Lisa of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.,


HUD Awards Millions to Homeless Programs across Country

RISMEDIA, May 2, 2011—Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded more than $216 million to nearly 700 new homeless programs across the country. The grants announced today are $26 million more than last year’s grants and, combined with renewal funding announced


Study Examines the Impact of Homebuyer Education and Counseling on Mortgage Performance

RISMEDIA, April 29, 2011—Potential homeowners who participate in pre-purchase education and counseling programs may be more likely to pay their mortgages on time, although the evidence on this point is not consistent and compelling, according to a study released today by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The study also finds that those who participate in default counseling are more likely to have their loans modified.


Safety First! May Is Building Safety Month

RISMEDIA, April 27, 2011—When you turn on a light switch, do you ever wonder if you'll be electrocuted? Do you constantly worry about your home's roof caving in? Or believe your home's water pipes might be frozen when you turn on the faucet? Most of us never think twice about these things. That's because we are confident in the work done every day by the 50,000 members of the International Code Council, the people who safeguard our homes and businesses by creating and enforcing strong building safety codes at the city, county and state levels.


Spending Smart: Prune Your Landscaping Costs

RISMEDIA, April 28, 2011—(MCT)—As weather warms in most parts of the country, many homeowners will incur the expense and hassle of hiring professionals to help beautify their yard through grass mowing, landscape design or tree trimming and removal. These specialty services can be quite costly; that's why it's important


HUD Selects Lenders to Participate in New Pilot Program to Help Homeowners Pay for Home Energy Improvements

RISMEDIA, April 26, 2011—Eighteen national, regional and local lenders will participate in a new two-year pilot program that will offer qualified borrowers living in certain parts of the country low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, replacement doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.


Existing-Home Sales Rise in March 2011

RISMEDIA, April 21, 2011—Sales of existing-home sales rose in March 2011, continuing an uneven recovery that began after sales bottomed last July, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased


New HUD Campaign Empowers Homeowners to Recognize, Avoid and Report Foreclosure Relief Scams

RISMEDIA, April 20, 2011—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is launching a new campaign in Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles called Know It. Avoid It. Report It. This campaign has two objectives. First, it aims to direct homeowners facing foreclosure to trusted resources and housing counselors. Second, and more importantly, the campaign wants to solicit the support of homeowners in


Staging Enables Sellers to Portray a Lifestyle That Prospective Buyers Can Relate and Aspire To

RISMEDIA, April 19, 2011—(MCT)—Craig and Amy Smith always felt quite confident, even cocky in their abilities to tastefully design the spacious interior of their steel-and-concrete loft in downtown Denver. That was until they decided to sell it and a consultant hired to help them "stage" their home told them to neutralize a dramatic accent wall, put away family photos and place most of their furniture and artwork in storage.


Regional Spotlight: Home Sales Increase across New England in March 2011

RISMEDIA, April 18, 2011—Spring is in bloom this month as home sales increased an impressive 37.7% across New England with each state experiencing an upswing. Pricing also showed signs of stabilization with a slight overall decrease


Regulators, Banks Reach Deal to Correct Foreclosure Flaws

RISMEDIA, April 16, 2011—(MCT)—Federal banking regulators have reached agreements with the nation's biggest mortgage lenders to address longstanding complaints that the foreclosure process is unfair to delinquent borrowers trying to stay in their homes. The settlements with the nation's largest banks are aimed at correcting what consumers and consumer groups say are fundamental flaws in the repossession process.


For Your Clients: How to Manage Unexpected Home Expenses

RISMEDIA, April 15, 2011—(MCT)—Homes are more affordable these days, the selection is abundant, and interest rates are still fairly low. For some people, it could well be a great time to buy. But as too many struggling borrowers now realize, the cost of owning a home is hardly limited to paying the mortgage. There are a host of other checkbook-sapping details—both recognizable and unexpected—that can get overlooked in the excitement of buying a house, especially if it's your first.


10 Tips for a Cleaner, Safer Kitchen

RISMEDIA, April 14, 2011—(MCT)—The first day of spring has come and gone. To get the cleaning season started right, we looked for the best advice on cleaning the busiest—and maybe dirtiest—room in the house: the kitchen. For a list of what we should clean, how and when, we asked a bunch of germ experts. The biggest surprise? People with pets are six times more likely to get salmonella-based infections. The culprit is pet bowls, particularly the water bowl. We often dump it in the sink before we start handling food.


NAR Study Finds Americans Prefer Smart-Growth Communities

RISMEDIA, April 6, 2011—Americans favor walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, with 56% of respondents preferring smart growth neighborhoods over neighborhoods that require more driving between home, work and recreation. That's according to a recent study, the Community Preference Survey, by the National Association of REALTORS®. "REALTORS® care about improving communities through smart growth initiatives," said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I.


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