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	<title>RISMedia &#187; Today&#8217;s Top Story &#8211; Consumer</title>
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	<link>http://rismedia.com</link>
	<description>Leader in Real Estate Information and News.  Real estate industry news, profiles, and articles for agents, brokers, and consumers. National print magazine available.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 20 Jun 2013 01:19:48 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Great Spaces: Paradise Property for Sale, Walls Optional</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-22/great-spaces-paradise-property-for-sale-walls-optional/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-22/great-spaces-paradise-property-for-sale-walls-optional/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 22 May 2013 20:32:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luxury Real Estate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=79215</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Want to move to paradise? Who could blame you! This Hawaiian estate, located on the big island of Hawaii, is called Laule’a, or “a place of peace and happiness.” Happiness, indeed! Overlooking the fifth green of the Kona Country Club’s mauka course in the prestigious Keauhou Estates, this stunning property mixes tropical design with contemporary [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Want to move to paradise? Who could blame you! This Hawaiian estate, located on the big island of Hawaii, is called Laule’a, or “a place of peace and happiness.” Happiness, indeed! Overlooking the fifth green of the Kona Country Club’s mauka course in the prestigious Keauhou Estates, this stunning property mixes tropical design with contemporary [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Your Place: Tools and Techniques for Cleaning Your Deck</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-18/your-place-tools-and-techniques-for-cleaning-your-deck/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-18/your-place-tools-and-techniques-for-cleaning-your-deck/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 May 2013 04:02:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeowner's Toolkit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=79111</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(MCT)—I was looking at my home&#8217;s back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, they aren&#8217;t looking as green as they were last year, so the job will be a snap. It has been a long time since I discussed deck cleaning in this [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[(MCT)—I was looking at my home&#8217;s back steps, constructed of pressure-treated wood, and decided it was time for the annual get-rid-of-the-mildew-and-seal-them program. For some reason, they aren&#8217;t looking as green as they were last year, so the job will be a snap. It has been a long time since I discussed deck cleaning in this [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-18/your-place-tools-and-techniques-for-cleaning-your-deck/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Builder Confidence Improves in May</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-15/builder-confidence-improves-in-may/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-15/builder-confidence-improves-in-may/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 May 2013 20:12:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=79061</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released recently. This gain, from a downwardly revised 41 in April, reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved three points to a 44 reading on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for May, released recently. This gain, from a downwardly revised 41 in April, reflected improvement in all three index components – current sales conditions, sales expectations [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Freddie Mac Announces Immediate Availability of Streamlined Modification for Delinquent Borrowers</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-14/freddie-mac-announces-immediate-availability-of-streamlined-modification-for-delinquent-borrowers/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-14/freddie-mac-announces-immediate-availability-of-streamlined-modification-for-delinquent-borrowers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 May 2013 20:38:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=79023</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Freddie Mac recently announced it is making its new Streamlined Modification program immediately available to all eligible borrowers nationwide in order to expedite financial relief for potentially thousands of distressed families. Freddie Mac&#8217;s Streamlined Modification program had originally been scheduled to start on July 1, 2013. The recent announcement extends to the entire country Freddie [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Freddie Mac recently announced it is making its new Streamlined Modification program immediately available to all eligible borrowers nationwide in order to expedite financial relief for potentially thousands of distressed families. Freddie Mac&#8217;s Streamlined Modification program had originally been scheduled to start on July 1, 2013. The recent announcement extends to the entire country Freddie [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-14/freddie-mac-announces-immediate-availability-of-streamlined-modification-for-delinquent-borrowers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Drastic Drop in Mass. Foreclosure Activity in March</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-13/drastic-drop-in-mass-foreclosure-activity-in-march/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-13/drastic-drop-in-mass-foreclosure-activity-in-march/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 May 2013 20:49:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78993</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Regional Spotlight—A significant decline in Massachusetts foreclosures during the month of March indicates the foreclosure crisis is over, according to an article in Monday&#8217;s issue of Banker &#38; Tradesman. Lenders filed 284 petitions to foreclose in March, an 82 percent decrease from 1,621 in March 2012, according to data from The Warren Group, publisher of [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Regional Spotlight—A significant decline in Massachusetts foreclosures during the month of March indicates the foreclosure crisis is over, according to an article in Monday&#8217;s issue of Banker &#38; Tradesman. Lenders filed 284 petitions to foreclose in March, an 82 percent decrease from 1,621 in March 2012, according to data from The Warren Group, publisher of [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-13/drastic-drop-in-mass-foreclosure-activity-in-march/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Clear Capital: April&#8217;s Stable Home Prices Reflect the New Normal</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-11/clear-capital-aprils-stable-home-prices-reflect-the-new-normal/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-11/clear-capital-aprils-stable-home-prices-reflect-the-new-normal/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2013 04:02:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78933</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Clear Capital®, a provider of data and solutions for real estate asset valuation and collateral risk assessment, has released its Home Data Index™ (HDI) Market Report with data through April 2013. Using a broad array of public and proprietary data sources, the HDI Market Report publishes the most granular home data and analysis earlier than [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Clear Capital®, a provider of data and solutions for real estate asset valuation and collateral risk assessment, has released its Home Data Index™ (HDI) Market Report with data through April 2013. Using a broad array of public and proprietary data sources, the HDI Market Report publishes the most granular home data and analysis earlier than [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-11/clear-capital-aprils-stable-home-prices-reflect-the-new-normal/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Improving Markets List Includes 258 Metros in May</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-06/improving-markets-list-includes-258-metros-in-may/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-06/improving-markets-list-includes-258-metros-in-may/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 May 2013 20:59:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement in three key measures fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released recently. This total includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement in three key measures fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), released recently. This total includes entrants from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The IMI identifies metropolitan areas that have shown [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-06/improving-markets-list-includes-258-metros-in-may/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Housing Tax Incentives Critical to Maintain Thriving Middle Class</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-01/housing-tax-incentives-critical-to-maintain-thriving-middle-class/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-01/housing-tax-incentives-critical-to-maintain-thriving-middle-class/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 May 2013 20:07:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78711</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[To meet the nation’s growing need for affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently called on Congress to maintain its support for vital housing tax incentives, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the mortgage interest deduction and real estate tax deductions. “Home building is an industry dominated [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[To meet the nation’s growing need for affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently called on Congress to maintain its support for vital housing tax incentives, including the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, the mortgage interest deduction and real estate tax deductions. “Home building is an industry dominated [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-05-01/housing-tax-incentives-critical-to-maintain-thriving-middle-class/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Solar Panels Puzzle Would-Be Buyers</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-23/solar-panels-puzzle-would-be-buyers/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-23/solar-panels-puzzle-would-be-buyers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Apr 2013 20:32:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78481</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(MCT)—With solar panel prices plunging and generous tax credits and incentives still available, now may be as good a time as any to go solar. But shopping for a solar power system can be a tough task. Consumers face a bewildering array of options. There are thousands of different solar panel models from dozens of [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[(MCT)—With solar panel prices plunging and generous tax credits and incentives still available, now may be as good a time as any to go solar. But shopping for a solar power system can be a tough task. Consumers face a bewildering array of options. There are thousands of different solar panel models from dozens of [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-23/solar-panels-puzzle-would-be-buyers/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
	<enclosure url="http://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/solar_panels_on_house-150x150.jpg" length="10378" type="image/jpg" /><media:content url="http://rismedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/solar_panels_on_house-150x150.jpg" width="150" height="150" medium="image" type="image/jpeg" />	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Mortgages Are Coming Home</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-22/mortgages-are-coming-home/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-22/mortgages-are-coming-home/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 20:07:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Marketplace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78445</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since late last year, industry experts forecast a drop in mortgage refinancings as rates rise, and a revival of purchase mortgages, as the housing recovery creates business for lenders willing to work with buyers. The spring housing market is here and now the mortgage market is following. Purchase mortgages zoomed to their highest monthly market [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Since late last year, industry experts forecast a drop in mortgage refinancings as rates rise, and a revival of purchase mortgages, as the housing recovery creates business for lenders willing to work with buyers. The spring housing market is here and now the mortgage market is following. Purchase mortgages zoomed to their highest monthly market [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-22/mortgages-are-coming-home/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Real Estate Q&amp;A: How to Get Out of a Land Deal Gone Bad</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-20/real-estate-qa-how-to-get-out-of-a-land-deal-gone-bad/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-20/real-estate-qa-how-to-get-out-of-a-land-deal-gone-bad/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Apr 2013 04:01:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Buying 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78373</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(MCT)—QUESTION: I bought a vacant lot a few years ago on the Internet, sight unseen. Turns out, the property is unusable because it’s on the edge of a development and on a deep slope. I found out that it is part of an association, and the dues now have exceeded the value of the property. [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[(MCT)—QUESTION: I bought a vacant lot a few years ago on the Internet, sight unseen. Turns out, the property is unusable because it’s on the edge of a development and on a deep slope. I found out that it is part of an association, and the dues now have exceeded the value of the property. [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-20/real-estate-qa-how-to-get-out-of-a-land-deal-gone-bad/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Housing Passes One Million Mark</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-17/housing-passes-one-million-mark/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-17/housing-passes-one-million-mark/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Apr 2013 20:39:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Housing construction passed the psychological mark of one million starts in March coming in at 1.036 million homes, up 7 percent from an upwardly revised February level of 968,000. The surge was due to a 31 percent increase in apartment construction to a level of 417,000 units, the highest since January 2006. Single-family construction fell [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Housing construction passed the psychological mark of one million starts in March coming in at 1.036 million homes, up 7 percent from an upwardly revised February level of 968,000. The surge was due to a 31 percent increase in apartment construction to a level of 417,000 units, the highest since January 2006. Single-family construction fell [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-17/housing-passes-one-million-mark/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>The Vacation Home Makes a Comeback</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-16/the-vacation-home-makes-a-comeback/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-16/the-vacation-home-makes-a-comeback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:30:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78313</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the market continues to shift, one industry trend seems to be making continuous waves: vacation homes. With low prices and mortgage rates still available in most parts of the country, affluent buyers—or those who have always dreamed of a cabin on a lake—are making their move and purchasing second homes in exotic locations to [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[As the market continues to shift, one industry trend seems to be making continuous waves: vacation homes. With low prices and mortgage rates still available in most parts of the country, affluent buyers—or those who have always dreamed of a cabin on a lake—are making their move and purchasing second homes in exotic locations to [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-16/the-vacation-home-makes-a-comeback/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>HARP Mortgage Refinancing Program Extended by Two Years</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-15/harp-mortgage-refinancing-program-extended-by-two-years/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-15/harp-mortgage-refinancing-program-extended-by-two-years/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:05:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Buying 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate News]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78271</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(MCT)—Underwater homeowners with Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages will be able to try to refinance their mortgages for another two years. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Thursday that Fannie and Freddie’s Home Affordable Refinance Program, which was set to expire Dec. 31, will be extended until the end of 2015. “More than 2 [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[(MCT)—Underwater homeowners with Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-backed mortgages will be able to try to refinance their mortgages for another two years. The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Thursday that Fannie and Freddie’s Home Affordable Refinance Program, which was set to expire Dec. 31, will be extended until the end of 2015. “More than 2 [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-15/harp-mortgage-refinancing-program-extended-by-two-years/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Twenty Percent of Bankers Expect Lending Standards to Loosen</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-10/twenty-percent-of-bankers-expect-lending-standards-to-loosen/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-10/twenty-percent-of-bankers-expect-lending-standards-to-loosen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Apr 2013 19:50:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Expectations among bank risk professionals for the relaxation of lending standards increased sharply in the first quarter, rising from 12.1 to 19.9 percent, according to the quarterly FICO/PRMIA survey. One out of five bank risk professionals now expect the approval criteria for loans to become less stringent, the third highest level ever registered for looser [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Expectations among bank risk professionals for the relaxation of lending standards increased sharply in the first quarter, rising from 12.1 to 19.9 percent, according to the quarterly FICO/PRMIA survey. One out of five bank risk professionals now expect the approval criteria for loans to become less stringent, the third highest level ever registered for looser [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>New Homes Provide the Living Space Buyers Want</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-09/new-homes-provide-the-living-space-buyers-want/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-09/new-homes-provide-the-living-space-buyers-want/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:46:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78153</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Results from NAHB’s What Home Buyers Really Want  survey and a combination of Census Bureau/HUD data show that new homes generally do a good job of satisfying the typical buyer’s desire for living space, especially when compared to existing homes on the market. A simple way to get an idea of how new and existing [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[Results from NAHB’s What Home Buyers Really Want  survey and a combination of Census Bureau/HUD data show that new homes generally do a good job of satisfying the typical buyer’s desire for living space, especially when compared to existing homes on the market. A simple way to get an idea of how new and existing [...]]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-09/new-homes-provide-the-living-space-buyers-want/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Lower Operating Costs Mean New-Home Buyers Can Afford More House</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-08/lower-operating-costs-mean-new-home-buyers-can-afford-more-house/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-08/lower-operating-costs-mean-new-home-buyers-can-afford-more-house/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:44:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78129</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During New Homes Month in April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is showing home buyers why they can afford a higher-priced home—if it’s new construction. Using data from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2011 American Housing Survey, NAHB found that buyers can purchase a more expensive newer home [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[During New Homes Month in April, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is showing home buyers why they can afford a higher-priced home—if it’s new construction. Using data from the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2011 American Housing Survey, NAHB found that buyers can purchase a more expensive newer home [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>An Easy Way to Cut 4 Years Off Your Mortgage</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-07/an-easy-way-to-cut-4-years-off-your-mortgage/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-07/an-easy-way-to-cut-4-years-off-your-mortgage/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:07:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Buying 101]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home Owner News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78075</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[(MCT)—We are now officially in the peak spring home buying-season. I was asked the other day for advice on what should be at the top of the list for homeowners after they move into their new home. That was an easy question to answer. My No. 1 piece of advice for recent homebuyers is to [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[(MCT)—We are now officially in the peak spring home buying-season. I was asked the other day for advice on what should be at the top of the list for homeowners after they move into their new home. That was an easy question to answer. My No. 1 piece of advice for recent homebuyers is to [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>What’s the Story with FHA?</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-03/whats-the-story-with-fha/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-03/whats-the-story-with-fha/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:44:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=78009</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I hear a lot about the Federal Housing Administration, and much of it is simply wrong. “The FHA is the next subprime.” Untrue. “The FHA caused the housing crisis.” Also untrue. There is a lot of misinformation making the rounds, which helps neither brokers nor buyers. Here’s the low-down on what brokers or buyers’ agents [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[I hear a lot about the Federal Housing Administration, and much of it is simply wrong. “The FHA is the next subprime.” Untrue. “The FHA caused the housing crisis.” Also untrue. There is a lot of misinformation making the rounds, which helps neither brokers nor buyers. Here’s the low-down on what brokers or buyers’ agents [...]]]></content:encoded>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Economic Growth Poised to Strengthen</title>
		<link>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-01/economic-growth-poised-to-strengthen/</link>
		<comments>http://rismedia.com/2013-04-01/economic-growth-poised-to-strengthen/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:39:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>susanne</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Business Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Development & Best Practices]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business Outlook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer News and Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance and Economy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Finance, Economy & Government Issues]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Information]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Real Estate Trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Today's Top Story - Consumer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://rismedia.com/?p=77943</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The strong jobs report and the rebound in consumer confidence in February suggested that businesses and consumers set aside their worries about fiscal drag ahead of the looming sequestration deadline, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic &#38; Strategic Research Group. Activity in both the stock and housing markets also picked up recently and continues to act [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[The strong jobs report and the rebound in consumer confidence in February suggested that businesses and consumers set aside their worries about fiscal drag ahead of the looming sequestration deadline, according to Fannie Mae’s Economic &#38; Strategic Research Group. Activity in both the stock and housing markets also picked up recently and continues to act [...]]]></content:encoded>
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