RISMEDIA, June 15, 2011—This week’s headlines from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® include: learn how to leverage 65 billion page visits with “Facebook Marketing for Dummies” from the REALTOR.org Store, REALTORS® Core Health Insurance locks their low rates for the second straight year,

RISMEDIA, June 15, 2011—Home sales prices continued a downward trend in May, but only half as far, and half as fast as in April. Clear Capital’s Home Data Index (HDI) Market Report found that national quarter-over-quarter home price declines (-2.3 percent) were reduced by half from last month’s report, helped

RISMEDIA, June 15, 2011—The homeownership rate dropped to 66.4 percent in April 2011, the lowest it’s been since 1998, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Some would argue this means owning a home is not as important to Americans as it once was—but they’re wrong. What it really means is that the artificially stimulated level of 69 percent in 2005 wasn’t sustainable. Today’s level is merely a return to a more normal rate. The dream of homeownership is as strong as ever, and it deserves protection—not more regulatory roadblocks.

RISMEDIA, June 15, 2011—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently awarded more than $31 million in grants to public housing authorities, resident associations and non-profit organizations across the U.S. to help public housing residents connect to services available in the community

RISMedia, June 14, 2011—Today's buyer-take-all bonanza is a boon for fence-sitters and buyers with great credit and deep pockets. But sellers are steeling themselves to new realities that include paying (rather than making) money at the closing table, providing extras to sweeten the deal, and spending more time and cash making the home camera-ready. For first-time sellers who have never been through the process before, it's a different world. One where the value of the house isn't measured in the profit made on the sale, but by the enjoyment the owners had from living in the home.

RISMedia, June 14, 2011—The Samsung Galaxy is one of the many newer sleek phones operating on the Android system that is finally reaching the realms of the iPhone world, and some even argue that it’s as good, if not better. With its 4-inch super AMOLED touch screen and new silver finish on the back, it’s quite

RISMedia, June 14, 2011— As the real estate market in the Pacific Northwest continues to thrive, REALTOR® Carrie Foley recently found the balance between doing the work and chasing the work. Previously, Foley had been tipping too far in favor of chasing. To offset this, she went looking for a solution and found

RISMedia, June 14, 2011—As the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hears testimony on a suite of energy efficiency bills, including legislation to make residential housing more energy-efficient, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) recently urged lawmakers to take into account the differences

RISMedia, June 13, 2011—When was the last time you wanted to watch a black-and-white or one of the old “Technicolor” films? For most of us, they just don’t have the same engagement magic they held years ago when compared with the latest innovations like 3-D and special effects. In short, customers want more and a better experience than ever before. Today, consumers are tougher to attract, engage and ultimately connect with due to the highly noisy and confusing market. When it comes to real estate, using the best resources available to engage new prospects will give you the competitive edge, more customers and ultimately more profits.

RISMedia, June 13, 2011— Despite double dipping to their lowest levels since 2009, housing prices in the first quarter failed to drive up the percentage of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgages. In fact, modest reductions in the number of homeowners who owe more on their mortgages than their homes

RISMedia, June 13, 2011— Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) recently released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), which showed weaker than expected job growth in May pushing both fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages to new lows for the year. The 30-year fixed averaged 4.49 percent and the 15-year

RISMedia, June 13, 2011—The U.S. Department of Commerce recently released a report that proposes voluntary codes of conduct to strengthen the cybersecurity of companies that increasingly rely on the Internet to do business, but are not part of the critical infrastructure sector. The report, Cybersecurity, Innovation and the Internet Economy, focuses on the “Internet and Information Innovation Sector” (I3S)—these are businesses that range from small and medium enterprises and bricks-and-mortar firms with online services, to social networking sites and Internet-only business, to cloud computing firms that are increasingly subject to cyber attacks.

RISMedia, June 11, 2011—How can you stay self-motivated and productive in the midst of turbulent times and a sluggish economy? How do you persevere as a salesperson when times are tough and customers seem to be holding on to every penny in fear of economic uncertainty? Every challenge, setback and personal difficulty you encounter in life also brings with it the seed of equivalent or greater benefit! The key to overcoming adversity is to avoid the temptation of panic and instead, focus on finding the greater benefit. Adversity will never leave you where it found you; it will either strengthen your character or weaken your resolve.

RISMedia, June 11, 2011—U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan recently announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Illinois and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms and flooding during the month

RISMedia, June 11, 2011—The Real Estate and Living Media (REALM) Network, the online advertising service of the LPS Real Estate Group, recently announced a strategic media relationship with Smarter Agent, a leading mobile real estate application provider. This partnership enables the REALM network to expand