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Luxury Real Estate Archive
RISMEDIA, April 22, 2011—Trying to decide whether to do some home remodeling this year or leave your money in the bank? You can do both if you remodel with paint. “The cost of do-it-yourself interior painting is so low, it’s almost like remodeling without touching your bank account,”
RISMEDIA, January 4, 2011—If you’ve been in the real estate industry for a long time, probably the last place you’d expect to see Brien McMahon is standing amidst a sea of pink flamingos. But McMahon is making a statement here. While his personal career path has indeed changed, more importantly, so has the consumer’s path to homeownership. In his new role as chief franchise officer for Philadelphia-based Radian Guaranty, McMahon is leading the charge to educate the lending and real estate communities about the benefits of private mortgage insurance (MI)—the fact of the matter is, MI is not ‘just another fee’ but rather a financially sound way
RISMEDIA, December 30, 2010—(MCT)—Morning begins in the Grisso household with the coffee maker grinding beans at 6:07, churning with the same grating sound as a fork spinning in a sink disposal. The eight occupants of the house stir. Two grandparents float into the kitchen and head to work, taking the whole pot of coffee with them for their hour long commute. Upstairs, a teenage girl hits the snooze button, annoying her uncle in the next room over, who doesn't want to hear the alarm buzz again after another all-nighter playing video games. Dogs run in and out of a crude doggie door in the wall.
RISMEDIA, December 29, 2010—In an effort to help families find decent housing and to prevent future foreclosures, the Obama Administration announced nearly $73 million in housing counseling grants to more than 500 national, regional and local organizations. As a result of the funding, hundreds of thousands of households will have a greater opportunity to find housing or keep the homes they have because of the housing counseling and counseling training grants awarded by U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan.
RISMEDIA, December 28, 2010—You’ve just started your own business. You have put your sweat, blood, and tears into its success. So, now what? How do you plan to spread the word? Technology is advancing so rapidly that if you thought you had a real bang-up marketing plan a year ago, ...
RISMEDIA, December 28, 2010—(MCT)—In response to the recent crimes against real-estate agents in the Youngstown and Kent, Ohio, areas, local real-estate brokers are reviewing safety precautions for their agents. These incidents remind all agents nationwide to review safety procedures when showing vacant homes. ...
RISMEDIA, December 27, 2010—The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury released the December edition of the Obama Administration’s Housing Scorecard. The latest housing figures show continued home affordability in the housing market, with interest rates near record lows, but the market remains fragile, as prices are unsettled. Foreclosure starts and completions dropped significantly in November, as lenders review internal servicing procedures.
RISMEDIA, December 23, 2010—Existing-home sales got back on an upward path in November 2010, resuming a growth trend since bottoming in July, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 5.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million in November from 4.43 million in October, but are 27.9% below the cyclical peak of 6.49 million in November 2009, which was the initial deadline for the first-time buyer tax credit.
RISMEDIA, December 22, 2010—Improvements in consumer spending and consumer confidence, increased demand for goods and services, and falling unemployment claims are all positive factors for a brighter outlook as we move into 2011, according to the December 2010 Economic
RISMEDIA, December 21, 2010—According to the American Heritage Dictionary, home is defined as “To the very center. To be guided to a target automatically.” In this challenging housing market, consumers still want a home as the centerpiece of a good life. Understanding their new frame of reference will allow you to help them make the dream come true.
RISMEDIA, December 20, 2010—As the decorations go up and the temperatures go down, winter is the perfect time to cozy up and indulge in a holiday movie marathon. While the Whos in Whoville and elves in Santa’s workshop live happily in our imagination, there is a plethora of
RISMEDIA, December 18, 2010—Nationwide housing starts rose 3.9% in November 2010 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 555,000 units from an upwardly revised number in the previous month, according to newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department. This marked the first upward movement in new-home production since August, and was entirely attributable to a nearly 7% gain in single-family home building.
RISMEDIA, December 16, 2010—As part of the 2010-11 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report, REALTORS® recently rated exterior replacement projects among the most cost-effective home improvement projects, demonstrating that curb appeal remains one of the most important aspects of a home at resale time. "This year's Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report highlights the importance of exterior projects, which not only provide the most value, but are also among the least expensive improvements for a home," said National Association of REALTORS® President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I.
RISMEDIA, December 15, 2010—Real estate consumers these days are no longer satisfied with the ability to search for a three-bedroom, two bath condo. They now want more levels of search that qualify as the up and coming concept known as ‘Lifestyle Search.’ Consumers are choosing their
RISMEDIA, December 14, 2010—The number of price-reduced homes on the market this November increased dramatically compared to the same time last year, rising 24.1% according to ZipRealty's Price Reduction Index, a monthly review of MLS-listed properties in 26 markets surveyed by the real estate brokerage. ...
