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RISMEDIA, September 29, 2009—Despite recent signs of improvement, more rough times are ahead for the U.S. economy, according to several prominent experts in real estate and the economy who attended a recent forum at the Nixon Presidential Library.  "You look at the numbers and everything points to the fact that we not only have bottomed, but things seem to be improving," said Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics, citing increases in durable goods orders, exports and auto sales.

RISMEDIA, September 28, 2009—Existing-home sales in August 2009 gave back some of their strong gain in July but remain above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of Realtors®.  Existing-home sales- including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops- declined 2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.10 million units in August from a pace of 5.24 million in July,

RISMEDIA, September 26, 2009—(MCT)—A few years ago, few people in the housing market had ever heard of a short sale. Mention the term today and people, whether they are homeowners or real estate agents, just roll their eyes. The practice, which involves selling a property for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, has grown in popularity as an exit strategy for financially strapped homeowners because it doesn't ding a credit report as deeply as a foreclosure. But because the transactions have to be approved by first and second lien holders,

RISMEDIA, September 25, 2009—Nearly one in five (18%) prospective first-time home buyers said extending the $8,000 tax credit would be the primary influence on their decision to buy a home before the end of 2010, according to a Zillow survey. That would equate to 334,000 buyers from Dec. 1, 2009 to Nov. 30, 2010 - a likely time period for an extension, according to additional analysis.

RISMEDIA, September 23, 2009—The message was clear, and frankly, not the “happy days are here again” refrain that some may have wanted to hear, as news of economic recovery begins to take shape. Yet, more than 500 real estate professionals eagerly packed the standing-room-only opening session at RISMedia and The Top 5 in Real Estate Network®’s Leadership Conference Sept. 9-10 in New York City, to hear the industry’s brightest thought-leaders

RISMEDIA, September 22, 2009—Production of new single-family homes slowed in August 2009 as the expiration date for an important buyer incentive drew nearer, according to figures recently released by the U.S. Commerce Department. While overall housing starts rose 1.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 598,000 units for the month, single-family starts declined 3% to a rate of 479,000 units, ending what had been a five-month run of improvements.  “With the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit set to expire at the end of November,

RISMEDIA, September 21, 2009—(MCT)—American households were $2 trillion richer on June 30, 2009 than they were three months earlier, the first time in two years that household net worth has increased, the Federal Reserve recently reported.  Household wealth rose in the second quarter at a 17% annual rate, or $2 trillion, to $53.1 trillion after falling at a 13% rate in the first quarter, the Fed said.

RISMEDIA, September 19, 2009—Even though prospective home buyers want the benefits of new, more efficient homes, they are unwilling to pay much more for a “green” home, according to a recent member survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).  “Although we are seeing significant interest in green building, cost effectiveness is clearly a key concern among home buyers,” said NAHB Chairman Joe Robson, a home builder and developer in Tulsa, Okla. “Builders said that among buyers

RISMEDIA, September 18, 2009—(MCT)—Tired of paying rent and enticed by a first-time home buyer tax credit, 25-year-old Garrett Rebel began his search for a home in August, scouring the suburbs of Dallas for a house to meet his current and future needs. And he's already running out of time.  The federal tax credit for first-time buyers is "a huge motivator" for Rebel, and he may end his search if the Nov. 30 deadline arrives and he still hasn't closed on a deal.

RISMEDIA, October 10, 2009—(MCT)—The deep recession that's gripped the U.S. economy by the throat since December 2007 is "very likely over at this point," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recently said.  However, Bernanke painted a picture of an underperforming economy well into next year as he fielded questions after a speech at the Brookings Institution, a center-left research center in the nation's capital. "From a technical perspective the recession is very likely over,"

RISMEDIA, September 15, 2009—Amid continued falling home prices, U.S. homebuyers are negotiating even more discounts at the bargaining table, according to July's Zillow Real Estate Market Reports. Buyers paid 3.3%, or a nearly $7,039, less than the last listing price on homes for sale during the month of July 2009. That is down slightly from 3.5%, or $7,630, in June, and substantially down from 4.6% ($10,260) in January.

RISMedia & the Top 5 in Real Estate Network’s Leadership Conference convened nearly 1,000 in New York last week RISMEDIA, September 14, 2009—In the midst of a difficult real estate market and struggling economy, approximately 1,000 real estate professionals enthusiastically attended RISMedia & the Top 5 in Real Estate Network’s Leadership Conference held in New York City last week. An impressive showing of Top 5 Members, brokers, economists, leading industry icons and dedicated agents gathered to exchange strategies for surviving today’s market and preparing for prosperity again in the near future.

RISMEDIA, Sept 11, 2009—(MCT)-Few words sting like the ones that inform you that you're being laid off — especially today, with jobs so hard to come by. If you're a homeowner, the blow of a job loss can be even worse. In households with more than one wage earner, halving the monthly income can severely stretch a budget. And in households where there's one breadwinner, having zero income can be devastating. A rainy day fund helps, but it's important to craft a plan early about how you're going to get through the rough patch. More people are facing this nightmare today: While the volume of subprime mortgages headed to foreclosure is falling, the volume of prime, fixed-rate mortgages defaulting is on the rise, according to statistics

RISMEDIA, September 10, 2009—(MCT)—A gauge of future U.S. home sales rose more than expected in July 2009 to the highest level in more than two years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a tax credit that expires this fall. The National Association of Realtors recently said its seasonally adjusted index of sales contracts signed in July for previously occupied homes rose 3.2% to 97.6. It was the sixth straight increase, and 12% higher than the same month last year. The index of pending home sales could indicate how sales completed this month and next will turn out.

RISMEDIA, Tuesday, September 8, 2009--There is still time to register online for RISMedia's Top 5 in Real Estate Network®’s Leadership Conference in New York City, being held this week, Wednesday and Thursday,  Sept. 9-10 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Online registration will close at 5 p.m., Tuesday, September 8 and after that those interested in attending may register on-site on Wednesday, September 9, beginning at 9 a.m. EST at the RISMedia/Top 5 registration area in the Palm Room of The Roosevelt Hotel.