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Today’s Top Story Archive


Real Estate Auctions: Top Bid Doesn’t Always Guarantee Sale

RISMEDIA, September 4, 2009—(MCT)—The atmosphere is electric, the deals can be dazzling, and the process can turn a bidder into a home buyer seemingly in a matter of minutes. But as interest in real estate auctions grows, bidders are finding out it pays to read the fine print, be prepared and realize that it's best not to hire the movers until the deal, not the auction, is sealed. Not everyone who "wins" at an auction walks away with a new home. 


No Reservations: Manage the Consumer Confidence Slump

RISMEDIA, September 3, 2009—The only guarantee in real estate is that values and sales activity can rise and fall, but consumers still look for some assurance that navigating the current market is a sensible move.  As of late July, the ABC News Consumer Comfort Index stood at -47 points, just seven points up from the record low of -54 reached in January.  Consumer trepidation is keeping many potential customers from even beginning to explore real estate options that you know are deep and wide, such as the $8,000


Pending Home Sales on a Roll, Up for Sixth Straight Month

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2009—Contract activity for pending home sales has risen for six straight months, a pattern not seen in the history of the index since it began in 2001, according to the National Association of Realtors®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in July, increased 3.2% to 97.6 from a reading of 94.6 in June, and is 12.0% higher than July 2008 when it was 87.1.The index is at the highest level since June 2007 when it was 100.7.


Inviting Consumers to Stay

RISMEDIA, September 1, 2009—As the economy struggles, businesses across all industries scramble to capture their share of shrinking consumer dollars with promises of bigger and better service. The real estate industry is certainly no exception. In a tough market, attracting consumers and keeping them takes on an entirely new meaning. That’s why HSA Home Warranty has revamped and reinforced its customer service effort—to keep clients coming back for more and, thereby, build loyal relationships with Realtors. 


Agents Prepare for Tomorrow as Market Reveals Positive Signs

Top 5 Focus Groups, Leadership Conference Arm Real Estate Pros with Hands-on Strategies RISMEDIA, August 31, 2009—Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to creating maximum value for all Members of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, Top 5 President and Co-founder, Allan Dalton, recently hosted several focus groups for members in preparation for next week's RISMedia & The Top 5 in Real Estate Network's® Leadership Conference, being held in New York City on Sept. 9 and 10. More than 100 Members met to discuss strategies for implementing the wide array of Top 5 resources-strategies that will be covered in depth during the Conference.


Largest U.S. Cities Continue to be Plagued by Home Price Reductions

RISMEDIA, August 29, 2009-Trulia, Inc., a real estate search website, announced that 25% of homes currently on the market in the United States as of August 1, 2009 have experienced at least one price cut. The percentage of price reductions has continued to increase month-over-month for the past three months. The total value slashed off active listings now totals $27.8 billion. Major metros across the U.S. continue to be the hardest hit with 66% of the top 50 markets having percentage-of-price-reduction levels above the national average. Discounts for price-reduced homes has slightly decreased to an average of 10% off of the original listing price


Homeowners Save Energy, Cash with Tax Breaks

RISMEDIA, August 28, 2009-(MCT)-Bob Menconi enjoys his newly replaced air conditioner at his house. The A/C was replaced by a federal tax rebate. So your car isn't a clunker? And you're not buying a new home? But maybe your air-conditioning unit is on the fritz. Or your small business needs new equipment or office furniture. Perhaps you have always wanted solar panels. Then there is a tax break waiting for you, too.


First-Time Home Buyers Dominate Real Estate Market

RISMEDIA, August 27, 2009-With the first-time home buyer's tax credit in full effect, younger buyers are taking the opportunity to enter the real estate market and the New Jersey real estate market has seen its fair share of first-time buyers enter the playing field recently. Across the state, agents are finding that they must consider the first-time home buyers' unique needs and adapt to this new type of client. "Those first-time home buyers who've entered the housing market- drawn by the perfect storm of historically low interest rates, attractive prices and the $8,000 tax credit- expect much more


Positive Signs: Home Prices on an Upswing in Second Quarter 2009

RISMEDIA, August 26, 2009-Data through June 2009, released by Standard & Poor's for its S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, the leading measure of U.S. home prices, show that the U.S. National Home Price Index improved in the second quarter of 2009. The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index- which covers all nine U.S. census divisions- recorded a 14.9% decline in the 2nd quarter of 2009 versus the 2nd quarter of 2008. While still a substantial negative annual rate of return, this is an improvement over the record decline of 19.1% reported in the 1st quarter of the year.


Don’t Miss: Goals, Strategies and Tactics for Leading Agents to Significantly Increase Your Income

RISMEDIA, August 24, 2009-Do you want to increase your annual income and be successful in your career? Do you have the tools to do so? In this special keynote address, listen as Top 5's Allan Dalton and John Featherston illustrate how now--more than ever--it is imperative that you arm yourself with the right tools and systems to move ahead...and be the most successful agent you can be.


Entry-Level Housing Affordability Reaches 67% in Second Quarter of 2009

RISMEDIA, August 22, 2009-The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California stood at 67% in the second quarter of 2009, compared with 49% (revised) for the same period a year ago, according to a report recently released


Housing Affordability Continues to Hover Near Highest Level in 18 Years

RISMEDIA, August 21, 2009-Bolstered by affordable interest rates and low prices, nationwide housing affordability during the second quarter of 2009 continued to hover near its highest level since the series began 18 years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). The HOI showed that 72.3% of all new and existing homes sold in the second quarter of 2009 were affordable to families earning the national median income of $64,000,


How Is the Economic Stimulus Package Helping Buyers and Sellers?

RISMEDIA, August 20, 2009-As Realtors nationwide alongside the government work to create new programs and innovative strategies in order to lure new buyers into the market, now may be a good time to look at the way in which the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has affected not only the real estate industry, but the economy as well.


How to Start Planning for Your Business 10, 20 or More Years Out

RISMEDIA, August 19, 2009-While planning this far out may seem, well, far out, it is highly important to managing a sustainable business. Even if you're staying in the same town to the end, knowing how it will change over time is paramount to your success. You need to find the right ways to evolve and stay relevant.


Homeowners Fight for Loan Modifications from Swamped Mortgage Servicers

RISMEDIA, August 19, 2009-(MCT)-After losing his job in January, Stuart Miller has fought hard to keep his home out of foreclosure. At the end of May, the Plano, Texas, man began trying to get Wells Fargo & Co. to review his application for a loan modification. After making repeated calls, he finally was told that the company would place a three-month moratorium on his mortgage payments.


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