Tag Archives: Economy

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 27. Aug, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

The midterm election season is officially underway with many states holding their primaries – some of them out-and-out nail biters. No matter which side of the aisle you fall, elections are certainly an interesting spectator sport as the candidates pull out their boxing gloves. In a standoff of another kind, sometimes the relationship between agent [...]

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Ten Considerations in Creating a Succession Plan

Ten Considerations in Creating a Succession Plan

Posted on 12. Aug, 2010 by Robert Albanese.

A succession plan is as important as life insurance. Please consider your options as early as possible in your tenure. If Buffet were to retire today, would his company find the talent to lead them? Are you certain that your company would continue on as you had hoped? Thinking ahead is a cardinal rule of [...]

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Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 30. Jul, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

There was a lot to digest this week, and I’m not just talking about the half-size “Super Sub” President Obama ordered in Edison, New Jersey as part of his tour supporting a small business plan. Food for thought in our industry came in the form of mortgage-to-income ratios at the lowest in more than 30 [...]

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Tax Credit Extension or Not

Tax Credit Extension or Not

Posted on 28. Jun, 2010 by Wendy Forsythe.

We prospect diligently to find qualified buyers. We work with them tireless to find the perfect home. We negotiate expertly on their behalf to get an accepted offer. But then the real work begins these days. As we try to hold it all together and actually get to a successful closing. NAR estimates that as [...]

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Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 11. Jun, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

On the foreclosure front this week, the pace of prime borrowers succumbing to foreclosure is accelerating with unemployment being the major driver. The good news, though, is that foreclosures in general leveled off in May, with numbers nearly flat from a year ago. This fluctuation and changes in the market lately have accounted for a [...]

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Got Attitude?

Got Attitude?

Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by Rick Gregory.

Economic forecasts are an interesting thing to consider.  Exactly 3 weeks ago, I read several forecasts that stated that the market was indeed recovering and that the total annualized home sales volume was going to exceed approximately 5.7 million units.  Today, I’ve read that May was down 25 – 30% in some markets and that, [...]

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Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 28. May, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

With Memorial Day this weekend, the perfect storm is setting in for the summer home buying season. Riding the tails of a 7.6% increase in sales of existing homes in April, agents need to take advantage of the season and help sellers spruce up their outdoor areas and to communicate with buyers on what an [...]

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What’s Happening with Rates?

What’s Happening with Rates?

Posted on 20. May, 2010 by Rick Gregory.

I spend a lot of time with our franchisees discussing both macro and micro economic trends in various parts around our great country.  During a recent conversation regarding home affordability, a sales associate asked what causes mortgage rates to change so quickly.  This particular sales associate is newer to the business and apparently, just had [...]

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Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 07. May, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

Of course, last Friday was the long anticipated deadline of the home buyer tax credits. While it did cause last minute deals to hurry in and reportedly boosted monthly sales 5.3 percent in March, the results were far less significant than many anticipated. We think this is good news, as it shows the tax credit [...]

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Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Week in Review: Things We Liked from the Week That Was

Posted on 30. Apr, 2010 by Sherry Chris.

As expected, the end of the tax credit this week has the industry and consumers abuzz. Last month, the April 30th deadline increased sales of newly built single-family homes a whopping 26.9 percent and sales of existing homes surged 6.8 percent. Overall, the tax credit has helped 1.8 million people buy homes. Wow! Yet some [...]

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Taking Suggestions

Taking Suggestions

Posted on 16. Apr, 2010 by Rick Gregory.

The White House wants our input on how to overhaul the nation’s $11-Trillion mortgage market. Through the Office of the Federal Register, the administration will be asking the public to provide comments to questions regarding the futures of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the broader U.S. housing-finance system.

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