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Archive for the ‘Business’ Category:

Pending Sales of US Previously Owned Homes Rise

By Lisa M Loeffler on January 3rd, 2011
The number of contracts to buy previously owned homes rose more than forecast in November, a sign sales are recovering following a post-tax credit plunge. The index of pending resales increased 3.5 percent after jumping a record 10 percent in October, the National Association of Realtors said today in Washington. The median forecast in a ... [Continue Reading]

Foreclosure freeze helps home seizures decline 9% in October

By Lisa M Loeffler on November 12th, 2010
Lenders repossessed 9% fewer homes in October, an indication that the foreclosure freezes put in place by several major banks could be slowing the record pace of home seizures this year, if only temporarily. Whether the trend continues depends on how quickly the major banks correct their errors and resume foreclosing. Daren Blomquist, an analyst ... [Continue Reading]

Wells Fargo says it is reviewing its foreclosure practices

By Lisa M Loeffler on October 12th, 2010
Wells Fargo & Co. said Tuesday that it had begun reviewing its pending foreclosures in the 23 states where courts preside over the seizure of homes. It was not immediately clear whether that review extended into so-called non-judicial states such as California. A spokesman for the bank, Jason Menke, said the bank was not instituting ... [Continue Reading]

Business spending on capital goods rises in August

By Lisa M Loeffler on September 25th, 2010
U.S. companies invested last month in computers, communications equipment and machinery, boosting capital goods orders for the third time in four months. ... [Continue Reading]

US Housing Makes Leap to 4-month High

By Lisa M Loeffler on September 21st, 2010
Home construction increased last month and applications for building permits also grew. The gains were driven mainly by apartment and condominium construction, not the much larger single-family homes sector. Construction of new homes and apartments rose 10.5 percent in August from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 598,000, the Commerce Department ... [Continue Reading]

The Good News About Rising Mortgage Rates

By Lisa M Loeffler on September 7th, 2010
Rising mortgage rates may seem like the last thing the economy needs right now. Then again, they may prove a tonic. One indication of whether that may be the case will be the coming weekly tallies of mortgage-application activity from the Mortgage Bankers Association. While Wednesday’s release might not yet reflect the sudden, recent turn ... [Continue Reading]

Exceeding Expectations, Pending Home Sales Rise 5.2%

By Lisa M Loeffler on September 3rd, 2010
Following a sharp drop in the months immediately after the expiration of the home buyer tax credit, pending home sales have modestly risen, according to the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator, rose 5.2% to 79.4 based on contracts signed in July from a downwardly revised 75.5 in June, ... [Continue Reading]

Why the 27% drop in home sales shouldn’t worry you (too much)

By Lisa M Loeffler on August 27th, 2010
Time to take a deep breath. Here’s what the news really means to you: Likely nothing. ... [Continue Reading]

Mortgage Fraud Is Rising, With a Twist

By Lisa M Loeffler on August 23rd, 2010
New data suggests that mortgage fraud—which got tougher to pull off after the collapse of the U.S. real estate market—is returning in a big way. ... [Continue Reading]

Have You Had the ‘Social Media Talk’ with Your Clients?

By Lisa M Loeffler on July 14th, 2010
In today’s real estate market, buyer’s still carry the upper hand when it comes to negotiation. And as their Realtor, it’s your job to passionately and intelligently guide and educate your clients through the sales process from start to finish. ... [Continue Reading]
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