RISMedia

2 Million Americans Expected to Take Advantage of Extended, Expanded Homebuyer Credit

RISMEDIA, December 2, 2009—More American homebuyers will get tax relief thanks to changes made to the First-Time Homebuyer Credit. H&R Block advises the popular credit is now more accessible to existing homeowners and first-time homebuyers in three ways: 1. Through a tax credit worth up to $6,500 for existing homeowners in ...

Carey Tufts Promoted to Chief Marketing Officer at Point2 Technologies

RISMEDIA, December 2, 2009—Point2 Technologies Inc. announced the promotion of Carey Tufts to the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). A five year veteran of Point2, Tufts most recently held the position of Vice President of Marketing, a position he was promoted to in the fall of 2008. According ...

RealtyBid.com Offers Holiday Treat to Agents

RISMEDIA, December 2, 2009—Online home auction company RealtyBid.com is offering a holiday treat to real estate agents across the country. Throughout the month of December, RealtyBid.com has discounted its standard listing fee of $150 to $25 for real estate agents looking to market one or more of their property listings ...

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate Continues Rapid Fall

RISMEDIA, December 2, 2009—The weekly average rate borrowers were quoted on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace for 30-year fixed mortgages decreased seven basis points last week to 4.62%, down from 4.69% the week prior, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor, compiled by real estate website Zillow.com. Rates for 15-year fixed mortgages ...

Weekly Video Tip: Lights, Camera, Action! How to Create a Video Tour—Yourself

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—When it comes to marketing real estate, it’s common knowledge that potential buyers want a visual representation of homes…and with the influx of listings including photos and virtual tours, it’s important to upgrade your marketing efforts to help differentiate yourself. While many real estate companies and agents ...

Weekly Video Tip: Lights, Camera, Action! How to Create a Video Tour – Yourself

Today’s News at a Glance

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The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Is an Invitation to Succeed. Will You Accept?

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Now that the first-time home buyer tax credit has been renewed and improved, it’s time for you to pick up some of this low lying fruit and to profit from it. Some agents report that up to 60% of their transactions this year have been these first-time tax ...

Are You a Victim of Predatory Lending?

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Back in the day, predatory lending was pretty much confined to grifters combing poorer neighborhoods looking for elderly or ignorant homeowners with substantial equity. Oh, they’re still out there. But, the securitization of mortgages brought a level of sophistication to predatory lending that has allowed it to ...

New-Home Sales Rise 6.2% in October 2009

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—(MCT)—Sales of new homes rose 6.2% in October 2009 on strong results in the South, the Commerce Department estimated recently. The rise in U.S. new-home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 430,000 was well above the 390,000 pace that economists surveyed by MarketWatch had expected. Sales rose ...

Company Spotlight: The Key Is Consistency

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Ed Blackwell’s been in real estate for 15+ years—all with Keller Williams Realty—but is still fairly new to the Lowe’s REALTOR® Benefits Program. And even though he’s one of 12,000+ Realtors in the Houston area, Blackwell believes that the Lowe’s program will eventually make him stand out ...

Take Caution When Using Debit Cards for Holiday Purchases

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—(MCT)—With the holiday shopping season in full swing, when consumers step up to the cash register to pay for their holiday purchases this year, a large percentage will pay with a debit card. Debit cards have overtaken credit cards and other noncash methods as the payment of choice ...

Rei Mesa Appointed as Chairman of Florida Real Estate Services Committee for 2nd Term

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—The Florida Association of REALTORS 2010 President Wendell Davis confirmed the appointment of Rei Mesa, President and Chief Operating Officer of Prudential Florida Real Estate Services, for a second term as the Chairman of the Florida Real Estate Services Committee. “On behalf of Wendell and 2010 President-elect Pat ...

Realtors Give Back to Community during Triple Play Convention

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Realtors® are giving back during the Triple Play REALTOR Convention & Trade Expo, which is scheduled for December 8-10, 2009 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. For the second year in a row, the New Jersey, New York State and Pennsylvania associations of Realtors will host ...

Remax.com to Add Foreclosures to Website

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Homebuyers looking for the right home at a great price will now be able to search through more than a million foreclosed properties and access agents specializing in short sales and foreclosures, all in one location. RE/MAX International, Inc. is the first national real estate franchise to offer ...

Delta Media Group Launches National Real Estate Portal Site PropertyPursuit.com

RISMEDIA, December 1, 2009—Delta Media Group, a leading real estate website and lead management developer of more than 32,000 broker and agent sites, announced the launch of PropertyPursuit.com, a broker and agent-centric national real estate portal. PropertyPursuit.com is unique in that it drives all leads from the site directly to the ...

Today’s News at a Glance

Click here for a summary of today’s news.

9 Home Improvements to Promote Healthy Living in Your Home

RISMEDIA, November 30, 2009—Consumers are more conscientious about healthy living than ever before and this awareness is making its way to the homebuilding industry, particularly in the custom home market, says Michael Lenahen who owns Ponte Vedra, Fla.-based Aurora Custom Homes. “As more consumers begin to realize how much their home ...

NAR Pulse: This Week’s Top Stories from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

RISMEDIA, November 30, 2009—This week’s headlines from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® include: Take NAR’s 2009 Industry Pulse Survey for your chance to win a GPS, save up to 40% on select rentals from REALTOR Benefits® Program Partner, Avis, and increase business with Lowes new mobile site. Take the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ...

‘Leggo My Eggo’ – Eggo Waffles in Limited Supply

RISMEDIA, November 30, 2009—(MCT)—North Vermilion Street County Market sales associate Lisa Juvinall doesn't mind if someone doesn't "Leggo her Eggo." They aren't part of her morning breakfast routine. "I don't miss them," she said. But other waffle aficionados do and are stocking up as Kellogg Co. recently announced there will be a ...