Resources

Are you complying with the Red Flags Rule?

noreply@blogger.com (Cristal) — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 18:16:00 +0000

Are you complying with the Red Flags Rule?

The Red Flags Rule requires many businesses and organizations to implement a written Identity Theft Prevention Program designed to detect the warning signs — or "red flags" — of identity theft in their day-to-day operations. Are you covered by the Red Flags Rule?

IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates

noreply@blogger.com (Cristal) — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 17:16:00 +0000

IRS Announces 2011 Standard Mileage Rates

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2011 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on Jan. 1, 2011, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

51 cents per mile for business miles driven
19 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations

Read more...

The NEW Worldwide ERC® Summary Appraisal Report and Relocation Appraisal Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Cristal) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:40:00 +0000

The NEW Worldwide ERC® Summary Appraisal Report and Relocation Appraisal Guide

The Worldwide ERC® Summary Appraisal Report and Relocation Appraisal Guide have been completely revised and updated to meet the evolving needs of relocation appraisers and their clients. The Guide covers concepts in relocation appraising and offers step-by-step instructions on how to complete the new seven-page report as well as, tips and samples of completed reports.

noreply@blogger.com (Cristal) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:36:00 +0000

Real Estate Outlook: Modest Recovery
by Kenneth R. Harney
August 16, 2010
www.realtytimes.com

The Federal Reserve's board of governors gave their current economic forecast a label last week: The label is "modest" - and it's an important word to keep it in mind.

Yes, we're still in recovery mode, the Fed governors said, but it's a slow slog, and on any given day the news can sound discouraging.

Yes, the gross domestic product, or GDP, is still growing, and many corporations are sitting on big wads of cash, which is good.

But those same companies are not yet confident enough in the pace of the economic recovery to start hiring again … and that's not good.

It all adds up, according to the Fed, to a mixed picture of where we are on the long pathway out of the Great Recession. More...

Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadline Extended

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 16:17:00 +0000

Home Buyer Tax Credit Deadline Extended
By Carla Hill
July 5, 2010
www.realtytimes.com

The home buyer tax credit now has an extended closing deadline, thanks to Congress. The new deadline is set for September 30, 2010. This new legislation, bill H.R. 5623, will allow for thousands of home buyers to take advantage of the $8,000 and $6,500 tax credits that saw their previous deadline pass on June 30th.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been encouraging of its passage. "We know that up to 180,000 home buyers eligible for the tax credit are rejoicing this morning. And we all thank both houses of Congress for their work to ensure passage of both bills," said NAR president Vicki Cox Golder.

Worldwide ERC® Announces New CEO; Peggy Smith Brings “Keen Understanding” of Mobility Industry

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:10:00 +0000

Worldwide ERC® Announces New CEO; Peggy Smith Brings “Keen Understanding” of Mobility Industry
For Immediate Release - April 26, 2010
By Anita Brienza
www.worldwideerc.org

Arlington, VA, USA - Worldwide ERC®, the workforce mobility association, announced today that Peggy Smith, SCRP, GMS has been named as its new chief executive officer, effective May 15, 2010. Smith comes to Worldwide ERC® from software giant Microsoft Corporation, where she was Director, Global Mobility, with responsibility for more than 5,000 annual global moves.

Mike Washbourn, 2010 Worldwide ERC® President and Chairman of the Search Committee which presented Smith as the CEO candidate to the association’s Board of Directors for their evaluation and approval, noted that "Peggy has served in the top tiers of leadership in Worldwide ERC®, including President and Chairman, and on numerous committees and task forces for the association. She has a keen understanding of the economic environment that impacts our business, a recognized sensitivity to and deep knowledge of a broad range of mobility issues, and the ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships: the perfect blend of skills, experience and vision for our organization and our members."

Federal Reserve keeps federal funds rate unchanged

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:45:00 +0000

Federal Reserve keeps federal funds rate unchanged
By Neil Irwin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 29, 2010
www.washingtonpost.com

Federal Reserve leaders left their target interest rate near zero on Tuesday and restated their intention to keep rates very low for an "extended period" Wednesday, even as they modestly upgraded their assessment of the economy.

"Economic activity has continued to strengthen," the Federal Open Market Committee said in a statement after a two-day policymaking meeting, and "the labor market is beginning to improve." That represents a slight improvement from the assessment issued after the leaders' last policy meeting, in mid-March, when they said only that the job market was "stabilizing."

Fed leaders left the federal funds rate in a range of zero percent to 0.25 percent, where it has been since December 2008, and said conditions are likely to justify leaving it at "exceptionally low" levels for "an extended period."

FHA Announces Policy Changes to Address Risk and Strengthen Finances

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:01:00 +0000

FHA Announces Policy Changes to Address Risk and Strengthen Finances
January 22, 2010
www.rismedia.com

RISMEDIA, January 22, 2010—Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Commissioner David Stevens announced a set of policy changes to strengthen the FHA’s capital reserves, while enabling the agency to continue to fulfill its mission to provide access to homeownership for underserved communities. The changes are the latest in a series that Stevens has enacted in order to better position the FHA to manage its risk while continuing to support the nation’s housing market recovery.

The FHA will propose to take the following steps: increase the mortgage insurance premium (MIP); update the combination of FICO scores and down payments for new borrowers; reduce seller concessions from 6% to 3%; and implement a series of significant measures aimed at increasing lender enforcement. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan previewed the changes in December of last year, noting that the FHA would announce additional details before the end of January.

U.S. Home Sales Rise, Stocks Follow

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:46:00 +0000

U.S. Home Sales Rise, Stocks Follow
Data points to stabilizing housing market; rising dollar limits gain in energy, natural resources.
Ellis Mnyandu, 12.22.09, 12:15 PM EST
www.forbes.com

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks rose Tuesday, pushing the benchmark S&P 500 up briefly to a 14-month high, as data on existing home sales pointed to more stabilization in housing, bolstering optimism about the economic recovery and prospects for profits.

Stocks supporting the market's advance included big manufacturers like Boeing ( BA - news - people ) Co, up 1.5 percent at $55.09, and technology bellwethers, with International Business Machines Corp ( IBM - news - people ) up 0.8 percent at $129.67 after the blue-chip company scored a 10-year outsourcing deal valued at $83 million.

The Dow Jones U.S. home construction index jumped nearly 3 percent following a report that showed sales of previously owned homes rose 7.4 percent in November, which was much stronger than expected.

Home sales surge, boosting recovery hopes

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Home sales surge, boosting recovery hopes
Tax break helps boost housing market, but GDP growth revised downward
msnbc.com staff and news service reports
updated 11:34 a.m. CT, Tues., Dec . 22, 2009
www.msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON - The recovery may have gotten off to a slow start in the third quarter, but a surge in home sales last month could presage a more robust end to the year.

Sales of existing homes rose in November to the highest level in nearly three years, reflecting an extraordinary level of federal support that has pulled the housing market back from its worst downturn since the Great Depression.

The National Association of Realtors said sales rose 7.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.54 million from a downwardly revised pace of 6.09 million in October. Sales had been expected to rise to a pace of 6.25 million, according to economists surveyed by Thomson Reuters.

Foreclosure activity falls for fourth month

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Foreclosure activity falls for fourth month
Various government efforts help, but crisis is still likely to get worse
Associated Press
updated 9:29 a.m. CT, Thurs., Dec . 10, 2009
www.msnbc.com

WASHINGTON - The number of homeowners on the brink of foreclosure fell in November, the fourth straight monthly decline, as mortgage companies evaluated whether borrowers were eligible for help.

Nearly 307,000 households, or one in every 417 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice in November, down 8 percent from a month earlier, RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. Banks repossessed about 77,000 homes last month, down slightly from October.

Cities Recovering From The Foreclosure Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Cities Recovering From The Foreclosure Crisis
In these metro areas, both modest incomes and stable real estate markets are improving the outlook for borrowers.
Francesca Levy, 12.10.09, 07:00 PM EST
www.forbes.com

No American city fully sidestepped the housing foreclosure problem. But tell-tale boarded-up windows and lines of once-glittering condominiums standing empty are images largely absent from several metro areas. And many of these real estate markets are well-poised to recover.

The cities coming back strongest from the foreclosure crisis are those that didn't see massive price inflation as the housing bubble swelled (the national peak was the second quarter of 2006, but different areas peaked at slightly different times), as well as blue-collar towns with modest economies. This is according to data provided to Forbes by Lender Processing Services (LPS), a mortgage-industry service provider.

Rates on 30-year loans remain below 5 percent

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:24:00 +0000

Rates on 30-year loans remain below 5 percent
The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage is 4.83 percent
Associated Press
November, 19 2009

Rates on 30-year mortgages stayed below 5 percent this week but remained above the record set earlier this year, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage fell to 4.83 percent, down from 4.91 percent last week, the mortgage company said. Last year at this time, 30-year mortgages averaged 6.04 percent.

Rates hit a record low of 4.78 percent in the spring, and remain attractive for people looking to buy a home or refinance their existing mortgage. Still, credit standards remain tough, so the best rates usually are available only to borrowers with solid credit and a 20 percent down payment.

Foreclosure filings dip for third straight month

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Foreclosure filings dip for third straight month
But activity is still up 19 percent over the same period last year
Associated Press
November, 12 2009

NEW YORK - The number of homeowners on the brink of losing their homes dipped in October, the third straight monthly decline, as foreclosure prevention programs helped more borrowers.

But foreclosure filings are still up 19 percent from a year ago, RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday, and rising job losses continue to threaten the stabilizing trend.

More than 332,000 households, or one in every 385 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice in October, such as a notice of default or trustee's sale. That's down 3 percent from September.

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Existing-Home Sales Record Big Gains
Daily Real Estate News
November, 23 2009

Driven by the home buyer tax credit, existing-home sales showed another big gain in October with a strong uptrend established over the past seven months, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. At the same time, inventories have continued to decline.

Existing-home sales—including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops—surged 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.10 million units in October from a downwardly revised pace of 5.54 million in September, and are 23.5 percent above the 4.94 million-unit level in October 2008. Sales activity is at the highest pace since February 2007 when it hit 6.55 million.

$8,000 homebuyers tax credit extended

noreply@blogger.com (Jon and Jaime Lubner) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 15:03:00 +0000

$8,000 homebuyers tax credit extended
CNNMoney.com
November, 6 2009

President Obama signed an extension and expansion of the first-time homebuyers tax credit on Friday.

The $8,000 credit was scheduled to lapse on Dec. 1 but will now be in effect through the end of June. Homebuyers must sign a contract before April 30 and close by June 30. The income limits were also raised: Single buyers can now earn up to $125,000 and still get the full credit while a married couple can earn $225,000.

The bill also made more homeowners eligible to claim the credit on their taxes. First-time buyers -- those who have not owned a home in the past three years -- still qualify for an $8,000 rebate. But now people who want to trade up can also qualify. Those who have owned and occupied a residence for at least five years out of the past eight can claim a $6,500 tax credit if they close on a purchase by the end of June.