Monday, January 2, 2012

NAR Pulse: This Weeks Top Stories from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

This weeks headlines from the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS include: Save $130 on the new Buyers/Sellers Profile;
access your member guide anywhere and NAR applauds mortgage reform
bill. Save $130 on the New 2011 Buyers and Sellers Profile
The

HUNT Real Estate ERA Creates Super Branch

At a meeting held recently at the Craftsman Inn in
Fayetteville, N.Y., HUNT Real Estate ERA announced plans to open a
new Super BranchThe Workplace for the Real Estate Professional
Elite. To create this Super Branch, the existing HUNT
offices

Pomona hills home retains touches of elegance

A Mediterranean Revival estate in Pomona's Ganesha Hills
built in 1930 for Cora Armour, a prominent local resident, retains
the trappings of an earlier elegance. Among custom details are high
gable ceilings with original painted panels in the dining room, an
apse that takes in the views of the valley and a motorized vehicle
turntable in the oversized garage.

10 Simple Steps for Making 2012 a Success

In recent years, it has been hard to ignore all of the
negative publicity that has been circulating about the national
economy, the stock market and current events. The state of the real
estate market in particular has received a

PCMS Consulting Partners with Pulse Realty Software

In an effort to help clients differentiate themselves by
offering enhanced agent and consumer experiences, PCMS Consulting
has signed a partnership agreement with Pulse Realty Software.
Pulse was founded in 2006 with the goal of streamlining brokerage
operations. By eliminating

Showing Suite Productivity Software Enables Agents to Provide Top-Notch Service

Maintaining a competitive edge in todays market takes more
than positioning yourself as an educated, trusted advisor. As
buyers and sellers alike continue to turn to the Internet to start
their real estate search, its more important than ever that

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties Announces Several Promotions

Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, a leading Coldwell Banker
Residential Affiliate in New York State, has promoted several
individuals within the organization in its various Capital Region
offices, the company has announced. In the Green Island office,
Mary Huls was promoted

Actions on Housing Policy Will Make or Break Recovery

We have many reasons to be optimistic about housing. Past-due
mortgages and foreclosure filings have been trending down in recent
months, not to mention inventory is decreasing, interest rates are
lower than ever and home prices are stabilizing. But the

Hot Property: Dennis Quaid sells Pacific Palisades estate

The actor's property, which sells for $9.5 million, came on
the market in March at $16.5 million.Actor Dennis Quaid has sold
his equestrian estate in Pacific Palisades for $9.5 million.

Prudential Network Realty Agent Ranked No. 1 Sales Associate in Florida

Prudential Network Realtys Elizabeth Hudgins of the Ponte
Vedra Beach office was recently recognized as the No. 1 sales
associate in the Prudential Real Estate Network in Florida, which
encompasses more than 10,000 agents, the company announced. In
year-to-date statistics

Homeowners want to change association board's meeting time

How can owners get the board to change the meeting time?
Also: An association dislikes the way its management company
handles its money.Question: Our monthly homeowner association board
meetings are Wednesdays at 4 p.m., when most owners are at work.
This ensures a low turnout. Of 200 owners, maybe two can attend.
How can owners get the board to change the meeting time?

A classic Italian villa in Long Beach

Mature Cypresses line the driveway of a classic Italian villa
in a gated community in Long Beach. An arched entrance opens to
soaring ceilings hand-painted by artisans. Wall murals inspired by
different periods of art history, original plaster crown moldings
and floor-to-ceiling doors with arched tops continue throughout the
main living spaces.

Payroll tax cut may hurt housing market

To pay for the two-month payroll tax cut, a small fee will be
levied for a decade on all mortgages sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie
Mac. That also makes it harder to overhaul the housing finance
system.The new mortgage fee to fund the temporary extension of the
payroll tax cut could damp the still-sluggish real estate market
and complicate efforts to overhaul the nation's wounded housing
finance system.

Put conditions in writing when letting tenant alter property

Taking steps such as having the tenants and landlord sign an
agreement regarding the proposed work, and getting the proper
permits for the job, can avert disputes and headaches down the
road.Question: I own a second home that I rent to a couple. They
have lived there for eight months. Recently, the wife told me they
would like to install a 220-volt electrical outlet in the garage so
that they can use a heavy-duty washer/dryer combo. I trust them,
but I still want to check whether I am required to allow them to
make this alteration and, if so, what my rights are if something
goes wrong.

Showing Suite Productivity Software Enables Agents to Provide Top-Notch Service

Maintaining a competitive edge in todays market takes more
than positioning yourself as an educated, trusted advisor. As
buyers and sellers alike continue to turn to the Internet to start
their real estate search, its more important than ever that

Realogy Enters Into Agreements to Amend and Extend Apple Ridge Securitization Facility

Realogy Corporation (the company) announced recently that it
and its subsidiaries have entered into agreements to amend and
extend the existing Apple Ridge Funding LLC securitization program
utilized by the companys relocation services operating unit, Cartus
Corporation. Under the terms

BHG Rand Realty Owners Honored with Award of Distinction

The Rand Family recently received the Rockland Economic
Development Corporations (REDC) Award of Distinction for their
ongoing dedication, commitment and contributions to economic
development in Rockland County, NY. Better Homes and Gardens Rand
Realty Founder and CEO Marsha Rand opened

Kiplingers Housing Forecast: Positive Signs Offset the Negative

The median home price in the U.S. has plunged nearly 40% in a
little over five years, but the worst is definitely over, according
to a recent report by Kiplinger: The market has finally wrung out
the last excess valuations

Regional Spotlight: Florida Tops U.S. for International Web Real Estate Traffic

Point2 recently released third quarter international consumer
real estate-traffic data for the United States on the Point2 Homes
consumer portal. Florida properties emerged as the lead attraction
for foreigners online, followed by Arizona and Nevada real estate
listings. Florida

Regional Spotlight: Nevada Law Slows Foreclosure Activity

(MCT)For years, the housing news in Nevada has been
unrelentingly bleak: Nearly 3 in 5 homeowners, and even the states
attorney general, are underwater on their home loans. In Las Vegas,
home prices have tumbled further than in any U.S.

Survey Shows Speedy Sales in SoCal Luxury Housing Markets

High end homes in both Malibu and Pacific Palisades are
selling faster, according to a Westside Estate Agency (WEA)
analysis of housing data in the two luxury markets through the
third quarter. The report, which reviews overall total sales
in

Kiplingers Housing Forecast: Positive Signs Offset the Negative

The median home price in the U.S. has plunged nearly 40% in a
little over five years, but the worst is definitely over, according
to a recent report by Kiplinger: The market has finally wrung out
the last excess valuations

The RREIN Roundtable: Whats in Store for 2012?

For most in real estate, 2011 was yet another rough and
tumble year. As we tried our best to deflect the continued slings
and arrows of a challenged economy, many adjusted to the market and
unearthed new opportunities for growth

Long Nguyen of J. Rockcliff REALTORS Named REALTOR of the Year

J. Rockcliff REALTORS, a premier San Francisco East Bay
residential real estate firm, has announced that Long Nguyen of the
companys Walnut Creek office has been named REALTOR, of the Year by
the Contra Costa REALTORS (CCRIM) in Motion organization

Prudential Network Realty Supports Jacksonville Children

The team of real estate professionals at Prudential Network
Realtys Avondale and San Marco, Fla. offices are helping make the
holiday season a little brighter for some Jacksonville children and
families this year by supporting several charitable events and
activities

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Matches All-Time Record Low

Freddie Mac recently released the results of its Primary
Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing average fixed mortgage rates
at or near their all-time lows. The 30-year fixed matched the
average all-time record low of 3.94 percent, and a new
all-time

Life in Mobile: Market Snapshot

As 2011 draws to a close, it makes you wonder; where did the
time go? On the other hand, one thing youre not left wondering is
whether mobile will remain an important part of the technological
and marketing landscape moving

Survey Shows Speedy Sales in SoCal Luxury Housing Markets

High end homes in both Malibu and Pacific Palisades are
selling faster, according to a Westside Estate Agency (WEA)
analysis of housing data in the two luxury markets through the
third quarter. The report, which reviews overall total sales
in

Signs of Stability: November Home Sales in Metro Chicago

Home sales activity in the metropolitan Chicago real estate
market during November delivered another indication that a gradual
increase in the number of homes changing hands is beginning to help
stabilize home prices, according to an analysis by RE/MAX of

Actions on Housing Policy Will Make or Break Recovery

We have many reasons to be optimistic about housing. Past-due
mortgages and foreclosure filings have been trending down in recent
months, not to mention inventory is decreasing, interest rates are
lower than ever and home prices are stabilizing. But the

Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott's new reality

The couple sell their Encino home, which was featured in
their reality show, 'Tori Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood,' and
buy a new home in Malibu.From all appearances, Tori Spelling and
Dean McDermott have had a hectic year, juggling multiple television
shows and real estate transactions. Most recently, they sold their
Encino home for $2.5 million.

Home prices in largest U.S. cities fall in October from September

The SP/Case-Shiller index shows home prices dropped in
19 of 20 cities in October, dashing hopes that the sluggish housing
market was headed for an upturn.Home prices in the nation's largest
cities fell in October for the second straight month, suggesting
that prices will head down further next year and dashing hopes that
the sluggish housing market was headed for an upturn.

Bridging the great divide between home buyers and sellers

With mortgage rates below 4% and prices near bottom in many
markets, it's a good time to buy a house. But many owners won't
sell because they can't get the price they want.Where do you side
in the great real estate buy-sell divide of 2012? If you're a
homeowner considering selling sometime in the new year, are you
apprehensive that you won't get the price you need or want, and
therefore it's possible you won't even try to sell?

New high-end realty offices opening despite real estate downturn

Boutique firms in high-end niches are continuing to open even
as the number of licensed agents statewide shrinks.Despite the
tanking of the housing market, posh new realty offices have
continued to open their doors, particularly in upper-priced Los
Angeles-area communities where agents need only a few sales a year
to make a living.

Prudential Network Realty Agent Ranked No. 1 Sales Associate in Florida

Prudential Network Realtys Elizabeth Hudgins of the Ponte
Vedra Beach office was recently recognized as the No. 1 sales
associate in the Prudential Real Estate Network in Florida, which
encompasses more than 10,000 agents, the company announced. In
year-to-date statistics