US Real Estate Directory Blog

Yahoo Directory Worth It?

Last year around this time, I took the plunge for the Yahoo Directory – paying my 9 review fee. I was reviewed and added here: http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/U_S__States/Illinois/Cities/Aurora/Real_Estate/
Since then, I can honestly say, the amount of traffic I have received from being listed has been minor – likely in the single digits. For many webmasters, the dilema of [...]

Buying Pre-Foreclosures

When buying a home, whether as an investor or to live in, there are many options to finding an affordable home. Either way you want to get as much home as you can for the best price possible. A great place to start is to look at pre-foreclosures. These are homes that are still in control of the homeowner but are in danger of being repossessed by the bank. By finding these homes you can contact the owner and offer them a way out of their financial situation that can benefit you and them. Most homeowners will do what it takes to save their credit and not have their home taken away from them by the bank. By offering them a reasonable amount for their home you can easily have a win/win situation and wind up with a great new home.

Get additional information on Buying PreForeclosures.

Short Sale vs. Foreclosure

In default and underwater on 12 properties, a reader wonders if selling at a loss is any better than just walking away.

Builders Make Plea for Federal Aid

Home builders are lobbying Congress for a 0 billion stimulus package, arguing that financial markets won’t recover until home prices stop falling.

Home prices tumble to 2004 levels

Sales of existing U.S. homes fell more than expected last month, as economic fears made buyers leery even though prices plunged to the lowest level in more than four years.

Tax credit for first-time buyers giving little boost to housing (MarketWatch)

Over the summer, many in the housing industry applauded the temporary first-time home buyer tax credits written into the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008. But apparently buyers weren’t as impressed.

Only a Buyer Knows a Home’s Value

The one point of widespread agreement in the real-estate industry: there is no single accurate index of home prices.

Fannie, Freddie Halt Foreclosures

Fannie and Freddie suspend foreclosure sales and evictions on certain properties until January as it prepares for its loan-modification program. (Statements)

Shocks in Commercial Mortgage Trigger Selloff in REIT Stocks

These days, everything has a knock-on effect. Earlier in the week, an analyst report on the potential default of a couple of commercial-mortgage deals caused a big hit to the corresponding credit market. That, in turn, has caused a selloff in the stocks of REITs.

Treasurys Gain, and Bonds Feel Pain

Credit markets were at crisis levels, as investors flocked to Treasurys while dumping bonds tied to commercial real estate and corporate debt.