Jun
13
Foreclosures Continue to Skyrocket
Foreclosures Continue to Skyrocket The nationwide rate of increase for default notices and foreclosure auction notices slowed in May, with default notices up just 1 percent from April and auction notices down 3 percent compared to April. But bank repossessions surged in May, up 7 percent from April and 48 percent compared to May 2007, pushing the total inventory of bank-owned REOs to more than 700,000, according to RealtyTrac, which tracks and sells foreclosures. “May was the third straight month where we’ve seen a month-to-month increase in foreclosure activity and […]
Jun
11
REITs OUTPERFORM STOCK MARKET
REITs Outperform Stock Market in 2008; As Dow, S&P Sink, Residential REITs are Up 15.7% Published: June 10, 2008 By Anuradha Kher, Online News Editor Washington, D.C.–Despite hitting a low in February this year, the FTSE NAREIT All REIT Index outperformed other major market benchmarks so far in 2008. Through the first five months of 2008, the FTSE NAREIT All REIT Index was up 6.46 percent, while the FTSE NAREIT Equity REIT Index was up 8.17 percent, as other market benchmarks remained in negative territory to start the year (the […]
Jun
11
Curb Appeal
In this challenging real estate market, curb appeal is particularly important for a home seller. Here are some tips for hiring a landscaper who will do a good job at a reasonable price. Review a portfolio. A neighbor’s recommendation is a good starting point, but it is also worthwhile to examine other jobs the landscaper has done and ask for references. Hiring someone who isn’t reliable, doesn’t finish the job or who uses unhealthy plants is a costly mistake. Consider maintenance. Asking for a low-maintenance design will ensure that even […]
Jun
10
Homes Sales Better Than Expected
I always like posting positive signs that we are seeing in the real estate market. There is so much negativity in the news, I think it’s important to take note that there are positives in the market and it’s not all gloom and doom. Here we see an unexpected rise in the number of houses that were put under contract signaling that buyers are itching to come back in the market, they are just picking their spots and continue to be cautious. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — The number of homes […]