A financial safety net could help you avoid plunging into debt or robbing from your retirement account when you’re short on cash. Find out how to start a fund that will keep your life and business running smoothly in times of trouble. 

How will you pay the bills if the deal falls through and there’s no commission check this month? Or worse, what happens if your business pipeline is dry for two or three months?

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U.S. housing prices declined slightly in August after rising in June and July, according to Integrated Asset Services, which provides property valuations for banks that are selling the real estate they own.

Nationwide, home prices declined 0.2 percent in August compared to a 0.9 percent increase in July. They fell 11.6 percent compared with August 2007.

Home prices were weakest in the western states, falling 18 percent year over year, pulling down the national average. They declined 2.3 percent in the Midwest.

In the Northeast, home prices rose 3.9 percent year over year, and the South was up 0.2 percent.

Source: Reuters News and Integrated Asset Services (10/14/2008)

Bennington VT Real Estate, Buying, Selling

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.

WASHINGTON, October 15, 2008

The National Association of Realtors® will offer a four-point legislative plan to reinvigorate the housing market, calling on Congress to act during a lame-duck session. NAR believes the plan will give a boost to the economy and help to calm jittery potential homebuyers.

The plan features such consumer-driven provisions as eliminating the repayment of the first-time homebuyer tax credit and expanding it to all homebuyers, making higher mortgage loan limits permanent, pushing banks to extend credit to Main Street, and prohibiting banks from entering into real estate.

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There are many factors that affect how you’ll price your home when you’re ready to sell.  In spite of market conditions, interest rates, and so on, every transaction is unique.  So you should seek the assistance of an agent and prepare yourself and your home well in advance of placing the For Sale sign out front.

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BRICKS BEAT PAPER!Yes, there’s been trouble in real estate paradise, and no matter the causes, the dramatic results have been experienced across the country.  Before assuming that housing is a risky investment, please understand that owning a home offers countless advantages over stocks and other securities.

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This article is geared towards real estate agents, but it’s good advice for anyone who might be in business for themselves.

Don’t let holiday bills and longer transaction times leave you in a financial hole. Start the new year right by having enough money in the bank to keep your business running smoothly even if a transaction falls through.

Working in the real estate business is a lot like riding a roller coaster. Even in a hot market, there are unexpected twists, turns, ups, and downs that keep you on your toes. To keep your stomach from getting that awful drop when a transaction suddenly falls through, you must have a financial safety net in place. Plus, when times are slow, you’ll need extra money for all the critical marketing, prospecting, and customer service a tougher environment demands.

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WASHINGTON, October 10, 2008

Veterans across America now have expanded homeownership opportunities, thanks to the Veterans’ Benefits Improvement Act of 2008. Today President George W. Bush signed the bill into law, which includes housing provisions for veterans who are already homeowners and those who aspire to homeownership, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

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What comes around goes around, and bad news for sellers has a flip side for buyers.  Those ready to make a purchase can take advantage of some great deals, including “REO” properties.  If you’re unfamiliar with that term, it simply stands for “Real Estate Owned.”

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SEEING GREEN?With global climate change and rising fuel prices, more people are growing interested in boosting energy efficiency, and homebuyers are among them.  What improvements might you consider in order to make your home more marketable in the Environmental Age?

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