C21AGVoices

In late-November, the Federal Reserve pledged $600 billion to buy mortgage-backed securities.  The announcement drove down mortgage rates and started the Refi Boom. Then, the Federal Reserve made a second series of statements after its scheduled meeting last Tuesday, causing mortgage rates to plunge again.  This started the Refi Boom’s second wave. Because of the surge […]

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The Federal Open Market Committee voted to cut the Fed Funds Rate by at least three-quarters percent on Decmber 16, 2008.  The benchmark rate now rests in a range of 0.000-0.250 percent. In its press release, the FOMC identified three key economic sectors in which activity has weakened since October. The FOMC noted that: The U.S. job market […]

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A mortgage is a contract between a lender and borrower, defining the terms by which a home loan must be repaid.  The paperwork, signed by both parties, includes provisions for things like: The interest rate The length of the loan The amount of money to be borrowed But, like all loans, a mortgage loan can […]

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When choosing a room’s paint colors, Interior Designers follow the 60-30-10 Rule. The 60-30-10 Rule says that color usage in a space should be based on percentages: 60% of the room should be a dominant color 30% of the room should be a secondary color 10% of the room should be an accent color It’s a […]

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    Photo curtesy of Creativecommons.org CENTURY 21 Advantage Gold Maple Glen Office will run toy and food drive Saturday, December 20, 2008 12-4pm. Toys collected from the drive will benefit the local Toys for Tots program; all donations must be new and unwrapped. All food collected will benefit a local charity. Bring your camera […]

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For the 78 consecutive days, gas prices fell nationwide through December 3rd.  At $1.81 per gallon, the average price at the pump is less than half what it was at its peak in July. And although gas prices vary by locale, the cost of a fill-up is worthy of national news. The main reason why […]

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According to the government, American businesses are cutting staff at an accelerated pace, most recently paring 533,000 jobs this past November. It’s the largest one-month decline since December 1974 and raises the year-to-date job losses to 1.9 million workers. However, there is a silver lining in the data for all Americans — both employed and […]

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As the weather turns cooler and home heating systems get fired, it’s important to safeguard your home from carbon monoxide gas. Often called the “slient killer”, the odorless and colorless gas accidentally poisons about 170 Americans each year. The video above from CBS News tells the story of 2 such deaths. Throughout the 5-minute piece […]

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