C21AGVoices

Sunday, the U.S. government assumed control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The papers have done a terrific job talking about the political perspective of the takeover, and the economic perspective of the takeover, but very few people have addressed the key news for homeowners. Mortgage rates are plummeting. The reason why mortgage rates are falling […]

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On the first Friday of every month, the government releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report. More commonly called the “jobs report”, the two-page analysis examines the nooks and crannies of the U.S. economy to see which industries are hiring and which are firing. The August jobs report was released yesterday morning and it shows that the […]

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With Labor Day behind and Cold and Flu Season approaching, consider taking a high-tech approach to staying germ-free at home and at work. The Zadro Nano UV Disinfectant Light looks like a clamshell mobile phone but acts like a high-power germ killer. With one wave of your hand, intense ultra-violet radiation emanates from the wand, […]

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As compact fluorescent bulbs gain favor across the country, it’s important to remember that they contain mercury and mercury is harmful to humans. Because even though CFLs contain small amounts of mercury — less than 4 milligrams per bulb — it’s still enough mercury to cause brain damage. If you’re interested, this 4-minute video from […]

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I don’t usually like the Case-Shiller Home Price Index because it doesn’t include our Metropolitan Statistical Area, and without data from Philadelphia (which is usually better than most parts of the nation) I don’t think the study can have validity to us, But even with their poorly weighted (IMHO) information, it seems that we may […]

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Three years to the week after Hurricane Katrina caused $81.2 million in damages, Tropical Storm Gustav is charting a similar Gulf of Mexico path. Memories of Katrina are making oil traders nervous.  The 2005 storm shut down 30 platforms and 9 refineries.  And, this week, oil prices are up nearly 4 percent on fears that the […]

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Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is an insurance policy paid to a lender in the event that a homeowner defaults on his home loan. With the growing number of mortgage defaults nationwide, mortgage insurers are finding their balance sheets under attack and their revenues in the red. So far this year, mortgage insurers have paid out […]

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Housing Starts measure the number of new housing “units” on which construction has started and in July, Housing Starts fell to its lowest levels since March 1991. For homeowners, this is a welcome bit of good news because as fewer homes are built, there is less inventory from which home buyers can choose. With fewer […]

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There is a lot of conversation in the real estate industry about print advertising being overtaken by on-line alternatives. There are surveys that show that most buyers start their search for homes on th Internet, and obviously it is better for the consumer to see more photos,in color, with maps and statistics,then it is to […]

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Real Estate “Back in the Day” The more things change, the more they stay the same. 25 Years ago, Century 21 was helping consumers look for homes, dealing with affordability concenrs, and using computers that look like they were powered by hand cranks. Century 21 Advantage Gold agents still use technology to help consumers, and […]

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