The FBI, in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission on corporate-fraud, is investigating 14 companies to determine criminal conduct that contributed to the subprime mortgage crisis.
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read full story of "Realty Viewpoint: Where Are Banks In Fed Mortgage Probe?"

If you stand back and only look at the negative economic and housing news this week, you might feel a bit numb — and a little discouraged.
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read full story of "Real Estate Outlook: Good News!"

In today’s changing market, many real estate agents are wondering what to do. Some have gone through a cycle of shock, disappointment, fear, and now confusion. What seemed to work in yesterday’s marketplace isn’t working today, so what to do?
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read full story of "Real Estate Marketing Strategies: 7 Tips to Thrive in Today’s Market"

In a growing number of areas in the tiny, historic town of Aspen, CO, it feels a lot like an empty movie set. The lights are on, but in many cases, well, nobody’s home.
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read full story of "Second Homes: Preservationist Sounds Aspen Vacation Home Alarm"

You don’t have to abstain from spending against the unencumbered value of your home, but you do have to guard against home equity excess.
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read full story of "Use Home Equity Protection"

Recent profiles of home buyers and sellers by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) suggest that real estate agents deserve more respect than they often get. The yearly profiles conducted by NAR not only contain a plethora of interesting and useful information for real estate agents, but also some that is gratifying.
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read full story of "Home Buyer and Seller Surveys Give Agents Good Scores on Ethics"

Now that you’ve settled into your dream home, isn’t it time to start thinking about the security of your home? For too many homeowners, security is an afterthought.
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read full story of "How to Protect Your Home"

Following a report that the economy expanded an anemic .60 percent in the final quarter of 2007, the Federal Reserve s central bank cut key interest rates another 50 basis points to 3.0%. That is the target rate at which banks borrow money overnight from each other.
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read full story of "Fed Cuts Rates Again"

Homeownership reached a record high in 2004 of nearly 70 percent, parallel to home sales approaching all-time record highs. Homebuying was such a popular sport that one in 10 U.S. residents owns a second home.
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read full story of "Realty Viewpoint: Foreclosures Up, Ownership Down, Bottom Near"

The National Association of Realtors reports that both sales and prices were down in 2007, but there’s another measure which has also fallen — and this one is good news.
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read full story of "Are Borrowers Unfairly Locked Into High-Cost Loans?"