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RISMedia » Finance and Economy
Mediatise Real Estate Media Services Company Created	7/22/2008 3:21 PM
RISMEDIA, July 23, 2008-It was announced today that Kenneth Jenny, Ginny Cain McMurtrie and Michael Bonfils have joined together to create a unique media consulting services company called Mediatise. Mediatise is focused on the residential real estate brokerage industry and the specific challenges faced by all brokerage companies in today’s market.The company has designed an [...]
Mortgage Applications Continue to Increase for a 3-Week Rally	7/16/2008 2:21 PM
RISMEDIA, July 17, 2008-The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 11, 2008. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, was 522.2, an increase of 1.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from 513.4 one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased [...]
Survey: 2 Out of 3 Consumers Say Mortgages and HELOCs Harder to Obtain	7/11/2008 2:28 PM
RISMEDIA, July 14, 2008-The credit crunch is impacting not only consumers’ ability to get credit, and how they use it, but also-for some-their mindset towards financial institutions, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Deloitte’s financial services industry group. According to those who have attempted to secure several types of credit and mortgage products over the [...]
Mortgage Applications Increases 7.5% in Latest MBA Weekly Survey	7/9/2008 2:21 PM
RISMEDIA, July 10, 2008-The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 4, 2008. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, was 513.4, an increase of 7.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis from 477.7 one week earlier. This week’s results include an adjustment to [...]
Lenders May Hold Up Home Closings in Flooded Areas	7/4/2008 3:00 PM
By Joanne Cleaver RISMEDIA, July 7, 2008-(MCT)-Sharon Stehmeier has been a real estate broker for 38 years, and has never had a flood derail a closing. Yet. Home loan lenders in some parts of the Midwest are starting to enact their natural disaster procedures, which typically affect any house in a federal disaster area that is in [...]
How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of ‘Mortgage Rescue’ Scams	7/3/2008 3:00 PM
RISMEDIA, July 4, 2008-For a homeowner facing the frightening threat of foreclosure, the offer seems too good to be true. A “mortgage rescue” company steps forward, claiming to be able to help you save your credit and your home. In some cases, the “mortgage rescue” company provides phantom help offering to work as an intermediary with [...]
Foreclosure Preventions by Industry on Pace for Record	7/3/2008 3:00 PM
RISMEDIA, July 4, 2008-HOPE NOW, the private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, counselors, and investors that is working to help prevent foreclosures, announced today that mortgage servicers helped approximately 170,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure in May 2008. If this monthly rate has continued through June, the mortgage lending industry will help approximately 519,000 homeowners in the [...]
Mortgage Applications Increase In Latest MBA Weekly Survey	7/2/2008 1:38 PM
RISMEDIA, July 3, 2008-This week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 27, 2008. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, was 477.7, an increase of 3.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis from 461.3 one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the [...]
Bank of America Completes Countrywide Financial Purchase	7/1/2008 11:47 AM
RISMEDIA, July 2, 2008-Bank of America Corporation announced that it completed its purchase of Countrywide Financial Corp. to create one of the nation’s leading mortgage originators and servicers. According to the company, Bank of America will focus on responsible home lending, serving as a reliable source of mortgages for the American consumer. Bank of America also [...]
Chase Offers Washington Metro Residents Legacy Lessons for Building Prosperity	6/27/2008 2:36 PM
RISMEDIA, June 30, 2008-Chase, one of the nation’s leading home lenders, is bringing its Legacy of Homeownership Tour to Washington, D.C., to help African-American consumers become long-term homeowners. Now in its second year and with returning lead sponsor Freddie Mac, the Legacy of Homeownership Tour will be at Howard University’s Armour J. Blackburn University Center on [...]

Wall Street Journal Real Estate News

Battling Beetles in the Garden	7/23/2008 7:11 AM
Infestations of Japanese beetles have spread to more than 30 states, wreaking havoc on the foliage of trees and crops. Gardener Steve Stecklow is waging a biological war against these predators.
Mortgage Rates Near a Year High	7/23/2008 8:06 AM
Mortgage rates are nearing their highest levels in a year, adding to pressures on the weakened housing market.
Housing Package Deal Reached	7/23/2008 5:23 AM
House and Senate leaders have largely hammered out a compromise deal on a mammoth housing package that would permit the government to bolster Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an emergency, overhaul supervision of the housing-finance giants and allow the government to insure up to $300 billion in refinanced mortgages.
Rich Londoners Finally Feel Pain	7/23/2008 7:07 AM
The credit crunch caught up with the top end of London's home market in the second quarter, when the price per square meter of residential space in the capital's prime locations fell more sharply than in the U.K. as a whole.
Mortgage-Lobby Chief Resigns	7/23/2008 2:33 AM
The chief of the mortgage industry's most powerful lobby group, Jonathan Kempner, resigned Tuesday, just as the industry is defending itself from a hostile Congress and a punishing housing slump.
Fannie, Freddie Books Under Scrutiny	7/22/2008 2:29 AM
Bank examiners from the Federal Reserve and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are looking at the books of mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
How to Buy a Foreclosed Home	7/21/2008 1:21 PM
Buyers must be willing to do more sleuthing on their own to find the best deals. Here are some tips to get started.
FDIC Faces Mortgage Mess	7/21/2008 3:28 AM
The FDIC was among lenders giving out high-interest, subprime mortgages, some of them predatory, according to federal documents.
Lender-Liability Suits Rise	7/23/2008 4:19 AM
Lenders are triggering lawsuits from builders as they clamp down on construction financing. The disputes are turning heated as banks go after the builders' personal assets to recoup losses from soured housing developments.
Colleges Hire Specialized Developers	7/23/2008 8:45 AM
More colleges are starting to loosen their grip on campus housing and strike deals with specialized developers to help meet housing needs. For investors in the bruised world of REITs, student housing can be a defensive bright spot.
Lake Las Vegas Placed in Bankruptcy	7/20/2008 10:17 PM
The owners of a resort community in the desert outside Las Vegas placed the project in bankruptcy proceedings.
Fortress Looks for the Bottom, Again	7/20/2008 8:09 PM
A Fortress fund tied to mortgage-backed securities is down about 30% as investors flee the sector, fearing a spate of defaults.

RISMedia » Real Estate
Why Should a Prospect Do Business with You Versus Your Competitors?	7/22/2008 3:43 PM
By Craig Proctor RISMEDIA, July 23, 2008-Before you can begin to market effectively to your prospects, you need to ask yourself some important questions:• What motivates the target group of prospects that you’re after? • What factors are most important to them? Do they want a quick sale or top dollar? Are they after best value or most [...]
Real Estate Slump Brings Rise in Short Sales	7/22/2008 3:34 PM
By Hubble Smith RISMEDIA, July 23, 2008-(MCT)-It takes patience and understanding to muddle through the process of buying a home in short sale, local real estate experts said.Short sales, or selling a home “short” of the balance owed on the mortgage, have become increasingly prevalent in Las Vegas, where home values have dropped by more than [...]
Intero Real Estate Services to Offer Master Franchisees Exclusive Territorial Rights	7/22/2008 3:31 PM
RISMEDIA, July 23, 2008-Intero Real Estate Services, a rapidly-growing brokerage based in Silicon Valley, has announced the company is ready to move forward with a large-scale master franchise sales push this summer in which Intero will award master franchisees exclusive territory rights to select regions in the U.S. and abroad. The company will seek out [...]
Baylor University Study Shows Depressed Housing Market Demands Change in Lead Generation Techniques	7/21/2008 2:42 PM
RISMEDIA, July 22, 2008-A down housing market calls on real estate agents to change their tactics, according to Dr. Chris Pullig, Director of the Keller Center for Residential Real Estate Sales & Marketing at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. His recent study of lead conversion rates revealed that varying market conditions call for different [...]
Bay Area Home Prices Continue to Drop	7/21/2008 2:32 PM
By David Morrill RISMEDIA, July 22, 2008-(MCT)-Bay Area home prices continued to spiral downward in June due to a combination of sellers settling for less, more aggressively-priced foreclosures and sales activity increasing in less-expensive inland areas.The Bay Area’s median price was $485,000 in June, which was the first time in more than four years that it [...]
Century 21 Announces Winner of Industry’s First YouTube Channel Contest	7/21/2008 2:25 PM
RISMEDIA, July 22, 2008-CENTURY 21 Real Estate LLC announced the winners of the My CENTURY 21 Open House Video Contest. Through a popular vote on YouTubeTM, viewers selected the top 10 entries. The user-generated video contest inspired dozens of creative submissions on the recently launched CENTURY 21 Channel, the housing industry’s first branded YouTube [...]
Zillow Appoints Influential Real Estate Industry Leaders to Broker Advisory Board	7/18/2008 2:12 PM
RISMEDIA, July 21, 2008-Zillow.com announced the formation of a Broker Advisory Board to provide counsel on existing Zillow services for the real estate industry, and evaluate ideas for future products and services. According to the company, Zillow® has quickly grown its number of real estate industry partners since the launch of its listings feed program [...]
Washington Real Estate Firm Joins Sotheby’s International Realty Network	7/18/2008 2:09 PM
RISMEDIA, July 21, 2008-Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC announced that Morrison House Sotheby’s International Realty in University Place, Wash., is the newest member of its luxury real estate network. “Owners Michael and Tonia Morrison have a rich family history in this industry and a reputation for combining old-fashioned hard work with innovative and cutting-edge marketing technologies,” [...]
Winner of ‘My Century 21 Open House’ Announced	7/18/2008 2:07 PM
RISMEDIA, July 21, 2008-Century 21 Real Estate LLC announced the winners of the My CENTURY 21 Open House Video Contest. Through a popular vote on YouTubeTM, viewers selected the top 10 entries. The user-generated video contest inspired dozens of creative submissions on the recently launched CENTURY 21 Channel, the housing industry’s first branded YouTube channel. [...]
Central Texas Real Estate - Report Shows Continued Rise in Home Sales	7/18/2008 1:59 PM
RISMEDIA, July 21, 2008-Both single-family home sales and leased property in Central Texas have reached their highest point this year to date, according to the June Austin Board of Realtors® Multiple Listing Service (MLS) Report. “Austin remains one of the best cities to become a homeowner,” said ABoR Chairman Socar Chatmon-Thomas. “Locally, our homes are holding [...]

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