http://www.refitracker.com Real Estate News Sat, 22 Nov 2008 19:08:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en AP - Federal regulators on Friday shut down two big thrifts based in Southern California, saying they fell victim to the acute distress in the housing market in that state.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/22/federal-regulators-shut-2-california-thrifts-n-apn/ A debate has sprung up in the San Francisco Chronicle and on other blogs about whether it’s right for homeowners to deliberately stop making payments in order to qualify for programs that reduce their mortgage payments. There’s discussion also about whether journalists should even report that as an option.nnnI ... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/should-you-stop-making-your-mortgage-payments/ Credit-card companies are reducing credit limits on some borrowers. For some people, that may cause a drag on their credit score, making it harder to get a mortgage.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/tighter-credit-limits-hamper-mortgage-chances/ Prices of homes in California are down more than 40 percent for their peak, dragged down by the large number of foreclosed homes on the market.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/home-prices-in-california-down-40-percent/ Despite dismal housing headlines and reports showing falling prices nationwide, owners in some once-hot areas still believe their home is gaining value or at least holding its own.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/new-home-price-reality-hard-to-grasp/ AP - Word of mouth is one of the most common ways homebuyers and sellers find a real estate agent. Now, there are several Web sites that tout a more scientific approach: ranking agents based on criteria such as years of experience, how many sales they've closed, and the number ... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/web-sites-offer-real-estate-agent-rankings-n-apn/ A once-easy source of money for homeowners is now being cut back or frozen by lenders. Here are some pros and cons to taking out all you can from your home-equity loan now and putting it in a safe place in case you need it later.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/pros-and-cons-of-home-equity-loans/ The traditionally brisk spring-summer homebuying season should help firm up the falling residential real-estate market, many real-estate agents feel.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/many-real-estate-agents-see-bottom-in-early-2009-survey-says/ One of the most ambitious mass-market "home-loan modification" programs is scheduled to start nationwide Dec. 15 and aims to help thousands of borrowers who are seriously behind on payments and are slipping fast toward foreclosure.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/loan-modification-programs-are-gearing-up-to-help-strapped-homeowners/ The slowdown in the Seattle-area real-estate market means brokers and agents are putting in longer hours with clients, spending more money on marketing tools, and working with sellers to achieve the perfect price and presentation to keep homes from languishing on the market.Read More... http://www.refitracker.com/2008/11/21/slow-housing-market-means-more-hours-more-expenses-for-agents/