DAILY NEWS AND ADVICE FROM REALTY TIMES 06/23/2008

With energy costs expected to rise, builders are turning to insulated siding as yet another way to meet the needs of the environmentally-friendly -- and cost-conscious -- consumer. While few homeowners are aware that insulated siding can reduce consumption by up to 20 percent, they do know that replacing doors and windows enhances a property's energy savings potential and its corresponding return on investment. The trick for builders is to create homeowner awareness to the positive impact of insulated sliding. FULL STORY->

	New Jersey Estates/ Weichert Realtors Paul S & Pat C June 2008 LINKING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY TO OLD FASHIONED SERVICE Copyright © 2008 Realty Times All Rights Reserved. Daily News And Advice Updated 11:46 AM CDT Today Today's Feature Stories Washington Report: Congressional VIP Loan Treatment Tongues are wagging overtime on Capitol Hill over last week's bombshell revelations that top congressional leaders received preferential mortgage rates and fees from Countrywide Financial - the ailing giant home loan company that will soon be acquired by Bank of America. FULL STORY-> Realty Viewpoint: Wall Street Arrests Mean Housing Healing Can Begin The mortgage crisis was caused by malfeasance in both the board room and the boiler room. From the arrests of Bear Stearns' hedge fund managers to the widespread sweep of small-time crooks for fraud, the government is taking strong action toward beginning the healing process. FULL STORY-> Wild, Wild West: California 'Bringing Bargain-Hunting Buyers Back' There's a flicker of light at the end of the tunnel that swallowed California's housing market. But it could be 2010 before Golden State housing really sees the light. FULL STORY-> Going Green: Improving Energy Savings with Insulated Siding With energy costs expected to rise, builders are turning to insulated siding as yet another way to meet the needs of the environmentally-friendly -- and cost-conscious -- consumer. While few homeowners are aware that insulated siding can reduce consumption by up to 20 percent, they do know that replacing doors and windows enhances a property's energy savings potential and its corresponding return on investment. The trick for builders is to create homeowner awareness to the positive impact of insulated sliding. FULL STORY-> NAR Adopts Rules for Disclosure of Short Sales in MLS At the recent mid-year meetings of the National Association of Realtors the Board of Directors adopted new policy regarding the disclosure of short sale listings in a multiple listing service data base. FULL STORY-> Headlines Investor Report: Multiple-use "Flex" Space Properties One of the country's top real estate advisors has some practical advice for small to moderate-scale investors looking for the next wave of profit opportunities: Think multiple-use "flex" space properties inside urban cores, says Mike Cannon, executive director of Integra Realty Resources of Miami. FULL STORY-> Hot Market: Baghdad Market Steams Up With More Security One of the hottest markets in the world is located in a country we hear about most every night on the evening news: Baghdad, Iraq. FULL STORY-> Interest Rate Update Today's Interest Rates from Realty Times are based on a 30 year amortization rate, with good credit and no origination fees. With no major economic news today to report, mortgage rates are stable. FULL STORY-> Realty Viewpoint: Wall Street Arrests Mean Housing Healing Can Begin The mortgage crisis was caused by malfeasance in both the board room and the boiler room. From the arrests of Bear Stearns' hedge fund managers to the widespread sweep of small-time crooks for fraud, the government is taking strong action toward beginning the healing process. FULL STORY-> Am I in a Buyer's Market? tba FULL STORY-> Mortgage Rate Up on News of Stronger Inflation Freddie Mac today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.42 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending June 19, 2008, up from last week when it averaged 6.32 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.69 percent. The last time the 30-year FRM was this high was the week ending September 27, 2007, when it averaged 6.42 percent. FULL STORY-> Active Vs. Passive Marketing: Changing Real Estate Markets. Strategies to Succeed It doesn't take any skill whatsoever to give away business for little or no fee. In fact there is no skill at all in running a business like that. FULL STORY-> Paint The Perfect Sale Every seller is looking for the perfect sale and every buyer is looking for the perfect opportunity to seize a new home or investment property. Getting your home ready to close the deal for the most money, starts with knowing where to begin and, often, that means, quite literally, you need to paint the perfect sale. FULL STORY-> Ask Realty Times Will federal aid to homeowners impact the value of my house? Should I give my fiance $40,000 for home repairs before we marry? Who owns the farmer's water pump? Peter G. Miller looks at the week's most interesting questions for Realty Times. FULL STORY-> Market Conditions Following a marked drop in oil prices yesterday, stocks surged. In currency trading, the dollar rose versus the euro and the yen. No one wants to jump the gun on spreading the good news, but could this healthy market day be a sign of happier market times to come? FULL STORY-> Realty Viewpoint: Wall Street Arrests Mean Housing Healing Can Begin Am I in a Buyer's Market? Mortgage Rate Up on News of Stronger Inflation Active Vs. Passive Marketing: Changing Real Estate Markets. Strategies to Succeed Paint The Perfect Sale Ask Realty Times Market Conditions Real Estate Outlook: Buyers Off the Sidelines Realty Viewpoint: Lexapro And Depressed Housing Markets Requirements for Being a Landlord? Shoring Up Your Garage Door CURRENT MORTGAGE RATES Interest Rate Watch 30 yr fixed: 6.42% 15 yr fixed: 6.02% 1 yr adj: 5.19% (U.S. Daily Averages) LIBRARY Buyers Advice Sellers Advice Homeowners Advice Advice for New Homes Advice For Borrowers Rental Advice Homeowner Association News NAR News - Back - Paul S & Pat C , Luxury Custom New & Pre-Owned Homes E-mail: njestates@earthlink.net Web: http://www.newjerseyestates.net 908-561-5492 (Paul S) 908-310-1358 (Cell) 908-561-6499 (Pat C) 908-578-0890 (Cell) Weichert Realtors New Jersey Estates 908-561-5400 55 Stirling Road, Watchung, N.J. 07069 Equal Housing Opportunity

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