Apple is going to pay to renovate the shoddy red line stop as they are building their second Chicago location where an old gas station was located. The money-stricken CTA has discussed and proposed naming rights since 2005 but they might be breaking the threshold with an Apple deal as budget issues remain a heavy concern.
They may have exclusive right to all the ad space at 1555 N. Clybourn. "Doors open on the left on the 'Iphone/Macbook' stop" may be heard in the near future.
The national housing supply fell to a 2-year low last month, according to the National Association of Realtors®. At the current sales pace, existing home inventories would sell out in 7.8 months -- 30 percent faster versus November 2008. For a 10-month window, that's a major housing supply reduction and it helps to explain why multiple-offer situations have been so common lately. Moreover, the same report from NAR showed sales activity reaching its highest point since July 2007, too. If you're looking for evidence that the long-standing Buyers Market is ending, this month's Existing Home Sales report might be it. Even median sales prices -- typically dragged lower by distressed and foreclosed properties -- declined at its slowest pace in a year. The market may have turned a corner. Home prices are rooted in the basic economics of supply and demand.
•When supply outweighs demand, home prices fall
•When supply lags demand, home price rise
Since March 2009, the market has been moving in the right direction. Low mortgage rates, ample housing supply and a first-time home buyer tax credit fueled buy-side demand so that home prices are now rising in many U.S. markets. If home supplies stay on this path into 2010, expect home prices to rise even more.
Tired of "wire clutter" where your mobile phones, MP3 players and gaming devices compete for outlet space?
The Powermat may be your solution.
The Powermat is a 12-inch long wireless battery charger that's conspicuously missing "plugs". Instead, it uses magnetic induction to safely recharge up to 3 devices at once.
Just place your phone(s) on the pad and they charge automatically.
The Powermat debuted at the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show and was reviewed in video. The reviewers had many positive comments on the Powermat, but highlighted some negatives aspects, too. Give a look and see what you think.
Powermat retails for $99
With crude oil at its highest levels since October 2008, retail gas is up 8 cents per gallon this week.
It's bad news for home buyers and mortgage rate shoppers. The same force that's driving oil higher is linked to rising mortgage rates.
We're talking about the weakening U.S. Dollar which is now at its worst levels versus the Euro in 15 months.
Crude oil is priced in U.S. dollars, by the barrel. When the dollar loses value, more of them are needed to buy the same barrel of oil. As a result, predictably, the price of crude oil goes up.
Now, there are other reasons why crude oil is rising, but the fading U.S. dollar is one of the major ones and it's why we're addressing it.
The dollar has a similar impact on mortgage rates.
Mortgage rates are based on the price of mortgage bonds that -- like crude oil -- are also denominated in dollars. As the dollar loses value, so do mortgage bonds. This causes demand for bonds to drop and prices on bonds to fall.
Because bond prices and bond rates move in opposite directions, mortgage rates rise and thisis precisely what's happening on Wall Street today.
Since touching a 5-month low in early-October, mortgage rates have tacked on as much as 1/2 percent, depending on the product. Moreover, with the dollar showing no signs of a rebound, the upward pressure on rates should continue.
If you're trying to time the market bottom, you may have already missed it. Consider locking your mortgage rate before rates increase even more.
And your everyday signal that rates are rising? Just check your price at the pump. If gas prices are up, it's likely that mortgage rates are, too.
DIY : How Do I Fix A Towel Rack That's "Loose"
Over time, towel racks tend to come loose from sheetrock walls. And, sometimes, they separate completely. The good news is that making repairs is easy -- it's something you can do yourself with a little instruction.
In this 2-minute video from ExpertVillage.com, a professional contractor shows that with just a drill and some butterfly anchors, re-securing a towel rack can be a basic handyman job.
So, before you call a professional to rehang your towel rack, watch the video and consider making the repair yourself.
If you are looking into a bath renovation or are buying new construction, ask your contractor to place a solid wood square in the desired towel rack location so that loose racks no longer become an issue.
Brian Guzman is a superb real estate consultant that operates on the highest level of service and care for his clients in the Chicagoland area.
ActiveRain Corp. is not responsible for the accuracy of the site's content (which is written by members of the ActiveRain Real Estate Network) and does not endorse the views of the real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and others listed here.
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