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5 glorious outdoor pools

By Inman News, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=11476783">Outdoor pool</a> image via Shutterstock.
Editor's note: The following item is republished with permission of Realtor.com.  more...

Housing at stage 2 of a 17-step recovery Premium Content

By Lou Barnes, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=61337086">Thumbs up skydiver</a> image via Shutterstock.

Reading media reports of economics is usually an exercise in decoding political bias and trying to find the center of things. Today we're in enough trouble that to understand "news" we must also strip away hope -- and pessimism.

Big week for all of that.

First thing first: the U.S. has lost some forward momentum, but is not entering recession.  more...

Vacation home markets going on sale?

By Steve Bergsman, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=2425302" target=blank>Beach chairs and umbrella</a> image via Shutterstock.

The vacation home market has been on vacation.

Second-home buyers looking for that spot in the sun or at least on the side of a mountain with good ski terrain decided, en masse, to stay at home since the housing bubble burst starting about the middle of the last decade.  more...

Signs your heating oil tank needs replacing

By Paul Bianchina, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=9000574" target=blank>Home heating oil tank</a> image via Shutterstock.

Q: What are your thoughts on replacing an above-ground residential oil tank in the basement? My oil tank is about 55 years old and shows no signs of rust or wear, although being close to an outside wall, one side cannot be seen. I recently read that once a tank hits 50 years old it should be replaced for preventive measures. --Beth H.

A: Oil tanks typically begin to deteriorate from the inside out, due to moisture and sediment that gets trapped inside the tank over the years. As such, they can appear perfectly fine from the outside, but be corroding from the inside.  more...

Double-hung windows draw architect's ire

By Arrol Gellner, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=1530587" target=blank>Double-hung windows</a> image via Shutterstock.

If you set out to create the worst window you could, you might go about it like this:

First, you'd design it to oppose the pull of gravity, and therefore require a Rube Goldberg contraption of weights and ropes, cables or springs just to keep it from falling shut. You'd also make sure you could never open more than half of it at a time.  more...

Owners lose units in condo complex foreclosure

By Inman News, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=48041785">Gavel</a> image via Shutterstock.

Teresa Fusco thought she had done everything that she needed to do to sail comfortably into her golden years. She owned a condominium unit in Reading, Pa., with an appraised valued of $101,000, and she had a rainy-day fund in case her health failed.

So she was shocked when earlier this year she suddenly found herself with no home and a wrecked credit score after a company that bought most of the condo complex sold her unit for less than half of what she thought it was worth. To make matters worse, Fusco (pictured left) is still on the hook for the $71,000 mortgage on the property that she no longer owns.  more...

Iowa's largest brokerage sued over commission splits

By Andrea V. Brambila, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=106112852">Chess board</a> image via Shutterstock.

A Clive, Iowa-based Keller Williams franchise has filed suit against the largest brokerage in Iowa over the latter's refusal to split commissions with Keller Williams' buyer's agents. The suit alleges unfair competition, breach of contract, and libel among other charges. The Keller Williams franchise has also filed ethics complaints with the Iowa Real Estate Commission and the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors for alleged "false statements" concerning both itself and the Keller Williams franchise.  more...

What to do with deceased tenant's possessions

By Janet Portman, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=51162040" target=blank>Garage clutter</a> image via Shutterstock.

Q: Our tenant passed away and left us with a house full of personal belongings. What are our legal obligations regarding all of this property? --Mary R.

A: The tenant's personal belongings should be given only to someone with legal authority. Just who that person is depends on the size of your tenant's estate and whether he left a will or other estate planning document. Here are the options:  more...

What the Obamacare decision means for you Premium Content

By Stephen Fishman, Friday, June 29, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=94093804">Nurse, patient and doctor</a> image via Shutterstock.

As you've doubtless heard, on Thursday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. This means that unless Congress overturns the law, it will take full effect over the next several years.

What does this mean to you? The most significant change created by the new law is the requirement that all Americans have health insurance coverage by 2014. Currently, there is no federal law requiring individuals to have health coverage; nor are employers required to provide it for their employees.  more...

Choose the 'highest and best use' of your time Premium Content

By Teresa Boardman, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=12114259">Couch potato</a> image via Shutterstock.

It wasn't until I was an adult that I figured out that my parents were right about the whole TV thing. They decided that spending hours in front of the television set was the wrong way to spend a childhood, and I wasn't allowed to watch it very much.

It wasn't just about the quality of the junk I used to like to watch, like "Gilligan's Island." It was because when I was in the house sitting on the couch, eyes glued to the set, I wasn't outside socializing with friends, playing games, doing homework, riding my bike, or helping around the house.  more...

16 Real Estate Connect 'ambassadors' named

By Inman News, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=66598393">Photographers</a> image via Shutterstock.

Inman News has announced the selection of 16 "ambassadors" who will provide behind the scenes coverage and conduct backstage interviews with featured speakers at Real Estate Connect San Francisco, which takes place Aug. 1-3.

The ambassadors will also assist at Real Estate Connect by taking photos, videos, live blogging and live tweeting.  more...

Mortgage rates stay tanked

By Inman News, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=89973487">Currency whirlpool</a> image via Shutterstock.

Mortgage rates remained at all-time lows this week as worries about the European debt crisis persist, making bonds that fund most mortgages look like safe bets to investors.

While the spring buying season brought buyers out in numbers and boosted prices in many markets, demand for purchase loans fell last week, to a level slightly below that seen at the same time a year ago.  more...

Realogy-affiliated brokerages in Houston merger

By Inman News, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=57925420">Puzzle</a> image via Shutterstock.

Two brokerages affiliated with Realogy Corp. franchise brands have merged their operations, positioning the combined company as a market leader in Northeast Houston.

Humble, Texas-based Century 21 Outstanding Homes has merged its operations with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Gary Greene's West Lake Houston Office, the companies said.

Mark and Rebekah Snipp, who purchased Outstanding Homes in 2008, will work together as a sales team in the West Lake Houston office. Lisa Dempsey, the West Lake Houston office manager, will lead the combined operation.  more...

3 must-have traits for converting real estate leads Premium Content

By Bernice Ross, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=54222883" target=blank>Key to new home</a> image via Shutterstock.

You can have all the greatest technology and lead generation systems in the world, but they won't make one bit of difference if you are unable to convert your online leads once you get face to face.

While older agents are accustomed to doing business face to face, it can be a real challenge for the Google generation (those born after 1993), a demographic that prefers to do everything via text or on social media. They may search for a house online, research you on Google, but ultimately they will visit the house and often negotiate with you in person.  more...

Prudential brokerage grows in Northern California

By Inman News, Thursday, June 28, 2012.
<a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic.mhtml?id=80143867">Big fish little fish</a> image via Shutterstock.

San Ramon, Calif.-based Prudential California Realty Pearson Properties has established itself in a new Northern California market, Merced County, by acquiring two real estate brokerages with more than 20 agents.

Both brokerages -- Prudential California Realty, owned by Charlene Sloan, and RE/Max Central Valley Realty, owned by Tammie Miller -- will now operate under the Prudential California Realty Pearson Properties banner.  more...

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