RISMedia

Today?s News at a Glance
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5 Tips to Buying a Home on Deadline and How the Tax Credit Extension Can Help
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?(MCT)?House shopping usually slows down in the winter, as people put their home searches on hold to trim the tree, buy presents to put under it and avoid the chilly weather. This winter, however, might be different, thanks to the extended?and expanded?first-time home-buyer tax credit. "We're going to ...



The Foreclosure Crisis: Navigating Mortgage Payment Difficulties
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?If you or someone you know has fallen behind on their mortgage, take heart; there is hope. Not from the government though; you?ll have to fight this one on your own, but you are not alone. And soon, your numbers could grow into a powerful ...



Existing-Home Sales Record Another Big Gain; Inventories Continue to Shrink
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?Driven by the first-time buyer tax credit, existing-home sales showed another big gain in October 2009 with a strong uptrend established over the past seven months, while inventories continue to decline, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing-home sales?including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops ? surged 10.1% ...



Marketing Strategies: 7 Tips to Make Public Speaking Easier
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?A survey was recently released showing that the top fear among individuals is public speaking, while the fear of death was later on down the list. Do you know what that means? It means most people would rather die than speak in public. How about you? How do ...



Real Estate: Creating a Strategy from a Sea of Numbers
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?When I entered the real estate industry in 1984 I was told real estate was a numbers game. I never forgot that. The more people I reached and made a connection with, the better chance I had they would turn into buyers and sellers. I was young and ...



Sixty-Six Percent of Black Friday Weekend Shoppers Buying for Themselves
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?Black Friday may kick-off the holiday shopping season, but not everybody's out to buy gifts. Of the half of Americans who plan on shopping in stores or online over the Black Friday weekend, 66% say they'll be shopping for themselves according to the latest Consumer Reports Holiday ...



Builder Confidence Unchanged in November
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?In a survey in which most responses were received prior to congressional action to keep an important home buyer incentive alive, builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes remained unchanged at a low level this November, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported. ...



PropertyPursuit.com Launches with Online Listings from The Real Estate Book
RISMEDIA, November 24, 2009?Newly launched national listing portal PropertyPursuit.com announced a strategic partnership with The Real Estate Book, a leading online and print publisher of real estate information. By featuring listings from The Real Estate Book, PropertyPursuit.com will offer consumers a robust national property search. Home shoppers on PropertyPursuit.com can quickly ...



3 Keys to Successfully Leading in a Virtual Workforce World
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Just 20 years ago, ?going to work? meant waking up, getting dressed, jumping in the car and driving to a physical location where you interacted, face-to-face, with your boss and coworkers all day. In 2009, it might mean stepping across the hall to your home office and ...



Housing Affordability Hovers Near Record-High Level for Third Consecutive Quarter
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Nationwide housing affordability, bolstered by affordable interest rates and low house prices, hovered for the third consecutive quarter near its highest level since the series was first compiled 18 years ago, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI). The HOI showed ...



Getting Your Share of the Homebuyer Tax Credit Business
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?More than 2 million homebuyers took advantage of the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. How many of those 2 million-plus homebuyers did you work with? If you missed out on the first wave of the tax credit business, now is your second chance. Now, millions more are ...



Homeowner Confidence Out of Whack ? But Can you Blame Them?
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Each quarter, Zillow tracks Homeowner Confidence across the U.S. and more specifically, how homeowners' perception of their own home's value compares to reality. The company has seen a lot of changes in the past six quarters, as homeowners have inched closer to reality by acknowledging widespread home value ...



Talking about Drugs is Easier than Talking about Credit
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?In the United States, only 39% of all parents feel prepared to discuss drugs and alcohol with their teens. Sadly, less than that feel knowledgeable enough to discuss money or finances with them. Based on a recent study, nearly six in ten parents (60%) find talking to ...



Americans Redefining Their Lives Online and Offline with Social Media Tools
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Americans have dramatically integrated social networking tools into their lives. Euro RSCG Worldwide, one of the world's leading advertising and marketing agency networks, conducted a study on how people use the ever-changing options in social and online media available today. According to the study, their world is expanding ...



Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Expands to Tennessee and Kentucky with Addition of Hometown Connection
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC announced the addition of The Vaughn Team, a Clarksville, Tenn.-based real estate brokerage serving Clarksville, Tennessee, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to its growing network of agents. The company will do business as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Hometown Connection. ...



Realty Executives International Launches Social Media Initiative
RISMEDIA, November 23, 2009?Realty Executives International, Inc. launched an official Facebook page, called Realty Executives International, and Twitter profile, called @realtyexec, this month. Nearly 600 ?fans? on Facebook and ?followers? on Twitter received play-by-play social media correspondence at the 2009 National Association of Realtors (NAR) Convention and Expo Nov. 13-16. ?We ...



Today?s News at a Glance
Click here for a summary of today's news.



More Than 1 in 4 Homes for Sale in Price Reduction Report Have Seen Reduction
RISMEDIA, November 21, 2009?Trulia, Inc. has announced that 25.6% of homes currently on the market in the United States as of November 1, 2009 have experienced at least one price cut during the past 12 months. More than 40% of the top 50 major metros across the U.S. are experiencing ...



Why Do Realtors Get Depressed When Opportunity Is Knocking?
RISMEDIA, November 21, 2009?Now is the time for real estate professionals across the board to take advantage of the opportunities today?s market presents. Having weathered the economic downturn, opportunity is now knocking at the door, and now is the time to make sure you open it. Here, Brian Buffini, Founder ...