While the Federal Reserve has promised to keep rates “low” until 2013, it is clear to many experts that the current historical lows we are experiencing will not last. According to the latest projections from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), interest rates should gradually rise out of historic lows as we move through 2012. This isn’t the most welcome news for a housing market that has continued to falter and a...

Conserving energy during the Fall and Winter is about more than reducing your carbon footprint. It can also save you money. In today’s economy it is crucial for families to search out easy ways to reduce their monthly expenses. In many areas of the country energy costs can become quite burdensome. Winter heating costs have risen the last few years, meaning many low income homeowners have been unable to properly heat their homes....

I’ve attended quite a few conferences and trade shows in my time, and I think it’s important for agents to regularly attend these local events. There are several benefits of attending – first and foremost being the opportunity to get a leg up on your competition by keeping up with the latest trends in the business. It’s also a great time to network with other agents to find out what’s working (and not working) for them. Trade shows are a...

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that “affordability” is the top reason for home buying in 2010. That makes sense, especially in unstable market conditions. Buyers, as always, are looking for a bargain but, more than ever, they’ve been enticed by low home prices and low interest rates, according to a survey by Weichert Realtors, Inc. The survey gathered information from 1,261 of the company’s customers who bought homes between...