December 2, 2008
- Credit Card Fees Keep Rising
Credit Card Fees Keep Rising
Where is the consumer's share of the Fed's recent rate cut? Card issuers are raising fees and interest rates, even on good customers, to offset their losses.
Used to be, when the Fed cut rates, credit card issuers followed suit, resulting in lower monthly payments for cardholders. Though average credit card rates [...]
December 1, 2008
- Real Estate News - December 2008
Real Estate News - December 2008
Our December 2008 Newsletter is now up…
From the right Nav Menu, Find "PAGES AND NEWSLETTERS" and Select "December 2008 below "Our Monthly Newsletters".
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November 30, 2008
- Real Estate Pricing
Real Estate Pricing
Real estate prices cycle through different highs and lows. Keeping track of the following market indicators will help you decide if now is a good time to invest in real estate or not.Job Growth
People go where the jobs are, and home prices follow jobs. A strong local job market is a sure [...]
November 29, 2008
- Reasons to Buy Real Estate Before 2009
Reasons to Buy Real Estate Before 2009
You may be among the masses of people wondering if they should consider buying real estate now, or wait. There are some strong reasons to act now… namely significant changes in the FHA loan requirements that are scheduled to change in January of 2009.
Statitics show that nearly 80% of [...]
November 28, 2008
- 5 Cheap Ways to Go Solar
5 Cheap Ways to Go Solar
Going solar doesn't have to send your costs through the roof. Money Editor Stacy Johnson explains. (Video runs 1:35)…Have any other energy and moeny saving ideas for going green that wasn't mentioned in the video? Use the comment link below and tell us about them. Your email address will never [...]
November 27, 2008
- The Bailout Bill: Did It Do Anything?
The Bailout Bill: Did It Do Anything?
One thing it did was lower your taxes. Money Editor Stacy Johnson explains… (video runs 1:15)…What do you think? Other than the tax breaks mentioned in the video, is the bailout bill a good thing, or a bad thing? Give us your comments by clicking the "comment" link below. [...]
November 26, 2008
- Obama: Good or Bad for Real Estate?
Obama: Good or Bad for Real Estate?
Now that a new President has been elected, the question becomes what kind of changes are we likely to see and how will the policies of the new Administration shape the different economic markets.
Will Obama help or hurt the real estate market?
According to a recent article in the Daily [...]
November 25, 2008
- Improving Real Estate Sales: What Will It Take?
Improving Real Estate Sales: What Will It Take?
What will it take to get consumers off the sidelines to buy more houses and help stimulate the economy?
How about a mortgage at a 2.99 percent fixed rate for 30 years for anyone who purchases a home before July 1? Or how about a non-repayable federal tax [...]
November 24, 2008
- Safer Online Shopping
Safer Online Shopping
Online shopping has become a staple for many Americans, and that's especially true when the holidays roll around. But with that extra convenience can come extra risk. Money reporter Stacy Johnson has some tips to keep your online shopping safe. The video runs 1:31…What about you? Where do you plan to do most [...]
November 23, 2008
- The Mortgage Meltdown: Can Anyone Stop It?
The Mortgage Meltdown: Can Anyone Stop It?
Fifteen months into the worst credit crisis in decades, major banks and the federal government are coming together on a solution for struggling mortgage borrowers.
The goal is to hasten the process for renegotiating hundreds of thousands of delinquent loans, either those held by major banks or held by Fannie [...]
November 22, 2008
- Home Prices Decline - AGAIN
Home Prices Decline - AGAIN
According to a report released recently by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), national home prices, driven lower by a flood of foreclosures, plummeted in the third quarter by a record 9% year-over-year.
The median price of a single-family home fell in four out of five states. The national median price [...]
November 21, 2008
- Saving Money on Organic Food
Saving Money on Organic Food
Get the healthy, organic food you want, without breaking your budget. Our Money Editor, Stacy Johnson, explains… (video runs 1:31)Any comments on the video? Just click the comment link below and tell us. We'd love to hear from you.
November 20, 2008
- Hope Now: What Is It?
Hope Now: What Is It?
HOPE NOW is a private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, non-profits, counselors, and investors that have assisted many homeowners avoid foreclosure. They have developed a new program in conjunction with the U.S. Treasury, the Federal Housing Finance Authority, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other mortgage loan servicers for “at-risk” homeowners.
The plan, [...]
November 19, 2008
- Home Prices Expected to Fall Even More
Home Prices Expected to Fall Even More
Home prices are down 20% nationwide since their peak in July 2006, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index. Economist Nouriel Roubini of New York University, who accurately predicted the housing slide and credit crisis, expects another 20% decline in home prices in the next year. Patrick Newport of [...]
November 18, 2008
- Homeowners Under Water
Homeowners Under Water
ationwide, almost one out of every five homeowners with a mortgage owes more to their lender than their properties are worth. But if you subtract the states where nearly 60% of all homeowners are "under water" (owing more on their mortgage than the home is worth), which includes California, Florida, Arizona, Georgia [...]
November 17, 2008
- Temporary Jobs: The Best 5
Temporary Jobs: The Best 5
With the holidays just around the corner, and the economy in bad shape, many people are looking for ways to find that extra shopping money this year. Our Money editor, Stacy Johnson, has a few ideas for finding the best temporary jobs, and even temporary jobs that could lead to [...]
November 16, 2008
- Bad Insurance Buys
Bad Insurance Buys
Modern life isn't cheap… so it pays to make sure you're not wasting money on anything. And that includes insurance. Are you paying for unnecessary insurance? Money Editor Stacy Johnson helps you find out in this short (1:26) video…If you have questions or comments about this article, please use the "Comment" link below [...]
November 15, 2008
- Pending Home Sales Fall in September
Pending Home Sales Fall in September
The Pending Home Sales Index for the month of September fell 4.6% to 89.2 after climbing 7.4% in August, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Still, the index was up 1.6% from a year ago.
The NAR report said the dip in sales was tempered by a sharp decline [...]
November 14, 2008
- Obama's Foreclosure Moratoriam Campaign Promise
Obama's Foreclosure Moratoriam Campaign Promise
Between rising foreclosures and falling home prices, housing issues became a huge concern in the months leading up to the election. As such, they're likely to continue to take priority during President-elect Barack Obama's first term.
"This is really an unprecedented crisis we're in," said Peter Tatian, senior research associate for the [...]
November 13, 2008
- Dollar Store Deals
Dollar Store Deals
A dollar certainly doesn't buy what it used to. But it can still fetch you a bargain or two, if you look in the right place. Money Editor Stacy Johnson explains… (video runs 1:33)…Know of any other ways to save a dollar during these tough times? Share them with our readers by using [...]
