The credit crunch and tough times in the mortgage market are creating new profit opportunities in a highly-specialized real estate investment niche: Buying seller "carryback" mortgage notes. FULL STORY ->

Ann Arbor, Michigan's market has begun the swing toward normalcy as foreclosures are driving up pending sales statistics, according to the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors. Sales have continued to drop, but pendings (the houses that have contracts, but not yet settled) have surpassed year over year numbers for the last five months. FULL STORY ->

At the start of a new year a lot of us get motivated to give our homes a good cleaning. It's a way to clear the physical and mental clutter and, if you're selling your home, it's a must-do to help attract buyers. FULL STORY ->

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.01 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending January 8, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.10 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.87 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been lower since Freddie Mac started the Primary Mortgage Market Survey in 1971. FULL STORY ->

If you need a large home loan of up to $729,750, move fast and look hard. Loan limits are getting squeezed on jumbo loans with eased underwriting standards and that could shrink the size of the mortgage your lender will approve for you. FULL STORY ->

In 2009, WIRED magazine again served as the technology and automation advisor for the Smart Home, helping to identify and secure new "smart" systems and fun gadgets with a focus on energy efficiency, homeowner awareness and great design. The result is a Smart Home that is responsible, responsive, and cutting-edge-and makes life easy. FULL STORY ->

Rain gutters are an inconspicuous but necessary building component that homeowner associations deal with. Their need to perform consistently triggers ongoing maintenance and repair to themselves, exterior paint, siding, roofs and trees. Failure to keep the gutter system running smoothly causes overflows, water intrusion, interior damage, structural dryrot and enormously expensive repairs. There is a lot riding on this often ignored building component. FULL STORY ->

In March 2009, Greater Toronto REALTORS reported 6,171 sales - down seven per cent from March 2008, representing the smallest year-over-year decline in the last five months. The average price for March transactions was $362,052 - down less than five per cent from the same month last year. FULL STORY ->

The good news keeps rolling in about the small but important turnaround underway in the home real estate market. FULL STORY ->

One Ontario Real Estate Board fights the new provincial and municipal tax onslaught on the housing market. PJ Wade explains why although real estate professionals often step forward to lead the charge against political misjudgement, they need public backing to correct political error. FULL STORY ->