Federal and state regulators need to better support basic information in housing and housing finance. They are too concerned with potential conflicts of interest, even when counseling is a mandatory requirement and funding for programs is scarce. An example surfaced recently when the $38.5 billion slashed from the national budget for the remainder of fiscal [...]

The Puget Sound’s largest association of Realtors is opposed to a suggested dues increased from its national association in order to fund a Political Survival Initiative. Given the current market and other more pressing issues, who’s to blame them? In a letter to D’Ann Jackson, a local National Association of Realtors director, the SeattleKing County [...]

The Internet is now all about video. However, that medium may not be the best way to show a home. Brian Sharples, chief executive officer for Homeaway.com, told attendees at the company’s annual weekend summit the best single thing they could do to market their properties was to use more high resolution photographs. “Photos are [...]

‘Transfer of wealth’ probably will help only the wealthy There are those who believe that housing markets will soon recover and that the reported “transfer of wealth” from more frugal (and thus more affluent) parents will pull the baby boomers – and their children – through all financial difficulty. It most likely will not be [...]