Article From: Philly.com By: Peter G. Miller QUESTION: With mortgage rates now below 4 percent, is now the right time to refinance my loan? ANSWER: In late September Freddie Mac said that weekly fixed rates for 30-year mortgages had reached 4.09 percent, while 5-year ARM start rates were at 3.02...

Article From msnbc.msn.com By: Derek Kravitz WASHINGTON — About 4 million homeowners who may have been improperly foreclosed upon in 2009 and 2010 are getting an opportunity to have their cases reviewed. Whether they will be reimbursed is up to the same lenders who are accused of moving too swiftly to seize...

When searching for a home, try using a buyer’s agent who is specialized in the specific areas and neighborhoods that you are looking for.  Contact the local school board, and ask for the school’s “report card” to see what the school’s average grades, SAT scores, graduation percentages, and the violence...

Article from nbcphiladelphia.com The Philadelphia Housing Authority earned high marks for its financial performance after an annual audit, despite ongoing federal probes of secret legal payments and alleged slush funds. The audit figures released Friday show the agency’s revenues, assets and cash flow all increased last year. However, a more...

Article From msnbc.msn.com By: Reuters Pending sales of existing U.S. homes dropped for a third successive month during September, a real estate industry group reported on Thursday, though a sales index was above year-ago levels. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Pending Home Sales Index, based on contracts signed in...

When you are looking to spruce up a property, remember that remodeling is a great tool. You can buy a property for a low price, remodel it, and then flip it for a higher value.  Before any remodeling or renovations can be done, research all of the proper permits that...

Sheriff’s buried bounty: $56M Audit of department’s coffers finds that sum – & at least half of it goes to taxpayers Article From: Philly.com By: William Bender SOME PEOPLE find loose change in between their couch cushions or under the fridge. The city Sheriff’s Office found $56 million. To be...

REOs: Where Are They Now? Article From My Buddy JP @ REITips.com By: Carrie Bay Five years into the housing crisis, and foreclosures remain elevated. We’ve seen temporary lulls in home repossessions that coincided with the implementation of new state and municipal mediation efforts, moratoria enacted as federal programs ramped...

   When remodeling your home, if your closets are small, look at expanding your closet space. Homeowners love lots of great walk-in closet space for all of their clothing and belongings.  Popcorn walls and ceilings are a major turn off for homebuyers. Take the extra step to get it removed,...

The ‘ Four C’s’  in Selling your home Article From: Examiner.com By: Susan Seyler The Four C’s in selling your home are Curb Appeal, Clutter Free, Cleaned Spotless and Color it softly. The first three are obvious.  If your house looks unkempt  or neglected, it is a big turn off.  Yes, Staging...