What’s the Wall Street Impact on You?

Tue, Sep 30, 2008

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It’s hard not to notice the housing market is in the hot seat these days. Between the credit crunch, the new Housing Law, rising foreclosures, the Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae takeover, and now the financial market turmoil, it’s hard not to worry about your finances. How will all these changes affect you?

The answer may not be simple, but we’ve pulled together some questions and advice from real home buyers, sellers, and locals that may give you the information you need.

What will be the effect of Wall St. on home values?

Q: What will be the effect of today’s melt-down on wall st. on home values and mortgage rates?
Asked by Kojn Scicc, Home Buyer in Alexandria, VA
A: In the short term, it’s only the beginning of a fairly long process of restoring credit liquidity. In the long run, it’s probably a… see more or reply

What are your options as a home owner?

Q: What are the options for sellers who owe more than their house is now worth?
Asked by RKB, Home Seller in Madison, WI
A: People who did qualify for a home two years ago, don’t even come close in today’s mortgage standards. Talk to your lender and attorney. Find out what will happen to you financially and legally if you do… see more or reply

How safe is your money at your local bank?

How to check a bank’s FDIC insurance status
With the wild ride that banking institutions and insurance companies have been on lately, you might wonder how safe is your money? You can check out a bank’s FDIC insurance status by going to the… see more or reply

Written by Janeese Jackson, Real Estate Professional, Portland, OR

Advice & Opinions Ι Get insightful, fast, FREE advice on home buying & selling

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Tips for selling your home fast
Do you know that the person who ends up buying your home will drive by at least twice when making the decision. . . during the day and/or at night? Following is a list of 12 things you can do to WIN THEM OVER… see more or reply

Written by Fernando Herboso, Real Estate Professional in Maryland

Question of the week

Q: How do you purchase foreclosures? Can the previous owner reclaim the property later?
Asked by Janet, Just Looking, in Hudson Falls
A: There are several ways to purchase a bank owned property. Foreclosure sale (last step in the foreclosure procedure), through an agent once… see more or reply

Real Estate Eye Candy Ι Trulia picks

Couch potatoes unite

Need a break from the campaign trail to catch up on your favorite fall shows? With views like these, you may even forget how the market looks.

We’ve picked four homes that fit the bill from Emmy-award winning shows Grey’s Anatomy, Boston Legal, Entourage, and Saturday Night Live. From practical radiant heated floors and funky downtown condos to extravagant Hollywood homes and sophisticated ‘legal pads’, these homes are as unique as each series. See for yourself.Browse more homes

	New York, NY $655,000 1br / 1ba		Seattle, WA $549,950 3br / 2ba / 1,615 sqft

	Boston, MA $849,900 2br / 2ba		Los Angeles, CA $1,249,000 2br / 5ba