Category Archives: Ping.fm

Summary for the Week

For investors, 2012 began in the right direction as stocks ended the first week of the year UP. But this result was due mainly to an upsurge on Tuesday that was big enough to offset tepid performances the next three days, … Continue reading

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New about interest rates

As directed by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the mortgage agencies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are required to increase the guarantee fee charged for all new mortgages financed on or after April 1, 2012. What does this mean? … Continue reading

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4 Lessons Sellers Can Learn From Customer Service

1. Get in the Right Frame of Mind Before Asking Questions   Lesson: When you initiate your call, keep an open mind. Put yourself in your customer’s shoes. Explore to discover opportunities, not to place your product. 2. Don’t Put … Continue reading

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sales 14% lower for the past four years, WHAT???

The National Association of Realtors has revised existing home sales 14% lower for the past four years. The drop represents the loss of more than two million sales from an inflated rate, bringing cumulative sales to 17.7 million for the … Continue reading

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Barclays Capital – potential recovery in the U.S. housing sector in 2012

The brokerage also raised 2012 earnings estimates and price targets for a host of other U.S. homebuilders, including Toll Brothers Inc (TOL.N), Lennar Corp (LEN.N) and Meritage Homes Corp (MTH.N). “It has become increasingly apparent to us that the pieces for a … Continue reading

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Fitch Ratings has affirmed a stable outlook

U.S. commercial real estate is expected to stabilize and perform better going forward. Cautiously optimistic about the modest economic growth and job creation, Lawrence Yun, chief economist of National Association of Realtor, predicts that the overall drop in vacancy rates, … Continue reading

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Construction Spending Reports False Gains in October

Construction spending was up in October, gaining 0.8% from September, to reach a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $798.5 billion, according to data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. October’s figure was down 0.4% year-over-year. The monthly gain was ill-got, however, … Continue reading

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Sweden is Safest as Crisis Upends Bond Market

Sweden is enjoying its lowest borrowing cost ever relative to Germany as investors reward the biggest Scandinavian economy for cutting its debt to less than half Europe’s average and enforcing discipline at its banks. “Everybody is basically fleeing the euro area, not … Continue reading

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First Major State Lawsuit Filed Over ‘Robo-Signing’

The Attorney General alleges these five entities, “engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices in violation of Massachusetts’ law by: Pervasive use of fraudulent documentation in the foreclosure process, including so-called “robo-signing”, foreclosing without holding the actual mortgage, corrupting Massachusetts … Continue reading

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Good Charts – Bad News

Last week, we published a chart-essay that illustrates the extreme inequality that has developed in the US economy over the past 30 years. The charts explain what the Wall Street protesters are angry about. They also explain why the protesters’ message is … Continue reading

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