Nation: Why Women Pay More For Mortgages

Women are 32 percent more likely to carry mortgages with high interest rates than men with similar incomes, even though women generally have better credit scores, according to a study released recently by the Consumer Federation of America.

The study also found that wealthier women were 50 percent more likely to carry expensive loans than their male counterparts. In 2005, 10 percent of women who took out mortgages received the highest-cost sub-prime loans, compared with about 7.5 percent of men.

Why do women pay more? Allen Fishbein, the federation’s director of housing and credit policy, speculates that the most likely reason for the disparity was that women were less familiar with the mortgage market than men and didn’t shop around.

''There is some research indicating that women are, on the whole, less likely than men to bargain for major consumer purchases and credit transactions,'' he says.

A Matter of Timing

Buying real estate can sometimes involve tricky timing. For example, you
may have found the perfect house and are thinking about making an offer,
but are feeling pressured to make a decision just when you want time to
consider the matter. The agent tells you that another party is thinking
about making an offer, so you shouldn't hesitate if you really want the
house. What should you do? Trust your agent!

It is natural to feel some pressure from even the most easy-going real
estate agent--and some uncertainty about making an offer. If you really
like a house, there is always the possibility that someone else will
share your enthusiasm for it. Whether your local market is active or
sluggish, it is sensible to assume that another offer is likely to come
in. Perhaps you can afford to "sleep on it", but moving as quickly as
possible will minimize the possibility that the house will go to another
buyer.

Nation: Housing Expected To Rebound But Some Markets Will Feel Pain

Economists expect the housing market to rebound in 2007 for most of the nation. "We may be bottoming out on the sales side," says David Lereah, chief economist for the NAR. Sellers are being a lot more flexible he says and lower prices are bringing some buyers back into the market. Home builders have cut back on production of new houses which will "make for a much healthier market going forward". Lereah predicts the housing market will grow in three-fourths of the country in 2007. Markets in the rest of the country, including California and coastal resort areas from Delaware to Florida--"are going to experience some pain".

Do'a and Don'ts of home decorating

Hello friends!
We hope you have had a safe and fun year! We are looking forward to what the New Year brings! We hope this year to work with you on your buying or selling your home!

With any market conditions decorating your home can help or harm you. This great story gives some helpful tips for your home decorating! Just click the link above. We hope you all have a great New Year!