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According to recent National Association of Realtors (NAR) predictions, the level of overall home sales–including multi-housing–is forecast to show little movement in the coming months. The NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index dropped 3.2 percent from June to July–even with June’s reading being revised to 89.4. (The original reading was thought to be 89.0.) However, the anticipated calm period isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sales rise, and sales decline–but when considering the big picture, many in the industry feel home sales will soon increase. NAR’s Managing Director of Quantitative Research Jed Smith told MHN that while sales fluctuate from month to…

Among the great chefs of the world, it is widely believed that the success of a meal depends on the color of its ingredients. I have always believed, as well, that color is the essential ingredient to create the ideal kitchen, a playground to experiment with your tastes, your senses and your personal style without restriction. Color provides sensation, mood and personality. The colors we choose for our kitchen reflects the way we look at life. From the passionate feelings created by a ruby-red to the soothing qualities of powder-blue, from the crispness of an acid-green to the exhilaration of…

  Brother, Can You Spare A Dime… The unemployment numbers came out today and the magic number finally hit above 6 percent for the first time in about 5 years. Over 600,000 jobs have been lost since the start of this year, when subject to a lot of fanfare, pundits said the early part of 2008 was going to be slow, with a recovery in the last half of the year. I think the pundits are all hiding right now. The villagers have taken their torches and are rushing through the forest trying to find the lost jobs. You’ll likely…

Now is the best time to – well, wait. You’ve probably seen the ads from the realtors talking about how now is a fabulous time to invest in real estate and it never rains on a real estate investment and gosh golly, buying a home is a great experience. Maybe they see something I don’t because according to recently released data from their own research department at the National Association of Realtors, through July, 2008, on a year over year basis, the median price of a single family home declined 7.7%, and the median price of a condo/co-op declined 2.7%….

In July, the monthly total for consumers looking into specific apartment unit availability online hit–and passed–the one million mark for the very first time, according to Realty DataTrust’s VaultWare reservation system. It’s no secret that online apartment searching is becoming more popular; given the current high gas prices–currently still above $3 a gallon–expect that trend to continue. People want to do as much research as they can online before heading out to personally view a property. But as Realty DataTrust Vice President of Marketing Gina Kilker told MHN, checking availability online is just the start of the leasing process. It’s…