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As previously
reported in an earlier edition of
On the Home Front, the Greater
Boston Association of REALTORS® is
launching new online ads this spring
to supplement the National
Association of REALTORS® public
awareness campaign. GBAR's online
ads are set to debut this week on
five heavily trafficked media
websites -- Boston.com, the
bostonchannel.com, myfoxboston.com,
wbztv.com and...Read More |
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Forty years ago the dream of
homeownership for many Americans of
minority groups became a possibility
when the Fair Housing Act was
passed. April marks the 40th
anniversary of the Act, which
protects the basic right of all
Americans to pursue the dream of
homeownership regardless of race,
color, religion, sex, disability,
familial status and national origin.
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On April 1, 2008, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) released mortgage letter 2008-09 announcing that mortgages that
exceed the January 1, 2008, conforming loan limit of $417,000 may
require two appraisals. A second appraisal is required for these loans
if the loan-to-value ratio (excluding MIP) equals or exceeds 95 percent
AND if the property is in a declining market. A declining market is
determined by the appraiser or by the lender.
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Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored provider of home-funding, has
announced tighter standards for home mortgages it guarantees or buys.
Fannie Mae will now require a minimum credit score of 850 for most loans
it buys on an individual basis. In the past Fannie had no minimum credit
score. The organization also announced an increase in the period needed
for borrowers to re-establish credit...Read More |
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Average rents for U.S. apartments rose 1 percent in the first three
months of 2008.
This was the 24th consecutive quarter that rental property
rates have risen, according to New York-based real estate research firm
Reis Inc. The last time rents fell was the first quarter of 2002, when
they declined by 0.2 percent, according to Reis.
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The Greater Boston
Association of REALTORS® and Boston Globe Media have partnered to host a
free workshop for home buyers and sellers which will be held on
Saturday, April 12, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the Sheraton Four
Points Hotel on Rt. 1 in Norwood. The workshop will feature a half
dozen sessions designed to educate consumers on key elements of the
property...Read More |
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Do you know a fellow REALTOR® who
exemplifies community activism? Then
recognize that person by nominating him or
her for the first-ever GBAR Good Neighbor
Award. The deadline to nominate someone is
Tuesday, April 15. The award will be
presented to a REALTOR® who demonstrates an
extraordinary commitment to community
service through volunteerism and civic and
charitable...Read More |
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The Greater Boston
Association of REALTORS® will be one of the
featured sponsors at this year's
"What's in
a Bag?" charity event sponsored by the
Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.
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