Real Estate Leads Strategies

IBD's Top 10 - Thursday (Investor's Business Daily)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:00:21 +0000

Investor's Business Daily - 1 House leaders and the White House announced a deal to give most tax filers refunds of $600-$1,200, plus more for kids. The package also includes business investment tax breaks, and it would let Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy mortgages at least 50% over the current $417,000 limit for 1 year. But the plan may not boost the economy until late this year.

Economy - Thursday (Investor's Business Daily)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:40:16 +0000

Investor's Business Daily - The 30-year fixed rate averaged 5.48% for the week ended Jan. 24, down from 5.69% last week, as the Federal Reserve slashed key lending rates and the housing market weakened further, Freddie Mac said. It was the lowest rate since March 2004. The 15-year fixed rate dived 26 ticks to 4.95%. The 1-year Treasury-tied adjustable rate plunged 27 ticks to 4.99%.

Tax rebate deal could mean checks by May (AP)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:35:58 +0000

AP - With unprecedented speed and cooperation, Congress and the White House forged a deal Thursday to begin rushing tax rebates of $600 to $1,200 to most tax filers by spring, hoping they will spend the money just as quickly and jolt the ailing economy to life.

Existing single-family home sales drop (AP)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:08:23 +0000

AP - Sales of existing single-family homes plunged in 2007 by the largest amount in 25 years, closing out an awful year that saw median prices fall for the first time in at least four decades.

30-year mortgages rates decline (AP)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:54:50 +0000

AP - Rates on 30-year mortgages dropped for a fourth straight week to the lowest level in nearly four years, raising hopes that low rates will help spur a rebound in the hard-hit housing industry.

Home Mortgage Mayhem Seeps Into Office Sector (Investor's Business Daily)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 22:44:11 +0000

Investor's Business Daily - The mortgage meltdown is hitting both homes and workplaces now.

Traders believe debt markets will get worse (FT.com)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 21:15:15 +0000

FT.com - So far, most of the rout in the debt markets has been linked to the US subprime mortgage debacle. Increasingly, however, many hedge funds are betting there is far worse to come for the corporate debt market as well.

Housing picture still dire, but labor market steady (Reuters)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:50:29 +0000

Reuters - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell more than expected in December, ending a year that brought the sharpest housing slowdown since 1982 and the first annual drop in prices since the Great Depression.

German insurer Allianz says 2007 profit hit eight bln euros (AFP)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:43:11 +0000

AFP - Insurance giant Allianz said Thursday it would post a record net profit for 2007 despite a fourth-quarter loss at Dresdner Bank, which took a huge write down in connection with US subprime housing market losses.

Societe Generale uncovers massive fraud (AP)

Yahoo! News: Business - Real Estate — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 18:19:09 +0000

AP - French bank Societe Generale said Thursday it has uncovered a 4.9 billion euro ($7.14 billion) fraud one of history's biggest by a single futures trader whose scheme of fictitious transactions was discovered as stock markets began to stumble in recent days.