Research Firm Says U.S. Housing Has Never Been This Undervalued

The continuing depreciation of residential property values at the end of last year has made housing look more undervalued relative to income than ever before, according to analysts at the research firm Capital Economics.

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Existing home sales inch up in January - Feb. 23, 2011

Sales of existing homes recorded modest gains in January, the third straight month of month-over-month increases.

According to the National Association of Realtors, homes sold at an annual rate of 5.36 million in January, up 2.7% from December and 5.3% higher than January 2010 sales. At the same time, the median home price fell 3% to $158,000, compared to a year earlier.

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Real Estate Steals in South Florida (video)

'Worst is over' for housing, analyst says, as Aug. sales rise

By Stephanie Armour, USA TODAY

Sales of existing homes rebounded slightly in August after a record drop the month before, an indication that the worst may be over even though the housing recovery still is on shaky ground. Existing home sales climbed 7.6% to an annual rate of 4.13 million units, according to a report Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). But the pace is still weak, 19% below the 5.10 million-unit pace in August 2009.

Sales had plummeted 27.2% in July to the lowest level in 15 years a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.84 million units. The drop is largely attributed to a decline in home purchases following the expiration of a federal home-buyer tax credit of up to $8,000. Looking ahead, economists say Augusts' increase in existing home sales may be a sign that home sales will slowly pick up over the next year.

"This report is only good in the context of the incredibly bad report last month," say Mark Zandi, with Moody's Analytics. "But last month will be the low point in the cycle. When we look back years from now, it will be the bottom. The worst is over."

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2010 Blog Cabin Sweepstakes

DIY Network's crew of home improvement experts built the cabin you helped design. One lucky winner is going to call it home. You may enter once a day through OCTOBER 1, 2010.

For official rules and to enter, click here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina Raffles Off a Log Cabin in the Smoky Mountains, Tickets Just $100 Each

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina Raffles Off a Log Cabin in the Smoky Mountains, Tickets Just $100 Each

ASHEVILLE, N.C., July 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina announced today that the organization is raffling off a Log Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains of Bryson City, North Carolina. The holder of the winning raffle ticket will take possession of this beautiful Smoky Mountain Cabin, a fully furnished 2 bedroom 2 bathroom Log Cabin with custom hardwood floors, granite countertops, hot tub, pool table and a rocked fireplace. Proceeds from the 1st annual Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle will benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina in its continued effort to recruit, screen, train and support caring adults who want to make a difference in the life of a child.
A limited number of raffle tickets will be available for purchase from July 16, 2010 through the October 7, 2010 deadline on our specially created event website at www.LogCabinRaffle.org The Grand Prize Drawing will take place on October 14, 2010 and will be open to the public. The Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle will also include bonus drawings throughout the three-month event. Designed to incentivize early ticket purchases these bonus drawings include a one-week stay at a cabin provided by Hidden Creek Cabins, a Whitewater Rafting trip for 4 down the legendary Nantahala River provided by Paddle Inn Rafting and a $1,000 cash prize drawing.
"The Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle was created as an innovative way to raise significant funds for children and mentors," says Robin Myer, Executive Director. "We are thrilled to present this Smoky Mountain Log Cabin as the Grand Prize of our raffle. It's a beautiful cabin in the mountains overlooking one of the country's most spectacular views. Raffle participants can give back while also having the exciting chance to win a beautiful custom log cabin in the Smoky Mountains."
"Some kids wait more than 9 months to be matched with a Big Brother or Big Sister stated J. Clarkson, Director of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC. "It takes time to recruit, screen, and train a caring adult to be a "Big" and the funds raised from this raffle will allow us to dedicate more staff to that effort and still give professional support to the mentoring relationships already in place. In the end, this means more children will have the opportunity to experience the difference that a Big Brother or Big Sister can make."
For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina please visit their website at www.bbbswnc.org and for more details on the "Smoky Mountain Cabin Raffle" please visit www.LogCabinRaffle.org

Press Contacts
Info@LogCabinRaffle.org
Mary Anne Baker (239) 898-1662 info@LeisureLinx.com J. Clarkson (828) 253-1470 jc@bbbswnc.org

Vacation-Home Sales Up in 2009 but Investment Sales Down

(March 31, 2010) – Vacation-home sales recovered in 2009 while investment sales fell sharply, according to the National Association of Realtors®.

NAR’s 2010 Investment and Vacation Home Buyers Survey, covering existing- and new-home transactions in 2009, shows vacation-home sales rose 7.9 percent to 553,000 last year from 513,000 in 2008, while investment-home sales fell 15.9 percent to 940,000 in 2009 from 1.12 million in 2008. Primary residence sales rose 7.1 percent to 4.04 million in 2009 from 3.77 million in 2008.

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