Consumer real estate news featuring articles on market conditions, hot buying and selling issues and more. http://www.homes101.net/news/ en-us Homes101 Copyright © 2009 Homes101 and partners. All rights reserved. 2009-07-03T05:00:00-00:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4639 Here's a real estate investment idea that's so new that a lot of people have never even heard of it: Buying multi-unit property with an FHA reverse mortgage -- living in one unit, renting out the others, and NEVER paying a dime in monthly principal or interest costs. Realty Times 2009-07-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4640 The population of the U.S. nearly doubled from 1950 to 2000 but with that growth our water demands more than tripled, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The government predicts that there will be water shortages in 36 states by the year 2013. That s disappointing news to homeowners who love their green lawns and think that they add value to their homes. The good news is that a yard can still look attractive and yet use less water to maintain its beauty. Realty Times 2009-07-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4641 A Brookings Institute report pointed out McAllen, Texas as the only major city in the country that saw growth in employment and output during the first quarter of 2009, as reported in The Monitor, the Rio Grande Valley s main newspaper and online news service. Realty Times 2009-07-03T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4642 [Note: To follow is an excerpt of an interview with David O. Kingston, Chairman and CEO of Kingston Companies, an Idaho Falls, Idaho privately held group of 25 enterprises with a concentration in real estate development, agriculture, and power generation; Michael Anderson, Founder and co-owner, Nate Hanks, Co-Owner and Blaine Walker, President, all with RealSource in Salt Lake City, a commercial real estate provider of a full menu of institutional level services and products to help the entrepreneurial real estate investor invest well. To listen to the show archive or download an MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com/052709.] Realty Times 2009-07-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4643 A growing number of job loss mortgage protection insurance policies help take the fear out of home buying, but the coverage -- sometimes over-hyped as a form of recessionary relief -- is not for everyone. Realty Times 2009-07-02T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4637 Recent surveys and reports show a picture of the home remodeling industry that is a mixed bag of good news and bad according to home remodeling website remodelormove.com. Realty Times 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4638 A well conducted meeting is like a music to your ears. Using a well thought out plan, the Chair cues, directs and closes the meeting much like a conductor. Conducting successful meetings doesn't happen by chance. There is a combination of clear purpose coupled with ground rules. Here are some tips that can make your meetings like music to the ears. Realty Times 2009-07-01T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4635 The key to understanding what's happening for housing and real estate right now is to remember this: In a recovery that's just getting going, don't expect all the economic arrows to point the same way at any given moment. Realty Times 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4636 Strong real estate markets and thriving local economies foster a diversity of business niches across the range of industries in an area. These mini- and micro-ventures hold clues for potential economic and social redefinition of communities when good times come to an end. Realty Times 2009-06-30T00:00:00-05:00 http://www.homes101.net/news/n4633 FHA has come out with its long-awaited rules on condominium loans, and they're a mixed bag for investors, second home and other buyers and sellers. Realty Times 2009-06-29T00:00:00-05:00