Written by:  Nathan Thomas

With Aurora coming out soon, we would like to reiterate a point we've made previously (here and here, to name two) that we recommend that you upgrade computers every couple of years to a top notch system. We've often taken the approach to upgrade now, before a new version ships. You want to get your new computer up and running, be familiar with it, get WinTOTAL form filling software going on it with all your files, databases, and so on, and have it ready for a new version. That way, when you get the new version CD, you just plop it in and it all works. Otherwise, you're asking yourself to learn a new computer, get the old WinTOTAL installed with all your data files, and then get the new version going. Not ideal in any work environment, particularly what we and you hope is a busy one.   Read more...

American households cashed out $333 billion worth of equity from homes between 2001 and 2003, the beginning of the refinancing boom - levels three times higher than any period since Freddie Mac started tracking the data in 1993, a new report highlighted.   Read more...

Fannie Mae's board on December 21st ousted its two top executives and fired its auditor, KPMG, as the company's accounting standards violations crept into the light and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ordered a restatement of possibly $9 billion. Chief Executive Officer Franklin D. Raines and Chief Financial Officer Timothy Howard were temporarily replaced by, respectively, Daniel H. Mudd, currently a vice chairman and chief operating officer, and Robert Levin, currently an executive vice president. Mudd vowed to "make things right" with regulators and Congress, the Washington Post reported.   Read more...

November existing home sales shattered expectations, rising to a new record pace, and virtually sealing the deal on another record year for the U.S. housing market, Wachovia Securities economists reported to their customers. Sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.94 million in November. Months of available supply held steady and sales prices rose.   Read more...

You control every aspect of your Mortgage XSite website from your listings to the number of content pages appearing on your homepage. In fact, being in command is one of the reasons you purchased your XSite in the first place, right? But did you know you also control your website's destiny with search engines?   Read more...

Although frantic holiday shopping can bring out the worst in anyone, first-rate customer service should remain a top priority for any American business if they want those customers to return after the New Year, according to a recent Coldwell Banker® Customer Service Study.   Read more...

The reform rule that's haunted the real estate industry for more than two years is back on The Office of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) agenda for 2005: Reform of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA).   Read more...

In this business, you expect to face plenty of competition from other agents every day. And while you may be competing for that client, you both tend to agree on one thing: that the client needs an expert in the real estate business to guide them through the selling process. But what do you do when FSBO Internet sites try to lure your potential listing clients away by telling them that their service eliminates the need for an agent? Or they say that most real estate agents are usually just out for the commission money anyway?   Read more...

Although frantic holiday shopping can bring out the worst in anyone, first-rate customer service should remain a top priority for any American business if they want those customers to return after the New Year, according to a recent Coldwell Banker® Customer Service Study.   Read more...

The Wage and Hour division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is investigating several mortgage brokerage firms throughout Western Pennsylvania and Western Virginia for possible violations of federal wage and hours laws, according to a notice issued by the DOL.   Read more...