Hard Money Loans

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose 1 basis point in Freddie Mac’s latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. But mortgage rates are likely to fall at least 10 basis points in the next weekly report. The prediction is based on a falling 10-year Treasury yield.

View full post on Mortgage Stories

The majority of SA CEOs who took part in a survey say a weaker rand would be better for business.

View full post on Finance Stories

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – A survey in early November by Angus Reid found out that many Canadians are not prepared for winter driving despite the start of the season this week.

The survey discovered that 30 percent of 2,000 poll respondents had not yet installed winter tires on their vehicles, and another 33 percent have no plans of placing one. Ironically, the provinces hit hardest by the winter weather this week were the one where majority of drivers said they do not intend to change tires – at 58 percent in Alberta and 50 percent in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

The host of a television show featuring Canada’s worst drivers pointed out that many Canadian motorists develop bad driving habits during spring and summer that it take them too long to prepare for icy roads even if winter comes every year.

The host reminded Canadian motorists to replace their all-season tires with winter tires once the temperature goes down below 7 degree Celsius. He explained winter tires’ treads clear slush and snow from the vehicle’s path and will remain soft at the coldest temperature, which provides better grip.

The three provinces and British Columbia logged below zero temperatures this week. In Victoria the barometer read minus 10 degrees, while in Alberta it was even negative 30 with the wind chill. Environment Canada warned Ontario and Quebec residents to brace for bad weather by the end of this week.

Other bad driving habits made by Canadians in whatever season of the year is the use of a mobile phone while behind the wheels despite laws banning the practice. According to another Angus Reid survey released last week, 88 percent of Canadians said they saw motorists talking on their mobile units while driving. What is worse is that in provinces where the practice is prohibited, sightings of drivers yakking while driving are higher than the national average at 90 percent in Ontario and 89 percent in BC.

Because of the unsafe practice, 83 percent of the survey respondents are in favor of making the ban Canada-wide.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

D.C., Washington, United States (AHN) – Despite the recent furor created by strict airport security measures, particularly ivasive passenger searches, a survey released Monday indicated about two-thirds of Americans support the use of new full-body scanners at U.S. gateways.

However, 50 percent of the survey respondents drew the line on pat-downs, which they described as having gone too far. Some groups have labeled the pat-downs as glorified grope sessions.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano insisted the new regulations are needed for public safety because of the continued threat against the aviation industry by power and gel smugglers who could use these items as explosives.

Napolitano promised that the Transport Security Administration – which said less than 3 percent of air passengers undergo the pat-downs – would listen to public sentiment and make adjustments if it will not compromise airport security.

Since October 400 full-body scanners had been installed and in use at 70 of 450 American gateways.

Travelers who disagree with the TSA body search methods have initiated an online campaign urging passengers to refuse scanners on Wednesday, when a large number of Americans travel for the Thanksgiving week.

Some travelers plan to show their protest by opting for the slower pat-downs instead of passing through the full-body scanners considered as too invasive.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – A survey by Ipsos Reid shows that the Liberal-run Ontario government is at risk of losing if an election was held tomorrow. About 41 percent of survey respondents said they would vote for Progressive Conservative candidates instead of Liberal bets in an election.

Only 32 percent picked the Liberal Party, 20 percent opted for the New Democratic Party and 7 percent selected the Green Party.

The survey firm found in September that 75 percent of Ontarians said they wanted to vote out of office the current Liberal government headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty. In the summer of 2009, the Liberals were ahead of the Conservatives by 14 points; now the tide has reversed and the Tories outpace the Liberals by 9 points.

The growing disenchantment with McGuinty’s government comes from an economic slowdown that has caused Ontario to grapple with a record budget deficit and projected higher electricity costs in the next five years.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – A survey by Ipsos Reid shows that the Liberal-run Ontario government is at risk of losing if an election was held tomorrow. About 41 percent of survey respondents said they would vote for Progressive Conservative candidates instead of Liberal bets in an election.

Only 32 percent picked the Liberal Party, 20 percent opted for the New Democratic Party and 7 percent selected the Green Party.

The survey firm found in September that 75 percent of Ontarians said they wanted to vote out of office the current Liberal government headed by Premier Dalton McGuinty. In the summer of 2009, the Liberals were ahead of the Conservatives by 14 points; now the tide has reversed and the Tories outpace the Liberals by 9 points.

The growing disenchantment with McGuinty’s government comes from an economic slowdown that has caused Ontario to grapple with a record budget deficit and projected higher electricity costs in the next five years.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – A new survey made by Ipsos Reid for Microsoft released Wednesday found out that 90 percent of Canadian workers are not keen on moving for a job.

One compelling reason why Canadians feel that way is that they see technology as a useful tool to help workers avoid relocation for work.

They believe that with technology, particularly through telecommuting, it is possible for many forms of work to be done from any location instead of employees being concentrated in just one place.

Among those who prefer to stay in their same city, 93 percent were in the age brackets 35 to 54, 96 percent were from Atlantic Canada and Saskatchewan, and 90 percent were males.

Labor experts agreed that there is a growing number of workers who want to have the option of working elsewhere than the traditional central office location. This arrangement would permit more employees to enjoy work without causing disruption in their family lives due to relocation.

View full post on Economy, Business And Finance Stories

In a survey of real estate CFOs and senior comptrollers conducted by the Chicago-based financial advisory firm Grant Thornton LLP, only 12 percent said their company will increase hiring in the next six months and nearly two-thirds, 63 percent, plan to reduce bonuses.

Real Estate companies are also reducing health care benefits, 401k benefits, and stock options. Real estate firms are trimming the fat, even while the real estate market continues to show signs of improvement. Real Estate companies, according to the survey conducted by Grat Thornton LLP are most concerned about the cost of employee benefits.

While the Chicago Real Estate market is improving, these numbers illustrate an extreme contradiction in the real estate industry. While real estate companies remain optimistic about the future of their industry, cost cutting measures reflect a distinct pessimism in their own industry.

Is the real estate industry in a true recovery mode, or is a second micro-bubble emerging. As of right now, it is not clear, but there definitely a discrepancy between internal practices of real estate firms and gauges of the real estate market. Speculation surrounding real estate is always apparent. But is it beneficial when the speculation directly opposes the actions of Real Estate firms and brokerages?

So what can we learn from this contradiction? Is the market over-valued?  Is a secondary bubble forming after we slowly emerge out of the recession? Whatever the case, it is clear that the real estate market may still be over-valued, as firms still continue to cut costs, while the real estate market continues to improve.

Often with financial help from parents, some college-age students choose to purchase homes or condos in communities where they attend college. This option allows students to live in a property that is usually more spacious and comfortable than typical dormitory-style rooms. For students who value attending a college with a large football program, affordable real estate may be an important criterion when selecting a college or university.

Coldwell Banker, a real estate firm, conducted a recent survey to identify the most affordable college football towns. The survey compared the average price of a single- family home with 2200 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 2

Wealthy home buyers who buy multi-million dollar homes are typically self-made millionaires with new money, according to a recent online survey of 683 Coldwell Banker Previews International property specialists. The study revealed the top professions of these affluent customers. According to the respondents, 88 % of their customers are business or corporate executives, 37 % are physicians, 31 % are lawyers, 30 % are financial professional and 14 % are entertainers, entertainment executives or professional athletes.

Wealthy home buyers require their real estate agents to be equipped with special skills, according to the Coldwell Banker’s survey. Given the magnitude of the financial transactions involved in luxury home purchases, 78 % of sales associates said that the top most need their clients require from their real estate agents is privacy and confidentiality. The luxury customers also want their real estate agents to exercise discretion while dealing with their multi-million dollar transactions. Almost 70 % of respondents polled that their wealthy clients want their real estate professionals to offer customized services while 44 % said that the luxury home buyers want their agents to have good network and work relationship with executive assistants, CPAs and attorneys.

Wealthy home buyers also want their agents to know the inside scoop on the real estate market, according to 36 % of the respondents in the Coldwell Banker’s survey. Seventeen percent of the sales associates surveyed indicated that one of the necessary skills for real estate professionals working with affluent customers was the ability to provide emotional support to their clients. And according to 11 % of respondents, luxury customers want their real estate agents to establish personal rapport with their clients.

The study also included queries on the “must have” amenities that the affluent clientele want in their luxury homes. Wealthy home buyers want media rooms in their homes, according to 60 % of respondents and another 60 % polled that their affluent customers want “wired” homes. However, there are a few home design elements that are out among luxury home buyers. Gourmet kitchens, granite countertops and wet bars are no longer counted as luxuries by wealthy home buyers, according to the survey respondents.

The survey also found that the multi-million dollar home buyer pays a typical down payment of 20 % to 30 %, while a quarter of clients put down 30 % to 50 % of the sale price.