Pulte Homes agrees to buy Centex in $1.3B dealNEW YORK (AP) – April 8, 2009 – Pulte Homes Inc. agreed to acquire Centex Corp. Wednesday in a stock-for-stock deal valued at $1.3 billion that will create the nation’s largest homebuilding company.The transaction, which also includes $1.8 billion of debt, will give the combined business a strong liquidity position with more than $3.4 billion in cash as of March 31.The pairing of Pulte and Centex comes at a time homebuilders are still struggling to find their footing as credit remains tight and buyers continue to be leery of big-ticket purchases. The industry in turn has attempted to stem the bleeding by drastically scaling back new construction and throwing more incentives at potential buyers in order to unload existing inventory.

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Smart Technology in the Intelligent HomeIn 2009, WIRED magazine again served as the technology and automation advisor for the Smart Home, helping to identify and secure new "smart" systems and fun gadgets with a focus on energy efficiency, homeowner awareness and great design. The result is a Smart Home that is responsible, responsive, and cutting-edge—and makes life easy.Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090408_smarttech.htm

GRI Designation...
Serving you Better Every Day... I recently earned my GRI Designation!
The Graduate REALTOR® Institute (GRI) symbol is the mark of a real estate professional who has made a commitment to providing a superior level of professional services by earning the GRI designation. REALTORS® with the GRI designation are highly trained in many areas of real estate to better serve and protect their clients.

Hot Market: Bloomberg: 2008 Home Prices Increase in Various U.S. StatesBuried at the tail end of new report on Bloomberg.com was the news we've all been waiting for -- home sales price increases. The headline was pointing out how home prices had dropped in 70% of states across the country (34 states); which meant that there were, indeed, states where home prices increased.Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090327_hotmarket.htm

Mortgage Rates Fall Back a Bit This WeekFreddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.03 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 12, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.15 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.13 percent.Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20090313_rates.htm

New Listing! Hungtingdon Valley, PA
3540 Walsh Lane "Justa Farm"
More Info, printable brochure, etc...

City: Huntingdon Valley
Baths: 2
Price: $575,000.00
Status: Just Listed
Bedrooms: 5
Half Baths: 1

HOUSING PLAN
The Obama administration released details of its new housing program this morning. The program is designed to help up to 9 million borrowers stay in their homes through refinanced mortgages or loans modified to lower monthly payments.

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/n1-030409.cfm