Real Estate Prices

Housing prices can go down. - Sep. 19, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate Real Estate Buying & Selling SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Real estate: When booms go bust... Home prices can and do go down. Here's what declines have looked like in the past. September 19, 2005: 6:21 PM EDT By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Across America, real-estate prices continue to confound the skeptics. Many Americans have come to think of their homes as rock-solid investments with little downside. And why not: For the past 40 years, national home prices have surpassed inflation by a percentage point or two on average and there has never been a national real-estate bust. But are people ignoring the risks? "I think Americans are not well aware that many markets are risky," says Ingo Winzer, president of Local Market Monitor, which sells real-estate market analysis to corporate and consumer clients. Those investors should realize that price reversals do happen, even if only locally rather than nation-wide. A look at the not so distant past reveals numerous examples of cities that went through housing busts -- followed by years of falling prices. Some have never fully recovered. Once hot, then not Take Los Angeles, where real estate has been turbocharged for nearly 10 years. But the early 1990s were a different story; the average house price in L.A. dropped from $222,200 in 1990 to $176,300 in 1996, a loss of 20.7 percent. Furthermore, those are nominal prices, not real values. To calculate the loss more realistically you would have to figure in the cost of inflation: $222,200 in 1990 would have been worth $266,700 in 1996 dollars, which means the actual loss for homeowners buying in 1990 and selling in 1996 was closer to 34 percent. Not exactly the Nasdaq meltdown for investors, but getting closer. But that's L.A., where the aerospace- and film and television production-based economy can be a bit volatile. What about cities in more traditional areas? How did things play out in Peoria, Ill. for instance? Not well, not in the early 1980s at least. Peoria experienced real-estate price drops amounting to more than 15 percent tied, in part, to strikes and lay-offs at Caterpillar, the city's biggest employer. In 1981, the average home there sold for $60,800. By 1985, that had dipped to $51,400. "Oil patch" cities, suffered even sharper declines. In Oklahoma City prices plummeted 26 percent from 1983 to 1988. It took 15 years for prices there to return to nominal 1983 levels. Houston home prices fell 22 percent from $111,000 to $86,800, and also took 15 years to rebound. Counting inflation, the average Houston home, which cost just $159,700 in 2004, is actually worth less now than it was 22 years ago. When, adjusted for inflation, a home cost about $219,000 in 1983. In Oklahoma City, the inflation-adjusted price in 1983 was $196,600. Today, it's just $135,100. The boom will end, but when? History seems to dictate that the current price boom is at risk. One factor is that real-estate investing has spiked, pressuring prices upward. In Phoenix, according to Bill Jilbert, president and COO of the Coldwell Banker brokerage there, investors from Nevada and California have invaded the Arizona market, and "affordable housing has been pushed to extremes." That story is echoed in many local markets. Low interest rates have also kept real estate bubbling. Cheap mortgages enable entry level buyers to get into the market and wealthier ones to afford more expensive houses. That means higher demand and higher prices at all market levels. Winzer says that low rates "have extended the cycle." Winzer assesses local market risk by taking into account economic and population growth, construction costs, vacancy rates, and, especially, income. He also considers such factors as density and access to open land. Prices in densely settled New York have always been higher than those of cities with lots of space for new housing. Winzer considers real estate "very risky right now." And because the price run up has been so high he expects the adjustment period where home prices stagnate as income catches up -- to take a very long time. Before they purchase a home, buyers better figure on scenario of many years of little or slow home-price appreciation. Counting on home price increases could be a big mistake. The boom has already gone on longer than Winzer thought it would. "Bubbles do tend to last longer than most people expect," he says, "and end quicker." _____________________________________________________________________________________ Think you're living in a bubble? Here are four strategies . Watch out: 5 crazy loans that could hurt you Hot markets have not slowed much yet. See that story by clicking here . For more articles on Real Estate, subscribe to MONEY Magazine . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Buying & Selling Least affordable rental markets Take this home market...and love it Double jeopardy for landlords contact us | magazine customer service | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business2.0 = Money subscribers = Premium content -- * - Time reflects local markets trading time. † - Intraday data is at least 15-minutes delayed. Disclaimer © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available. Top Stories Most overvalued housing markets Risks to the economy in 2006 Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? After the ride, a rest Hilton brands reunite after 40 years YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS Follow the news that matters to you. 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Texas Land Trusts About

TPWD: Texas Land Trust Council Publications Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc Publications Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved Texas Land Trust Council Publications Publications available from Texas Land Trust Council Conservation Easements - a guide for Texas Landowners (0 B ) Bare Bones - Starting a Land Trust Land Trusts in Texas - Conservation Partnerships with Private Landowners and Public Agencies ( PDF 104.9 KB ) How to subscribe to the Land Trust Alliance List Serve Subscribe via e-mail . Send your e-mail request to the Land Trust Alliance List Serve with "subscribe landtrust" in the body of the e-mail. You can also unsubscribe in the same manner by including "unsubscribe landtrust" in your e-mail. Resources These internet sites are provided for reference only. Texas Land Trust Council does not endorse or guarantee the suitability of any of the listed sites. Land Trust Alliance at: www.lta.org The Texas Historical Commission at: www.thc.state.tx.us Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: June 1, 2005, 4:18 pm

Colorado Real Estate

State of Colorado-Department of Regulatory Agencies - Division of Real Estate Home Page Debbie Campagnola Director To promote a balanced and sensible approach to regulation that protects the public interest and supports economic growth. Information about Appraisers Information about Brokers Activities || Funding Sources || Trends Activities The Division of Real Estate regulates real estate appraisers, salespersons and brokers through licensure and discipline. Licensees must comply with established educational and experience requirements, and pass a test prior to licensure. Earnest money deposits and escrow and trust funds are regulated by the Division. The Division's objectives are to: Provide public protection to the citizens of the State of Colorado from incompetent and dishonest persons in the real estate and appraiser professions, and from unscrupulous or financially unsound subdivision developers. Mitigate financial loss to the public resulting from real estate fraud and theft. The objectives are met through the following activities: I. Licensing real estate brokers and appraisers and registering time share and raw land subdivision developers under the jurisdiction of the Real Estate Commission. II. Enforcing laws by investigating complaints, conducting investigative and routine financial audits, and administering disciplinary action. III. Administering a mandatory Errors and Omissions Insurance Program. IV. Communicating, to include anticipating and responding to the public need for effective information and assistance. The Division regulates time share projects sold in Colorado, and regulates developers of subdivisions consisting of 20 or more residential sites, tracts or lots that are not required to be approved by another state planning authority. A five-member Commission meets monthly to conduct rule making hearings, make policy decisions, consider licensing matters, review complaints and take disciplinary action against licensees. Commission members serve three-year terms, and members are appointed as follows: three real estate brokers, one person with expertise in subdivision development, and one public member. License verification can be found on line through the License Database. For information regarding disciplinary actions consult the online Disciplinary Documents . Persons wishing to file a complaint against a licensee should send a written complaint to the Division. See Complaint Process. The Division also regulates real estate appraisers pursuant to the requirements of the Federal Real Estate Appraisal Reform Amendments of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989. The Board of Real Estate appraisers consists of seven members appointed by the Governor: three licensed or certified appraisers, one of whom must have expertise in eminent domain, a county assessor, an officer or employee of a commercial bank experienced in real estate lending, and two public members. Board members serve three-year terms. Funding Sources The Division of Real Estate is cash funded from fees pursuant to Colorado statute. Fees are paid for licensure or registration in the real estate and appraiser professions. Fee amounts are established annually for the purpose of covering direct and indirect costs incurred by the Division for licensing and enforcement. Fiscal Year Revenue Expenditures FY 03 (Actual) $3,825,954 $3,953,316 FY 04 (Actual) $3,258,895 $3,798,301 FY 05 (Actual) $4,733,079 $4,116,100 FY 06 (Estimate) $3,162,421 $3,812,724 The following pie chart shows the estimated source of revenue for Fiscal Year 06. . The following pie chart shows the estimated expenditures for Fiscal Year 06. Trends The real estate market in Colorado will remain strong in the coming year, although activity will slow somewhat as a reflection of higher interest rates. Licensing by the Division of Real Estate should continue to increase in the current year, reflecting the continuing strong real estate market. The sale of raw land subdivisions and condominium/loft conversions remain strong and the Division is continuing increased enforcement activity in these areas. No major state or federal legislative initiatives affecting real estate are expected in the coming year. While one-stop shopping and affiliated business arrangements remain topics of great interest in Colorado and nationally, Congress's decision to again postpone a major review of the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act leaves the states and industry without clear guidance in these areas. As real estate companies continue to consolidate and expand nationwide and the Internet provides consumers with instant access to properties on a vast scale, increased regulatory scrutiny is being focused on interstate operations. In Colorado, a reciprocal licensing program has facilitated the growth of interstate commerce. Another result of increasing real estate activity on the Internet is the heightened level of sophistication on the part of the general public regarding real estate transactions and real estate procedures in general. The public is coming to expect a higher level of performance on the part of real estate brokers, which the Division must address by increasing the competency level of licensees and maintaining a close watch on the pulse of the public. As with all government agencies, the public and real estate industry will expect higher levels of customer service from the Division. This will be particularly true in the areas of e-commerce and electronic communications. Last update 9/28/05 Privacy Statement | Disclaimer Technical Assistance: E-Mail Information Technology Section Revised November 7, 2005 Federal Home Page || State Home Page || Department Home Page Top of Page E-Mail the Division of Real Estate 1900 Grant Street, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80203 (303) 894-2166 or (303) 894-2185 - Phone (303) 894-2683 - Fax Relay Colorado (TTY (English & Spanish), Voice, VCO, ASCII, STS Assistance Numbers)

Buy House

Buy my house, please! - Sep. 11, 2003 CNN/Money Web Autos Real Estate Money's Best Home Markets & Stocks News Jobs & Economy World Biz Technology Commentary Personal Finance College Credit and Debt Insurance Interest Rates Retirement Tax Center Ask the Expert Five Tips The Good Life Millionaire in the Making Money 101 Moneyville Retirement Planner Savings Calculator Asset Allocator Mutual Funds Money Magazine Video CNN TV Fortune 500 Best Employers Money 101 Portfolio Calculators Real-time Quotes Last 5 Quotes SPONSORED BY include virtual="/fn_adspaces/markets-stocks/last_five_quotes/sponsor.88x31.ad" -- CNN/Money Email newsletters RSS Mobile news Money archives Buy story reprints Find a Mortgage SPECIAL OFFER Your Money Your Home Buy my house, please! As the market cools, it will take more work to get that 'For Sale' sign out of your front yard. September 11, 2003: 5:10 PM EDT By Sarah Max, CNN/Money Staff Writer BEND, Ore. (CNN/Money) To say that it's been a seller's housing market is the understatement of the year. Homeowners looking to sell in most parts of the country haven't had to wait around very long for a suitable offer, and those in the best markets have seen their homes swooped up in a matter of days, even hours. In early 2003, in fact, 21 percent of all houses went into contract less than one week after going on the market, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). On average, houses sold in just five weeks nearly half the time it took throughout the 1990s. "I believe this may be our best year ever," said David Hemenway, a realtor in Cottage Grove, Ore., who's been in the business since 1968. On the other side of the country in Sebring, Fla., realtor Chip Boring is enjoying a record year. Yet, both are aware that great times can't last forever. "Up until the last 2 1/2 years the average time on the market was anywhere from 180 days to 210 days," Boring said. And Hemenway recalls the early 1980s when his listings lingered on the market, sometimes for years. As interest rates creep up, buyers' budgets creep down and markets return to more normal levels, sellers will discover that it takes a little more work (and patience) to unload their homes. Many already have. While there is little you can do to change the laws of supply and demand, you have some control over whether your house sits or sells. Here are the most common reasons houses don't sell, in order of importance. The price is not right Even in the best of markets, setting your price too high is a mistake -- unless you really don't want to sell your house. "Starting too high is the worst thing you can do," said Hemenway. More on Your Home • Mortgage Application Center • Beating higher rates • Mortgage demand hits 14-month low • Choosing the best mortgage now Why? Because your greatest opportunity for selling your house is immediately after it goes on the market. That's when the majority of serious buyers will see the house. "Even if you lower the price to reflect the market, you'll have fewer people coming through than if you'd just priced it right to begin with," said Hemenway. In fact, it's not until after you bring the price down below the market something few sellers want to do that interest will pick up again. To make matters worse, say real estate agents, the longer a house sits the harder it is to sell. "Everyone thinks there must be something wrong with the house if it hasn't sold," said Boring, adding that for this reason he won't take on a listing if the seller insists on asking more than the house is worth. To drum up new interest among buyers, sellers sometimes pay for extra advertising or offer to, for example, pay for closing costs as a way to get buyers' attention. "In markets where people don't have a lot of cash, paying for closing costs or buying down interest rates with points up front can put you at a huge advantage," said Ron Phipps, a realtor in Warwick, R.I. The house is in the wrong place When markets are good, buyers are more willing to buy on the outskirts of an area or turn a blind eye to busy streets, bad views and other problems. But when markets cool down, it's these spots that suffer the most, said Hemenway. Short of moving the house, there is not much you can do if it is in the wrong location. But while in the house you can take care to make sure you don't over-improve your property relative to the ones around it. "If you have a $300,000 house in a neighborhood of $100,000, be prepared to lower the price or let it sit," said Boring. Buyers can't get past the front door Realtors say that getting buyers to take a look inside a house is the biggest challenge of selling a house. Once they've stepped through the door buyers are more likely to consider a place. "I recently sold a house that from the front was not very inspired," said Phipps. "The buyers came to the open house only because they needed to kill time, but once inside they were interested." For this reason, a little time and money spent on curb appeal will go a long way. Trimming the grass, washing the windows and planting a few flowers may be all it takes. In the case of houses whose best features are inside or out back, Phipps recommends taking good interior pictures and putting 360-degree tours online. Sellers sometimes get buyers to look past their homes' imperfections with creative extras. "I've seen sellers offer decorating allowances, and pay for cleaning service and landscaping," said Phipps. "Several years ago a seller in the bakery business offered to bring the buyer a different cake every month." Too much chintz and tchotchkes Less is more when it comes to attracting buyers. "Put all of those pictures of your family and other personal treasures away," said Sheryl Gregory, a broker in Wynthrop, Maine. "It distracts buyers and makes it harder for them to picture themselves in the house." She also recommends taking down distracting curtains and putting on a fresh coat of paint. "Buyers sometimes get scared if they wander through a house and think they're going to have to do a lot of painting," she added. --* Disclaimer Selling? Buying? Click to compare top local real estate agents More on YOUR HOME • Your Home: Bracing for higher rates • Refinancing demand lags again • A rose is (not) a rose TODAY'S TOP STORIES • Most overvalued housing markets • Risks to the economy in 2006 • Which was the worst ad of all in 2005? CNN Money contact us | subscribe to Money magazine advertising -- | site map | glossary | RSS | press room OTHER NEWS: CNN | SI | Fortune | Business 2.0 | Time © 2005 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Terms under which this service is provided to you. privacy policy Reprints of site stories are available.

Texas Land Trusts About

About the Texas Land Trust Council Maincontent Local Navigation print friendly search Regulations Publications Outdoor Learning Kids Game Warden Grants Get Involved Shop FAQ Calendar Español Experience Texas Fishing & Boating State Parks & Destinations Hunting & Wildlife Land & Water Doing Business Home Land & Water Land Private Tltc About Us Texas Land Trusts About Texas Land Trusts Starting a Land Trust Texas Land Trust Directory Foreword Listing Regional Index About the Texas Land Trust Council ( TLTC ) TLTC Board of Directors and Honorary Council News 2004 TLTC Conference Speech Bulletin Board TLTC Publications Land Trust Resources Texas Land Trusts Top 1-Million Mark in Acres Conserved The Texas Land Trust Council (TLTC) was formed in 1999 in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife to serve as a support association for all land trust organizations in Texas. The Council's mission is to promote and sustain the conservation efforts of Texas's land trusts. TLTC provides educational, organizational and technical support to land trusts, and also acts as a statewide clearinghouse for conservation information. TLTC publishes a newsletter, a land trust directory, a conservation easement handbook, an annual inventory of protected lands in Texas, and a conservation "packet" that can be tailored to meet the needs of land trusts, landowners and professional advisors. TLTC is governed by a 15-member board elected by the Council's land trust members. TLTC members receive newsletters, notification of events and seminars, and numerous opportunities to network and communicate with their conservation peers around the state. Contact Us... The Texas Land Trust Council Carolyn Vogel, Program Administrator Texas Parks and Wildlife 4200 Smith School Road Austin, TX 78744 Phone: (512) 389-4779 Fax: (512) 389-4469 E-mail: tltc@ Contact Us | Help | Accessibility | Media | Site Policies | Complaints | Intranet | State of Texas | TRAILS Search | TexasOnline | Compact with Texans Texas Parks and Wildlife Department , 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744 Toll Free: (800) 792-1112, Austin: (512) 389-4800 Content of this site © Texas Parks and Wildlife Department unless otherwise noted. Last modified: July 29, 2005, 4:38 pm