real estate broker too

Feds probe real estate agents - Apr. 22, 2005 Web CNN/Money Buying & Selling Investment Property Home Improvement Million $ Life Financing Best Places SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Feds probe real estate agents Money magazine investigation shows Justice Dept. looking into anticompetitive practices. April 22, 2005: 5:27 PM EDT By Jon Birger, Money Magazine NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Did you pay your real estate broker too much? The U.S. Department of Justice may be set to turn Tulsa, Okla. into a test-case for ending the stranglehold 6 percent commissions have over the real estate brokerage business. MONEY has learned that Justice's Antitrust Division is gathering information on the bully tactics that full-commission brokers in Tulsa allegedly use against their discount rivals to discourage commission-cutting. The probe follows other recent efforts to spur competition in the real estate industry. According to a copy of a Justice Department subpoena obtained by MONEY, federal investigators are seeking information on "possible anticompetitive conduct in the provision of real estate services in the Tulsa area" as well as "documents related to refusal to cooperate on real estate transactions." An Antitrust Division spokeswoman confirmed the existence of the investigation but declined to provide additional details. Al Unser, executive director of the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors said: "We received a CID [civil investigative demand] from the Justice Dept. and we have responded." Economists who study real estate, such as the University of Cincinnati's Norm Miller, believe anti-competitive behavior is the primary explanation for the persistence of the 6 percent commission. J.D. Smith and Bob Meyer are two Tulsa discount real estate agents who say they were interviewed by federal investigators. They say the investigators wanted information on full-commission agents' alleged refusal to show home-buying clients properties listed by discount brokers -- a tactic known as boycotting. Boycotting exploits the one major weakness of the multiple listing service. The MLS's upside is that it centralizes all homes for sale in a single electronic marketplace that can be accessed by all agents -- and these days by Web-savvy consumers as well. The downside is that brokers must depend on one another to help sell their homes, and that discourages them from undercutting each other's commissions. While boycotting the listings of discounters is generally considered an antitrust violation -- if undisclosed, it's also a breach of fiduciary duty to clients -- industry insiders are well aware that boycotting goes on, even if they claim not to condone it. For Smith, the Feds' investigation comes a year or so too late. His realty business on the brink of ruin, Smith recently abandoned discount brokerage and went back to charging 6 percent. "In one week," Smith said, "I've had more showings and more offers from other realtors than I had in the previous two months." The Tulsa investigation is part of an ongoing Antitrust Division foray into the sharp-elbowed realty world. In March, the Antitrust Division sued the Kentucky Real Estate Commission over a state law that prohibits real estate brokers from offering commission rebates to consumers. More recently, Assistant Attorney General R. Hewitt Pate sent letters to lawmakers and regulators in Oklahoma and Texas, urging them to reject proposals that would effectively prohibit brokers from engaging in limited-service or fee-for-service realty -- such as listing a home for sale on the multiple listing service for a flat fee of $500. Bruce Hahn, chairman of the American Homeowners Grassroots Alliance, argues that state prohibitions on rebates and fee-for-service discourage competition and inflate commissions paid by consumers. "We've talked to Justice, and we think what they're doing is tremendous," he said. E-mail Jon Birger at jbirger@moneymail.com. The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Real Estate How to buy and build on rural land Most overvalued housing markets When booms go bust... 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 Real Estate Antitrust Division Corporate Governance Oklahoma or Create your own Manage alerts | What is this?

Home For Sale

Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices on Yahoo! Real Estate Find Your Home Value, House Values and Prices Choose Location Home Homes for Sale Apartments for Rent Home Loans Moving & Insurance Tools My Real Estate Real Estate > Resources & Tools > Home Values and Prices Features Classifieds • Sell Your Home • Rent Your Apartment Home Search • Find Homes for Sale • Find Properties for Rent REALTORS • Find & Compare REALTORS Mortgages & Financing • Find a Lender • Today's Mortgage Rates • Loan Calculators • Credit Reports • Refinance Loans Resources • Moving Services • Foreclosure Center Neighborhood Research • What's My Home Worth? • School Profiles • Neighborhood Profiles Specialty Property • Foreclosures • New Homes • Commercial Real Estate • List Commercial Real Estate Home Improvement & Services • Home Services • Home Improvement Library • House Facts Get Home Values and Prices Sponsored by Get Home Values and Prices Access millions of public real estate records instantly! This comparable sales data helps you analyze the value of your home or other homes in seconds. Results include price, square footage, bedrooms, and year built (where available). You can also get a custom home valuation from a top-performing local REALTOR! Street Address: City & State or Zip: Sponsored Links Capital One Mortgages Lower payments an avg. of $400/mo*. A personal home loan consultant will work with you to find a loan that fits your needs. Apply online and receive a call back within 30 minutes. www.capitalone.com Mortgage Rate Lock in today's rate on a mortgage loan at Home Finance of America - your source for great rates, with quality customer support. See what you qualify for and what your payments will be. www.homefinanceofamerica.com Mortgage Rates - LendingTree.com Find out how much you can borrow for a mortgage and how much your mortgage payments will be. Receive up to four real loan offers within minutes. When banks compete, you win. www.lendingtree.com Great Mortgage Rates Shopping for a great mortgage rate? We make it easy, complete one quick form, receive multiple offers from the nations top brokers and lenders. It's free and easy. www.shopforloan.com (Become a Sponsor) Homes For Sale - Apartments For Rent - Current Mortgage Rates - Real Estate Agents - Local - Yellow Pages

Buy House

Amazon.com: House of Sand and Fog [SOUNDTRACK]: Music Your Store Music See All 32 Product Categories   Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | advanced search | browse styles | classical | top sellers | new & future releases | music you should hear | blowout music | used music | free downloads Search Amazon.com Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . MUSIC INFORMATION Explore this album buying info see track listings editorial reviews customer reviews RATE THIS ALBUM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . 62 used & new from $10.89 Have one to sell? House of Sand and Fog [SOUNDTRACK] James Horner List Price: $17.98 Price: $17.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details . Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours 62 used & new from $10.89 See more product details Better Together Buy this album with Angels in America [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman (Performer)today! Buy Together Today: $36.96 Customers who bought this title also bought: The Village (Score) [Soundtrack] ~ James Newton Howard (Composer), et al Road to Perdition [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman (Performer), et al Iris (2001 film) [Soundtrack] ~ James Horner, Joshua Bell (Performer) The Horse Whisperer: Original Score [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman Message In A Bottle: Original Motion Picture Score (1999 Film) [Soundtrack] ~ Gabriel Yared (Composer), et al Finding Neverland [Soundtrack] ~ Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Composer), et al Far from Heaven (Score) [Soundtrack] ~ Elmer Bernstein (Composer) A Beautiful Mind: Original Motion Picture Score [Enhanced] [Soundtrack] ~ James Horner Explore Similar Items : 20 in Music What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 20% buy Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993 Film) ~ James Horner (Composer), James Horner (Conductor) 19% buy The Missing (Score) ~ James Horner (Composer), James Horner (Conductor) 17% buy Beyond Borders ~ James Horner (Composer), et al 12% buy this item(House of Sand and Fog~ James Horner (Composer) 6% buy The Last Castle ~ Jerry Goldsmith (Composer), et al 5% buy The Cell (2000 Film) ~ Howard Shore 3% buy The Game ~ Howard Shore Explore Similar Items : 9 in Music Product Details Essential recordings: James Horner Audio CD (December 9, 2003) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Varese Records Format: Soundtrack ASIN: B0000YEF20 Average Customer Review: Based on 5 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #15,390 in Music Yesterday: #103,294 in Music Customers interested in James Horner (Composer) may also be interested in Sponsored Links ( What's this? ) Feedback James Horner Sheet Music Titanic, Legends of the Fall and more. 387,000 titles. Fast. Go now! www.SheetMusicPlus.com Track Listings 1. An Older Life 2. The Waves of the Caspian Sea 3. Old Photos, New Memories 4. This Is No Longer Your House 5. Two People 6. Kathy's Night 7. Parallel Lives, Parallel Loves 8. Behrani's Thoughts - Long Ago 9. Break-In 10. The Dreams of Kings 11. The Shooting, A Payment for Our Sins 12. We Have Travelled So Far, It Is Time to Return to Our Path 13. A Return to the Caspian, And to the Iran of Old Editorial Reviews Amazon.com A California real estate dispute may hardly seem the foundation for riveting drama, but in director Vadim Perelman's adaptation of Andre Dubus II's novel it becomes an unflinching, yet crucially non-judgmental study of disparate characters caught up in a spiraling conflict where home is considerably more than a place to live. Composer James Horner takes the medium-budget project as an opportunity to break with much of the melodic expectations of his Hollywood fare, coloring the film's more personally-scaled drama with an introspective score that turns on masterful musical evocations of mood and emotion. Horner begins with a deft electronic/orchestral synthesis ("An Older Life") that both recalls some of T-Dream's more evocative cinematic moments and subtly sets up the score's melancholy emotional tone. From there he relies heavily on autumnal, string writing (reminiscent of Copland and Barber) and spare piano flourishes, seasoned with inventive rhythmic touches, to carry its moody tone forward. While it may draw on some of the same minimalist and post-modern influences as A Beautiful Mind , it has a wholly different emotional cast; a dark, but deeply rewarding musical journey. --Jerry McCulley Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Great return to form for Horner , January 8, 2004 Reviewer: James Luckard (Los Angeles, CA)- See all my reviews I agree with the previous reviewer. I used to be a huge Horner fan and picked up most of his new albums until about five years ago, when I felt he lost his magic. Most of his recent scores have sounded like they were on autopilot, and I still remember my horror at seeing Enemy at the Gates and hearing his main theme, also known as the main theme from Schindler's List. Now, I know, there are a thousand arguments about why film music is not always meant to sound totally original, and that Williams may have even borrowed some of his Schindler's melodies from elsewhere. It's all a matter of personal taste and I just haven't been moved by a Horner score for a while. When I saw this beautifully crafted film, however, I was struck by the simplicity and emotional depth of Horner's work. It reminds me a great deal of his beautiful score for Deep Impact. I was also glad to not hear tunes he'd used previously elsewhere. Although this doesn't have any of the driving, epic, thematic music Horner became a star for, like Titanic, it's a hauntingly beautiful work and is certainly worth picking up, especially for the wrenching final half-hour of the film, which is almost entirely scored. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: James Horner's best work in a long time. , February 15, 2004 Reviewer: Richard Stoehr "Differed From" (Bremerton, WA USA)- See all my reviews Even a diehard James Horner fan (like me) has to admit that, for the past few years, Horner has been skating by. With the scores for "Enemy at the Gates", "Radio", and "A Beautiful Mind", among others, Horner borrows heavily from himself and regurgitates old themes and progressions. Even the score for which he's perhaps best-known -- the Oscar-winning "Titanic" -- is heavily derivative of his own previous work. Finally, with "House of Sand and Fog," Horner has given us something to treasure again: an original, moving score for a great film. Listening to this music, I am reminded why I started following Horner's work so long ago. His subtle touch and avoidance of a "catchy" theme is evident in every track. Among my favorite pieces are "Two People," "The Dreams of Kings," and "Old Photos, New Memories"... but really, every song is a good one, and the album as a whole can be numbered as one of Horner's true masterpieces. What I admired most about it was that Horner was able to abandon the style he has adopted for most of his recent work and just let the spirit of the film take over. Good film music is all about making music which evokes the right emotion for the film it accompanies, and the music for "House of Sand and Fog" does that perfectly, not only going along with but enhancing the feeling of each scene. The fact that the music is a joy to listen to on its own just makes it that much better. Listening to James Horner's score for "House of Sand and Fog" reminds me of when I first listened to "Glory" and "Field of Dreams" and "Sneakers"... not because these scores are similar, but because they are all unique. They all bear the mark of James Horner, but it is Horner at his original and emotional best, and James Horner at the top of his game makes for some wonderful music. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: Serves the Movie Well , July 16, 2004 Reviewer: Robert Stribley (The Deep South, United States)- See all my reviews I agree with many here who say that much of James Horner's music has sounded the same of late, but that this soundtrack is exceptional. Quiet, elegant, melancholy, moving: not words you'd use to describe a movie soundtrack, especially a wide-release flick like this, these days. I even agree that some of the pieces remind me of Gorecki. "The Waves of the Caspian Sea," for example, sounds remarkably like the Polish composer (one of my favorites, too), to the point that I almost expect to see his name in the credits. Overall, truly haunting and beautiful. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: One of the best of 2003 , March 26, 2004 Reviewer: A music fan James Horner has never been my favorite composer. I think he borrows heavily from himself without ever stating anything new. This isn't always a problem if the composer takes his "internal themes" and transfers in an invigorating way to new material. But for me, Horner doesn't do that. With this score for THOSF, Horner really hits one home. I actually had to look at the cd just to make sure it really said "music composed by James Horner", this is so beautiful and different for him. As others have said, all of the tracks really are beautiful. This isn't the type of score you put on as background music nor something you listen to to Not think. This score is emotive and heavily melancholic. It reminds me of Gorecki's Symphony No.2, and if you know that piece of music, you know there's no a higher compliment I can pay this score. (BTW, if you're interested in a composer doing new and exciting things check out Danny Elfman's score for The Hulk, his score that should've been nominated over his mediocre one for Big Fish.) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: OSCAR CONSTENDER!!!! , December 10, 2003 Reviewer: A music fan (somewheres) This soundtrack is deep in emotion, but extremely subtle and "underplayed"- a beautiful and very relaxing work. Listen to it in the dark! It is come of the most calming music! And for all you Horner fans out there - he does not borrow any real theme or even transitions (until the 15 minute track - "the Shooting, and Payment for our sins" where there is actually one statement from the missing score). Other than that his style is pretty much the same even though a lot less melodic and more like Lisa Gerrard's WHALERIDER, or DRAGONFLY by Debney. The instruments used are piano (there is wonderful piano solo in "TWO PEOPLE", string orchestra with synths and a tiny bit of oboe and flute. Also a neat touch for the tension motif is the plucking of strings along w/ timpani! If you like darker, ambient and personal scores get this today!!!! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 5 customer reviews... Customers who bought titles by James Horner also bought titles by these artists: Hans Zimmer John Williams Jerry Goldsmith Alan Silvestri Thomas Newman Explore similar artists So You'd Like To... See the 47th Grammy winners (Soundtracks, Children & Misc.) :by Peter Hilgendorf , Amazon.com Sr. Music Editor See the 2004 Oscar Winners and Nominees on DVD :by Doug Thomas , DVD Managing Editor, Amazon.com See the 2004 Academy Award Winners & Nominees :by Joe , Movie Lover Listmania! My Favorite Movie Scores (in no order) :A list by Michael Crane , writer and college student Best Characters in Movies :A list by silentbob129502 , silentbob129502, movie buff Eternal Soundtracks :A list by Odd Magne Granli , Soundtrack Collector Browse for music in: Styles > Soundtracks > General Styles > Classical > General Styles > Classical > Forms & Genres > Theatrical, Incidental & Program Music > Film Scores Styles > Pop > General Styles > Soundtracks > Movie Scores Feedback I have listened to this recording, and I want to review it. Tell a friend about this album . Write a So You'd Like to... guide . Is there a specific product you'd like us to sell? Tell us about it. Suggestion Box Your comments can help make our site better for everyone. If you've found something incorrect, broken, or frustrating on this page, let us know so that we can improve it. Please note that we are unable to respond directly to suggestions made via this form. If you need help with an order, please contact Customer Service . Please mark as many of the following boxes that apply: Product information is missing important details. Product information is incorrect.Propose corrections using our Online Catalog Update Form . The page contains typographical errors. The page takes too long to load. The page has a software bug in it. Content violates Amazon.com's policy on offensive language . Product offered violates Amazon.com's policy on items that can be listed for sale. Comments or Examples: Examples: Missing information such as dimensions and model number, typos, inaccuracies, etc. Where's My Stuff? • Track your recent orders . • View or change your orders in Your Account . Shipping & Returns • See our shipping rates & policies . • Return an item (here's our Returns Policy ). Need Help? • Forgot your password? Click here . • Redeem or buy a gift certificate. • Visit our Help department . Search Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads All Products for Turn your past music purchases into $$$ Learn more about selling at Amazon.com today! Top of Page Music Search | Browse Styles | Classical | Top Sellers | New & Future Releases Free Downloads | Essential CDs | Used Music Amazon.com Home | Directory of All Stores Our International Sites: Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | Japan | France  | China Help | Shopping Cart | Your Account | Sell Items | 1-Click Settings Investor Relations | Press Releases | Careers Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1995-2005, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates

Sell House

Man wins suit to sell house occupied by sect Man wins suit to sell house occupied by sect He's been trying to sell the $1.8m house since he left sect and moved out but sect members occupying it claimed they had right to live there The Straits Times/August 17, 2004 By Elena Chong A former Singapore Airlines pilot yesterday won a court order to sell a $1.8 million house in Sembawang, in which several members of religious sect House of Israel have been staying. Mr Steven Joshua, 56, who co-owns the 792.8 sq m place with four others, had sued former wife Deborah Steven Joshua, 55; his sister, Madam Rachel Jacob, 50; and three other couples staying there. He has been trying to sell the place since he left the group in 2001 and moved out. However, the sect members claimed there was a property covenant that entitled them to live there. They now have up to mid-November to move out of the Sembawang Place bungalow. Mr Joshua had also sued another sister, Mrs Rebekah Isaac, 47, and her husband, Mr Isaac Benjamin, 49, who left the group in 1993. They did not contest the suit as they too wanted to sell the property. They will be given a 20 per cent share of the proceeds of the sale. Mr Joshua, his ex-wife, his two sisters and Mr Benjamin bought the house for $700,000 in 1986 and registered it in their names. At the time, they belonged to the religious group, which hit the headlines nine years ago when three of its members lost a libel suit against The Straits Times for describing it as a 'sect'. Yesterday, Justice Tan Lee Meng threw out the defendants' counterclaim, saying they had not proven their case. The net proceeds of the sale of the Sembawang home have to be distributed among the co-owners, said the judge, with Mr Benjamin and his wife getting 20 per cent and the other three - Mr Joshua, his ex-wife and Madam Jacob - sharing the remainder according to the proportion they paid for the property. Mr Joshua, who also won on costs, was represented by Mr James Ponniah. Mr Daniel John acted for all the defendants except Mr Benjamin and his wife. To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here . Home Database Cult News Search Getting Help Forum Mind Control Legal Contact Us About Us What's New Headlines Links Books Help RRI FAQ

real estate prices, using

2005-05-13 New rules to curb surging real estate price 2@webnews ,#house#housing#estate#, 0 Housing Price /enpproperty-- New rules to curb surging real estate price Home News Center China New rules to curb surging real estate price (Agencies) Updated: 2005-05-13 10:48 China is taking a wide range of steps to curb surging real estate prices, using tax and other policies to discourage speculative dealings and ensure a supply of affordable housing, state media announced Thursday. Residents in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, walk past a newly-constructed apartment building May 10, 2005. [newsphoto] The campaign, backed by seven government agencies, shows that Beijing recognizes it needs to make cooling the housing market a nationwide priority, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. Despite the government's powerful vested interest in a thriving property market, authorities worry that too much investment is going into the construction of luxury and commercial real estate and that speculative buying has pushed prices unsustainably high. Newspapers carried a notice by the State Council, China's cabinet, ordering local governments to make controlling property prices a major part of their economic policy. Average real estate prices rose by 14.4 percent year-on-year in 2004 and by 12.5 percent in the first quarter of 2005. Shanghai had the "most shocking housing prices in China," with average costs per square meter of over 10,000 yuan ($1,200), the Xinhua report said. Many urban Chinese own their homes thanks to housing reforms years ago, but cannot afford to buy new property. And low income families are generally priced out of a market that has focused on wealthy investors while neglecting construction of budget housing. The latest effort to cool the market involve the ministries of construction, finance, and land and resources, along with the State Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration of Taxation, China Banking Regulatory Commission and the People's Bank of China, China's central bank. The policy change that drew most attention in property crazy Shanghai was one requiring payment of a business tax the rate was not given on sales of property less than two years after purchase. It takes effect June 1. Local governments were ordered to clarify prices and housing sizes before granting land use rights, to limit credit for property deals and to confine real estate developers' profits to a maximum of 3 percent. Developers who fail to build within a year after buying land will be penalized, and those that fail to build within two years after buying property would lose their rights to the land, Xinhua said. The measures follow earlier, piecemeal steps by local governments. Last month Shanghai enacted a rule requiring home owners to pay off their mortgages before selling property and extending the time buyers must wait before taking ownership to 28 days, from the previous seven. In March, it imposed a tax on sales of property owned for less than a year. The measures have definitely had an impact. In April, sales of "second hand," or previously occupied apartments in Shanghai fell between 30 percent and 50 percent, depending on the district, compared with the month before, according to industry statistics published Thursday in the newspaper Oriental Morning Post. Close Today's Top News Top China News Central banker denies yuan revaluation on May 18 New rules to curb surging real estate price Hu, Soong join hands for Straits peace Beijing offers Taiwan more conveniences China and Japan seek to smooth relations Pressure on yuan revaluation won't work Beijing offers Taiwan more conveniences Angels of the ward, toast of the world Illegal explosive trade targeted Probe shows colliery workmen ignored laws New regulation in Dalian beggars belief Congestion takes its toll on bridge Go to Another Section select hot link News Center China World Business Life Sports Most Popular Photo Gallery Story Tools Related Stories Efforts to control housing prices continue House prices to maintain robust growth Housing policies pre-empt speculators Policies failing to get a grip on housing speculation China's housing prices up 14.4% last year China's housing price hike reasonable? Housing prices surge in first 10 months News Talk It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008 Find Suppliers Trade Leads Firm Directory Product Directory China Products Gold Suppliers Hot Products Hot Buys New Products Country Search Trade Shows Advertisement