Real estate agents help

Real Estate Agent Printer-friendly version ( HTML ) Real Estate Agent What is this job like? | How do you get ready? | How much does this job pay? | How many jobs are there? | What about the future? | Are there other jobs like this? | Where can you find more information? What is this job like? Back to Top Real estate agents help people buy and sell houses. They must be able to say approximately how much money a house is worth. They need to know what the neighborhoods in their towns are like. They must know the laws that have to do with buying or selling a house. They also can tell home buyers where to get a loan if they need more money to buy a house. In return for selling a house, real estate agents get to keep a small part of the money that the buyer paid for it. Real estate agents work for real estate brokers. Real estate brokers manage real estate offices. People who want to buy a house often ask a real estate agent to help them. They meet with the agent to tell him or her what kind of house they want. They must also discuss how much money they can afford to spend. The agent then takes them to see houses for sale. Buying a house is a very important decision because houses cost a lot of money. This means that buyers often want to look at many houses before they decide to buy one. Real estate agents also sell houses for people. They help the seller set the price for the house. To do this, they must know what the house is like. They must also figure out what people would be willing to pay for the house so that it will sell quickly. They make sure that people see ads for the house so that they can think about buying it. Once a person agrees to buy a house, real estate agents still have work to do. They must fill out special forms that let everyone know that the house has a new owner. Both the buyer and the seller of the house must sign these forms for the sale of the house to be legal. Often, the agents must help the buyer to get a loan from the bank to pay for the house. Real estate agents generally work in offices. Since much information about properties is available over the Internet, some agents can work out of their own homes. In either case, however, much of their time is spent outside the office showing houses to buyers. Sometimes they must leave the office to meet with people who have houses to sell. Good real estate agents also spend time away from the office finding out more about the houses in their town that might one day be up for sale. Agents often work more than 40 hours a week. They often must work in the evening or on weekends. This is because most buyers and sellers are free only at those times. How do you get ready? Back to Top Real estate agents must have a license from the State in which they work. To get a license, a person must have graduated from high school. The person must be at least 18 years old and pass a written test. In some States, a person who wants to be a real estate agent must go to a special school for a few months. Sometimes it helps to take some college courses about real estate. This is because the process of selling a house can be hard to understand. Good real estate agents must get along well with buyers and sellers. It helps if real estate agents are pleasant and dress neatly. They should be well organized and be able to remember people's names. They should deal honestly with people and have good manners. They must also be very eager to sell houses, which is sometimes a lot of hard work. How much does this job pay? Back to Top Most real estate agents do not get a regular paycheck. Instead, they get part of the money that the home buyer pays to the home seller when a house is sold. This means that agents who sell more houses earn more money. It also means that agents who sell more expensive houses earn more. The middle half of all real estate agents earned between $21,010 and $52,860 a year in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $15,480. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $83,780 a year. The middle half of all real estate brokers earned between $29,240 and $90,170 a year in 2002. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned less than $17,290. The highest-paid 10 percent earned more than $145,600 a year. How many jobs are there? Back to Top Real estate agents and brokers held about 407,000 jobs in 2002. Many work part time, and have other jobs as well. Most real estate agents work in large cities. Many also work in smaller cities that are growing quickly. This is because there are more houses being bought and sold in such places. What about the future? Back to Top The number of jobs for real estate agents is expected to grow more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2012. This is partly because more information about real estate is available on the Internet. This allows agents to conduct more business in less time, so fewer agents are needed. It should be rather easy to find a job as a real estate agent. This is because many agents find that they cannot sell enough houses to be successful, so they quit their jobs. Only people who enjoy selling, and are good at it, should try to become real estate agents. Are there other jobs like this? Back to Top Insurance sales agents Retail salespersons (car salespersons, etc.) Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents Travel agents Where can you find more information? Back to Top More BLS information about real estate brokers and sales agents can be found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook . The Handbook also shows where to find out even more about this job. Last Modified Date: October 21, 2004

Property Listings Property listings

Real Estate Property Listings Information at Business.com Advertiser Center · Help Web News People Jobs Search the Business Internet ® Real Estate Property Listings Property listings and databases of real estate for sale and lease. Home > Real Estate & Construction > Property Listings Sub-Categories Agricultural Commercial Foreclosure Residential -- -- Featured Listings Leading Residences of the World: Property Listings Luxury Destination Club offering its members access to million-dollar homes world-wide for the price of a down payment. Beach, Ski, Spa and Urban. www.lrwclub.com Furnished Quarters: Furnished Property Listings Offers New York City furnished apartment rentals, beginning from three nights to three years. Units include high-rises, studios, and brownstones. www.furnishedquarters.com Foreclosures.com: Foreclosure Property Listings Provides buyers of foreclosures with premium training on foreclosures, current listings of foreclosures, and reference information. www.foreclosures.com Sponsored Links View Real Estate Listings Register to Search MLS for Free. Compare Homes and Find an Agent. Multiple-Listing-Search.net Houses Search Phoenix homes for sale. 20% cash back. See 1.4M photos-Easy MLS www.ZipRealty.com Real estate listings Free real estate listings search. View properties in your area. www.house-real-estate.com More Featured Listings ForSaleByOwner.com: Real Estate Property Listings The official for-sale-by-owner site, don't be fooled by imitators. Put your home in front of millions of potential buyers and save thousands! www.forsalebyowner.com Corporate Suites: Property Listings Full service business centers in midtown NYC with fully furnished office suites, equipped conference rooms, virtual office, and reception services. www.corporatesuitesllc.com RealtyTrac: Foreclosed Property Search Provides foreclosure search engine for the U.S. with daily data updates, tax roll information, and photographs. Free 7-day trial. www.realtytrac.com Sponsored Links Homes Listings HouseValues' free service helps you determine the value of your home. www.housevalues.com Real Estate Specialists Tucson, Marana, Vail, Green Valley Oro Valley, Pima, Pinal & More! www.prudentialaegisrealty.com MLS Listings Online Search MLS Listings Online. Research schools and neighborhoods www.MLSonline.com Real Estate by Owner View 50,000 Homes For Sale By Owner Save thousands in commissions! www.Owners.com Real Estate Specialists MLS Search & Online Tours For Chino Valley, Prescott & Prescott Valley! www.theredmans.com Real Estate Listings View homes for sale, mls listings , real estate agents & foreclosures www.real-estate.com Popular Searches construction and real estate land listings leasing property listing properties multiple listing service multiple listing services open listing properties for lease properties for rent « more more popular searches [x] properties for sale property for sale property listing companies property listing services Property Listings property lists property search real estate Real Estate and Construction real estate companies real estate industry real estate listing real estate properties real estate property listing real estate property listings real estate sale real estate services realestate realestate companies realestate services renting properties Listings Corporate Suites: Property Listings Full service business centers in midtown NYC with fully furnished office suites, equipped conference rooms, virtual office, and reception services. www.corporatesuitesllc.com Foreclosures.com: Foreclosure Property Listings Provides buyers of foreclosures with premium training on foreclosures, current listings of foreclosures, and reference information. www.foreclosures.com ForSaleByOwner.com: Real Estate Property Listings The official for-sale-by-owner site, don't be fooled by imitators. Put your home in front of millions of potential buyers and save thousands! www.forsalebyowner.com Furnished Quarters: Furnished Property Listings Offers New York City furnished apartment rentals, beginning from three nights to three years. Units include high-rises, studios, and brownstones. www.furnishedquarters.com Home Popular Directory of home-related sites clasified by popularity. www.homepopular.com Homes & Houses.com A listing service for both residential and commercial real estate nationwide. www.homes-n-houses.com Homes-for-Sale-Center Real estate website provides local real estate listings from various multiple listing services, foreclosures, and homes for sale by owner. Homes for Sale | Free Home Values | Mortgages | Site Map www.homes-for-sale-center.com Leading Residences of the World: Property Listings Luxury Destination Club offering its members access to million-dollar homes world-wide for the price of a down payment. Beach, Ski, Spa and Urban. www.lrwclub.com New Homes and Condo Guide (Canada) Provides listings rental apartments, rental houses, condos, and basement apartments in Toronto and throughout Ontario. www.newhomesandcondos.com Real Estate Group: Worldwide Property Listings Provides sale and rental property lists from multiple real estate agencies. Free property ads for worldwide real estate agencies and property developers. www.relmeds.net RealtyTrac: Foreclosed Property Search Provides foreclosure search engine for the U.S. with daily data updates, tax roll information, and photographs. Free 7-day trial. www.realtytrac.com Renters News (Canada) Provides apartment, house, and condo listings. View photos and floorplans for thousands of listings in Toronto and throughout Canada. www.rentersnews.ca Rooney Real Estate, Inc. Boston realtor/broker handles commercial and residential real estate sales. Condos | Land | Commercial | Homes www.rooney-re.com VirtualHomes.com Network of real estate communities that provides panoramic virtual tours of towns, neighborhoods, properties and merchants. www.virtualhomes.com Sponsored Links View Real Estate Listings Register to Search MLS for Free. Compare Homes and Find an Agent. Multiple-Listing-Search.net Houses Search Phoenix homes for sale. 20% cash back. See 1.4M photos-Easy MLS www.ZipRealty.com Real estate listings Free real estate listings search. View properties in your area. www.house-real-estate.com Search the Business Internet ® Advertiser Center | Account Login | About Us | Careers at Business.com | Featured Listings Privacy | Terms Of Use | 2000-2005 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Home Mortgage Insurance Home

Federal Trade Commission -- Search: Facts for Consumers PDF Version Looking for the Best Mortgage Shopping around for a home loan or mortgage will help you to get the best financing deal. A mortgage—whether it's a home purchase, a refinancing, or a home equity loan—is a product, just like a car, so the price and terms may be negotiable. You'll want to compare all the costs involved in obtaining a mortgage. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of dollars. Obtain Information from Several Lenders Home loans are available from several types of lenders— thrift institutions , commercial banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions. Different lenders may quote you different prices, so you should contact several lenders to make sure you're getting the best price. You can also get a home loan through a mortgage broker. Brokers arrange transactions rather than lending money directly; in other words, they find a lender for you. A broker's access to several lenders can mean a wider selection of loan products and terms from which you can choose. Brokers will generally contact several lenders regarding your application, but they are not obligated to find the best deal for you unless they have contracted with you to act as your agent. Consequently, you should consider contacting more than one broker, just as you should with banks or thrift institutions. Whether you are dealing with a lender or a broker may not always be clear. Some financial institutions operate as both lenders and brokers. And most brokers' advertisements do not use the word "broker." Therefore, be sure to ask whether a broker is involved. This information is important because brokers are usually paid a fee for their services that may be separate from and in addition to the lender's origination or other fees. A broker's compensation may be in the form of "points" paid at closing or as an add-on to your interest rate , or both. You should ask each broker you work with how he or she will be compensated so that you can compare the different fees. Be prepared to negotiate with the brokers as well as the lenders. Obtain All Important Cost Information Be sure to get information about mortgages from several lenders or brokers. Know how much of a down payment you can afford, and find out all the costs involved in the loan. Knowing just the amount of the monthly payment or the interest rate is not enough. Ask for information about the same loan amount, loan term, and type of loan so that you can compare the information. The following information is important to get from each lender and broker: Rates Ask each lender and broker for a list of its current mortgage interest rates and whether the rates being quoted are the lowest for that day or week. Ask whether the rate is fixed or adjustable . Keep in mind that when interest rates for adjustable-rate loans go up, generally so does the monthly payment. If the rate quoted is for an adjustable-rate loan, ask how your rate and loan payment will vary, including whether your loan payment will be reduced when rates go down. Ask about the loan's annual percentage rate (APR). The APR takes into account not only the interest rate but also points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that you may be required to pay, expressed as a yearly rate. Points Points are fees paid to the lender or broker for the loan and are often linked to the interest rate; usually the more points you pay, the lower the rate. Check your local newspaper for information about rates and points currently being offered. Ask for points to be quoted to you as a dollar amount—rather than just as the number of points—so that you will actually know how much you will have to pay. Fees A home loan often involves many fees, such as loan origination or underwriting fees , broker fees, and transaction , settlement, and closing costs . Every lender or broker should be able to give you an estimate of its fees. Many of these fees are negotiable. Some fees are paid when you apply for a loan (such as application and appraisal fees), and others are paid at closing. In some cases, you can borrow the money needed to pay these fees, but doing so will increase your loan amount and total costs. "No cost" loans are sometimes available, but they usually involve higher rates. Ask what each fee includes. Several items may be lumped into one fee. Ask for an explanation of any fee you do not understand. Some common fees associated with a home loan closing are listed on the Mortgage Shopping Worksheet in this brochure. Down Payments and Private Mortgage Insurance Some lenders require 20 percent of the home's purchase price as a down payment. However, many lenders now offer loans that require less than 20 percent down—sometimes as little as 5 percent on conventional loans . If a 20 percent down payment is not made, lenders usually require the home buyer to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI) to protect the lender in case the home buyer fails to pay. When government-assisted programs such as FHA (Federal Housing Administration), VA (Veterans Administration), or Rural Development Services are available, the down payment requirements may be substantially smaller. Ask about the lender's requirements for a down payment, including what you need to do to verify that funds for your down payment are available. Ask your lender about special programs it may offer. If PMI is required for your loan, Ask what the total cost of the insurance will be. Ask how much your monthly payment will be when including the PMI premium. Ask how long you will be required to carry PMI. Obtain the Best Deal That You Can Once you know what each lender has to offer, negotiate for the best deal that you can. On any given day, lenders and brokers may offer different prices for the same loan terms to different consumers, even if those consumers have the same loan qualifications. The most likely reason for this difference in price is that loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Generally, the difference between the lowest available price for a loan product and any higher price that the borrower agrees to pay is an overage . When overages occur, they are built into the prices quoted to consumers. They can occur in both fixed and variable-rate loans and can be in the form of points, fees, or the interest rate. Whether quoted to you by a loan officer or a broker, the price of any loan may contain overages. Have the lender or broker write down all the costs associated with the loan. Then ask if the lender or broker will waive or reduce one or more of its fees or agree to a lower rate or fewer points. You'll want to make sure that the lender or broker is not agreeing to lower one fee while raising another or to lower the rate while raising points. There's no harm in asking lenders or brokers if they can give better terms than the original ones they quoted or than those you have found elsewhere. Once you are satisfied with the terms you have negotiated, you may want to obtain a written lock-in from the lender or broker. The lock-in should include the rate that you have agreed upon, the period the lock-in lasts, and the number of points to be paid. A fee may be charged for locking in the loan rate. This fee may be refundable at closing. Lock-ins can protect you from rate increases while your loan is being processed; if rates fall, however, you could end up with a less favorable rate. Should that happen, try to negotiate a compromise with the lender or broker. Remember: Shop, Compare, Negotiate When buying a home, remember to shop around, to compare costs and terms, and to negotiate for the best deal. Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information both on interest rates and on points for several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you'll want to check your newspaper often when shopping for a home loan. But the newspaper does not list the fees, so be sure to ask the lenders about them. The Mortgage Shopping Worksheet that follows may also help you. Take it with you when you speak to each lender or broker and write down the information you obtain. Don't be afraid to make lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal. Fair Lending Is Required by Law The Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits lenders from discriminating against credit applicants in any aspect of a credit transaction on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, whether all or part of the applicant's income comes from a public assistance program, or whether the applicant has in good faith exercised a right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in residential real estate transactions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin. Under these laws, a consumer cannot be refused a loan based on these characteristics nor be charged more for a loan or offered less favorable terms based on such characteristics. Credit Problems? Still Shop, Compare, and Negotiate Don't assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances, such as illness or temporary loss of income, will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders. If your credit report contains negative information that is accurate, but there are good reasons for trusting you to repay a loan, be sure to explain your situation to the lender or broker. If your credit problems cannot be explained, you will probably have to pay more than borrowers who have good credit histories. But don't assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price. Take the time to shop around and negotiate the best deal that you can. Whether you have credit problems or not, it's a good idea to review your credit report for accuracy and completeness before you apply for a loan. To order a copy of your credit report, contact: Equifax: (800) 685-1111 TransUnion: (800) 916-8800 Experian: (888) EXPERIAN (397-3742) Glossary Adjustable-rate loans , also known as variable-rate loans, usually offer a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate loans. The interest rate fluctuates over the life of the loan based on market conditions, but the loan agreement generally sets maximum and minimum rates. When interest rates rise, generally so do your loan payments; and when interest rates fall, your monthly payments may be lowered Annual percentage rate (APR) is the cost of credit expressed as a yearly rate. The APR includes the interest rate, points, broker fees, and certain other credit charges that the borrower is required to pay. Conventional loans are mortgage loans other than those insured or guaranteed by a government agency such as the FHA (Federal Housing Administration), the VA (Veterans Administration), or the Rural Development Services (formerly know as Farmers Home Administration, or FmHA). Escrow is the holding of money or documents by a neutral third party prior to closing. It can also be an account held by the lender (or servicer) into which a homeowner pays money for taxes and insurance. Fixed-rate loans generally have repayment terms of 15, 20, or 30 years. Both the interest rate and the monthly payments (for principal and interest) stay the same during the life of the loan. The interest rate is the cost of borrowing money expressed as a percentage rate. Interest rates can change because of market conditions. Loan origination fees are fees charged by the lender for processing the loan and are often expressed as a percentage of the loan amount. Lock-in refers to a written agreement guaranteeing a home buyer a specific interest rate on a home loan provided that the loan is closed within a certain period of time, such as 60 or 90 days. Often the agreement also specifies the number of points to be paid at closing. A mortgage is a document signed by a borrower when a home loan is made that gives the lender a right to take possession of the property if the borrower fails to pay off on the loan. Overages are the difference between the lowest available price and any higher price that the home buyer agrees to pay for the loan. Loan officers and brokers are often allowed to keep some or all of this difference as extra compensation. Points are fees paid to the lender for the loan. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount. Points are usually paid in cash at closing. In some cases, the money needed to pay points can be borrowed, but doing so will increase the loan amount and the total costs. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) protects the lender against a loss if a borrower defaults on the loan. It is usually required for loans in which the down payment is less than 20 percent of the sales price or, in a refinancing, when the amount financed is greater than 80 percent of the appraised value. Thrift institution is a general term for savings banks and savings and loan associations. Transaction, settlement, or closing costs may include application fees; title examination, abstract of title, title insurance, and property survey fees; fees for preparing deeds, mortgages, and settlement documents; attorneys' fees; recording fees; and notary, appraisal, and credit report fees. Under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the borrower receives a good faith estimate of closing costs at the time of application or within three days of application. The good faith estimate lists each expected cost either as an amount or a range. This brochure was prepared by the following agencies: Department of Housing and Urban Development Department of Justice Department of the Treasury Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Federal Housing Finance Board Federal Reserve Board Federal Trade Commission National Credit Union Administration Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Office of Thrift Supervision These agencies (except the Department of the Treasury) enforce compliance with laws that prohibit discrimination in lending. If you feel that you have been discriminated against in the home financing process, you may want to contact one of the agencies listed above about your rights under these laws. For more information on home lending issues , visit www.consumer.gov , write to the Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009 or visit the Center's Web site . The following brochures are available from the center: A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Lock-lns A Consumer's Guide to Mortgage Refinancing Buying Your Home: Settlement Costs and Helpful Information Consumer Handbook on Adjustable Rate Mortgages Guide to Single Family Home Mortgage Insurance Home Buyer's Vocabulary Home Mortgages: Understanding the Process and Your Rights to Fair Lending How to Buy a Home with a Low Down Payment How to Dispute Credit Report Errors The HUD Home Buying Guide When Your Home Is on the Line Mortgage Shopping Worksheet Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Name of Contact Date of Contact Mortgage Amount Basic Information on the Loans Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Type of Mortgage: Fixed rate, adjustable rate, conventional, FHA, other? If adjustable, see below. Minimum down payment required Loan term (length of loan) Contract interest rate Annual percentage rate (APR) Points (may be called loan discount points) Monthly Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) premiums How long must you keep PMI? Estimated monthly escrow for taxes and hazard insurance Estimated monthly payment (Principal, Interest, Taxes, Insurance, PMI) Fees Different institutions may have different names for some fees and may charge different fees. We have listed some typical fees you may see on loan documents. Application fee or Loan processing fee Origination fee or Underwriting fee Lender fee or Funding fee Appraisal fee Attorney fees Document preparation and recording fees Broker fees (may be quoted as points, origination fees, or interest rate add-on) Credit report fee Other fees Other Costs at Closing/Settlement Title search/Title Insurance For lender For you Estimate prepaid amounts for interest, taxes, hazard insurance, payments to escrow State and local taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes Flood determination Prepaid Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) Surveys and home inspections Total Fees and Other Closing/Settlement Cost Estimates Mortgage Shopping Worksheet - continued Lender 1 Lender 2 Name of Lender Other Questions and Considerations about the Loan Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Mortgage 1 Mortgage 2 Are any of the fees or costs waivable? Prepayment penalties Is there a prepayment penalty? If so, how much is it? How long does the penalty period last? (for example, 3 years? 5 years?) Are extra principal payments allowed? Lock-ins Is the lock-in agreement in writing? Is there a fee to lock-in? When does the lock-in occur -0 at application, approval or another time? How long will the lock-in last? If the rate drops before closing, can you lock-in at a lower rate? If the loan is an adjustable rate mortgage: What is the initial rate? What is the maximum the rate could be next year? What are the rate and payment caps each year and over the life of the loan? What is the frequency of rate change and of any changes to the monthly payment? What is the index that the lender will use? What margin will the lender add to the index? Credit life insurance Does the monthly amount quoted to you include a charge for credit life insurance? If so, does the lender required credit life insurance as a condition of the loan? How much does the credit life insurance cost? How much lower would your monthly payment be without the credit life insurance? If the lender does not require credit life insurance, and you still want to buy it, what rates can you get from other insurance providers? The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues , visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel , a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. January 1999

Las Vegas Real Estate

Las Vegas Kids - Children & Adults - Family Activities, Attractions, Hotels and Las Vegas Real Estate The Official Las Vegas Family Site Las Vegas | Kid Safe Hotels | Attractions | Arcades | Real Estate | Shows | Childcare | Christmas | Espa ñ ol | FAQ / Contact Upcoming Las Vegas Events! DATE EVENT 12/31 Hootie & the Blowfish 12/31 New Year's Eve Party 1/4, 11, 18, 25 The Bean Bag Film Fest for Kids 1/5-1/8 Jim Stafford 1/5, 6, 10, 11, 17 Las Vegas Philharmonic Youth Concert 1/6-1/7 Harry Connick, Sr 1/6-1/14 Jay Leno 1/6-1/8 Jeff Lorber 1/6 Date with Disney 1/6 Toddlers Night Out 1/6-3/25 Stars of the Pharaohs December • January Past Events Las Vegas Hotels for Kids! Las Vegas has over 100 hotels, many of which are massive in size making one feel as though in a little city. Most of the hotels have at least a small area dedicated to arcade games. However, some of them have elaborate arcades, game areas, child care centers and more intended for those traveling with kids. We'll guide you in selecting the best, kid-safe hotel option s! More... • Become a Vegas VIP! • Las Vegas New Years Events Most Popular Pages Las Vegas Attractions Kid-Friendly Hotels Las Vegas Shows sponsored links - Top Free Attractions - AdventureDome - Roller Coasters - Circus Acts - Bowling Centers - MGM Lion Habitat - Mirage Dolphins - Stratosphere Tower - Eiffel Tower @ Paris - The Complete List - Excalibur - Circus-Circus - New York-New York - Luxor - Flamingo Hilton - Paris - The Orleans - Tropicana - Four Seasons - The Complete List - Lance Burton - Penn & Teller - Blue Man Group - Tournament of Kings - Legends in Concert - Movie Theaters - The Complete List - Las Vegas Christmas - Las Vegas Halloween -The Gift of Lights - Haunted Hotels - Top 25 Freebies - High-Elevation - Renaissance Fair - Skiing in Las Vegas - Top Las Vegas Pools - The Complete List - Top Things Under 21 - Museums - Top Pools - High-Elevation Fun - Las Vegas Trivia - Maps - Parks - Kids Eat FREE! - Las Vegas Halloween - Dining - Shows - Nightlife - Shopping - Tours - Las Vegas Real Estate - Privacy Policy - Las Vegas Life Insurance Chicago Kids , New York Kids , San Francisco Kids , Boston Kids , Miami Kids , Vegas.com © 2003 - 2006 LasVegasKids.net, LLC. All rights reserved. - Resources - Link to us

Real Estate Investment

Interest by real estate investors cooling? - Dec. 7, 2005 Web CNN/Money Home News Markets Technology Commentary Personal Finance Autos Real Estate News Jobs & Economy SAVE | EMAIL | PRINT | SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY | Real estate investors bailing out? Report: Speculators could hasten the real estate cool-off by putting properties on the market. December 7, 2005: 1:12 PM EST Video More video Appliances, materials, even landscaping is being stolen from U.S. home construction sites. CNN's Randi Kaye reports. (November 30) Play video NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Recent economic data may point to a cooling housing market and some investors are already dashing for the exits, according to a news report published Wednesday. Speaking with real estate brokers and analysts from such hot real estate markets as Las Vegas, Miami and Washington, D.C., The Wall Street Journal reported that fewer people are buying property as an investment vehicle. A researcher at Arizona State University told the paper that in the hot market of Phoenix, as many as 30 percent of the properties for sale on the market right now are owned by investors, while Sandra Geary, a real estate broker in Sonoma County in California said that her sales to investors have dipped by over 75 percent. "Now that the market is slowing down, it's scaring investors away," Geary told the Journal . Citing data from the mortgage analysis firm LoanPerformance, the paper reported that in some regions such as Redding, Calif., investors made up 22.01 percent of the purchases made through September. Recent industry reports have hinted at a slowdown in the real estate market. On Tuesday, the National Association of Realtors said that pending home sales in October dipped by 3.2 percent, while the Federal Reserve reported last week in its "beige book" summary of economic conditions that some housing markets have cooled. "Generally, residential real estate market activity remained high, but many districts reported a slowing or cooling of activity," the Fed said in its report. Even the latest data from the agency which oversees the mortgage firms Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, reported slower growth in home prices as the average price for a U.S. home rose 12.2 percent for the 12 months through Sept. 30 from a year earlier, compared to 14.2 percent in the period ending June 30. Even interest in condos has waned in regions such as Washington D.C., as cancellation rates have been rising, the National Association of Home Builders told the paper. "It's largely because of investors" pulling back, Gopal Ahluwalia, the organization's staff vice president for research told the Journal . If demand by investors weakens, that could hasten any slowdown in the market, David Berson, chief economist at Fannie Mae told the Journal . According to his estimates, home sales will fall by 10.4 percent over the next two years due to a drop in the number of investors and the number of second home purchases. _______________________ "Take this house and shove it" -- Click here . The Hot List Most profitable renovations How risky is your 401(k)? Big new tax credits for hybrid cars More Economy Risky business in 2006? Could be Home sales fall Jobless claims edged higher last week 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. Create your own alert to be notified on topics you're interested in. Or, visit Popular Alerts for suggestions. Manage alerts | What is this?