Growth in Consumer Credit Slows Slightly

Growth in Consumer Credit Slows Slightly.
Consumers kept charging at a rapid pace on their credit cards in July although their overall borrowing slowed a bit. The Federal Reserve reported that consumer credit rose at an annual rate of 3.7 percent in July, down from a 5.9 percent growth rate for consumer debt in June. .

Quiet boom hits Switzerland

Quiet boom hits Switzerland.
While house prices have exploded in cities like London and Madrid in recent years, a quieter but nonetheless significant boom is occurring in the normally staid property market in Switzerland. Foreign buyers are flooding into places like the town of Kuesnacht, just a few minutes by car from the banking and insurance center of Zurich, driving prices for top-end properties to record levels. 'We are looking at this situation with concern,' said Kuesnacht"s local council president, Max Baumgartner. 'The price of apartments is rising fast. You can"t create more space so it"s getting harder to find affordable places.' Rich Germans, Russians, Britons and Americans have all recently snapped up homes in Kuesnacht, which offers tidy houses and pricey restaurants and a top-band income tax rate of just 10 percent.

Protests Spread in Burma; Government Urged to Exercise Restraint

Protests Spread in Burma; Government Urged to Exercise Restraint.
He notes that in decades past, similar economic crises and price increases contributed to uprisings that drove out long-time rulers in the Philippines and Indonesia. Members of the international community - long critical of the government"s human rights record - are calling for dialogue to quell the unrest. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he is following events in Burma with concern. He urged the authorities to exercise maximum restraint in responding to the demonstrations and also called on both sides to avoid provocation. He called for a constructive dialogue toward national reconciliation. Earlier this week, the United States called for the release of dissidents arrested in the demonstrations and urged Burma"s leadership to engage in meaningful dialogue with members of democratic movements.

Weak demand hurts homebuilder"s profits

Weak demand hurts homebuilder"s profits.
Toll Brothers Inc., the largest U.S. luxury homebuilder, which is currently building five developments in Monmouth and Ocean counties, said third-quarter profit fell 85 percent as the deepening housing slump cut sales, increased cancellations and forced the company to write down property. Net income in the three months ended July 31 declined to $26.5 million, or 16 cents a share, from $174.6 million, or $1.07, a year earlier, the Horsham, Pa.-company said today in a statement. The shares rose as much as 5.2 percent after the results exceeded analysts" estimates. Cancellations jumped to 24 percent in the quarter and Chief Executive Officer Robert Toll said a glut of homes is curbing demand. Five of the largest U.S. homebuilders reported combined losses of $1.85 billion and took charges of $2.9 billion to write down land values and walk away from property options in their most recent quarters.

Republican US presidential hopeful takes anti-Washington stance on

Republican US presidential hopeful takes anti-Washington stance on ....
RENO, Nevada: Republican U.S. presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took a strong states" rights stance Wednesday on issues of water, mining and public lands, saying he is against 'heavy-handed' intrusion by the federal government. States" rights also take precedence in the abortion debate for Romney, a conservative and a Mormon who is against abortion and would like to see the Supreme Court"s Roe v. Wade ruling, which legalized abortion in the United States, overturned. He said in an interview with The Associated Press that states should 'fashion their own laws with regard to abortion. That"s what I think the next step should be.' Romney listed education as an area in which states should have a strong voice. Discussing the federal No Child Left Behind Act, he said he supports the act"s role in spotting 'failing' schools — but wants 'greater state flexibility in the (student) testing process.' 'We"ve suffered too many years of Washington politicians thinking they know the best for people of other states,' he told the AP.

by John Scheinman

by John Scheinman.
The De Francis era at Maryland"s main Thoroughbred racetracks, which began when the late Frank J. De Francis purchased Pimlico Race Course from Israel Cohen for $30-million in 1986, ended Monday. Magna Entertainment Corp., which bought controlling interest in Pimlico and Laurel Park for $50.6-million in 2002, purchased the remaining 49% of the Maryland Jockey Club, paying Joe De Francis and his sister, Karin De Francis, a combined $18.3-million plus interest. Since closing on controlling interest in the tracks, Magna held an option, enforceable by the De Francis family, to pay for the rest within five years. Joe De Francis also relinquished his position as executive vice president at Magna, where he helped launch TrackNet Media, an online wagering joint venture with Churchill Downs Inc.

Location is also something you"ll need to consider as well

Location is also something you"ll need to consider as well. Some prefer to live out in the country, while others prefer the city life. Some prefer to be close to stores and such, while others prefer to be miles and miles away. The location of a home is very important, and in most cases will have a big impact on the price. Living in the city will cost quite a bit of money, although a home out in the country can cost just as much if there is a lot of land included with the property.

Tribune"s August revenue down 5

Tribune"s August revenue down 5.2%.
(AP) ? Tribune Co., which is being taken private in a deal led by Sam Zell, said Thursday its August revenue dropped 5.2% as classified ad sales slid on sharp real estate declines. The company, whose properties include the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times and 23 television stations, said consolidated revenue for the period ended Sept. 2 fell to $391 million from $413 million in the prior year. Publishing revenue slipped 6.1% to $271 million, with ad revenue declined 7.2% to $210 million. National ad sales rose 2.8%, with increases in financial, telecom/wireless and media partially offset by declines in the resorts and auto categories. .

Pressure growing to ease subprime crisis

Pressure growing to ease subprime crisis.
The FHA is a 1930s-era agency that is the largest mortgage insurer in the world. The Treasury is already working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on measures that could allow the FHA to help more subprime borrowers with refinancings. .

When you interview a real estate agent, make sure that you have the agent explain his fees

When you interview a real estate agent, make sure that you have the agent explain his fees. This way, you"ll know exactly how much he will be getting from the purchase. You should also find out how much experience he has in the field, and how long he has been working with real estate. You can also ask about sample contracts as well. If you are buying a home, you should make sure that the agent works with buyers. If you happen to be selling your home, then you"ll want to make sure that the agent works with sellers. Agents that are dedicated to one or the other are the best to choose, as they will have more experience than agents who work with both buyers and sellers.

In today"s nascent economic crisis, most persons are reluctant to buy their have home

In today"s nascent economic crisis, most persons are reluctant to buy their have home. This is forlorn because it is a buyer"s bazaar and a good case to buy.

Real estate market impacted by U

Real estate market impacted by U.S. downturn.
The real estate market in The Bahamas is feeling the effects of the mortgage crisis in the United States. 'I think there has been a general slowing of our market because of what is happening in the U.S. economy,' said Larry Roberts, president of the Bahamas Real Estate Association (BREA). Indeed the effects continue to be seen in the slow takeup of some properties, such as the Residences at Atlantis. According to a senior official at Turnberry Associates, the project"s developer, though sales are consistent, they have slowed due to the overall downturn in the U.S. Turnberry also denied rumors that a number of international financial institutions, including Credit Suisse and Lehman Brothers, had bought a large number of units. Lehman Brothers is in fact laying off more than 2,000 of its workers in an effort to scale back its struggling mortgage business.

Be sure that you have to ask them directly for referral so that this system would work to your

Be sure that you have to ask them directly for referral so that this system would work to your advantage. Always thank them through cards and notes for every referral they give or offer incentives through special gifts, vouchers and discounts.

Liberty University aims to expand in shopping center

Liberty University aims to expand in shopping center.
LYNCHBURG -- An Arizona real estate development firm has donated an $11.7 million, 42-acre shopping center to Liberty University, founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell. Liberty will take on the shopping center and all of its outparcels -- a movie theater, a McDonald"s restaurant and a 73,000-square-foot former department store -- to relocate offices and expand its campus. Less than half of the shopping center, called The Plaza, is occupied. The gift from Sandor Development Co. in Scottsdale, Ariz., is expected to be completed late this month, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said Friday in a statement. It completes a deal negotiated by the elder Falwell before his death in May. He envisioned the site housing offices for the distance learning program, freeing space for classrooms, Falwell said.

The key here is to never assume that a particular area is already obvious that"s why you thought

The key here is to never assume that a particular area is already obvious that"s why you thought it is okay not to include that on your descriptive article.

Preparing your house to sell does not have to be an intimidating process

Preparing your house to sell does not have to be an intimidating process. Start with a plan and stick to it. If necessary ask for others input, such as a realtor or friends and neighbors. Think deep cleaning and maintenance, and as you wait for your home to sell continue to keep up all the improvements you have made, so you will be closing on a new house in record time.

Seniors break the bank to pay for rings, prom

Seniors break the bank to pay for rings, prom.
Prom dresses, limousines, class rings, yearbooks and graduation caps and gowns make up only a fraction of the trappings ... Seniors break the bank to pay for rings, prom Scott Teague The Union-Recorder Prom dresses, limousines, class rings, yearbooks and graduation caps and gowns make up only a fraction of the trappings of what it is to be a high school senior. But these rites of passage come at a cost — one that"s often borne by the students" parents. .

'Wait a minute, ' you may ask

'Wait a minute, ' you may ask. Will I be the one to answer each and every call that"s made? Wouldn"t I have to hire a whole lot of representatives to answer these calls for me?

iMirror wireless iPod remote ships

iMirror wireless iPod remote ships.
Bexy has unveiled its iMirror wireless remote control docking station that displays, controls, and plays iPod music as well as video while connected to entertainment systems. The iMirror is designed to serve as the center for a music and video home entertainment system, allowing users to remotely navigate and control all iPod music/video via the iMirror"s wireless remote control and LCD display. The device automatically loads all iPod title information into the wireless remote upon initial docking in a few seconds, and provides real-time status from up to 150-feet from the base, according to Bexy. iMirror"s docking station charges most dockable iPod models, and comes with a set of cable connections for playing an iPod through a big screen TV as well as a stereo. The device features S-Video, RCA stereo audio/video, and line audio mini-stereo connectivity as well as earphone output.

Internet cut off in Burma as soldiers crack down

Internet cut off in Burma as soldiers crack down.
Public Internet access was cut off in Burma on Friday as soldiers cracked down on demonstrators and stepped up efforts to end the conflict that has seen 10 people killed this week. Soldiers broke up street gatherings of activists and occupied key Buddhist monastaries -- raising fears that the conflict was far from over. One day earlier, the United States imposed economic sanctions on more than a dozen senior Burma officials, including members of the country"s ruling military junta. The sanctions were put in place after nine demonstrators were killed and 11 were wounded on Thursday when Burmese soldiers fired on crowds of anti-government activists. The military government confirmed the deaths. On Friday, troops seemed intent on keeping Buddhist monks -- who have led most of the protests against the nation"s military rule -- off the streets.

Comedian Danny Bhoy remains a purist

Comedian Danny Bhoy remains a purist.
Scottish comedian Danny Bhoy doesn"t let his Indian heritage influence his act. In a field where many performers feel duty-bound to find their niche and stick to it, Bhoy refuses to be pigeonholed. 'I"ve seen a lot of comedians, particularly in Montreal, who are very well defined,' he says. 'This guy"s a Mexican so he"s talking about how poor he is, this guy"s Jewish so he"s talking about how neurotic he is. 'They don"t veer from that, they have their own pigeonhole, and they do it deliberately because they all want to be in sitcoms.' His Indian side isn"t something Bhoy has ever really embraced. But his choice not to include material about his heritage is more about being a comedic purist. 'I want to go to as many different places I can and perform comedy and adapt and adjust and metamorphose, so the idea of doing jokes about being half-Indian doesn"t interest me at all, I"d rather just do good jokes,' he says.

Gibbes to auction 12 miniature rooms

Gibbes to auction 12 miniature rooms.
The Gibbes Museum of Art is offering for auction 12 miniature rooms that have been on display in a gallery on the first floor since the 1980s. 'As part of an ongoing reconsideration of our holdings, the museum board determined that the miniature rooms no longer fit the collecting mission of the museum, which is to acquire the best art related to Charleston, the Lowcountry and the American South,' Todd Smith, executive director of the Gibbes, said. Smith said efforts to lend or sell the collection to other museums were met with no success so Brunk Auctions in Asheville, N.C. was selected to offer the collection because the company has previously handled this type of art. Jerry Israel, a staff member at Brunk Auctions, said the 12 miniatures would be auctioned individually on Sept.

Market Analysis

Market Analysis.
So the bloom is off the rosy real estate market after a dizzy few years of unprecedented growth! While the subprime mortgage fiasco is more relevant nationally, in Miami new condominiums, and the surplus thereof, are the hot issues. Groundwork solicited feedback from some top brokers, financial pundits and a leading real estate analyst for opinions on the current market. .

The major factor that you will need to consider when deciding on your first home is where you will

The major factor that you will need to consider when deciding on your first home is where you will stand with the search. One of the largest mistakes that people make is deciding that they like a specific home then only investing in that home by becoming emotionally attached to it. This can cause several problems. The first is that you may not be able to get the home because of something happening in the process. This can be disappointing and tiring. The second mistake is that you will offer a price that is too high or too low. Make sure that you know exactly what the house is worth and how it fits into your needs before becoming attached.

More Human Cases Of West Nile Reported

More Human Cases Of West Nile Reported.
New Mexico health department officals confirmed two more cases of humans with West Nile virus. The latest cases were in a 40-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman. Both patients live near Albuquerque. The good news is the Department of Health said that both people contracted the less-severe West Nile fever and did not require hospitalization. .

Ortiz"s Mercedes convertible for sale on eBay

Ortiz"s Mercedes convertible for sale on eBay.
Just a few months after Manny Ramirez tried to help a friend sell a grill on the popular auction Web site, David Ortiz apparently is selling his red Mercedes convertible. There"s a picture on the Web site of Ortiz (donning a Dallas Mavericks jersey) leaning against the 2005 Mercedes Benz SL65 AMG. According to the item"s description, Ortiz bought the luxury car for himself as a special present for winning the 2004 World Series. .

Central banks" easy virtue, easy money

Central banks" easy virtue, easy money.
There"s an old story about the late British statesman Winston Churchill at a party. Probably on one of those many nights where never in the field of human excess had so much cognac, brandy and scotch been consumed by a person who historians now say was not an alcoholic, he staggered up to a socialite matron and posed a question: Churchill: 'Madam, would you sleep with me for 5 million pounds?' (In the 1930s, when the British pound was worth more than twice as much to the US dollar than it is now, this was a particularly impressive sum over which to surrender one"s virtue.) Woman: 'My goodness, Mr Churchill ... Well, I suppose ... we would have to discuss terms, of course.' Churchill: 'Would you sleep with me for 5 pounds?' Woman: 'Mr Churchill, what kind of woman do you think I am?!' Churchill: 'Madam, we"ve already established that.

When you interview a real estate agent, make sure that you have the agent explain his fees

When you interview a real estate agent, make sure that you have the agent explain his fees. This way, you"ll know exactly how much he will be getting from the purchase. You should also find out how much experience he has in the field, and how long he has been working with real estate. You can also ask about sample contracts as well. If you are buying a home, you should make sure that the agent works with buyers. If you happen to be selling your home, then you"ll want to make sure that the agent works with sellers. Agents that are dedicated to one or the other are the best to choose, as they will have more experience than agents who work with both buyers and sellers.

Chat transcript with Roy Komack

Chat transcript with Roy Komack.
Roy Komack founded and serves as president of the Family Financial Architects, Inc in Natick. He received his MBA from Boston University and is a Life Member of the American Association of Individual Investors and NAPFA-Registered Financial Advisor. Here is the transcript from Oct. 2, 2006, of Komack answering Boston.com readers" questions about personal finance and investment. .

Once you know how much you can afford to pay, you also have to figure out if you can raise enough

Once you know how much you can afford to pay, you also have to figure out if you can raise enough cash to make a down payment equal to no less than two to three percent of the price you pay for your home. This money will be due on the date you close or settle the deal. You may actually need more than that amount to pay for private mortgage insurance, title insurance, title search fees, attorney"s fees, loan origination fees, discount points costs and any other relevant disbursements, so leave a financial cushion to handled these additional expenses.

10 rules for buyers in a slow market

10 rules for buyers in a slow market.
The end of summer and the return of children to school mark the close of what is generally the busiest season for the sale of residential real estate. This year"s slow market is likely to become even slower as the leaves turn and the weather grows colder. .

Mobile home fraud scheme investigated

Mobile home fraud scheme investigated.
On Aug. 9, Thomas Gemuend went to Sunrise Mobile Homes in East Palatka to check on the progress of some work for which he had paid. He had purchased a mobile home from the company in February, paying for it to be moved onto his property in Interlachen. In exchange for $9,000, he was to get delivery, set-up, air conditioning and plumbing installed. He eventually got the mobile home ? but nothing else. And on that day earlier this month, he found the Sunrise Mobile Home lot empty. 'I went over there and there was nobody around,' Gemuend said Wednesday. 'While I was there, a lady showed up and said, ?They owe me money and they left town, I think." Pretty soon, another lady showed up, and then another, and they"re all complaining.' Kenneth Mann, sales manager at Sunrise Mobile Homes, is in custody and the couple who own the lot remain at large in an apparent fraud scheme that bilked customers of the mobile home sales lot of more than $400,000.


teen find success in real estate the
astoria real estate condo in phoenix recliner

Southwest Valley letters

Southwest Valley letters.
Because of these factors, the Valley"s real-estate market is destined to get better, not worse. Today"s market offers a great buying opportunity, with a variety of beautiful homes to choose from and excellent financing incentives like never before. The Republic has a responsibility to present the public with a balanced, fair picture of Arizona"s real-estate market. The sooner stories are published about how a home can sell quickly instead of why a house may not have sold, the sooner the market will improve - and that will benefit everyone who calls the Valley home. - Maria Hass, Phoenix .

NAR Applauds House Passage of Terrorism Insurance Bill

NAR Applauds House Passage of Terrorism Insurance Bill.
In this month that marks the sixth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the National Association of Realtors(R) commends the U.S. House of Representatives for reauthorizing the federal government"s terrorism risk insurance program. Today"s vote will help maintain a strong commercial real estate market and the health of the nation"s economy. NAR has long supported the Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision Extension Act, and NAR President Pat V. Combs praised the passage of H.R. 2761 by the full House. 'We hope to see the legislation implemented quickly,' said Combs, of Grand Rapids, Mich., and vice president of Coldwell Banker-AJS-Schmidt. 'The potential unavailability of terrorism risk insurance could have a devastating impact on many commercial financing agreements and would negatively impact the commercial real estate market.' The terrorism insurance program was initiated after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.