For Consumers

WASHINGTON DC – Federal income tax deductions for home mortgage interest took a hit Saturday (Jan. 1, 2011) in The Washington Post newspaper, which published an editorial titled “Trim the Excessive Tax Subsidy for Real Estate.” Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of REALTORS, responded by describing how mortgage interest deductions benefit primarily […]

ALLENTOWN PA – As homeowners around the country continue to struggle to fend off foreclosure proceedings, a working group of attorneys general and banking officials from all 50 states has been gathering evidence in a probe of potentially improper or illegal lending and servicing practices, according to an article written by reporter Tim Darragh and […]

HARRISBURG PA – Pennsylvania homeowners are being urged by the state Attorney General to file complaints concerning questionable or improper mortgage foreclosures. AG Tom Corbett said on Oct. 6 (2010) the filings would be included in an ongoing investigation by his office’s Bureau of Consumer Protection to determine if laws were violated by lenders or […]

WASHINGTON DC – McMansions may be a thing of the past. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the average size of a new home dropped by more than 2,000 square feet in 2009. Some speculate the cause is downsizing due to tough economic times. Read the story, published by WFMZ-TV of Allentown PA, here.

HAZLETON PA – A federal appeals court ruled Sept. 9 (2010; Thursday) that Hazleton PA could not fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, or required prospective tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit. The court ban against both measures, part of the city’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, is seen […]

HARRISBURG PA – An e-mail was distributed Tuesday (May 18, 2010) from Florida, with a subject line that blared “Real Estate Agents Get Lower Health Insurance Rates in Pennsylvania.” Sound appealing? It’s not. Be wary of such messages, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has warned. Real estate licensees and others should be suspicious if someone tries […]

LOS ANGELES CA – OK, here’s the pitch. You’re a first-time home seller; that buying thing has been so-o-o-o done to death already. And you’re located in the eight-county Philadelphia area. And you want to be on television in one of those prime-time reality shows. Here’s your chance for 15 minutes – no, wait, make […]

HARRISBURG PA – A change to the Pennsylvania Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act, signed into law last Monday (July 6, 2009) by Gov. Edward Rendell, might prevent heartache for future purchasers who find their dream home deal has fallen through. Senate Bill 241, written by Bucks County (PA) state Sen. Tommy Tomlinson and passed […]

HARRISBURG PA – Two additional bills aimed at preventing mortgage fraud were signed into law Monday (June 29, 2009) by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed. Rendell, joining a package of five laws approved last year to target different aspects of the same problem. The two latest pieces of legislation were spurred by a case in Berks County […]

HARRISBURG PA – In an announcement posted this week (Wednesday, June 17, 2009) on its website, the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission said it was extending for three months – until Sept. 15, 2009 – the deadline to implement its new consumer notice. Before the announcement, the deadline had been set for June 15. The […]