For Practitioners

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 […]

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 […]

The rage in real estate communications these days focuses on the rise of Internet-based social media. Can you survive in the business without a Twitter account and a Facebook page? Sure, although probably not as successfully as you will with them. Twitter, Facebook, Linked-In, instant messaging and similar applications are big for real estate because, […]

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 […]

HARRISBURG PA – The national portion of the Pennsylvania real estate licensing exam for salespersons has changed “to ensure (its) relevancy and relationship to public protection,” the State Real Estate Commission announced. Pennsylvania residents and others who want to become licensed to sell real estate within the state’s borders must take a two-part exam covering […]

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 […]

NEWTOWN SQUARE PA – Joblessness in Pennsylvania,  according to the latest statistics (as of Aug. 21, 2009) available from the state Department of Labor and Industry,  is running at 8.5 percent. With unemployment and under-employment still high across much of the state, more people are looking at real estate sales as either a new or […]

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 […]

PHILADELPHIA PA – A Neighborhood Networks Regional Technical Assistance Workshop, intended to help residents of federally assisted multi-family housing projects become more independent, will be conducted July 15-17 (2009) by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. HUD announced the seminar in a press release issued Wednesday (July […]