NAHB - "H.R. 2998 Not The Answer To A Secure Energy Future, Says NAHB" (6-29-09)

"The House of Representatives on June 26 passed H.R. 2998, sweeping legislation that requires new homes to be built 30 percent more energy efficiently than mandated in the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code. That number increases to 50 percent by 2014 and then increases 5 percent every three years."

Wall Street Journal - "California Bills Seek to Lift Home Sales" (6-29-09)

"Even as California lawmakers slash services and lay off workers to help close the state's $21 billion budget deficit, there is one area where they want to increase funding: a home-buyer tax-credit program meant to help revive the local real-estate market. California lawmakers introduced two bills to boost the cap for the tax-credit program by at least $200 million and to extend the length of the program by at least a year. One of the bills has been marked urgent by its sponsor, and a vote is expected in late July."

NAR - "Realtor membership rises in some areas" (6-29-09)

"From 2004 through 2005, home-sale activity surged toward a peak in most U.S. metropolitan real estate markets. The feverish market activity lured a long line of individuals to obtain a real estate license, with the hopes of cashing in on the booming sales. The exodus of Realtors into the business began to reverse with the slumping real estate market. According to the National Association of Realtors, all but one state association's May 2009 membership totals trailed membership totals for May 2008, with 28 state associations experiencing a double-digit percentage drop in membership -- that trend has not held for all local and state Realtor associations, though."

San Francisco Chronicle - "New HGTV show gives homeowners the cold truth" (6-29-09)

"'Real Estate Intervention,' which premiered Thursday, offers tough love for people in denial - helping home sellers grasp what their place is really worth. Hint: It's a lot less than they think."

Bloomberg - "U.S. ‘May Be Seeing Bottoming’ of Home Prices, Lockhart Say" (6-29-09)

"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s federal regulator said home prices may be 'bottoming' in the U.S. as government efforts to bolster the market gain traction."

Orange County Register - "179,000 O.C. homes won’t see taxes go up" (6-29-09)

"The Orange County Assessor’s Office reports that more than 179,200 houses, townhomes and condos will be spared property tax hikes next fall and spring thanks to falling home values here."

Inman - "New school of real estate marketing" (6-29-09)

"Many people describe traditional real estate marketing as using a shotgun approach. Spread your marketing efforts far and wide. Work with anyone who shows up. Today, to achieve the best Web ranking possible, you must target a very narrow niche. For example, if you specialize in two subdivisions with 200 homes each and one condo building with 50 units, you would target each group separately. This means building three separate "home" pages devoted to the unique lifestyle in each area. Each page would have a separate URL such as FalconCrestHomes78759.com or 90024ChurchillCondos.com. The URLs can be for a stand-alone Web site or they can redirect to different parts of your site. If you choose the latter approach, make sure each of these pages has the appearance of a home page. Use print marketing to drive people to your Web site."

Realty Times - "Investor Report: Condo Loan Rules" (6-29-09)

"FHA has come out with its long-awaited rules on condominium loans, and they're a mixed bag for investors, second home and other buyers and sellers. On the one hand, the rules allow lenders a lot of more flexibility in reviewing condo project eligibility and documentation. That's good -- it should allow more lenders to increase their condo activity in the red-hot FHA segment of the market."

Realty Times - "Washington Report: Home Valuation Code of Conduct" (6-29-09)

"Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's controversial new appraisal rules are now coming direct attack by the biggest lobby on Capitol Hill - the National Association of Realtors. Though the association is saying nothing publicly, officials have confirmed to Realty Times that they are gearing up for a fight in Congress and elsewhere to derail the 'Home Valuation Code of Conduct' (or HVCC) for 18 months."