Real estate broker’s view upbeat, an article from The Gazette, reports that Jay Gupta, managing broker of Gloriod & Associates, a Springs residential brokerage and this year, is also serving as chairman of the Pikes Peak Association of Realtors' board of directors.  When asked his forecast for 2008, he responded, "The key factors that are important to a healthy housing market are low interest rates, a stable economy, low unemployment and good inventory.  Unequivocally, all these ingredients are currently in place in Colorado Springs.  In addition, Colorado Springs is a highly desirable city with many attractive quality of life features."   He added, "The job of a real estate agent is increasingly becoming that of a knowledgeable and skilled counselor and a trusted adviser."
http://www.gazette.com/articles/broker_34271___article.html/estate_real.html

Fed drops lending rate a quarter-point, an article from MSNBC.com, reports that the central bank, in an extremely rare weekend move, took action on Sunday in an attempt to calm the markets.  It also approved a cut in its emergency lending rate to financial institutions to 3.25% from 3.50%, effective immediately.  In a brief conference Sunday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said, “These steps will provide financial institutions with greater assurance of access to funds."   The Fed said the lending facility will be in place for at least six months and “may be extended as conditions warrant.”  The interest rate will be 3.25% and a range of collateral, including investment-grade mortgage backed securities, will be accepted to back the overnight loans.  The “discount” rate cut applies only to the short-term loans that financial institutions get directly from the Federal Reserve.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23664039/

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Summer athletic events buoy regional economy
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19691

Foreclosure frenzy maybe not for long
http://www.cobizmag.com/articles.asp?id=2077

Side Streets: Neighbors relieved that halfway house proposal was rejected
http://www.gazette.com/articles/city_34290___article.html/house_women.html
 
Bernanke outlines mortgage help plan
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/14/news/economy/bernanke_housing/index.htm?postversion=2008031513
 
White House aims to simplify mortgage process
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/14/real_estate/bc.mortgages.disclosure.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008031409
 
Perspective on the Road Ahead
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080317_roadahead.htm
 
Four Easy Steps to Handling Presentation Objections
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080317_easysteps.htm