Apartment vacancies fall outside Denver, an article from the Rocky Mountain News, reports that according to a report released by the Colorado Division of Housing, the overall state apartment vacancy rate for major metropolitan areas outside the Denver area fell to 8.6% at the end of last year, compared with 10.4% a year earlier.  Gordon Von Stroh, the author of the report said, “The bright spots are Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Grand Junction.  Even before the energy boom on the Western Slope, Grand Junction was doing well because of all of the retirees there.  And CSU is a great research university, which has helped the Fort Collins area.”  The report also shows the overall average rent per square foot ranges for these five metropolitan areas range from a low of 70 cents in Pueblo to a high of $1 in Fort Collins/Loveland.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/mar/18/apartment-vacancies-fall-outside-denver/

Developing Supplemental Revenue Streams in a Down Real Estate Market, an article from RealtyTimes.com, reports that the real estate market has become challenging across the country.  As a result, it is harder to make a living representing buyers and sellers as a real estate agent.  By developing supplemental revenue streams that are related to your real estate business, they could reinforce your core real estate business and set you up for growth as the market turns around.  Following are a couple of ideas to explore while remembering to consider your own strengths and expertise.  One possibility is if you enjoy and often get compliments on your writing, consider writing for the local newspaper, magazine or real estate publication.  Another option to consider if you enjoy writing is to consider developing a blog with contextual advertising.  One more idea to explore is getting involved in the foreclosure market.  If you have noticed an increase in foreclosures in your area, maybe you could partner with a local bank to help prepare and market properties it has repossessed.  The bank may be willing to pay you as a consultant for this rather than through commissions at closing.  No matter what avenue you decide to explore, be creative, leverage your skills and build related revenue streams to help support your earnings during this challenging market.
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080319_revenuestream.htm

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Closing the sale just simply isn’t what it used to be
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19706

New Fannie, Freddie rules: $200B for mortgages
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/19/news/economy/fannie_freddie/index.htm?postversion=2008031909

Fed cuts key rates three-quarters of a point
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23680394/