Foreclosure rate halved in Q1 in Denver area, an article from the Rocky Mountain News, reports that according to analysis by the Rocky Mountain News, the rate of increase in foreclosures for the 7-county Denver metro area during the first quarter of 2008 is roughly half what it was a year ago.  There were 7,459 foreclosure filings in the Denver area in the first quarter, roughly a 16% increase from the previous first-quarter record of 6,410 filings in 2007.  The overall foreclosure rate rose by more than 30% in Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties from the first quarter of 2006 to the first quarter of 2007.  Economist Patty Silverstein, president of Development Research Partners said,  "While no one likes to see these record numbers increase, they're at least going in the right direction."  Silverstein added, "I think it is possible that by the end of the year we will possibly even show a slight drop from the total number of foreclosures we saw in 2007."
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/apr/15/foreclosure-rate-halved-in-q1-in-denver-area/

Real Estate Marketing Strategies: Do You Find It Easy or Difficult to "Toot Your Own Horn?", an article from RealtyTimes.com, reports that one of the biggest concerns of real estate agents is how to market without being pushy or how to be assertive without being aggressive.  One suggestion is to approach a prospective client with the attitude of giving, not taking.  Do you approach a prospective client thinking, "I have to make the sale" or do you approach with the attitude of, "Wow, this person can really use my service, and I want to give them the gift of offering to help them."  Realize that what you have to offer is valuable and be willing to communicate that in a consistent way. 
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080415_toothorn.htm

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

D-11 battling ghosts of past school closures
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19783

Foreclosures jump 57% in March
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/15/real_estate/foreclosures_march/index.htm?postversion=2008041505

Coalition squeezing Congress in mortgage mess
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24116257/

Selling Isn't About the Sale -- It's About the Relationship
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080415_sellingsale.htm

Industry Group Agrees on Listing Standards
http://www.realtor.org/rmodaily.nsf/pages/News2008041405