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Citywide retail development
plans make headway,
an article from the
Colorado Springs Business
Journal, reports
that Colorado Springs has
recently established a
retail enhancement
program. The program was
designed to foster retail
growth and development.
According to Lisa Bigelow,
city budget and economic
development director, its
objectives are to stem sales
tax leakage, increase
economic activity, promote
greater household spending
and expand the quantity and
variety of retail
opportunities that match
residents’ shopping
preferences. Bigelow said,
"We are working with those
shopping centers to bring in
new retail opportunities and
enhance the existing
opportunities that are
there. The retail
enhancement staff is looking
at all areas, even
residential issues that
impact the area.”
http://www.csbj.com/story.cfm?ID=19906
Fannie to Aid Underwater
Loans,
an article from
The Wall Street Journal
Online, reports
that Fannie Mae is preparing
to introduce a program of
refinancing mortgages for
people who owe more than the
current value of their
homes. A situation
also known as being
"underwater." Fannie's
refinance plan would result
in new loans of equivalent
size, leaving the borrower
underwater but giving him or
her a lower monthly payment
or at least a fixed rate.
According to officials of
Fannie Mae, the new program
is limited to people who
have kept up on their
payments so far and whose
loans are owned or
guaranteed by the
company. They say in some
cases it makes sense to
refinance such people if the
new loan will reduce their
interest rate or let them
lock into a fixed rate
rather than risking future
upward adjustments. Jeff
Hayward, a senior vice
president at Fannie said,
"We're saying to the
consumer, 'You're not
trapped any more.'" The
program will allow
refinancing loans of as much
as 120% of the property
value. Approximately
150,000 households could
qualify for these
refinancings, Fannie
officials project.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121035864744281229.html?mod=RealEstateMain_1
Additional articles that you
may find of interest:
Water expert wants to study
effect of low-impact
development on creek
http://www.gazette.com/articles/build_36238___article.html/erode_.html
Housing rescue: Fighting
over best fix
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/12/real_estate/FHASecure_expands/index.htm?postversion=2008051208
5 new rules for home sellers
http://money.cnn.com/2008/05/01/real_estate/seller_tips.moneymag/index.htm?postversion=2008051208
Hate to Make Cold Calls? 5
Tips to Make it Easier
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080512_coldcalls.htm
Apartment Markets Show Signs
of Stability
http://rismedia.com/wp/2008-05-09/apartment-markets-show-signs-of-stability/ |
