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More Latest Breaking News
Las Vegas Home Sales Rise Fueled By Demand For
Houses Under $200,000
December 30, 2011

Good news for Las Vegas housing market, finally! According to the research firm Data Quick,
home sales rose 11.2% in November, year over year.

November was the 11th consecutive month that Las Vegas re-sale homes showed annual
price gains. Although this is good news, we have to be cautious because the positive activity
is at the lower end of the price range. The median sales price remained at $115,000 for the
third consecutive month. In November the number of real estate sales transactions below
$100,000 grew to 32.8% from a year ago.

For houses priced above $200,000 the market remains flat.
S&P: Renting Versus Buying House Is A Toss Up
January 2, 2012

Standard & Poor's reported that the gap between buying a home and renting is almost
non-existent. The rent-buy price ratio for October shows no clear preference. The ratio sits at
90.

The rent-buy ratio has a benchmark of 100 set back in 1987. Upward movement indicates that
rental prices are increasing. In the late 1990s the index reached about 120. During the housing
boom of the mid-2000s buying costs top out at 50.
GMAC Donates Mortgage Free House To Wounded Army
Veteran
January 3, 2012

GMAC Mortgage rehabilitated a house, then donated the home to a wounded army veteran.
The home was given to First Sgt. Peter Lara who was wounded while serving his country in
November 2005.

GMAC worked with the non-profit group, Military Warriors Support Foundation to deliver the
house to Sgt. Lara. The foundation is based in San Antonio, and helps veterans find
employment, assist them with medical care, and with affordable housing.
Freddie Mac Paid Gingrich Group $25,000 Monthly
Retainer
January 24, 2012

Last Monday night The Gingrich Group released documents confirming that Freddie Mac,
the government sponsored enterprise, paid the company $25,000 a month as a retainer
back in 2006. The contract capped the amount paid to $300,000 for the year. The Gingrich
Group is headed by the Republican candidate Newt Gingrich.

The documents did not say what services were obtained in return for the money. This
occurred months before the mortgage giant was forced to get a government hand out. Since
the housing bust and the spike in mortgage defaults, Freddie Mac has drawn about $72.2
billion from the Treasury Department. So far only $15 billion has been repaid.

The question remains, "was this money for lobbying, or consulting?"