My Indiana Home Blog

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve cut a key interest rate by a quarter-point Wednesday, saying the economy is weak, the housing market is still in the doldrums and credit markets remain troubled.

There were signs the Fed may believe it has done enough to prevent a deep recession.
The Fed action, after a two-day meeting, pushed the federal funds rate down to 2 percent, the lowest level since late 2004.

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Politicians Ponder Foreclosure Intervention Policies

Should the federal government mandate a six-month moratorium on all foreclosures around the country in order to give affected homeowners a chance to “work it out?” Or are tighter lending standards self-imposed by lenders a more appropriate response to the subprime mortgage crisis? What about licensing the mortgage brokerage industry at the national level? And what about regulation of mortgage-backed securities sold on Wall Street that helped fuel the excessive lending spree of the past few years?

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Imagine a world without trees. What if the rain forests, and all of the exotic plants and colorful animals that call it home, suddenly did not exist? In 1962, Gaylord Nelson decided something needed to be done to protect the environment. The work that he began led to what we now know as Earth Day.

Nelson realized very few people were concerned about environmental problems like deforestation, the destruction of trees. "For several years, it has been troubling me," Nelson wrote in a 1962 article, "that the state of the environment is simply a non-issue in the politics of our country."

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The Cost of a Remodel

According to the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2007 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers (featured in the March 10 edition of this publication), over half of sellers engaged in some kind of home improvement or remodeling project within three months of listing. Obviously a popular decision, but is every project worth it? And when deciding which project to tackle, how do you know where the money will be best spent?

Remodeling Online has some answers. The 2007 “Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report” provides a percentage of recouped cost on 29 typical home remodel projects. Projects range from garage and bathroom additions to a minor kitchen remodel and window replacement. Breaking the U.S. into nine regions, the report provides national and regional averages for further detail.

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Second Home Market Remains Bright

by Peter G. Miller

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