From the monthly archives:

December 2010

Who Will Prosper In 2011: Home Buyers

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for Who Will Prosper In 2011: Home Buyers

Tweet The worry lines are finally starting to fade. After 18 months of a stutter-step recovery, the economy seems to be gathering steam. Most companies that survived the recession are lean and profitable, and there’s a good chance they’ll begin hiring again in 2011. Consumers who have jobs feel better about their prospects, which means [...]

Read the full article →

Consumer Sentiment At Highest Level Since June

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for Consumer Sentiment At Highest Level Since June

Tweet Confidence among consumers rose in December to its highest level since June, on improved job prospects and larger discounts from retailers, a survey released on Thursday showed. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s final reading on the overall index on consumer sentiment came in at 74.5, up from 71.6 in November. “The overall tenor of [...]

Read the full article →

US Existing Home Sales, Prices Recover In November

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for US Existing Home Sales, Prices Recover In November

Tweet Existing-home sales rose less than expected last month, though prices  stabilized as fewer houses remained on the market. Demand for used homes increased by 5.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.68 million, the National Association of Realtors said. The price for an existing home edged up for the first time since August, [...]

Read the full article →

Consumer Spending In U.S. Climbs For Fifth Straight Month As Incomes Grow

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for Consumer Spending In U.S. Climbs For Fifth Straight Month As Incomes Grow

Tweet Spending by U.S. consumers increased in November for a fifth month, showing the biggest part of the economy is strengthening heading into 2011. Household purchases rose 0.4 percent after a 0.7 percent increase in October that was almost twice as large as previously estimated, figures from the Commerce Department showed. Incomes climbed 0.3 percent [...]

Read the full article →

Unemployment Claims Fall Again

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for Unemployment Claims Fall Again

Tweet In another hopeful sign for the job market, the number of Americans filing for their first week of unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell, according to a government report released Thursday. The number of initial claims fell to 420,000 in the week ending Dec. 18, down from 423,000 claims the previous week, the Labor Department said. [...]

Read the full article →

HelpingAHero.org Presents The Keys To A New Lennar Home In Houston’s Eagle Springs To Wounded Marine

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for HelpingAHero.org Presents The Keys To A New Lennar Home In Houston’s Eagle Springs To Wounded Marine

Tweet On Tuesday, December 21st, HelpingaHero.org joined with Lennar and Newland Communities to officially present the keys to a brand new Lennar home to SGT Eusebio Collazo…just in time for Christmas. This beautiful 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Lennar home is the perfect home for this family. Purple Heart Recipient, SGT Eusebio Collazo, USMC (Ret.) grew [...]

Read the full article →

7 Tips For First-Time Home Buyers

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for 7 Tips For First-Time Home Buyers

Tweet You’ve been out looking at homes with your realtor all day. And as you walk through the door of the last house on your list, your mouth falls open. Finally, you’ve found The One, the perfect house. Stars begin to shimmer in your eyes. You love the layout, the paint colors, and the little [...]

Read the full article →

Why Retirement Is The Happiest Stage Of Life

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for Why Retirement Is The Happiest Stage Of Life

Tweet When you’re 10 years old, you just can’t wait to be a teenager. When you’re a teenager, you yearn to be out of the house and away at college. When you’re in college, graduation can’t come soon enough. And when you’re toiling away at your career, you long for the day when you can [...]

Read the full article →

The Five Species Of Luxury Consumer

December 23, 2010
Thumbnail image for The Five Species Of Luxury Consumer

Tweet With luxury on the rebound, companies once again are obsessed with the mythical “luxury consumer.” This dream spender is, we are told, wealthy, young, beautiful and prone to buying $4,500 bicycles for their dogs. As for the global financial crisis…well, what financial crisis? But a new report from BCG Research digs deeper to divide [...]

Read the full article →

Rising Mortgage Rates Spur First-Time Homebuyer Activity In November

December 21, 2010
Thumbnail image for Rising Mortgage Rates Spur First-Time Homebuyer Activity In November

Tweet Rising interest rates spurred first-time homebuyer activity in November, according to the Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance monthly survey released Monday. The share of first-time homebuyer purchases jumped to 37.2% from 34.4% in October, as near record low rates drifted higher over the course of the month. “The recent surge in interest rates has made potential [...]

Read the full article →