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Debra W. Still, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), applauded H.R. 1077, the Consumer Mortgage Choice Act, introduced earlier in March

in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI). The bipartisan bill would modify the definition of points and fees in the Dodd-Frank Act's Ability to Repay/Qualified Mortgage provisions to improve access to affordable mortgage credit for qualified borrowers.

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World
has named Howard W. (Hoby) Hanna IV to its board of directors. Hanna is president of Howard Hanna Ohio, a division of Pittsburgh-based

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the fourth largest real estate brokerage in the country, with 144 offices and 4,700 associates in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Regional Spotlight--According to a monthly survey of real estate brokers by The Real Estate Board of New York, brokers remained confident in the market in February 2013,

with increased confidence indexes for both the residential and commercial markets compared to last month. The Real Estate Market Overall Confidence Index for the first two months of 2013 was 8.86, almost a full percentage point higher than the average for 2012 which was 7.99.

The real estate market has turned the corner. Am I being overly optimistic? I don't think so. The signs and economists are saying that barring unforeseen calamities or further limitations

on available mortgage credit, the housing market will continue to gain momentum into 2014.

(MCT)-We live in a world of gadgets. From our smartphones, to our tablets, to our audio/video components, electronic components are - for many of us - a major part of our daily lives.

Sequestration is now in place, and along with it came a good amount of uncertainty, causing many Americans to wonder how they will be impacted. By some estimates, more than one million employees of federal agencies may receive furlough notices.

Some workers are not adequately prepared to deal with a loss of income, even a short-term one. For those living from paycheck to paycheck or without significant savings, any income interruption is likely to put them over the financial edge.

It’s a corollary of Murphy’s Law: when you’re least able to afford a major expense, something big will break down. Kiplinger’s tallies up the expenses that should be covered in your housing budget along with the life expectancy your home’s major repairs. Don’t be caught unprepared if it’s time to bite the bullet and make a major home repair this spring!

Consumers' pain at the pump is back with gas prices rising for 33 consecutive days according to the Washington Post and the average price of gas moving closer to or exceeding $4 per gallon, depending on your location. While you can’t combat the rising prices, you can maintain your vehicle to make the most out of your mileage. A few simple and inexpensive vehicle maintenance tips can help alleviate the pain.

Not every prospective customer you meet will be ready to close right away. When you are collecting dozens of new prospects each month it can be a daunting task to stay in touch with every one of them.

Why is it that some sales reps consistently earn a six-figure annual income while other reps, putting in the same hours, selling the same products, and trained by the same sales manager struggle each month financially to make ends meet?

The answer to this question is painfully simple; the six-figure sales reps understand the importance of business development and never forget to ask for referrals.