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In February, both home sales and prices rose higher than a year ago. After a decisive housing turnaround in 2012, this year looks to improve on recovering market trends. With data representing 52 metropolitan areas, the February RE/MAX National Housing Report shows home sales 2.3 percent greater than February 2012 and a median price 7.0 percent higher. Still a concern is the number of available homes for sale, which continues to shrink, turning the market more favorable to sellers.

(MCT)-Q: Our 1920s Colonial has a stone foundation with some sort of cement coating on the interior. Much of the coating has flaked off, exposing the mortar joints, which are disintegrating.

Prudential Network Realty recently honored more than 60 real estate associates as the company's top producers during a special invitation-only party at the famed TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse. The Top Producers party celebrated the success of the company's elite Realtors who achieved $4 million or more in closed sales in 2012.

Recently, Buffalo, N.Y.-based HUNT Real Estate ERA was recently bestowed multiple awards at the 2013 Cartus Broker Network International Conference, held February 27-March 2 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz, the company announced. HUNT was honored with the 2013 Eagle Award from the USAA MoversAdvantage
program, for outstanding performance provided to USAA members in their Buffalo Region. USAA MoversAdvantage
is a real estate relocation services program, for which HUNT Real Estate ERA is a valued service provider.

Purchasing a home is an important life decision, and many factors can influence the home choices buyers make.

The National Association of Realtors® 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences examines the features buyers prefer when it comes to purchasing a home, as well as the differences in preferences when it comes to factors such as region, demographics and household composition. The survey captures buyers who purchased a home between 2010 and 2012.

Everyone hopes that his or her financial business investments go smoothly and that the broker chosen can be trusted to look out for their best interests, yet sometimes, it’s best to know when to call it quits. Here are a few warning signs that should alert you that something is wrong with your relationship with your investment professional:

• Your broker does not return your phone calls.
• The transactions on your statements don't make sense to you.
• Your account statements include transactions you did not authorize.

A certain amount of clutter is part of childhood. It’s an artifact of the speed of children’s development and the range of their thoughts and ideas. Trying to keep children too neat squelches creativity and limits intellectual growth. So an obsession with neatness, if that’s your issue, is your issue. Concentrate on keeping things in hand, not with apple-pie-order.

Luxury Portfolio International
has issued a white paper on "The Emotional Role of Home," created to bring its member firms a clearer understanding of today's high-net-worth Americans

in an effort to best serve this discerning luxury clientele.

(MCT)-Q: I had anise bread in the freezer compartment of a refrigerator in my garage. The freezer stopped working when it got cold, and the bread thawed. Now I can't get the anise odor out of the refrigerator and freezer. Do you have any suggestions?

Sotheby's International Realty Affiliates LLC has announced the launch of an exclusive program with global design icon Giorgio Armani's furnishings and interior design brand, Armani/Casa, to promote its services among Sotheby's International Realty
clients.

According to the company, the program provides Sotheby's International Realty affiliates with the opportunity to introduce their clients to Armani/Casa Interior Design Studio's services for luxury private residences and real estate projects.