I am selling some real estate and now need to stop the sale. As the seller can I stop the sale? We are in the option period right now.

Foreclosures continue to rise across America. According to the latest annual report of http://Foreclosures.com, the number of foreclosures filed nationwide in 2006 had increased by 51 percent from the previous year, with foreclosure filings nearly topping one million. When compared to 641,000 foreclosure filings made in 2005 nationwide, almost 971,000 foreclosure filings were reported last year.
Among the States, California reported the highest number of foreclosure filings in 2006 with 157,417 foreclosures filed, which is an increase by 94 percent from the year before. California is followed by Florida with 120,989 foreclosure filings. Nevada struggled with the largest percentage increase in foreclosures in 2006 of 175 percent.
The Northeast region reported 96,101 foreclosures in 2006, an increase of 64.6 percent from 58,394 foreclosures filed in 2005. Still, a few states in the region, such as Maryland and Delaware, saw a decrease in foreclosure filings.
Foreclosure filings in the Midwest region of the nation went up beyond 70 percent with many states including Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska facing increases of 80 to 96 percent. Industrial layoffs and a tough economy have spurted the number of foreclosure filings in this region, with foreclosure figures in states such as Iowa and Kansas increasing beyond 100 percent.
The Southwest region was the most affected with one out of every 2.2 foreclosures in the country taking place there. The region closed the books for 2006 with an increase of 37 percent from 162,259 foreclosures in 2005 to 220,189 foreclosures. Foreclosure filings in Colorado increased by 55.4 percent, while foreclosures in Texas increased by 35.2 percent. Although the region struggled with the high foreclosure rates, the figures are not all bleak for the region with a few states showing a decrease in foreclosure filings. Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Oregon reported fewer foreclosure filings in 2006 when compared to 2005. These states have particularly reported a drop in foreclosure filings in the last quarter of 2006.
Although the foreclosure reports are not very cheerful, Alexis McGee, president of http://Foreclosures.com anticipates the housing market to improve soon. Overextended homeowners, who have been struggling to keep up with heavy debt loads, rising interest rates and property taxes, can soon look forward to some relief as home inventories come down and the market start looking up again. McGee also adds that the current housing market may be the best opportunity for home buyers in the next six years.

Green homes are eco-friendly homes that are energy efficient and use ecological design and sustainable resources. There has been a tremendous increase in awareness of the benefits of green building in America among builders and home owners alike. With home builders finding it easier to construct green homes, the number of green homes constructed throughout the country has gone up remarkably.
Ecological concerns and the increasing awareness of the advantages of green homes have led to an upsurge in green homes in the country. Concerns about the impact their homes have on the environment have prompted some homebuyers to opt for green homes.
Building green homes is no longer a remote concept these days. Over disturbing facts about global warming and indoor air pollution, today, the top priority of the National Home Builders Association and the American Institute of Architects is constructing green buildings.
There is sufficient data around that indicate that the building of green homes is on the rise. According to the figures provided by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (who developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system), the number of buildings with LEED status in America has increased from 38 in 2002 to 669 now. Green buildings are progressively entering the mainstream with more and more buildings getting LEED certification.
Given that green buildings do not cost very much more than traditional buildings, and that they actually reduce energy bills, the building of green homes is on the rise. A green building is not only less expensive to live in but also spikes in value by 7.5 percent on average and improves return on investment by 6.6 percent on average.
Green building concepts begin to rise everywhere as the number of individuals who want to remodel, build or buy green homes are rapidly increasing. Architects and developers are responding to satisfy this growing demand. Green buildings have been found to appreciate faster than traditional buildings.
What was once a patchwork of green buildings in several cities has now increased to encompass whole communities and neighborhoods. According to a McGraw-Hill Construction survey in 2006, about two-thirds of builders would be building green homes in America this year. Green buildings are firmly mainstream now with federal government and 15 states requiring new public buildings to meet the LEED standards. In fact, four U.S. states and 17 cities offer incentives for private buildings built to LEED standards.
With rising government initiatives, consumer interest and the number of green developers and builders, the green building revolution is all set to go to a new level.

If you are looking for the best golf community living in San Diego County, check out these top ten golf communities that are the best in sunny Southern California, according to Golf Community Realty. These exclusive gated golfing communities offer the most suitable lifestyle for golf lovers and have been chosen based on the homes available and the amenities they offer. All ten communities enjoy the exquisite Californian weather year round and are the ultimate golf areas in San Diego County.
1. Pauma Valley C.C., Pauma Valley
This golf community offers a magnificent golf course, 24-hr gate-guarded entrance, clubhouse, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a long private airstrip. Resale condos begin from the low $400s while single family homes start from $575,000.
2. Aviara Golf Club, No. San Diego County
The golf community boasts of a very picturesque resort, the Arnold Palmer Signature golf course and proximity to the Pacific Ocean beaches. The resort’s master planned housing area consists of executive homes and custom homes. Also available are numerous villas that skirt the golf course.
3. Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Fe
This golf community is known for its award-winning villas that are available on the resale market from time to time. Custom-appointed homes begin from the mid $2 millions. Custom estate homesites and estate-sized homes are also available.
4. The Crosby Estate, Rancho Santa Fe
The Crosby Estate is home to the Crosby National Golf Club and beautiful homes with breathtaking views that include semi-custom homes, golf villas, and custom homesites. Also available are a clubhouse, a swim and athletic club, tennis garden, etc.
5. Encinitas Ranch, Encinitas
The Encinitas Ranch Golf Course offers 18 championship holes amidst a stunning natural scenario. Elegant executive homes line the golf course and are available from $895,000.
6. Golf Club of California, Fallbrook
This private golf club offers an 18-hole championship golf course, a charming clubhouse, a business center and more. Homes start from $895,000 and most of them offer wonderful views.
7. Maderas C.C., Poway
This Poway golf community offers a magnificent location, a top ranking 18-hole golf course and several custom homes that are available from 1,175,000.
8. Pala Mesa Resort, Fallbrook
The resort community offers a beautiful 4-star rating golf course, tennis club, swimming pool and a host of other amenities. Condos around the golf course start at $279,000 and other homes in the area begin at $650,000.
9. Santaluz, No. San Diego County
This is a private club with a championship golf course. Homes include single story homes of the Santa Barbara styled casitas and large custom homes. There are plenty of custom homesites too.
10. Village of Rancho Santa Fe
“The Village” of Rancho Santa Fe offers several championship golf courses and other amenities such as tennis courts, a riding club, etc. Homes in this area consist of custom homes, luxurious ranches and large estate homes.

Top 10 Luxury Home Markets To Watch for Price Increases or Reductions
The Unique Homes Magazine has listed 25 luxury home markets to watch in 2007 in its January issue. According to the Unique Homes report the 25 luxury markets will indicate where the luxury real estate market is heading to. These markets along with features that make them stand out from the rest are worth watching out for.
The following is a brief report on the top 10 luxury home markets to watch for price increases or reductions in 2007.
1. Annapolis, Maryland. The waterfront city located on Chesapeake Bay offers excellent boating and affordable prices compared to Washington’s luxury enclaves. With Washington and Baltimore within reasonable commute, this city is highly desirable.
2. Asheville, North Carolina. An eclectic ambiance and low-key lifestyle attracts people to Asheville which continues to remain one of the hottest places for luxury home buyers.
3. Aspen, Colorado. From a ski enclave this luxury market has grown into a platinum location. With its four-season appeal and restrictive zoning policies, Aspen is still a highly-sought after destination.
4. Atlanta, Georgia. The city offers several new upscale communities, numerous lifestyle amenities, retreats and much sought after waterfront luxury homes.
5. Austin, Texas. A strong real estate market that saw record gains in 2006, the reputable University of Texas, the scenic lakes and the great music attracts buyers to this hill country.
6. Bellevue/Medina, Washington. With prices going up at 28 percent, the market has still not peaked and several upscale neighborhoods are available at a lower price range when compared to other markets.
7. Beverly Hills, California. One of the top ranked luxury markets that is perpetually in demand, Beverly Hills continues to be untarnished and idolized as the Mecca for luxury. Hollywood Hills is currently a hot market for buyers.
8. Idaho. The growing resort markets in the state garner attention for the state that is making its presence felt in the luxury home market.
9. Jupiter, Florida. The boom has arrived here after Tiger Woods’ purchase of a 10-acre estate for $38 m. The market continues to surge on this exclusive island.
10. Manhattan Uptown, downtown, midtown. The luxury market is upbeat with record sales of more than $5 m in 2006 accelerated by Wall Streeters. Co-ops and town houses are favorites among buyers here.
If you are interested in buying or selling a home, condo or any other type of real estate in any of these markets, be sure to seek out the services of a real estate agent to advise you about current local market conditions.

Now seems to be the best time to invest in properties in college towns where housing demand is high due to a soaring rental market according to the New rules of real estate by Business 2.0 Magazine. With home prices still out of home buyer’s range, and homeowners selling their homes due to rising interest rates, rents are expected to increase nationwide. This makes buying investment property in rental markets such as college towns an attractive option, one that is already being pursued by investors. Rents are expected to rise by 5 % by the end of this year according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and investors are looking at college towns with increased interest.
There are two major reasons why it is prudent to buy investment property in college towns now. When compared with other rental markets, the rentals in apartment buildings in college towns are much stronger and hence more profitable. This has been augmented by the fact that apartment buildings in college towns are fewer in number. This demand for apartment buildings has also increased due to the rising admissions in colleges mostly from the Gen Y or the echo boomers, which has further increased the asking rates in the college town rental markets. These properties have a low vacancy rate, especially in buildings located near the campuses. Investors in commercial apartment buildings also get to increase their rent with the mounting demand making such investment a highly profitable venture.
So if you are a prospective landlord who has decided to encash this favorable situation, then you can start with choosing the college town that has the lowest ratio of university-owned beds to the student population. As Michael Zaransky, co-founder of Prime Property Investors in Chicago says, prospective investors would do well to pick the college towns that have the ratio of university-owned beds to students at 30 % or lower. One should also look into colleges that propose to expand their student ranks by 2 or 3 % every year.
Investors should also need to take into consideration the disadvantages involved in owning commercial apartment buildings in college towns. The business could be trying sometimes, and involves risks with college policies liable to changes and the difficulty involved in predicting volatile student demand. However, considering the high rate of returns that the investment has to offer, the pros seem to far outnumber the cons making buying investment property in college towns a smart option.

The foreclosure market is an attractive option for buyers wanting to invest in real estate. A foreclosed property is a mortgaged property that has been taken over by the lender due to non-payment of the mortgage. The lender then sells the property in order to recover the money, often at below market prices. Foreclosed homes, condos and other properties can for make excellent investments and is a popular choice for those entering the real estate market.
The October 2006 issue of Business 2.0 Magazine ranks the top 10 foreclosure markets in the United States. Greeley in Colorado tops the list followed by Detroit in Michigan, Miami in Florida, Indianapolis in Indiana, Ft. Lauderdale in Florida, Denver in Colorado, Dayton in Ohio, Dallas and Fort Worth in Texas, and Atlanta in Georgia.
Greeley, CO, has the largest number of foreclosure households in the country, with 0.59% of homes falling in the category, an increase by 14.7% since January 2006. The report holds aggressive residential development, risky underwriting practices and stagnant wages as the main causes.
Detroit, MI, stands next with 0.51% of the households in foreclosure. The badly performing auto industry and the resulting impact to autoworkers’ incomes has contributed to number of homes in foreclosure in this city.
Third on the list is Miami, FL, where 0.37% of the households are in foreclosure, a staggering 91% increase since January 2006. The report states a weakening economy, higher property insurance premiums, and rising energy and interest rates, as the reasons for this rapid increase.
The fourth among the top ten foreclosure markets is Indianapolis, IN. Although the foreclosure rates are slightly lower from last year, still the portion of households in foreclosure stands at 0.35%. Setbacks and layoffs in the city’s auto industry together with falling home prices have contributed to foreclosure rates in this city.
Fort Lauderdale, FL, stands fifth with 0.34% of households entering foreclosure, which is up by a whopping 118.5% since January 2006.
Denver (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dayton (with 0.33% of households in foreclosure), Dallas (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures), Fort Worth (with 0.31% of households in foreclosure) and Atlanta (with 0.31% of households in foreclosures) round out the top 10 foreclosure markets.
If you are looking to invest in the foreclosure market, consult a real estate agent who can help you clinch the best deal on the foreclosure property of your choice.

In many parts of the country, home prices doubled during the period from 2000 to 2005. During this same time, creative financing programs (e.g. zero down payment, adjustable rate loans, interest only loans, option ARMs loans, negative amortization loans, etc.) gained popularity and helped some people buy homes who would not normally qualify based on their income, debt level and credit history.
Most real estate markets are now cooling, and some are even experiencing declining prices. In times of dropping real estate prices, the amount owed on a loan by some homeowners may actually exceed the value of a property. If homeowners cannot make their monthly mortgage payment, there is a potential for default on the loan and foreclosure of the property by the lender.
The term “short sales” is used to describe a situation in which a homeowner is at risk of defaulting on their loan, and the lender agrees to sell the property below the original appraisal price in order to avoid foreclosure. Most lenders do not readily agree to short sales, although exceptional circumstances such as a homeowner losing his/her job or the death of a wage-earning spouse may make some of them more open to doing so.
If a property is sold as a short sale, the lender recoups at least a portion of the original loan amount, the homeowner avoids the stress and stigma of foreclosure, and the new homebuyer gets a property below its original appraisal price. If a short sale doesn’t work, then the property usually goes into foreclosure.
Short sales may be an emerging trend as the rate of foreclosure is rising dramatically across the nation. According to Business 2.0 Magazine, the top 10 foreclosures markets are:
1. Greeley, CO
2. Detroit, MI
3. Miami, FL
4. Indianapolis, IN
5. Fort Lauderdale, FL
6. Denver, CO
7.Dayton, OH
8.Dallas, TX
9.Fort Worth, TX
10.Atlanta, GA
The credit of homeowners may be impacted after a short sale, but it all depends on how the lender reports the outcome. Some lenders report a partial loan repayment as full payment of the debt due, which does not adversely impact the credit of the borrowers. Other lenders report the sale as “settled,” which adversely and significantly impacts the borrower’s credit. The other problem is that the portion of the loan amount forgiven by the lender may actually count as taxable income by the IRS.
In summary, a successful short sale has some potential positive benefits (e.g., homeowners avoid foreclosure, lenders recoup at least a portion of the loan amount, new homebuyers gets a property at below the original appraisal price, etc), but there are also many negative consequences. Some of these potential negative consequences include: the negative impact on borrower’s credit, negative impact on the value of other similar homes in the neighborhood, and that the amount forgiven by the lender may be taxable event. Homeowners having difficulty making their monthly mortgage payment may benefit from talking to a real estate agent who is experienced in short sales.

In its 4th quarter report of 2006, the real estate information site estimates the home value trends for the U.S. and 75 metropolitan areas. According to the data from http://Zillow.com, home values are now declining slightly on a year-over-year basis for the first time in a decade after years of appreciation.
Zillow’s home value data goes back to 1997 and reveals the depreciation of home value rates at 0.48 % year-over-year at the national level. The depreciation in home value every quarter is at 4.77 %. Zillow’s appreciation rate is based on the value of all homes in an area, including those that were sold.
Although there is a fall in the over-all home price growth, areas such as Seattle and Portland are experiencing a surge in home values at good appreciation rates. Besides national home values, the report also presents comprehensive data on local market price growth and decline in 75 metropolitan areas. The Zillow report gives detailed data on home value changes for counties, cities, neighborhoods and ZIP codes in U.S.A.
The top 5 metro areas with the highest price growth, year-over-year, are:
1. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida, with an appreciation rate of 25.88 %
2. Yuma, Arizona, with an appreciation rate of 25.66 %
3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with an appreciation rate of 21.24 %
4. Flagstaff, Arizona, with an appreciation rate of 19.02 %
5. Ocala, Florida with an appreciation rate of 17.56 %
The 5 metropolitan areas that have the most declining home values, year-over-year, are:
1. Panama City, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 11.84 %
2. San Luis Obispo-Atascadero-Paso Robles, California, with a depreciation rate of 11.35 %
3. Punta Gorda, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 9.23 %
4. Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida, with a depreciation rate of 8.99 %
5. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina, with a depreciation rate of 8.73 %
The Zillow national report also includes the top five most expensive and least expensive metro areas measured by the Zindex home value indicator.
The top 5 metro areas that are most expensive are:
1. San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California at $684,459
2. Salinas, California at $654,503
3. Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, California at $627,323
4. Honolulu, Hawaii at $626,452
5. Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, California at $545,409
The top 5 metro areas that are the least expensive are:
1. Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL at $86,201
2. Peoria-Pekin, Illinois at $91,984
3. Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson, South Carolina at $96,508
4. Tulsa, Oklahoma at $97,186
5. Dayton-Springfield, Ohio at $103,729
Even within these markets, there are hot and cold housing segments of the community. Be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent, who can advise you about local market conditions that impact the price of homes, condos and other types of real estate.

Women are working more, earning more and buying more than they ever did. Consequently, they have a significant influence on the American economy in general, and the real estate industry in particular.
The collective buying power of US women accounts for about 85 % of all consumer purchases. When it comes to purchasing patterns, women are estimated to make 94 % of home furnishings decisions, 91 % of new homes purchase decisions, and 89 % of travel decisions.
Women’s earnings have accelerated over the last few years and they have emerged as the Chief Purchasing Officers in their households. According to IRS data, women constitute 39 % of the top wealth holders in the country. This means about 2.5 million women possess a wealth of $4.2 trillion put together. Notably, the IRS estimates that by 2050, 42 % of these women will be single or widowed. The IRS further estimates that more wealth is bound to be accumulated among women.
Another growing trend that emerged in a December 2006 study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) was that about 22 % of homes purchased between July 2005 and June 2006 were by single women who were in the 25 to 34 age range. Women accounted for a record number of 1.76 million home purchases (1 in every 5 homes), a significant increase from 14 % a decade ago. Women’s growing success in their careers, higher education, financial independence and a desire to build an early nest on their own, are some of the reasons that have spearheaded this home buying trend.
Among the vast demographic spectrum in the real estate industry, women have become a force to reckon with. Real estate agents are increasingly taking note of their female clients and the power they wield in home buying decisions. By the influence that they bring into play in home buying decisions, women form a significant and growing market that simply cannot be ignored.
If you are considering buying a home, condo, or any other real estate, be sure to seek out the services of a local real estate agent to guide you through this complex process.