<< Return to Real Estate News main menu WASHINGTON POST REALTY NEWS A common-sense way to mend the draconian appraisal process If federal regulators are truly concerned about the quality and independence of home appraisals - a cornerstone of sound mortgage lending - why don't they simply prohibit appraisers from learning the contract price before they perform their assessment of a home's value? D.C. newcomers searching for their dream home might get a few wake-up calls Anyone who has searched for a home in the District, for convenient parking - or even for a bar stool during happy hour - may have sensed what census statistics confirm: There are a lot of newcomers around town. And these newcomers - and their housing wish lists - are helping reshape the city's ne... House may kill Obama's foreclosure-prevention programs The Obama administration's main initiative to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure could soon be killed in the House, where many Republican lawmakers have complained about the program's lackluster results. For the best refinancing deal, do your homework Q. My wife and I are thinking about refinancing our house. We are considering using a particular mortgage broker, but they have had a number of complaints with the Better Business Bureau and have a B rating. So how do we decide whether we should refinance with them? Mortgage rates continue to fall The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages slipped to 4.87 percent from 4.95 percent this week, according to Freddie Mac. How to install piping for a central vac system Installing the piping for a central vac system in an average-size new house usually takes part of a day. The pipe glues together with regular PVC cement. You can cut the thin piping with a simple hacksaw, making sure you remove any burrs from the cut ends of the pipe. Burrs can grab onto hair and... Jenn Davis Telephone 415.351.4694 Mobile 415.812.2340 Contact Jenn

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