In a previous article, Estate Planning Implications of the Right of Publicity, 68 Tax Notes 95 (1995), I warned that celebrities (and their counsel) must carefully plan their estates in light of the inclusion of the value of rights of publicity for estate tax purposes under § 2033.

Homegrown Evolution published a very interesting real estate related story on one of the surprising benefits of the housing meltdown: fresh fruit. That’s right. The blog thanks Mr. Mozilo for creating our very own ‘Banana Republic’ as rundown homes and unmanned irrigation systems create the perfect environment for the growth of amazing tropical delights

The purchase of a home is a major financial commitment, and how best to safeguard your investment is something you have to consider. There are a range of insurance products currently available to make sure that your home and your family’s lifestyle are protected. However, before you can make an informed choice, it is important to take the time to look at all the possibilities of mortgage insurance options.

While some mortgage rates have been increasing in recent weeks, overall, interest rates are the lowest we have seen in a generation. Homeowners and first-time buyers getting a mortgage in the months ahead will likely enjoy a rate that will keep their borrowing costs low for the next few years.

A new law which took effect June 15, 2009 requires that banks in California give homeowners at least three months notice or attempt to renegotiate the existing loan before they can foreclose on the existing mortgage.

Falling yields on both mortgage securities and Treasuries are likely to push current mortgage rates lower in the coming weeks. Rates on 30-year FRMs fell to 5.52% on Monday after closing last week at 5.67% and 5.72% the previous week. Today's mortgage rates look to be stabilizing for now.

People who have difficulties with selling their homes can do a house swap. Usually we have heard vacationers doing house swap, but now it is done also by those people who can't sell their homes.

Unless homeowners, authorities and mortgage lenders do something to stop foreclosures in Oregon the state's foreclosure filings will pass beyond the mark of every house out of 525 being up for foreclosures. Oregon has had one of the highest foreclosure filings in the country, rates jumping to 89.8 percent since May 2008.

Premier SW Oklahoma Golf and Residential Community Home to Award-Winning Course

New hope for homeowner under the new Foreclosure Alternative Program (FAP) announced last month by the Obama Administration, permits troubled borrowers to deed their home back to the bank and walk away with a small amount of cash – commonly known as “cash for keys”.

The news agencies report the the U.S. Secretary of Treasury Tim Geithner is having serious difficulties for selling his house and has put it on a rent.

The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) estimates that one million new foreclosures have been filed so far in 2009. The news comes on the heels of the release of the first quarter 2009 National Delinquency Survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which reveals that 12 percent of all mortgages are now delinquent, the highest level in the 37 years the MBA has been measuring delinquency rates.