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	<title>Houston North</title>
	<link>http://www.houstonicon.com</link>
	<description>Real Estate market trends, analysis &#38; commentary, investment strategies &#38; opportunities, local community info, and new construction close-out shouts - based in North Houston.</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 27 Feb 2010 07:02:40 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Condominium Financing Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Policies, procedures, panic…OH MY! Following the 2009&#8217;s overcompensation trend, financing just got a bit more complex in the condominium market. Or, should I say condominium catastrophe?!?   In this week’s entry, we will focus on the new hurdles that stand between a mortgage team (buyer and mortgage professional) and the prize: mortgage financing for [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/find/home-buying/708/condominium-financing-update</link>
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		<title>Do You Qualify For The Home Buyer Tax Credit?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The 2010 home buyer credit is great news for both first-time buyers and repeat home buyers, and it's in effect until June 30th, 2010. The full credit for repeat buyers is $6,500, while the first-time buyer credit is available at $8,000. This incentive is a legitimate credit (not a deduction), and it does not have to be paid back. Find out what it is, how it works, and if you qualify.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/find/home-buying/692/do-i-qualify-for-the-home-buyer-tax-credit</link>
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		<title>Hope for Home Values?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Legislation proposes an 18-month break from the new HVCC appraisal policy
Thanks to Mississippi Rep. Travis Childers (D) and California Rep. Gary Miller (R) for introducing a bill that would suspend the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) &#8212; a new federal policy that encourages ultra-conservative appraisals and disconnects appraisers from local Realtors and mortgage brokers. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/sell/home-sales-blog/573/hope-for-home-values</link>
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		<title>New Homes Market Insight: Builder Price Reductions</title>
		<description><![CDATA[New Home Buyers: Houston Home Builders are offering price discounts of 5% to 30% this summer! Sound ridiculous? It's the reality of the 2009 New Homes Market in Houston. Find out how we got here, what to expect, and how to find the best deals.<!-- ckey='2C9BFFA3' -->]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/find/home-buying/472/new-homes-market-insight-builder-price-reductions</link>
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		<title>Houston Area Year End 2008 Housing Market Report</title>
		<description><![CDATA[According to Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR) For the full-year 2008 Houston housing market, the numbers showed mixed results. There was a 17.3 percent decline in volume of total property sales and total dollar volume tumbled 15.9 percent, which matched the market’s 2005 full-year total dollar volume. However the average sales price for a single [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/real-estate-market-insight/252/houston-real-estate-statistics-2008</link>
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		<title>Houston Real Estate Market report, December 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Property sales throughout the greater Houston area ended 2008 as they began, with lower volume following two consecutive record years. Overall property sales fell 16.0 percent last month when compared to December 2007, and sales of single-family homes were down 13.5 percent, according to new monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR). [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/real-estate-market-insight/250/houston-real-estate-market-performance-2008</link>
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		<title>Mortgage Rates Drop! What Does it Really Mean for Home Buyers?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Mortgage rates drop by a full 1% since early November. What does that translate to for home buyers? Just about a 10% reduction in monthly mortgage obligation. Or for some buyers, it means they can afford to finance around 11% more home. Take a look at the real implications of the recent rate drop. 8J4AMQJU4W8E]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/find/home-buying/208/houston-real-estate-interest-rate-trends</link>
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		<title>Foreclosure Auction Opportunity Houston Area!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have stumbled upon a unique opportunity for our investors. If you have ever wondered how a foreclosure auction works read on and if possible join us at the Hilton Houston Westchase, Saturday December 20th, 1pm. The auction is being hosted by Hudson &#38; Marshall. From what I can tell there will be approximately 100-125+ [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/invest/houston-investment-property/202/houston-real-estate-foreclosure-investment</link>
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		<title>Houston Real Estate Market Report, October 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Houston housing market continued to feel the effects of the troubled national economy in October and residual business interruptions caused by Hurricane Ike. New monthly data released by the Houston Association of REALTORS®  (HAR) reflects improvement from market performance in September, when Ike derailed thousands of real estate transactions. However, the number of property [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/real-estate-market-insight/199/houston-real-estate-market-performance-2008-2</link>
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		<title>6 Step Home Selling Process&#8230;A Guide to Selling Your Home.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Choosing an Agent
Buying and selling a home is one of the most important decisions of your life. The first thing to do is to find a REALTOR® you can trust.
Icon Realty agents are all full time, experienced agents that have made a decision to align themselves with a growing, innovative real estate company. Our family [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/sell/home-sales-blog/178/houston-realtor-home-selling-process</link>
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		<title>Houston Real Estate Market Report, September 2008</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For the thirteenth consecutive month, the Houston Real Estate Market shows a rise in home prices despite a decline in the number of homes sold.
Despite Hurricane Ike’s rampage, the month of September brought Houston’s overall housing market mixed results when considering all listing categories. Total property sales and total dollar volume fell, however average and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/real-estate-market-insight/143/houston-real-estate-market-2008</link>
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		<title>Houston Area Investment Type Analysis in a Down Market</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had discussions with a few investors here recently who are looking to sink their money into something a little more lucrative then our weakening stock market. I&#8217;ve decided to write a post to inform others who may be thinking of investing here locally in the Houston area real estate market. If you are looking [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/invest/houston-investment-property/159/houston-real-estate-investment-analysis</link>
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		<title>The Mysterious Short Sale Explained</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Short sale transactions are now a major piece of the Real Estate puzzle. In this post I explain the basics and share some insight from my own experiences.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/invest/houston-investment-property/152/houston-short-sales</link>
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		<title>The Big Foreclosure Picture - Nationwide Detail</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Foreclosures, subprime loans, and unemployment interactions across the nation.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/real-estate-market-insight/151/nationwide-foreclosure-trends</link>
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		<title>Explaining The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008&#8217;s $7500 Tax Credit &#8220;In Layman&#8217;s Terms&#8221;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Many of you reading this may be familiar with the recent passing of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.  You may click here to read my previous blog posting to get a basic understanding of how this newly passed law effects you. One of the major provisions provides a $7,500 tax credit to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/find/home-buying/147/first-time-home-buyer-tax-credit</link>
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		<title>Employment in The Woodlands, Texas</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Woodlands, Texas is home to 1,500+ employers. Learn about the major players, and view them on the map.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/the-woodlands/144/houston-relocation-employment-in-the-woodlands</link>
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		<title>Hurricane Ike Update</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Power for The Woodlands, Conroe?
Entergy posts estimates for Ike power restoration: The Woodlands - 9/25/08, Conroe - 9/29/08.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/the-woodlands/142/hurricane-ike-update</link>
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		<title>The Woodlands Villages Map</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Woodlands Villages
View Larger Map
]]></description>
		<link>http://www.houstonicon.com/the-woodlands/92/the-woodlands-villages-map</link>
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