Fixed-Rate Mortgage Rates Flat This Week

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.37 percent, with an average 0.6 point, for the week ending November 17, 2005, up very slightly from last week's average of 6.36 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.74 percent.Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20051118_rates.htm

Pro-consumer Mortgage Rate-Quote Pricing Alert Reform Bottled up at Federal Agencies

A new notification to home mortgage applicants, alerting them to higher rate quotes triggered by their credit bureau data, is still bottled up at two federal agencies, 23 months after Congress mandated development of "risk-based pricing" notification program. Consumer groups upset by the delay. FTC has no target deadline for implementation. Ken Harney reports.Full Story: http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20051121_ratequote.htm

Why Congress Is Fighting The Supreme Court

This summer the Supreme Court ruled that government could take your home to benefit someone else. Efforts to effectively overturn the Kelo decision are now underway in Washington. Peter G. Miller comments.Full Story:

http://realtytimes.com/rtcpages/20051115_congressfighting.htm

Tax reformers target mortgage interest and property tax deductions

presidential panel charged with simplifying the U.S. Tax Code has issued a series of bold recommendations that include the reduction or elimination of a number of existing tax incentives to home ownership. Among the most significant revisions proposed by the President Bush’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform are the conversion of the mortgage interest deduction into a tax credit and elimination of the deduction for state and local property taxes. As part of its plan, the tax panel also has recommended the repeal of the alternative minimum tax and new limits on charitable deductions to contributions above 1 percent of income.
http://www.marealtor.com/secure/components/inNewsLetter/letter/preview.asp?site_id=&newsletter_id=106&tm=11/8/2005%2B6:41:59%2BPM&fromFrontEnd=yes#887

New law requires carbon monoxide detectors in Bay State homes

Under new legislation signed into law last week by Gov. Mitt Romney, Massachusetts has become the ninth state in the U.S. to require carbon monoxide detectors for residential dwellings.

http://www.marealtor.com/secure/components/inNewsLetter/letter/preview.asp?site_id=&newsletter_id=106&tm=11/8/2005%2B6:41:59%2BPM&fromFrontEnd=yes#886

Flu clinics Town of Barnstable

http://www.town.barnstable.ma.us/Health/FluClinic.asp