January's home resales moved to a 20-month high -- additional evidence that the nation's housing recovery is underway. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the January 2012 Existing Home Sales showed 4.57 million units sold last month on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis -- a 4 percent increase as compared to December's revised figures. An "existing home" is one that's been previously occupied and cannot be categorized as new construction. Beyond the headline numbers, though, there was plenty about which for today's North...continue reading...

Foreclosure filings fell 19 percent last month versus one year ago, says foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac. It's yet one more signal that the U.S. housing market may have already climbed off its bottom. According to RealtyTrac, a "foreclosure filing" is any one of the following foreclosure-related events : (1) A default notice on a home; (2) A scheduled auction for a home; or, (3) A bank repossession of a home. In looking at the January 2012 figures : Default Notices were down 22% from January 2011 Scheduled...continue reading...

How clean are the fruits and vegetables you eat? Unless you pick your food straight from the farm, your food is likely more dirty than you think. In addition to pesticide treatment made while food is still "on the vine", fruits and vegetables you buy at a grocery are often coated in wax to preserve their "shelf life"; and you can never know how much dirt your food has rolled in. Even organic foods are handled multiple times on the way to...continue reading...

New construction buyers in San Diego , look out. The nation's home builders are predicting a strong 2012 for new home sales. It may mean higher home prices as the spring buying season approaches. For the sixth straight month, the National Association of Homebuilders reports that homebuilder confidence is on the rise. The Housing Market Index climbed four points to 29 in February, the index's highest reading since May 2007. The Housing Market Index is now up 8 points in 8 weeks....continue reading...