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The ongoing turmoil in the financial markets is affecting the apartment sector, according to the National Multi Housing Council's (NMHC) latest Quarterly Survey. Overall apartment demand is holding up fairly well in the face of a sluggish economy, though there was a small decline in market tightness. Sales volume is down and both equity and debt capital are less available.

International real estate purchases in the U.S. continue to be a significant share of business for many Realtors(R), according to the 2008 National Association of Realtors(R) Profile of International Home Buying Activity.

An opportunity to open doors to global markets for southern U.S. food and agricultural product exporters was halted when trade negotiations deadlocked last week in Geneva.

Some improvement is projected for existing-home sales in the months ahead, with broader gains seen by the fourth quarter as buyers take advantage of new provisions provided through the recently passed housing stimulus bill, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors(R).

New Jersey taxpayers bear the heaviest state-local tax burden in 2008, and Alaskans have the lightest tax burden, according to a new report from the Tax Foundation.

Research firm Compass Intelligence shows the connection between the current economic crunch and business Information & Communications Technology (ICT) spending in the US in a new 5-part series of reports called, "Economy 2.0: New Challenges & Opportunities in Business ICT Spending."

Tumbling oil prices and a rebounding stock market appear to have placated Americans' economic jitters, resulting in a mid-summer halt in the downward spiral in consumer confidence that has persisted throughout 2008, according to the most recent results of the RBC CASH (Consumer Attitudes and Spending by Household) Index.

Mortgage rates posted a modest advance, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate increasing to 6.74 percent. According to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey of large lenders, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.38 discount and origination points.

According to the latest Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research studies conducted on the company's top-rated Web site, the vast majority (nearly 90 percent) of car shoppers say they are concerned about the future of our environment. Among the survey respondents, 80 percent believe that individuals should make lifestyle changes in order to reduce CO2 emissions. Furthermore, 75 percent of shoppers say they have made changes to further the betterment of the environment, with the top lifestyle changes mentioned being recycling (54 percent), cutting back on driving (46 percent) and purchasing a fuel-efficient car (31 percent).

More bank-based brokers are selling fee-based investment products these days. That's the good news for banks. The bad news is they still aren't selling enough.