feature1_title = "";
feature1_headline = "Builders Thinking Smarter";
feature1_subheadline = "The 2010 International Builders Show puts the spotlight on practical, smaller-footprint homes";
feature1_author = "Erik J. Martin";
feature1_excerpt = " Home building activity may be down, but confidence among builders is heading up, judging by the mood and words of recent attendees of the 2010 International Builders Show held in Las Vegas. And that\'s good news for homebuyers, who industry experts say can look forward to a number of shifting trends that should positively impact the housing market. \"There was a renewed sense of optimism noted by everyone at the show,\" says Fernando Pages, a Lincoln, Neb.-based builder and regular IBS attendee. \"...";
feature1_date = "2010-03-09";
feature1_banner = "http://content.contentthatworks.com/images_articles/2010/realestate/realestate_20100309_builders_banner.jpg";
feature1_thumbnail = "";

qa_title = "";
qa_headline = "Loan App Costs: Who\'s Culpable?";
qa_subheadline = "";
qa_author = "Peter G. Miller";
qa_excerpt = " Our daughter and son-in-law bought a home last year for cash. They now want to refinance, but the lender rejected their application because of a surveying error from when they purchased. Who is responsible for the lost loan application costs? Most likely if you have title insurance - and whether you buy for cash or finance you should have title insurance - it will not cover a surveying error. As the Texas Department of Insurance explains, \"Title insurance generally does not protect against boun...";
qa_date = "2010-03-09";
qa_banner = "";
qa_thumbnail = "";

feature2_title = "";
feature2_headline = "Claiming Your Credit";
feature2_subheadline = "If you\'re one of the millions of Americans who have taken advantage of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, now is actually the time (read: tax season) to see your credit come to life. Claiming the credit is simple.";
feature2_author = "";
feature2_excerpt = " 1. Complete IRS Form 5405 to determine your credit amount. Download one at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5405.pdf (Note that although the form is titled \"First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit\" it is the correct form for both the $8,000 first-time buyer credit and the $6,500 repeat buyer credit.)  2. Claim your credit amount on line 67 of the 1040 income tax form for 2009 returns. 3. Buyers also must attach a copy of their HUD-1 settlement form (closing statement) to Form 5405 as proof of the comple...";
feature2_date = "2010-03-09";
feature2_banner = "http://content.contentthatworks.com/images_articles/2010/realestate/realestate_20100309_tax_banner.jpg";
feature2_thumbnail = "";

Stat_title = "";
Stat_headline = "$570 - $880";
Stat_subheadline = "";
Stat_author = "";
Stat_excerpt = " The average nightly fee for a three-bedroom home being rented out in the Vancouver area during the Winter Olympics. FYI: Similar-size properties fetch $140-$330 a night during the rest of the year Source: HomeAway.com";
Stat_date = "2010-03-09";
Stat_banner = "http://content.contentthatworks.com/images_articles/2010/realestate/realestate_20100309_statgold_banner.jpg";
Stat_thumbnail = "";