GMAC

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The extension and expansion of the existing homebuyer tax credit programs are positive steps for the nation's residential real estate market, says Ron Peltier, Chairman and CEO of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and the nation's second-largest independent residential real estate brokerage (www.homeservices.com). The existing homebuyer tax credit program, which has been in effect since January 2009, provides up to $8,000 in tax credits for individuals purchasing their first home, as well as for those who have not owned a home for three years has been extended into ...

Statewide Median Price at $165,000 SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The first-time buyer tax credit built third-quarter momentum as home sales marked the first positive year-over-year increase in more than three years while price declines moderated but continued to be influenced by entry-level and distressed sales, according to the Illinois Association of REALTORS(R) (IAR). Statewide home sales (which include single-family and condominiums) totaled 32,460, up 0.3 percent from 32,358 home sales in the third quarter of 2008. The third quarter median home sale price was $165,000, down 12.9 percent from $189,500 in the third quarter of 2008. The median is a typical market price where half the homes sold for more, half sold for less. "Illinois' strong third quarter home sales data is a compelling indicator for the importance of the extension and expansion of the federal homebuyer tax credit," said REALTOR(R) Mike Onorato, president of the Illinois Association of ...

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The following is a comprehensive list of Fitch Ratings' 74 Latin America National scale rating changes for the month of October 2009, which include: upgrades, downgrades, Rating Outlook and Rating Watch revisions, and withdrawn ratings. These rating changes were previously announced via separate press releases in Spanish or Portuguese. Fitch has upgraded the following National ratings: AES Tiete (Brasil) --National long-term rating to 'A+(bra)' from 'A(bra)'; ...

SEATTLE, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- DepotPoint, Inc., today announced that James G. Jones, with 35 years of management experience in banking, consumer lending, payment processing and related financial services, has joined the company's Board of Directors. DepotPoint (http://www.DepotPoint.com) delivers default management workflow-centered mortgage loan servicing solutions through custom configuration and rapid deployment of the company's TrackPoint platform. "Jim is a highly seasoned executive with indepth knowledge of mortgage lending and servicing. He knows the business inside-out, and will be extremely helpful in guiding our company as we ...

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Rollins MBA at the Crummer Graduate School of Business today announced the findings of research which measured the value of an MBA degree for those with and without pre-MBA work experience. The study investigated the economic benefits and costs associated with choosing to delay matriculation to a full-time MBA program to gain work experience, rather than enrolling immediately after completion of undergraduate studies. It concluded that there is a financial disadvantage to delaying matriculation into a full-time MBA program. While students who have less work experience had lower starting ...