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Published on 09/02/1996 All articles from this issue

Real Estate Briefs

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Quicken software offers homeowner's insurance

Quicken's Financial Network Web site, http://www.qfn.com is providing an on-line service called Quicken InsureMarket that will link you to companies offering homeowner's insurance.

The new on-line service will provide consumers with rates and help buy actual policies through the new service. While some lines of insurance will be available right away on the web, auto and homeowner's policies will be available later this year.

California Department of Real Estate on-line

The California Department of Real Estate has set up a home page on the World Wide Web that gives consumers and real estate agents instant access to regulatory information.

With a modem, access to the internet and a few computer keystrokes, the public can retrieve laws, publications and regulator's phone numbers and e-mail addresses. This program will demonstrate how important the Web is in promoting consumer protection.

Congress plugs into on-line bank practices

Armed with video projectors and personal computers, the burgeoning on-line banking industry recently went to Capitol Hill to give Congress a taste of electronic checking, mortgages by modem and other futuristic banking practices.

Bank executives from around the country demonstrated current on-line banking technology to the U. S. House Subcommittee on Capital Markets.

The executives appeared under the auspices of the On-line Banking Association, a 6-month-old trade group based in Corte Madera. The group was asked by the subcommittee to prepare the presentations as the committee studies new regulations for new banking technology.

High-end homes appreciate in California

Money is being made on the stock market, and high-end real estate also seems to be benefiting from a new era of US. prosperity. Home values at the top end of the market have registered significant gains in the first quarter of 1996, according to TRW REDI Property Data, a nationwide real estate information company.

The top 10 percent single family and condominium sales in 24 metropolitan areas of the country have increased up to 11 percent. The metropolitan area showing the greatest increase was San Francisco, where values increased by more than 10.8 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago.

Real Estate education via satellite

Many Realtors pride themselves on keeping up with the latest trends in the industry as well as their advanced professional designations such as GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) and CRP (Certified Relocation Professional).

Keeping up with the latest trends, attending seminars and taking classes for credit usually involves driving to a distant location, enrolling fees and taking time off from attending to clients.

Enter the satellite television industry. First introduced in 1994, providers such as RETN (Real Estate Television Network) and RealNet are now beaming training programs and panel discussions to subscribers across North America. RETN and RealNet are available to anyone who subscribes.