Foyer: A foyer in a commercial building such as a theatre is a large gathering space next to the main auditorium or seating area. This would be the area commonly occupied during intermission for instance. In a house, a foyer is generally the front entry area where guests arrive.

Two bills designed to address some of the problems resulting from the economic crisis have been signed by President Obama. The first deals with mortgage fraud and the other with helping families who are involved in a foreclosure situation save their homes.

Escrow is a way of keeping an amount of money safe while a legal transaction is going on. It's like having someone that both you and the buyer both trust hold on to payment for merchandise or services while the actual changing of hands takes place; in this case, the trustworthy helper is an account held by a broker. Escrow helps reduce the likelihood that either of the parties involved in the transaction will get scammed.

Finally, a reform bill that puts the responsibility where it belongs - back in the lap of the lender. By toughening some of the old rules, and adding rules that should have been there in the first place, this bill makes the lender more accountable when it comes to negotiating a mortgage.

Are you owner of a "Crackberry" or are you considering adding this powerful little tool to your real estate arsenal? The BlackBerry is a SmartPhone that seems virtually designed for the busy broker, Realtor and agent, with plenty of customizable features and support for downloadable applications that can make your life a lot easier while you're on the road.

According to the Fair Housing Act, discriminatory practices include several behaviors, such as representing "to any person because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin that any dwelling is not available for inspection, sale, or rental when such dwelling is in fact so available."

The effects of the bail out strategy may finally filter down to American homeowners. President Obama's recent conference in Phoenix outlined a plan for providing relief to millions of people facing a home foreclosure, stabilizing the housing market and possibly driving down interest rates.

Add to this mix, greedy money lenders offering low introductory interest rates (only to spike in a few years), and resulting in too many people owning homes they can't afford. The demand for real estate begins to decrease, inventory rises, and eventually home prices drop. Sound familiar?

Consulting a professional is the best idea. Good pros to approach are your tax consultant or an IRS representative. These people can point you to resources that you can use to find more about property improvement claims. The IRS website at irs.gov also has some good information for the home.

If you're buying property, you should be looking at schools and commutes before you buy. More homebuyers are basing their buying decisions not only on the actual property, but on the neighborhood where it is located. There's a very simple reason for this: the total cost of living in your home is not just about the total price of your home and mortgage. The cost of actually getting places from your home is also an important consideration, especially now, with gas prices rising.