Women in charge of home-buying process
     ( WASHINGTON ) – A Harvard study released by the Home Builders says women control 91 percent of home buying and remodeling decisions, suggesting there has never been a better time to court women as clients.
     The study, “The Trillion Dollar Woman,” notes that single women already are the second-largest demographic of new home buyers.
     Study author Tara Nicholle-Nelson said she wrote the book for women consumers, but says it should be useful for other real estate professionals as well.
     “Women hold the purse strings when it comes to these major home buying decisions, and this book will make them better educated, more confident consumers in the process,” she said. The study is available at:www.BuilderBooks.com for $24.95.

Women have more advanced degrees than men
     (WASHINGTON) – According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 33 percent of women age 25 to 29 have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 26 percent of men in the same age range.
     The Bureau also reported that adults with advanced degrees earn four times more than those with less than a high school diploma.
     Workers 18 and older with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree earned an average of $82,320 in 2006, while those with less than a high school diploma earned $20,873.

Most expensive blocks in America
     ( NEW YORK ) – Forbes Magazine and home data provider Reply.com have released a list of what they believe are the most expensive blocks in 10 of the nation’s largest cities. Here is the list:
     -- Boston , Louisburg Square on Beacon Hill .
     -- Chicago , between Willow , Howe, Burling, and Orchard streets.
     -- New York City , between Madison Avenue, Fifth Avenue , 70th St. , and 69th Streets.
     -- Dallas , Turtle Creek Boulevard, south of Lover's Lane.
     -- Houston , Willowick Road and Knollwood Street, south of the River Oaks Country Club.
     -- Los Angeles , where Carolwood Drive meets Hanover Dr., west of Angeles Drive .
     -- San Francisco , Broadway between Vallejo, Lyon, and Broderick.
     -- Seattle , Lake Washington Boulevard between East Denny Laine Place and Howell Place .
     -- Miami , Leucadendra Drive, north of Arvida Parkway .
     -- Washington , D.C. , Woodland Drive, N.W. , between McGill Terrace and Rock Creek Park .

Movers want to be close to family (and Hillary Clinton)
     (PARSIPPANY , N.J.) – An ERA Real Estate survey of homeowners age 50 and over indicates that 1 in 5 plan to move in the next five years, and 3 out of 4 believe it’s important to be near family members. The survey also found that if given a choice, most people would rather have Oprah than Donald Trump as their agent, and they’d prefer Hillary Clinton as a neighbor over Rudy Giuliani.
     According to the annual survey, 3 of 4 of those surveyed said it was important to be near their family when considering a next move. Also, 43 percent said nearness to family and work would be a consideration in their home purchases. Further, when considering buying a new home, 43 percent would purchase a home to be closer to work or family.
     Of those considering moving in the next five years, 65 percent would most consider a single-family home, and only 11 percent said they were interested in moving into a condo or apartment.
     The survey also asked which presidential contender most would want to have as a neighbor. The results were:
     -- Hillary Clinton, 21 percent.
     -- Fred Thompson, 13 percent.
     -- John Edwards, 12 percent.
     -- Barack Obama, 12 percent.
     -- Rudolph Giuliani, 10 percent.
     -- John McCain, 8 percent.
     -- Mitt Romney, 6 percent.


Boomers retiring later
     (WASHINGTON) – A Brookings Institute analysis of Census Bureau numbers shows that Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 are postponing retirement because they have good paying jobs that they enjoy.
     The report also says, however, that same group is having a harder time retiring because of money siphoned off in divorces and lower number of current marriages.
     The report, “Mapping the Growth of Older America: Seniors and Boomers in the Early 21st Century,” found that 57.6 percent of heads of households in that age range were married in 2005, compared with 62.8 percent in 1990 and 65.8 percent in 1980.
     In addition, 39.2 percent of male heads of households and 40.2 percent of female heads of households were professionals and managers in 2005, up from 23.3 percent and 23.6 percent, respectively, in 1980.