This is good information to know. I've copied the first paragraph of the page linked below as it explains why.

On March 1st, Google will implement its new, unified privacy policy, which will affect data Google has collected on you prior to March 1st as well as data it collects on you in the future. Until now, your Google Web History (your Google searches and sites visited) was cordoned off from Google's other products. This protection was especially important because search data can reveal particularly sensitive information about you, including facts about your location, interests, age, sexual orientation, religion, health concerns, and more. If you want to keep Google from combining your Web History with the data they have gathered about you in their other products, such as YouTube or Google Plus, you may want to remove all items from your Web History and stop your Web History from being recorded in the future.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/02/how-remove-your-google-search-history-googles-new-privacy-policy-takes-effect

Capital Economics expects the housing crisis to end this year, according to a report released Tuesday. One of the reasons: loosening credit.

The analytics firm notes the average credit score required to attain a mortgage loan is 700. While this is higher than scores required prior to the crisis, it is constant with requirements one year ago.


Additionally, a Fed Senior Loan Officer Survey found credit requirements in the fourth quarter were consistent with the past three quarters.

However, other market indicators point not just to a stabilization of mortgage lending standards, but also a loosening of credit availability.


Banks are now lending amounts up to 3.5 times borrower earnings. This is up from a low during the crisis of 3.2 times borrower earnings.


Banks are also loosening loan-to-value ratios (LTV), which Capital Economics denotes “the clearest sign yet of an improvement in mortgage credit conditions.”


In contrast to a low of 74 percent reached in mid-2010, banks are now lending at 82 percent LTV.


While credit conditions may have loosened slightly, some potential homebuyers are still struggling with credit requirements. In fact, Capital Economics points out that in November 8 percent of contract cancellations were the result of a potential buyer not qualifying for a loan.


Additionally, Capital Economics says “any improvement in credit conditions won’t be significant enough to generation actual house price gains,” and potential ramifications from the euro-zone pose a threat to future credit availability.

If you are in need of some advice or mortgage lenders, please call me I have some good resources!

Here is a recent article from the Austin Business Journal:

Austin among 10 cities 'poised for greatness' in
2012 Austin is a great place to be this year, according to The Street, which named the Capital City among the top 10 cities “poised for greatness” in 2012.

The Street, a financial news website, named its top 10 cities for 2012 based on financial forecasts, large-scale events and new initiatives.

 Austin was cited on the list for its low unemployment rate, its many music and film festivals, and its low home prices. Austin's blend of state jobs, help from the University of Texas at
Austin and private-sector employment also contributed to Austin’s place on the list.

 Other cities on the list include Indianapolis, which is hosting the 2012 Super Bowl, Chicago and Houston.




           

 According to Trulia’s Rent vs Buy Index 2011 , the smart choice for most Austinites right now is to buy.


Austin is among the top 50 U.S. cities where it is "Much Less Expensive to Buy Than Rent", coming in at #35. What does that mean? Well, when you look at the average home price vs. the average monthly cost of rent in Austin, the numbers show that it is significantly more affordable to buy in most areas of
the city. With rental rates increasing and interest rates at historic lows, buying is financially the smarter choice. So, is buying right now the right
choice for you? Please contact your REALTOR today to help determine your individual situation in your area.

Here are alot of fun articles and ideas on New Year's resolutions for your home:

http://www.houselogic.com/

Have you recently received one of those emails that only has "Re:" in the subject  line, then when looking at the email, you see some weblink that looks 
suspicious, but the email came from someone trusted? This can be an indication of a "hacked" email account, and usually the party doesn't even know this is going on. If you know the person, give them a call and let them know and delete the email and empty the trash can.

While we do all we can to secure our email accounts, one simple and overlooked tip is simply this:


Create a fictitious email contact in your
list, one that will be picked
up  first,

example:  aaa_111@###.com

Why?  If your email account should be compromised, this email contact  "That you will never use", will fail to go out or come  back as "un-deliverable", this will flag you that something is "amiss", more  importantly, it may cause the email to never go out, as it is common among some  newer services to hold up bulk mails, (ones with
many addresses) if the emails  "To" line doesn't "resolve" to a valid address. 

I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year! I hope you prosper in 2012!

Remember it is time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors!