This week the U.S. government made modifications to the Home Affordable Refinance Program. These changes aim to assist struggling homeowners by allowing them to refinance to today’s low interest rates as long as they are current on their payments. It’s estimated that this could result in helping an additional 1 million Americans under the federal program.

A new poll from Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com examines the mindset of a very important group in our industry: the retirees. Historically, retirees have flocked to warmer weather or communities built around leisure activities such as golf. Today, this group exudes more of a homebody mentality with 67 percent responding that they will remain in their home state. And even in the current economy, 4 in 10 say they plan on moving to a new home. What are you seeing in your area?

Have you ever dreamed of playing professional sports, but never quite made the cut? You may have a chance to do the next best thing: become an A-list athlete’s real estate agent!  Athlete Connect provides a portal for real estate agents and other professionals to contact the agents of pro athletes in the United States and Canada who may need to buy or sell a new home. While not even A-listers are immune to some of today’s housing troubles, they could make for great clients! Which athlete would be your dream client?

Lastly, in the spirit of Halloween you may be curious as to where you can find the best trick-or-treating. Based on “walkability” of a city, home values, population density and crime rate, Zillow’s Trick-or-Treat index has identified the top 20 cities for trick-or-treating.