Come check out the new blog from NAR's Information Central! "Power Tools for Buyer's Reps" is no longer being updated, but you'll find plenty of interest in the InfoCentral Blog. The InfoCentral Blog keeps you up-to-date on new and useful information resources for the real estate industry -- websites, research reports, eBooks, news articles, services and databases from NAR's Information Central, and more. Surf on over to http://narblog1.realtors.org/mvtype/infocentral/.

NAR's newly redesigned REALTORĀ® Magazine Online contains a section called Handouts for Customers. Here you will find handouts for clients on topics such as 10 Ways to Prepare for Homeownership, 7 Reasons to Own Your Own Home, and How Big of a Mortgage Can I Afford. There are 35 handouts for buyers which you can customize for your newsletter, web site or promotional kits. You'll also find handouts for sellers on the same page.

Don't forget to have the chimney inspected before buying a home. Hidden dangers can become serious hazards. REALTORĀ® Magazine Online summarizes the three levels of inspections and what they may cost.

We keep hearing about sellers throwing in perks to entice buyers to purchase their properties. It is a buyer's market afterall. But now real estate agents are also seeing incentives come their way. According to MarketWatch.com, home builders have offered such things as $5,000 American Express gift cards and car leases in exchange for a completed real estate deal. NAR comments on these practices in the MarketWatch article.

As new homes sales decline builders are more willing to offer incentives to get those houses sold. Want a free pool? How about thousands off upgrades? You just might be able to maneuver those perks. The Wall Street Journal reports that "the latest survey taken by the National Association of Home Builders indicates that 56% of builders are now offering incentives, up from about 45% a year ago."