The whole financial world here and abroad is positioning itself for the second round of "quantitative easing" by the Fed, to begin on Nov. 3.Last week, bond markets overshot hopes for the impact of Fed purchases of Treasurys with invented money, and this week yields have bounced back up.

However, everything is on hold until we learn the duration, magnitude and actual effect of "QE2."Adding to expectant tension: China's August exports to the U.S. rose to $35.3 billion, and its imports from the U.S. fell to $7.3 billion. One effect of QE2 may be a currency war.Despite the vulnerability to China feared by so many, these trade figures beg the question: Who, exactly, needs whom?All rights reserved. This article may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News. Use of this article without permission is a violation of federalcopyright law. [Read the full article]

As usual, the Obama administration uses its best efforts to get behind a problem instead of in front. Instead of recognizing a nationwide crisis precipitated by toxic documents, the administration tries to make political capital by vetoing an electronic notarization bill.All rights reserved. This content may not be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, in part or in whole, without written permission of Inman News.Use of this content without permission is a violation of federal copyright law.As usual, the Obama administration uses its best efforts to get behind a problem instead of in front. Instead of recognizing a nationwide crisis precipitated by toxic documents, the administration tries to make political capital by vetoing an electronic notarization bill.All rights reserved. [Read the full article]

Silicon Valley tech startup Plurchase has launched a collaborative housing search website add-on, the company announced recently.The Plurchase product is a sidebar that website owners can install to allow their users to shop for homes with whomever they like, whether it be their real estate agent, spouse or friend. Users invite others via through Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail. They can then share listings, chat, see what friends are looking at, keep notes, and vote on listings in real time."It keeps a sorted shopping list for you, so you can see a full-page view of all the properties you're considering, sorted by votes.The purpose of this feature is to replace the confusing jumble of e-mails or spreadsheets or Word documents people currently use to track listings," said Jeff Ferber, founder of Plurchase.The cost of Plurchase for site owners is a few cents per user session, Ferber said. [Read the full article]

It's difficult to predict how long it will take a home to sell in today's market. Ideally, it sells and closes by the time you need to make a move. If not, there are several options.Homes that show well draw more attention from serious buyers, particularly if they are in areas that are bloated with inventory. Before you make a decision about moving completely out of your home, visit Sunday open houses in your neighborhood and size up the competition.Are other competitive listings staged for sale? How does your home look in comparison? How will it look if you remove your furnishings and leave it vacant?Vacant listings can be difficult to sell. Most buyers can't imagine how a home might look furnished, or how they'd use an empty space. For example, it's hard to gauge how your king bed will look in a bedroom that has no bed to use as a basis for comparison. Without a place to sit down, it's hard for some buyers get a sense of the home's ambiance. [Read the full article]