Boating Savings Website Launched

Redcats USA Launches an Innovative Specialty Website - BoatingSavings.com

SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn.-- May 30, 2008 --The Sportsman's Guide®, a distinguished brand in the Redcats USA portfolio, announced today the launch of BoatingSavings.com, adding to the growing "Guide Outdoors Network," which consists of The Sportsman's Guide®, BargainOutfitters.comT, The Golf Warehouse®, BaseballSavings.com® and SoftballSavings.com®.

The idea behind BoatingSavings.com was to create a one-stop shop for fishing and boating enthusiasts-making it easy for them to find everything they need for an active and sports-oriented lifestyle. The Sportsman's Guide® already had a large following of avid fishermen and knew that a large percentage of these customers owned boats. As such, BoatingSavings.com ties together the customer's love for boating, fishing and family, providing easy online access to a wide selection of marine and water sports gear.

"We are pleased with the launch of BoatingSavings.com and feel confident that our customers will embrace the convenience of finding all of their fishing and boating needs on one easy-to-navigate site," said Greg Binkley, President/CEO/COO of The Sportsman's Guide®. "The Sportsman's Guide® team did an excellent job of developing a site that will significantly enhance our customer's shopping experience."

BoatingSavings.com offers customers a broad selection of well-known brands including Stearns®, Wise®, Turning Point Props®, Sevylor®, Okuma® and Daiwa®. This brand and product-driven focus is evident on the home page where fishing and boating accessories are visibly posted, and Flash and Ajax technology is utilized to feature multiple promotions to pique the customer's interest.

"The Sportsman's Guide® and The Golf Warehouse® have shown tremendous success in their innovative online approach to offering outdoor and sporting gear to a loyal customer base," said Eric Faintreny, Chairman and CEO of Redcats USA. "The team knows their audience, they have spent time researching customer needs, and they dedicate the time and resources required for building unique websites that truly are a convenient one-stop shop for sports and outdoor enthusiasts."

About Redcats USA

Redcats USA is a multi-channel home shopping leader with numerous well-known brands in its portfolio: Chadwick's®, metrostyle®, Woman Within®, Jessica London®, Roaman's®, KingSize®, BrylaneHome®, BrylaneHome® Kitchen, The Sportsman's Guide®, The Golf Warehouse® and AVENUE® Stores. Redcats USA offers a wide range of value and quality driven merchandise categories, including missy apparel, men's and women's plus-size apparel, home and lifestyle products, and outdoor gear.

About Redcats Group

Redcats USA is a division of Redcats Group, a global leader in Home Shopping for apparel and home furnishing. Drawing on a multichannel network combining catalogues, e-commerce and stores, Redcats Group generated 3.76 billion euros of sales in 2007 with 15 brands in 29 countries and a staff of around 22,000 associates. Sales are split between France (51.5%), USA (24.9%) and the rest of the world (23.6%). Redcats Group is a PPR Company. For any further information: www.redcats.com.
Contacts

Redcats USA
Pat Cross, 212-502-9315
Vice President, PR & Communications

Madness Sale Features Exclusive Savings On Unlocked Cell Phones

March Madness Sale at Cellhut.com Features Exclusive Savings

Hugely discounted prices on unlocked cell phones available through cellhut.com during the month of March give buyers the chance to save hundreds of dollars.

New York, NY  -  March 13, 2008 -- As winter comes to a close and the gloomines  s that accompanied those cold months gives way to days of sunshine, there is no better way to spend your time outside than with a brand new cell phone. Thanks to the incredible savings through Cellhut.com's March Madness sale, the ability to own a new cell phone is easily within reach. Since 1996, Cellhut.com has been offering premium unlocked phones from the most reliable brands including Nokia, LG, Motorola and Samsung. Their business model emphasizes knowledgeable customer service combined with a promise to sell their products at the lowest prices.

One of the pivotal aspects of the March Madness sale is that all featured phones are sold with free shipping. This means on top of the great instant savings you'll receive as part of this sale, you won't have to bother with shipping costs that can easily add a fair sum of money to the total cost.

If you've ever wanted to own the stylish Samsung Giorgio Armani P520 for only $649.99 then now is your chance, because with the March Madness sale you can enjoy an instant savings of $250. Typical of the Armani clothing line, this phone features elegant style and bold lines that make it stand out in a sea of generic phone designs. Its greatest asset is the completely touch screen, which eases the user into an intuitive call making experience.

Cellhut.com has an exclusive price of $599.99 on the unlocked HTC 8525, which is AT&T's powerful Windows Mobile phone. It features a full QWERTY pull-out keyboard, enabling the user to efficiently take notes. These utilitarian features don't mean that the 8525 lacks in the multimedia department however, because through AT&T Music Mobile users can download music and use the phone as an mp3 player.

The unlocked LG KE850 Prada phone in black is available for $423.23, and like Armani P520, takes its fashion roots a step further by proving that it is more than just a good looking phone. LG has created a masterpiece in design by combining a thin profile and a powerful 2MP camera. Interaction with the phone surpasses the standard design by incorporating an extra wide touch screen LCD allowing for a liberal amount of room to navigate the main screen.

The March Madness price on the unlocked Motorola Rizr Z8 is $459.99, which gives you an exclusive saving of $240. The features on this phone include watching video at 30fps and storing files in the micro SD slot up to 4GB's. The integrated music player allows you to easily navigate through your songs. This Motorola Rizr represents the next-generation in multimedia entertainment and is not to be missed by anyone who considers themselves aficionados of the latest gear.

The President of the Cellhut.com, Bawa Bhasin, says, "I am very pleased to announce this annual sale because it means unprecedented savings for our customers."

Only for a limited time during the month of March customers can enjoy great savings including free shipping and greatly reduced prices on all the latest unlocked cell phone products. The products can be used with any provider including AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

Other unlocked phones featured in this great deal are: Nokia 8600 (Luna), Nokia N73, Nokia N95 8G, Sony Ericsson P990i, Sony Ericsson S500i, Motorola U6, Motorola W375, Motorola Z3 RIZR, LG KG195

About Cellhut.com
Cellhut.com places customer satisfaction as its highest priority and promises to make a positive impression on the clientele they do business with. The business of dealing with unlocked mobile phones relies on a high level of technological knowledge that the well-educated support staff is ready to handle. By shopping with Cellhut.com you get the best selection of unlocked cell phones and accessories under one roof.

Contact: Martin Glick
Telephone: 646-200 5000 ext: 210
Email: Martin @ cellhut.com
Web Site: www.cellhut.com

Press Contact: Martin Glick
Company Name: Cellhut.com
Phone: 646-200-5000 +210
Website: www.cellhut.com

Retail Development in Iowa's Largest New Urban Community

Capital Growth Madison Marquette and DRA Properties Announce Partnership to Develop Retail in Iowa's Largest New Urban Community

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 15, 2008 --Capital Growth Madison Marquette (CGMM), a national, fully-integrated commercial real estate company based in Minneapolis, and DRA Properties (DRA), an Ankeny-Iowa-based real estate company owned by Dennis Albaugh, founder and chief executive of Albaugh, Inc., today announced a new partnership to develop the retail portion of Prairie Trail, a 1,031-acre master-planned community being developed by DRA on the former site of the Iowa State University research farm in the center of Ankeny. Prairie Trail is Iowa's largest New Urban development, reflecting the New Urbanism principals of smart, managed growth; sustainable green development and reduced traffic.

The master plan for Prairie Trail calls for two retail components covering approximately a half million square feet of the development. Town Center at Prairie Trail, a lifestyle center, will serve as the community's commercial core. It will feature fashion anchors, a wide variety of restaurants and a mix of regional and national merchants. It will be surrounded by a central park, amphitheatre and abundant parking. There will also be a retail area at the southern entrance to the community-Plaza Shoppes at Prairie Trail. Plaza Shoppes at Prairie Trail will be anchored by a Hy-Vee grocery store.

The rest of the community features approximately 2,500 homes in a mix of styles; a civic and educational component, including the city library, a school and the City of Ankeny police headquarters; and a vast network of trails, parks, and bike paths. Prairie Trails' architecture and design will reflect the best of Iowa's small towns.

Located just north of Des Moines at the intersection of Interstate Highways 35 and 80, Ankeny currently has a population of about 40,000. It is home to the Ankeny Campus of the Des Moines Area Community College, which enrolls nearly 27,000 college credit students and 32,000 continuing education or business training students. It's location at the intersection of two major corridors, within minutes of the State Capitol and only a half hour drive from Ames, home of Iowa State University, attracts travelers from throughout the region and offers excellent growth potential.

"In addition to being an excellent business opportunity, our partnership with DRA Properties on the Prairie Trail retail development marks a return to our roots," said Dick Ward, CGMM's Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Investments. "Almost every member of the Capital Growth Madison Marquette management team has a strong connection with Iowa and understands its people and communities. Several of us built our careers in this industry while working at General Growth Properties, which was founded in Des Moines and has become one of the nation's largest developers of regional shopping centers," he said. Ward is a native of Council Bluffs. CGMM President and Chief Operating Officer John Nagle is a native of Cedar Rapids.

"We believe Capital Growth Madison Marquette is an excellent match for this project," said DRA, owner, Dennis Albaugh. "It has everything we were looking for-outstanding expertise and a strong track record in the industry, an entrepreneurial spirit, and an understanding and appreciation for Iowans and their way of life. We're going to make a great team."

Groundbreaking on the retail portion of the development is expected to begin in 2009. The full project is slated for completion in 2012. Information on the community can be found at www.prairietrailankeny.com

For retail leasing information, call Dick Ward at 515-333-1180.

DRA Properties, L.C. is an Ankeny based real estate development company that was founded in 1992 by Dennis Albaugh. Albaugh, owner and Chief Executive Officer of Albaugh, Inc., a global agricultural chemical company, decided to venture into real estate to have a positive impact on his hometown of Ankeny, Iowa. "Ankeny has always been my home town-I grew up here, I raised my family here, and now my daughters are raising their families in Ankeny. My goal in real estate development has always been to create a lifestyle that all of Ankeny can enjoy and be proud of," said Albaugh.

Minnesota-based Capital Growth Madison Marquette specializes in a strategic array of value-enhancing third party services, including brokerage, construction, development, leasing, management, marketing and tenant representation. CGMM also aggressively pursues acquisitions and joint venture opportunities. Capital Growth Madison Marquette is part of Capital Growth Properties, Inc. (CGP), a private real estate investment company with offices in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Birmingham, Alabama. Further information on both companies can be found online at www.capitalgrowthproperties.com

Contacts

Capital Growth Madison Marquette
Martha Capps, 952-852-5190
Cell: 612-581-0797
or
DRA Properties
Ashley Johnson, 515-965-5249
Cell: 515-491-1389

New IT Media Disposal Program From Kroll Ontrack

Kroll Ontrack Goes Green with a New IT Media Disposal Program

Erasure and Recycling Services Help Businesses and Individuals Safeguard Critical Information and the Environment

MINNEAPOLIS--  May 13, 2008 --Kroll Ontrack®, the leading provider of data recovery and legal technologies products and services, today announced a new media disposal program to help businesses and individuals safely dispose of their end-of-lifecycle hard drives in an environmentally conscious way. This fast, secure and convenient erasure and disposal service allows organizations and individuals to protect one of their most important assets - their data.

Kroll Ontrack's media disposal program is comprised of two steps:

Data Erasing Solutions: Kroll Ontrack offers two solutions that completely remove all traces of information stored on storage media and a verification service that ensures no traces of information can be recovered from the media following an erasure procedure.

    * Ontrack Eraser software: An easy-to-use, highly flexible data erasure software tool, Ontrack® Eraser, uses overwriting procedures to permanently remove data and meet the most stringent standards for data removal.
    * Ontrack Eraser services: A convenient, end-of-lifecycle service performed by Kroll Ontrack specialists that offers complete removal of your data using a "degausser," a hardware device that destroys data using strong magnetic fields.

Media Disposal Services: Kroll Ontrack's environmentally friendly media disposal service ensures certain media is disposed of in a method that protects both the owner of the stored data and the environment. Technicians dismantle the devices removing good parts for re-use prior to disposal of the storage media. All other hard drive and storage device components are turned over to Kroll Ontrack's recycling vendor that separates materials such as metals, circuit boards, copper wiring and aluminum into different commodities that are recycled and re-used for other products. Any left over materials are discarded in a manner that ensures no materials are deposited in landfills or incinerators. Specifically, they are disassembled using an optimal mix of physical and mechanical demanufacturing techniques to separate out hazardous materials from recyclable components.

"With this service, customers now have a convenient means to make sure their media does not fall into the wrong hands and is disposed of in a method that will not harm the environment," said Jim Reinert, vice president of software and services, Kroll Ontrack. "This is especially critical as both businesses and home users are looking for a safe and easy way to get rid of their mounting end-of-lifecycle machines."

From more information regarding this service visit www.ontrackdatarecovery.com.

About Kroll Ontrack Inc.

Kroll Ontrack provides technology-driven services and software to help legal, corporate and government entities as well as consumers recover, search, analyze, produce and present data efficiently and cost-effectively. In addition to its award-winning suite of software, Kroll Ontrack provides data recovery, advanced search, paper and electronic discovery, computer forensics, ESI consulting, and trial consulting and presentation services. Kroll Ontrack is a technology services division of Kroll Inc., the global risk consulting company. For more information about Kroll Ontrack and its offerings please visit: www.krollontrack.com; www.ontrackdatarecovery.com; www.engeniumsearch.com; www.trialgraphix.com.
Contacts

Kroll Ontrack
Kaitlin Creager, 952-516-3581
kcreager@krollontrack.com

South African Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos

LegalView Updates Mesothelioma Blog Readers with News of South African Ban on Mesothelioma-Causing Asbestos

LegalView, on its mesothelioma blog, recently reported an asbestos ban on the use, manufacture and processing of the cancer-causing contaminant. Asbestos was mined for decades in South Africa and since the 1960s mesothelioma cancer and related illnesses have been associated with inhalation of the deadly fibers.

Denver, CO  -  April 11, 2008 -- LegalView.com recently reported on its mesothelioma blog the ban of asbestos in South Africa. The Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister there announced the ban with regards to the use, manufacture and processing of asbestos, which causes a deadly form of lung cancer known as mesothelioma. The South African ban marks the latest addition to a worldwide effort to ban the mineral. Currently, approximately 50 countries around the globe have prohibited the production of the contaminant. For years, asbestos was mined in the area and, according to news reports, accounted for 3 percent of the value of all of the area's minerals. To learn more about how to locate mesothelioma attorneys in your area, which may be able to provide consultation on the effects of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos, which is derived from vermiculite - the mineral mined throughout the world and the source of asbestos, was widely used in a variety of construction projects such as the main source of installation in millions of homes, apartments, schools, universities, and business and government buildings worldwide. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos should not only speak with a medical professional immediately, but should consider finding a mesothelioma lawyer as well.

Often it isn't until years after initial exposure to asbestos that individuals begin to notice symptoms of the inhaled asbestos fibers; the end result is usually an incurable lung cancer. Victims of this cancer in need of a mesothelioma attorney should utilize LegalView's referral service to connect them with any of the many mesothelioma lawyers available through the mesothelioma information portal. Here, an individual can be referred to an experienced mesothelioma attorney who will have important information on the legal implications of exposure to asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma, LegalView also provides information portals on topics such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), Singulair side effects and the Baxter Heparin recall. TBIs adversely affect millions of Americans each year and thousands of these cases go unreported even though the effects may be severe. TBI side effects range from memory loss to poor motor and social skills to paralysis. Individuals who have been injured in a traumatic brain injury should use the LegalView TBI information portal to locate an attorney as well as to learn about the latest TBI treatments.

On the Singulair practice area, readers will learn of the latest U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigation into the allergy symptom drug. The investigation stems from patient reports that there may be some Singulair side effects that are causing an increased risk of suicidal thoughts among patients.

Learn the latest updates on the FDA's investigation into the Baxter Heparin recall, which was spurred by a rash of allergic reactions among patients who had previously received the drug during surgical procedures. Most recently, the FDA discovered that a Chinese manufacturing plant was responsible for a tainted batch of Baxter Heparin. The drug is a blood thinner used to decrease the risk of deadly blood clots during surgical procedures such as heart surgery.

About LegalView:

LegalView.com is a public service brought to you by Legal WebTV Network, LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation created by a group of the nation's most highly respected law firms: Anapol Schwartz; Brent Coon and Associates; Burg Simpson; Cohen, Placitella and Roth; James F. Humphreys and Associates; Lopez McHugh; and Thornton and Naumes. For more information on the accomplishments and track records of LegalView.com's superior sponsoring law firms and to get in touch with LegalView attorneys, visit LegalView at www.LegalView.com.

Press Contact: Katie Kelley
Company Name: LegalView
Phone: 720-771-3246
Website: http://mesothelioma.legalview.com

Retirement Plans Supports Small Business Community Online

Nationwide Retirement Plans Supports Online Community for Small Business

Nationwide and PartnerUp.com Connect to Help Entrepreneurs Grow Businesses

COLUMBUS, Ohio-- May 05, 2008 --Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE: NFS) is stepping up its commitment to supporting small businesses through sponsorship of PartnerUp, the first and largest online community designed to connect and serve the needs of small business owners.

Nationwide's support of PartnerUp enables small business owners to network with other small business owners, ask for and offer up assistance, and find small-business-friendly service providers and commercial real estate spaces for their businesses.

"PartnerUp serves as an excellent resource and unmatched networking opportunity for the small business community and Nationwide is proud to support the work that it does," said Bill Jackson, president of Nationwide Retirement Plans. "Many small business owners wear multiple hats and often don't have the time, resources or expertise to manage a retirement plan. Nationwide understands the demands on their time and offers clear and understandable resources to help them and their employees save for retirement so that they can focus on running their businesses."

Nationwide is the largest provider of defined contribution plans in the country1 and has products specifically designed to meet the needs of small businesses. Nationwide Retirement Innovator offers both target maturity funds for those who need some help making investment decisions and the Nationwide Financial® Fund Window for those who want choice and a broader selection of funds.

Nationwide and PartnerUp commented that they are committed to working together to provide the support and insight entrepreneurs need to succeed in today's business environment.

"PartnerUp is excited to have the support of Nationwide, one of the country's largest providers of insurance and financial services for small business," said Steve Nielsen, founder and CEO of PartnerUp. "We look forward to working with Nationwide to roll out additional tools and resources that help small business owners start, grow and manage their businesses."

Small business owners who are looking for more information on how they and their employees can save and prepare for retirement can visit www.nationwide.com/retirementplans or call toll free 1-800-262-401K.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $161 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

About PartnerUp

PartnerUp is the first and largest online community that focuses solely on helping small business owners start, grow and manage their businesses. The company allows small business owners to network with other small business owners, ask for and offer up advice, and find service providers and commercial real estate. PartnerUp was founded in February 2005 and is headquartered in Minneapolis. For more information, visit www.partnerup.com.

1 Based on the number of recordkeeping plans, PLANSPONSOR magazine (June 2007).

Please note that the investment options offered through the Nationwide Financial® Fund Window may require investment expertise and/or professional management advice to prudently manage. Nationwide® does not monitor these funds. In addition, some of these investment options may have higher Nationwide asset fees than the designated investment options. Nationwide does not make recommendations or give investment advice.

Target Maturity Funds are designed to provide diversification and asset allocation across several types of investments and asset classes, primarily by investing in underlying funds. Therefore, in addition to the expenses of the Target Maturity Funds, an investor is indirectly paying a proportionate share of the applicable fees and expenses of the underlying funds.

The Nationwide® Group Retirement Series includes unregistered group fixed and variable annuities and trust programs. The unregistered group fixed and variable annuities are issued by Nationwide Life Insurance Company. Trust programs and trust services are offered by Nationwide Trust Company, FSB a division of Nationwide Bank®. Nationwide Investment Services Corporation, member FINRA. In MI only: Nationwide Investment Svcs. Corporation. Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies, Home Office: Columbus, OH 43215-2220.

Nationwide, Nationwide Bank, Nationwide Financial, the Nationwide framemark, Life Comes at You Fast and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
Contacts

Nationwide
Carah Brody, 614-677-0275
brodyc@nationwide.com
or
PartnerUp
Megan Dorn, 952-229-8300 x344
Megan_Dorn@PartnerUp.com

Specialty Vineyard and Pinot Noir Finishes Introduced

Medallion Cabinetry Introduced Specialty Finishes Vineyard and Pinot Noir

MINNEAPOLIS-- May 02, 2008 --Medallion Cabinetry introduced two new specialty finishes to enhance product line at KBIS 2008. Vineyard, a brush glazed finish, and Pinot Noir, a duotone finish, use a multi-step process to create unique accent finishes.

"Pinot Noir and Vineyard are innovative additions to our line of finishes," said Duke Piotter, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of the Elkay Cabinet Division, "Both perfectly complement our existing finishes and give the designer and homeowner creative choices in individualizing kitchen design."

Vineyard is a deep red finish accented by a black brush glazed finish. Pinot Noir has an opaque black top finish which is hand-rubbed to expose a deep red, semi-opaque base finish. Both finishes are available on a variety of wood species and door styles in Medallion's Designer Gold and Designer product lines. Vineyard is also available on most Maple and Oak door styles in Medallion's Silverline product line.

Medallion, which is part of the Elkay Cabinet Division, offers more than 6,600 combinations of door styles, wood species and color finishes in semi-custom cabinetry through kitchen and bath design centers and dealers nationwide. The Elkay Cabinet Division was created in 1993 has 12 facilities throughout the United States. Operating under the brand names Medallion Cabinetry, Yorktowne Cabinetry, Mastercraft Cabinets and Schuler Cabinetry, the company is the fourth largest provider of residential cabinetry in the country.

Elkay Manufacturing Company is a privately held, 85-year old firm headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. Elkay is a supplier of residential kitchen and bath cabinetry and accessories, commercial and residential plumbing products, including stainless steel sinks, faucets and water coolers.

Contacts

Medallion Cabinetry
Joy Schmelzer, 952-442-5171
joys@medallioncabinetry.com

Different Solution to Real Estate Mortgage Crisis Needed

Real Estate Center Economist: Different Solution to Mortgage Crisis Needed

The five-year freeze on mortgage interest rates recently announced by the federal government may be intended to help responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure, but a noted economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University says there may be a better solution to the mortgage crisis.

College Station, Tex.  -  December 19 -- The five-year freeze on mortgage interest rates recently announced by the federal government may be intended to help responsible homeowners avoid foreclosure, but a noted economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University says there may be a better solution to the mortgage crisis.

"The federal government has to be very careful in addressing this problem," said Dr. Mark Dotzour, the Center's chief economist. "Aggressive government intervention in the mortgage market will only create additional uncertainty for bond investors. Freezing interest rates is a bad idea. When you tell an investor that the contract they hold is no longer valid, it constitutes actual taking of private property."

Dotzour added that if the government intervenes and rewrites the terms of existing mortgage contracts, bond investors will become leery of buying mortgage bonds in the future and will demand higher interest rates for the higher perceived risk.

Research Economist Dr. James Gaines, also with the Center, agrees, calling the basic premise of the plan shaky and the details sketchy.

"For the most part, the homeowners and borrowers likely to benefit from the interest rate freeze are the very same people who would have the best chance of renegotiating their loans with the lender in the first place — a borrower with a relatively sound credit rating and a history of making payments who simply needs a little help to keep from going into full default," Gaines said.

So how can the federal government speed the recovery process in the U.S. housing markets?

The first thing the government should do, Dotzour said, is cut short-term interest rates to 2 or 3 percent. At the same time, they could aggressively purchase mortgage bonds and long treasuries to drive down the ten-year yield, which Dotzour said has already dropped below 4 percent in the past six months.

After that, the government needs to address the increased risk premium in the mortgage market by establishing conservative mortgage guidelines and creating a new government "seal of approval" for mortgage loans that meet standard underwriting guidelines. Dotzour said this would help raise confidence in private bond rating agencies and the mortgage insurance industry.

"Together, these efforts would drive down mortgage interest rates dramatically and allow American homeowners to refinance," Dotzour said. "This looks like heavy-handed government intervention into the housing market, but we are likely to see heavy-handed intervention anyway, so we might as well do something that might actually work."

The Real Estate Center (http://recenter.tamu.edu) has been providing solutions through research for 35 years. Funded primarily by Texas real estate licensee fees, the Center was created by the state legislature to meet the needs of many audiences, including the real estate industry, instructors, researchers and the general public.

Note to Editors
To interview Dr. Mark Dotzour, call 979-862-6292

Additional research information:

Dr. James Gaines, 979-845-2079

Other contacts: Bryan Pope, 979-845-2088, BPope(at)mays.tamu.edu. For information on the Real Estate Center, contact Senior Editor David. S. Jones at 979-845-2039 (voice), 979-845-0460 (fax) or djones(at)recenter.tamu.edu. More than 29,000 pages of data are available at the Center's web site.

Press Contact: Dr. Mark Dotzour
Company Name: The Real Estate Center
Phone: 979-862-6292
Website: recenter.tamu.edu