Mike's Desk: January 23, 2012
Your One Stop News Source for Real Estate, Local, and Business News!

REAL ESTATE NEWS:                        

HARP helps underwater homeowners

Many homeowners with "underwater" mortgages can still refinance their loan with a lower cost affordable mortgage thanks to the Home Affordable Refinance Program -- recently revised and extended until Dec. 13 2013. Established in 2009 for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-owned mortgages, the HARP program provides an option for homeowners to refinance "underwater mortgages." READ MORE.

LOCAL NEWS:                                     

School board uneasy with principals' short tenure

Blame district leadership, poor hiring practices or a stronger economy. Whatever the cause, principal turnover in Guilford County Schools was once alarming. READ MORE.

Where technology joins compassion

A walkthrough of the expanded Cone Health Cancer Center evokes a Letter-man-esque top 10 of sorts. The Top 10 Really Cool Strikes Against Cancer -- as imagined by doctors and social workers in a community hospital setting? READ MORE.

 BUSINESS NEWS:                              

Price of heating oil expected to hit record

When David Harris built his 2,000-square-foot hilltop home nine years ago, he wanted to put in natural gas, but the utility wouldn't run a line to his house. Like man people here, he was stuck using heating oil. READ MORE.