After discussing our country’s economy with some acquaintances, I was reminded that some of today’s financial issues first surfaced during Enron’s collapse. The roots of structured finance – a fancy name for gaming accounting rules to improve your company’s earnings — can be traced back to many of Enron’s failed business practices brought about by the ethical lapses of the company’s leaders. During the Enron years, I followed its story from up close, but was missing many of the essential details. I filled them in this week by reading Bethany McLean and Peter Elking’s book The Smartest Guys in the Room. What’s striking about the book is how eerily similar today’s problems are to Enron’s. So while everybody’s debating economic stimulus, maybe it’s worth examining the root of Enron’s collapse for answers to today’s economic crisis.

You’ve found your dream home, submitted your loan application, and locked in on a 30-year fixed rate loan. Your only days away from closing when your lender calls with a problem — some credit history discrepancies have been flagged on your file during processing. Seems the loan guidelines have changed while you were waiting for final loan approval and your file is being reviewed under the new rules. You’re facing a loan delay of 30 days and your home purchase is in jeopardy. Doesn’t sound fair, but that’s the reality in today’s mortgage market.

Houston property owners and managers planning renovation projects on their properties need to be aware of a new EPA disclosure requirement. Beginning in December 2008, a new federal law requires property owners, managers, and contractors performing renovations or repairs in residential properties or child-care facilities built before 1978 provide owners, tenants or occupants the EPA brochure Renovate Right.

SterlingResidential.com gets many hits from web visitors searching for residential rental housing in North East Houston including Atascocita, Humble, Kingwood, Spring, and surrounding areas. If you’re new to the area, or you haven’t leased for awhile, you’ll find that leasing residential property has changed in recent years. While Houston’s residential market includes many property types including townhouses, condos, duplexes, and multi-family properties, we’re focused here on MLS-listed single family residential rental properties.