Just up the stairs, several “cutaways” allowed builders to peer behind the walls to see special features that can’t be “experienced” any other way. How else to witness in action a hybrid heating and air conditioning system by Carrier that switches automatically from natural gas to electricity, depending on the outdoor temperature? Or an insulation system that acts as both a thermal insulator and air barrier?

Not visually exciting stuff, to be sure. But to most builders searching for ways to save buyers a few bucks — and to distinguish themselves from the competition — these are hidden assets.

An some about mortgage fraude…. The FBI’s mortgage fraud section of its “Financial Crimes Report To The Public Fiscal Year 2006″ says crooks cost the mortgage industry from about $1 billion to more than $4 billion last year as scammers furiously worked two basic types of mortgage fraud.

“The median list price for single family homes in Fremont is $730,000, and the median sales price appears to have increased to $750,000. That is amazing, since many homes sold up to as much as 8 percent below recent comparables,” notes one local expert.

Thats all for today, good night!