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May 31, 2011
Your Auto: Answering the Buy-or-lease Question

At first glance, leasing would appear to be a no-brainer. But whether you buy or lease isn't an entirely mathematical formula.

More car, less money--it's hard to argue with that combination. That's why more real estate practitioners are deciding to lease rather than buy.

At first glance, leasing would appear to be a no-brainer. Consider the popular Ford Taurus. A typical three-year lease can shave your monthly payment by $100 or more. And there are tax benefits, too, if you use your car for your real estate business. No wonder lease customers load up on options and trade in more frequently.

May 25, 2011
Buyer's Guide: SUV vs. Minivan

Both boast room for a family of buyers, but deciding which is best for you often comes down to image versus function.

The popularity of sport-utility vehicles over the past several years has some observers wondering whether the minivan—ubiquitous on the nation’s highways since the mid-1980s—is past its prime.

But as Mark Twain might have asserted—and recent auto shows have confirmed—reports of the minivan’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. If you’re trying to decide between a minivan and an SUV for your business car, there are important pros and cons to consider on both sides.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2001 Autos

Smart Cars: 2001’s autos will have an array of clever features--from onboard computers to electric-powered engines.

You might call this the year of the digital automobile.

The 2001 models usher in an array of electronic features and options that promise significant advances in safety, performance, and comfort. That may be especially good news for real estate salespeople who use their car as a second office.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2002 Autos

One of the hottest trends in the market goes by the name “affordable luxury.” Cars in this class constitute the fastest-growing niche in the entire American auto industry.

Jaguar’s new X-Type sedan is aimed at motorists with champagne tastes and beer budgets. The so-called “Baby Jag” is the British marquis’ first car under $30,000.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2003 Autos

As you embark on your next auto purchase, take a look at what the smart sedan buyer will be considering in 2003.

The sedan is back. Well, it never really went away. Consumers took a detour, instead, paying a disproportionate share of attention to the sport utility vehicle. But, for more than half of the American population, sedans remain the best of the automotive breed.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2004 Autos

For real estate pros, these crossover vehicles offer the best of both worlds: higher seating, all-wheel drive, typically, and better handling and fuel economy compared with SUVs. Like SUVs, there’s more cargo space for signs. And clients and customers will appreciate rear seats that are roomier than those of comparable class sedans and SUVs.

First came the van, then the minivan. But what do you call the new Chrysler Pacifica? True, the vehicle that recently began rolling out of the automaker’s Windsor, Ontario, assembly plant shares many of its components with the likes of the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. And, while it also offers three-row seating, it’s definitely not a minivan. Nor does its styling and ground clearance make it an SUV.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2005 Autos

Depending on your priorities, you may demand a vehicle that performs under the toughest conditions; keeps you and your passengers comfy, safe, and entertained; or keeps fuel bills in check. With the 2005 models, you can score on all those criteria.

Some professionals commute to work. You commute for work. Depending on your priorities, you may demand a vehicle that performs under the toughest conditions; keeps you and your passengers comfy, safe, and entertained; or keeps fuel bills in check. With the 2005 models, you can score on all those criteria.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2006 Autos

Crossovers may look a lot like conventional SUVs, but under the skin they use a more car-like chassis. They’re also usually a lot more nimble to drive than truck-based utes. And perhaps best of all, they generally yield far better mileage than what some industry analysts like to call “truck-trucks.”

With gasoline prices now at record highs, sport-utility vehicles have become a gas-guzzling guilty pleasure that gets harder to justify, especially with the driving demands inherent in real estate. But gas mileage is only one of the reasons sales of SUVs, long a favorite of U.S. auto buyers, are slumping. SUV buyers may be getting bored, too.

May 19, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2008 Autos

Automakers selling to American consumers finally seem to have gotten the message that buyers want cars and SUVs that allow them to trim their gas bills while at the same time providing comfortable rides in stylish, roomy vehicles.

Automakers selling to American consumers finally seem to have gotten the message that buyers want cars and SUVs that allow them to trim their gas bills while at the same time providing comfortable rides in stylish, roomy vehicles. The latest lines of auto hybrids, diesels, and compact vehicles will allow you to go farther with less gas and say goodbye to your gas-guzzling days.

May 18, 2011
Buyer's Guide: 2007 Autos

When a car is integral to your business as it is in real estate, you need options for saving money on gas, which now tops $3 a gallon in most parts of the country. Thankfully, the auto industry is delivering.

When a car is integral to your business as it is in real estate, you need options for saving money on gas, which now tops $3 a gallon in most parts of the country.

The auto industry is delivering. Manufacturers are rolling out an array of new small cars, such as the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, which offer mega mileage and incredible roominess for ferrying clients, despite their small exterior dimensions.

May 18, 2011
Buyer's Guide: Big Cars, Great Deals

You want a vehicle that's loaded with standard features and roomy enough for your mobile office? And you want a bargain? 1999 may be your year.

Buying a new car is usually a matter of making compromises-sacrificing style for space, or comfort for price. That's especially true for real estate practitioners, who often need a car that can serve as both business tool and personal transportation.

May 12, 2011
When a Seat Belt Just Isn't Enough

There was a time when it took Washington regulators to mandate better automotive safety systems. Not anymore. Motorists have come to expect the best products the industry can design. And the cars coming to market in 2005 will be the safest yet.

These days, safety is one of the top factors consumers are likely to consider when shopping for a new car—whether they’re looking for a minivan, sporty convertible, or SUV. For real estate professionals, who spend much of their time on the road, the need for safety in cars is even more critical.

April 15, 2011
Buyer's Guide: New Cars for 2000

There’s a revolution on the road--and we’re not talking about road rage or mobile offices. As the new millennium approaches, automakers are rolling out the first of the 2000 models.

There’s a revolution on the road--and we’re not talking about road rage or mobile offices. As the new millennium approaches, automakers are rolling out the first of the 2000 models.

Although they may not look radically different from last year’s cars and light trucks, they’ve gone through dozens of major changes yielding significant improvements in performance, emissions, and crashworthiness, as well as creature comforts.

March 10, 2011
2000 Models do Some of the Driving for You

You're driving home from a difficult negotiation--wondering whether the sellers will ever budge on their asking price. A jogger is taking advantage of the cool spring night to get in a run. You spot him just in time but have to swerve to avoid hitting him. Automotive technology today can actually help you avoid such near misses.

You're driving home from a difficult negotiation--wondering whether the sellers will ever budge on their asking price.

A jogger is taking advantage of the cool spring night to get in a run. You spot him just in time but have to swerve to avoid hitting him.

March 10, 2011
8 Ways to Dodge Hazards on the Road

As you become more mobile, it stands to reason that you'll spend more time dodging accidents, thieves, and violent drivers. Protect yourself with these eight safety tips.

As you become more mobile, it stands to reason that you'll spend more time dodging accidents, thieves, and violent drivers. Protect yourself with these eight safety tips:

February 17, 2011
New Road Rules: Leasing a Used Car

Used cars aren't what they used to be. "Previously owned cars" have gained a respectable reputation and a following among car shoppers on a budget. Now how about considering a previously leased set of wheels?

Carrie Cartland isn't in real estate, but she faced the same dilemma some real estate practitioners face when they go car shopping: big expectations but a small bank account. Cartland wanted the looks, comfort, and reliability of a new car, but she couldn't afford one.

December 8, 2010
6 Ways to Cut the Cost of Driving

Here are a few other ways you can save gas and improve mileage, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In this Guide:

Real estate is an on-the-go profession. In fact, you've probably joked at one point or another that your car is your second office. Today that joke isn't quite as funny, as sky-high gas prices make it prohibitively expensive to spend your day driving clients around town.

December 8, 2010
Fuel Efficient Glossary for Car Shoppers

From "alternative fuel" to "PZEV," our abridged glossary will help clarify the finer points of green machine shopping, as part of the 2009 Auto Buyer's Guide.

In this Guide:

Alternative fuels: Generally nonpetroleum fuels, including ethanol, synthetic diesel, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen.