In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, average fixed mortgage rates again reached new record lows. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.79 percent continues to remain well below 4 percent and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages are also slightly down at 3.04 percent.

Are we really poised for a recovery in the housing market? The latest encouraging words from the U.S. Conference Board's Demand Institute Division are that we are heading for a rapidly accelerating rental market which will lead to a housing recovery.

Open houses are not the best vehicles for selling homes. So why do Real Estate Agents bother with them? For the following reason: Open houses are a great means for prospecting.