A strengthened housing market is lifting property values and helping Americans repair their balance sheets, a trend that could spur the economy by making households more willing to spend.

The value of Americans' real-estate holdings jumped about $400 billion, or 2.1%, to $19.1 trillion, in the second quarter, the Federal Reserve said Thursday, the highest level since the final three months of 2008. The increase follows a similar leap in the first quarter and raises the amount of equity that owners have in their homes to a high since the third quarter of 2008.

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Since the recession, sliding property prices have made Americans feel less wealthy and less willing to spend on everything from home renovations and

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By AMY HOAK a reporter in Chicago for MarketWatch.

Good pictures are a crucial marketing tool for a home sale.

Just ask Clarissa and Mark Padilla, who were able to get a contract on their Sherman Oaks, Calif., condo unit in less than two weeks—and at the price they wanted.

Ms. Padilla attributes the quick sale to the professional photography used to market the home, which lured about 25 people to an open house the first weekend the house went on sale. VHT Inc.Professional photographs, using the right angles and staging, show off a kitchen's best features

"When we saw the photos, we fell in love with our place all over again," she says. "The colors were so bright, and it made it look fresh and very spacious. It's only 950 square

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 Looking for a winter getaway for your ski-obsessed teen? A beach retreat with a toddler friendly pool? A safari lodge for that once-in-a-lifetime vacation? The ultimate ski-vacation? Read below to see the TOP-10 of the United States "Best Hotels for Families" as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers in the annual World's Best Awards survey 2012. The nine regional winners are profiled here; complete listings and poll methodology can be found at travelandleisure.com.

United States

1. St. Regis Deer Valley Park City, Utah - 96.84

Talk about top-notch service: a former Buckingham Palace steward runs the butler program at this 181-room hotel overiooking Deer Hollow run. Another standout? Olympic freestyler Shannon Bahrke, the new ski ambassador, is your guide…

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2012

Park City, Utah –The Park City Board of REALTORS® 2012 Second Quarter statistics, show the highest number of sales and pended sales in the Greater Park City Area since 2007. The total number of sales for Q2 was 486 with a total sales volume of $347,392,785 and median price of $427,450 - topping last year’s Q2 numbers with 451 units sold, $320,740,133 in total dollar volume and a median price of $412,500.

Sales Numbers and Inventory Sales numbers have bumped along since the end of 2008 and first half of 2009. The highlight of the second quarter of 2012 is the increase in the number of sales and pended sales-which is the highest we have seen since the fourth quarter of 2007. Additionally, the second quarter

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Written by Gina Barker, The Park Record

Chief Economist of the National Association of REALTORS Lawrence Yun came with facts and figures in hand to speak to the Park City Board of REALTORS about the national housing market Thursday. His assessment was a positive one: trends show the housing market is headed toward stabilization. "There are many indicators that things are starting to show much better numbers," Yun said, "both economically and in housing." Perhaps one of the biggest issues areas like Park City will face in the future have less to do with the economy and more to do with government. As a way to raise tax revenue, lawmakers are considering removing tax breaks for those buying a second home. "The government is considering removing interest

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