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By wire services
Published April 10, 2005

2005 LOOKS TO BE the year that housing finally cools off, BusinessWeek says. The magazine says home prices won't plunge, but "they just won't rise very much." Consumer Reports, meanwhile, offers tips on how to save money buying a home. "As housing prices are leveling off in some areas, now may be a good time for those families considering downsizing to sell," the magazine says. It also says variable-rate home loans can be bad deals now with rising interest rates.

THE ABILITY TO HAWK goods and services effectively is the business skill of the future, according to a survey of more than 1,300 executives. Marketing was cited by 31 percent of the executives as the critical area of expertise for the next generation of business leaders. Operations was second, and financial expertise came in third. "This is the most cluttered marketplace in history - just about everything is available everywhere, all the time," said Seth Godin, author of marketing book Purple Cow. "Leaders understand that spreading the word about their offerings is the only path to success."

REASONS FOR BUYING second homes have expanded beyond wanting a vacation retreat. One new trend is purchases of what real estate experts are calling "event" homes. That includes, for example, avid college football fan alumni who buy condos in their college town so they have a place to stay when they return for football weekends.

WITH THE COST OF GAS going up, commuting costs may be wearing down your wallet. Bankrate.com says there are simple ways to trim spending, including cleaning out your vehicle. Your car's fuel efficiency is lowered by extra weight in the car, so empty your trunk and keep only those items you'll need in an emergency.

WHEN WRITING YOUR RESUME, think selective, not exhaustive. Ideally, it should be contained on one page. Employers want to know whether a candidate is looking for the job they are trying to fill, and whether a candidate is qualified for a particular post, says Cindy Morgan-Jaffe, director of the Career Studio in Bethesda, Md. And they want to know quickly.

Compiled from Times wires and Web sites.

[Last modified April 10, 2005, 00:39:14]