Over the past few years, home prices have dropped significantly from their peak (as much as 40% in some locations). As the economy continues to get better, opportunistic investors and families seeking a second home have begun taking advantage of these bargain prices and affordable current mortgage rates. According to Jan Rueter, head of residential real estate at US Trust Bank of America Private Wealth Management, “We’ve seen an up-tick in buying in just the last couple of months.” In Greenwich, CT, for example, realty brokers say that the final months of 2009 were close to record-setting in terms of sales volume, as borrowers took advantage of current mortgage rates in Connecticut.

For investors and homeowners alike, it is important to emphasize that the economy is still in a state of recovery and that it is going to take some time for property values to increase. Nevertheless, it is also important to stress that the demand for homes in some of the country’s most prized locations is on the rise and that these low prices and low mortgage rates will not last forever. While the median price for a home in the Hamptons is currently $1.5 million, keep in mind that this represents a drop off of 30% from the peak sales prices of 2007.

Whether you want to realize your dream of being able to say “I’ve got a little place by the beach” as a second home or are looking to make an investment for the long term, now is the perfect time to tap into the slowly rebounding luxury home market and take advantage of low current mortgage rates and record-low prices in some of the most lavish localities in the United States.

During the holidays, your house may well be covered in wonderful and bright decorations to welcome in the season and you may have a Christmas tree with lots of great presents underneath. This also means that the value of your home will increase as you add valuable objects to your house – where they might be targets for burglars or vandals. But will your home insurance cover this increased value?

It’s a good question that many people don’t ask when purchasing cheap home insurance. While most policies will cover things such as presents and decorations around the house during the Christmas season, not every policy will be as inclusive. You can check the documentation you received after getting home insurance quotes to find out more information, but the best bet is to call your provider and see what exactly is covered. Additional holiday coverage might be available depending on your policy.

A traditional homeowners insurance policy is designed to replace or repair your house and personal possessions if they are damaged or destroyed, pay for living expenses (if applicable) and provide liability coverage if someone is injured while on your property. However, many policies are full of loopholes that emerge when you least expect them to.

According to a recent article in MoneyWatch.com, “Most policies have separate limits, usually around $1,000, on how much they’ll reimburse you for certain individual items, such as jewelry, artwork, firearms, and electronics — even if the overall limit on your policy is much higher.”

To avoid this problem, speak with your insurance agent for a home insurance quote that includes the following changes: Make sure your policy covers the extra costs that may arise because of the area you live in, such as an earthquake or fire zone. In addition, make sure that you itemize your valuables. In order to boost your coverage for specific items, you can add a rider—a supplementary insurance policy that pays for a specific item’s loss without a deduction. Contact your insurance agent for more information. Many insurance companies offer free home insurance quotes online for faster service.

Unlike the negative reaction that consumers are having in other markets, the homeowners insurance market is seeing a significant uptick in customer satisfaction according to a new report issued by market research group J.D. Power and Associates. This includes an “unprecedented” 22 point growth on the J.D. Power scale.

“The insurance industry is being impressive on pricing at a time when so many others are not,” said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of J.D. Power’s insurance practice, in an interview Sunday. The attitude among many of the customers surveyed is that “insurers are not hitting customers when they are on their knees when everyone else is.” He said he saw similar results in an auto insurance customer survey conducted in around the same time period.

Among the many factors that played into the growth were lower prices, seen both when getting a home insurance quote and after obtaining a policy, and companies showing consumers how to save more on their premiums on insurance for the home.

Being a fan of a sports team might mean that you wear replica jerseys around town, or perhaps put a bumper sticker on your car. But Manchester United has taken fandom to the next level: you can now buy Manchester United Insurance, a combination of insurance for home and car.

But wait, there’s more! Not only can you have a homeowners insurance policy that comes from your favorite soccer team, but the first 100 people who sign up for the plan also receive a banner signed by the members of the team. What more could you ask for?

It turns out that the insurance is actually being offered by AIG, which is one of the Red Devils’ primary sponsors. So the policy is fairly legitimate, although it’s probably a good idea to get a home insurance quote to find out how the “Man U” policy stacks up with other plans. After all, home insurance is quite different than a flag on your car.

Much like a human’s facial features, the face — or topography — of an island can vary widely.  Many Caribbean islands are characterized by seeming perfectly flat, while other islands can have rocky, almost hazardous-seeming terrain.  There is no type that is considered “best”–it really depends what your plans are for your purchase.  Flatter land is better for building, but some people prefer to have their own areas for rock climbing or other outdoor sports.

Be sure to notify your brokers about what topography you are most interested in for your island purchase.  Keep in mind that most islands aren’t going to be entirely flat, particularly continental islands, which primarily consist of the tops of drowned hills.  The workable surface of these islands generally falls between 10-12%, which is important to keep in mind when you’re laying out your development plans.