NATION

NATION
Many buyers pay cashfor homes, poll shows
Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corp. said a poll of its upscale properties agents revealed that nearly a third of wealthy home buyers, 31.5 percent, paid cash. For those who decided to take a mortgage, 17 percent put down more than half the purchase price.
Agents polled said most of their clients (68 percent) could be considered "new money," with executives the predominant field, followed by entrepreneurs who own their own businesses.
The well-designed kitchen -- whether for the chef or their own cooking -- was the top amenity for home hunters, the agent poll revealed, followed by a media room with theater-style seating, a wine cellar, tennis or basketball court, indoor pool and a ballroom/cigar room.
To keep workers happy,bosses use point system
The bosses of corporate America are well aware that employees wish they were paid more, but the moribund business climate is making it hard to address compensation issues.
So some managers have begun turning to online shopping as a way to reward good work, according to Maritz Inc., a Missouri-based market researcher.
Taking a page from point-redemption programs popularized by credit-card issuers and hotels, some employers have begun awarding points for workers to spend on gifts -- jewelry, vacation packages, hotel stays, event tickets, dining, sporting goods and the like, the research company reported.
Associated Press