Phoenix

A 30-story hurricane-damaged condo in West Palm Beach, Fla. came tumbling down on Sunday in a Valentines Day implosion that made spectators' hearts go 'boom.' The scheduled implosion took only 15 seconds to crash the concrete and steel building into a 40-foot pile of rubble that will take about three months to clean up. The tower that was at 1515 Flagler is the third largest building in the U.S. to be imploded.

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne damaged the tower back in 2004, and it has languished ever since, creating an eyesore for the high-end neighborhood, reported CBS Affiliate Channel 12. The biggest concern was the effect on other residences next door.

Should Carrie Bradshaw and her gal pals pack their bags and move to Boston? Yes, according to SingleMindedWomen.com, which just released its 2010 list of the top 10 cities for single women. Boston tops the list, followed by Washington DC, New York City, Seattle, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Denver, Pittsburgh, Dallas, and Austin.

In calculating the results, SingleMindedWomen.com took into account factors such as the cost of living, which includes the cost to buy as well as rent property, according to Anne-Marie Nieves, a spokeswoman for the site.

With first-time buyers dominating the real estate scene in 2009 and expected to play a big role in the market in 2010, and with single women accounting for a large proportion of the buying population (21% of all home purchases in 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors), the site's research may tell part of the story of where women choose to purchase in 2010.

Low appraisals are on the rise and they're killing real estate deals right and left.

The problem stems from a combination of short sales and foreclosures. Both are contributing to difficulties accurately pricing homes, according to MSNBC.

Roughly 40 percent of all home sales last year were foreclosures and short sales, meaning the property sold for less than the remaining mortgage. The National Association of Realtors reports that nearly one in four Realtors report losing a sale due to lower-than-expected appraisals. The National Association of Home Builders reports low appraisals sinking overall valuation.

Here's how it could spell trouble for you...