• Gannett News Service via Shreveport Times, Tuesday, June 12, 2007 11 AM

"Realty" television is still red-hot, even as home sales and prices rapidly cool. Shows that focus on selling homes - particularly for home "flippers" are still popular.

Indeed, cable channels, including HGTV, TLC, Bravo and A&E DIY, are actually cranking up their home-dealing programming with shows featuring developers, investors and home-improvement buffs. "These shows became popular when real estate became water-cooler and cocktail-party talk," says Chicago real estate agent Mark Nash, author of "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home."

Plus, these programs are cheap to produce. With five shows already in the genre, HGTV has launched "Bought & Sold," "Secrets That Sell" and "Get It Sold" and reality now accounts for 33% percent of the net's lineup. After all, says programming chief Michael Dingley, "this is still the most expensive investment in most people's lives."

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