Memphis Area Association of Realtors is hosting Case Studies in Real Estate Analysis from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Course prerequisites include proficiency in the HP 10BII or 10B calculator; background in financial investment concepts, terminology and calculations; and completion of a commercial designation such as the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. Course cost for Memphis Metro certified commercial investment members is $175. The course offers eight hours of Tennessee continuing education credit.

The Realtor luncheon is 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 14 at the Memphis Area Home Builders Association, 776 Germantown Parkway. Guest speaker is Mike Heidingsfield, Memphis Shelby Crime Commission president and chief executive officer. Call 818-2444 at least 48 hours in advance to make reservations. No-shows and walk-ups will be charged $15.

Silent auction items and a wine tasting with Shields Hood will enhance this year's Habitat for Humanity kickoff party in the Memphis Area Association of Realtors education center, 6393 Poplar Ave., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 22. Tickets to the benefit wine tasting are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For information or to purchase tickets to the wine tasting, contact Lee Ann Williams-Maley, 818-2423, or lwilliamsmaley@maar.org.

In Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.34 percent, with an average 0.6 point, for the week ended July 26, dropping from 6.49 percent the previous week. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 7.03 percent. This is the lowest the 30-year FRM has been since Freddie Mac began tracking this figure 31 years ago. The average for the 15-year FRM last week was 5.76 percent, with an average 0.5 point, down from the previous week's average of 5.93 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 6.58 percent. The 15-year FRM has not been this low at any time since Freddie Mac started tracking it in August 1991. One-year, Treasury-indexed, adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 4.31 percent last week, with an average 0.5 point, down from the prior week's average of 4.5 percent. This time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.72 percent. Last week, the 1-year ARM dropped below levels not seen since the week ended Feb. 25, 1994, when it averaged 4.25 percent.