President Barack Obama has succeeded in getting backing from Congress for his bill to stimulate the US economy.

The $819 billion Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by 244 votes to 188, although the division of the house was strictly down party lines as none of the Republican members backed the bill, in spite of appeals by Mr Obama for them to do so.

However, the passing of the bill may help the US economy to recover from its slump sooner, which could help raise the value of property in the USA.

One practical measure included in the recovery plan is to invest in energy efficiency measures for homes.

Such a move could help increase the value of property in the USA by lowering the cost of fuel bills, thus making households cheaper to run.

It may also make them more attractive to eco-conscious buyers looking to invest in green property.

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