Bank of America Short Sale - 10/31/09 12:22 AM
Does anyone have an actual email address or contact for a B of A negotiator that can effectively make a decision on a short sale? Thanks!
… (10 comments)

Luxury Real Estate Agents - 10/31/09 12:14 AM
For all my fellow Rainers who are in their own luxury markets, what are you doing to find luxury sellers? Any advice, tips?
… (4 comments)

Really?! - 10/30/09 05:52 PM

Is this really gonna stop somebody?
… (8 comments)

How To Find Good Deals As The Buyers Market Comes To An End - 10/30/09 12:08 PM
 At some point in their lives, every home buyer in America has wondered "Is now the best time to buy a home?" In this 3-minute video, NBC's The Today Show does a good job of answering the question.
The conclusion? Yes, but not if you're going to overpay.
The Buyers Market is ending, we learn, as home prices rise across most of the country.  Pockets of opportunity remain, however, and the focused home buyer can still find a "good deal".
Some of the video's tips include:
On what types of homes can you get the best prices What you can learn from … (1 comments)

What The Media Missed In September's New Home Sales Report - 10/29/09 11:57 AM
Some days, newspaper headlines are a terrible place to get your real estate news. 
Today is one of those days.
After the September New Home Sales report showed sales volume down from August, the mainstream media jumped on the story:
New Home Sales fall a surprising 3.6% Surprise Drop In New Home Sales Stocks slide as New Home Sales fall But the headlines miss the point, somewhat.  Yes, home sales volume is important to housing, but it's not as important as home supply.
A deeper look at the New Home Sales data reveals an interesting comparison point:
New home sales volume fell 3.6% The number of … (3 comments)

Home Values In 95% Of Case-Shiller Markets Are Improving Year-To-Year - 10/28/09 12:26 PM

For August, the Case-Shiller Index showed annual home values improving across 19 of 20 U.S. markets. It's the first time in 3-plus years that the benchmark housing index has shown such strength.
According to a Case-Shiller Index spokesperson, "The rate of annual decline in home price values continues to improve."
It's yet another sign that housing may have already bottomed.
However, just because the Case-Shiller Index shows a stabilization in home values, that doesn't necessarily make it true. This is because real estate happens on the local level and the Case-Shiller Index is more "national". It tracks data in just … (0 comments)

Falling Home Supplies Mean More Multiple-Offer Situations For Buyers - 10/27/09 03:39 PM
The national housing supply fell to a 2-year low last month, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
At the current sales pace, existing home inventories would sell out in 7.8 months -- 30 percent faster versus November 2008.
For a 10-month window, that's a major housing supply reduction and it helps to explain why multiple-offer situations have been so common lately.
Moreover, the same report from NAR showed sales activity reaching its highest point since July 2007, too.
If you're looking for evidence that the long-standing Buyers Market is ending, this month's Existing Home Sales report might be it.
Even … (0 comments)

Powermat : The Wireless Battery Charger For Cell Phones - 10/26/09 03:18 PM
Tired of "wire clutter" where your mobile phones, MP3 players and gaming devices compete for outlet space?
The Powermat may be your solution.
The Powermat is a 12-inch long wireless battery charger that's conspicuously missing  "plugs".  Instead, it uses magnetic induction to safely recharge up to 3 devices at once.
Just place your phone(s) on the pad and they charge automatically.
The Powermat debuted at the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show and was reviewed in video.  The reviewers had many positive comments on the Powermat, but highlighted some negatives aspects, too. Give a look and see what you think.
Powermat retails for $99 on Amazon.com and is usually … (0 comments)

Haunted Houses, Halloween Activities in Phoenix, AZ - 10/24/09 11:52 AM
Haunted houses and Halloween activities in Arizona. If you are in the Phoenix area and looking for some frightening fun, I found this article written by Judy Hedding at About.com full of haunted houses and attractions. From Morbid Manor in Glendale to The Cornfield in Queen Creek, there is spookiness valley wide! Have a fun and safe Halloween week!
… (0 comments)

Government : Home Values Edged Lower In August - 10/23/09 10:47 AM

According to the government, home values edged lower last month.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency's Home Price Index report shows values down by 0.3 percent from the month prior -- the index's first down month since April.
The Home Price Index is based on the value of homes financed via Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and, in this sense, the FHFA Home Price Index is more of a "national" real estate index that its private-sector cousin, the Case-Shiller Index.
But like the Case-Shiller, the HPI is as notable for what it specifically excludes as for what it includes. Most notably, the Home Price Index doesn't account for homes … (0 comments)

As Gas Prices Rise, Home Affordability Wanes - 10/22/09 11:47 AM
With crude oil at its highest levels since October 2008, retail gas is up 8 cents per gallon this week.
It's bad news for home buyers and mortgage rate shoppers.  The same force that's driving oil higher is linked to rising mortgage rates.
We're talking about the weakening U.S. Dollar which is now at its worst levels versus the Euro in 15 months.
Crude oil is priced in U.S. dollars, by the barrel.  When the dollar loses value, more of them are needed to buy the same barrel of oil.  As a result, predictably, the price of crude oil goes up.
Now, there are … (2 comments)

Housing Starts Post 8th Gain in 9 Months - 10/22/09 11:37 AM
Housing Starts on single-family homes gained last month, marking the 8th time that's happened this year.
A "Housing Start" is a home for which the foundation has been excavated and, considered alongside other key market metrics, September data suggests that the housing market stabilization is complete.
Momentum in housing is overwhelmingly positive:
Homes under contract are soaring National home supplies are way down Home values are up in a lot of markets Despite the positive news, the press is calling September's Housing Starts data a "bummer". Citing a drop in monthly building permits, the media purports that housing will slow in the months ahead. 
The conclusion … (0 comments)

Previewing The New Good Faith Estimate - 10/20/09 11:17 AM

The new Good Faith Estimate makes its debut January 1, 2010.
Expanded from 1page to 3, the legislators responsible for the new Good Faith Estimate want it to be simpler for homeowners and home buyers to understand than the former version.
By most accounts, Congress will meet this goal. 
The new Good Faith Estimate includes plain-English explanations of every fee, charge, and interest payment involved in a purchase or refinance.  It also includes a section called "The Shopping Cart" in which applicants can compare lenders.
The new Good Faith Estimate is concise, too.  Using a series of "Yes/No" checkboxes on Page … (0 comments)

DIY : How Do I Fix A Towel Rack That's "Loose" - 10/19/09 12:17 PM
Check out this great DIY home improvement video.
Over time, towel racks tend to come loose from sheetrock walls.  And, sometimes, they separate completely.  The good news is that making repairs is easy -- it's something you can do yourself with a little instruction.
In this 2-minute video from ExpertVillage.com, a professional contractor shows that with just a drill and some butterfly anchors, re-securing a towel rack can be a basic handyman job.
So, before you call a professional to rehang your towel rack, watch the video and consider making the repair yourself.
Originally posted at The Blair Group.
… (1 comments)

The Fed Thinks The Economy Is Improving And What It Means For Home Affordability - 10/16/09 11:40 AM
Mortgage rates are higher after the Federal Reserve released the internal notes of its September 22-23, 2009 meeting.
Known as the "Fed Minutes", the report details the conversation and cross-currents that led to the Federal Reserve's decision to vote "unchanged" on the Fed Funds Rate after its last meeting.
The Fed Minutes are the lengthy companion to the more famous, succinct post-meeting press release.
As a comparison:
Press Release: 383 words Minutes: 6934 words The extra level of details is a big deal because Wall Street is perpetually in search of clues about what the Federal Reserve is going to do next.
In the … (1 comments)

Foreclosures Concentrate In Just 4 States - 10/15/09 04:24 PM
For the seventh consecutive month, foreclosure activity in the U.S. was dominated by a tiny subset of states.
As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of September's foreclosure-related activity occurred in just 4 states:
California Florida Nevada Michigan These states represent just 22.05 percent of the total U.S. population.
Overall, foreclosures are up 29 percent from September 2008 and, while, the data seems negative, defaults are creating some interesting buying opportunities.
Foreclosed homes often sell at a discount as compared to non-foreclosed homes. Cheap prices, low mortgage rates and willing buyers have helped to spur home sales in many U.S. markets.   In August, … (3 comments)

Should Joint Homeowners Keep Separate Bank Accounts? - 10/14/09 11:49 AM
When you own a home with a spouse or partner, the issue of what's mine, what's yours, and what's ours can be a divisive one.
Each household has its own money management methodology and, according to financial talk-show host Suze Orman, most leave significant room for improvement.
In this 4-minute piece aired on NBC's The Today Show, Orman talks about co-managing finances with topics including:
How to determine how much money goes into a "personal" spending account versus a "family" spending account The importance of both parties taking an active role in bill-paying How to manage the money when one partner … (1 comments)

Use A Retractable Hose Reel To Simplify Yard Work - 10/13/09 11:32 AM
 

Sometimes, it's not the yard work that's so tough. It's fighting the garden hose.
Tangles, kinks and hassle can turn watering the yard into a chore unto itself.
Especially if you have store your hose in the garage. Coiling water-logged, dirty tubing can be a real pain.
Enter the 100-foot retractable hose from Frontgate. Wall-mounted and commercial-grade, it's a durable garden hose that simplifies yard work.
The half-inch diameter tubing extends from the casing which is on a 180-degree swivel.  Reaching all the corners of your lawn is a breeze.  And the hose retracts with little effort and no snags.
Plus, the plastic … (0 comments)

Simple Real Estate Definitions : Escrow Account - 10/08/09 11:27 AM
An escrow account is a designated savings account into which funds get deposited for a specific purpose.
With respect to real estate and home loans, escrow accounts are used to pay real estate tax bills and homeowners insurance payments.
Escrow accounts are managed and disbursed by lenders.
When a homeowner "escrows" his mortgage, along with his scheduled monthly mortgage payment, he must also send an additional payment to the lender equal to 1/12 of the home's annual real estate tax bill plus 1/12 of the annual homeowners insurance bill.
By sending a pro rata portion of the tax and insurance bill … (0 comments)

The FHA Is Changing Its Streamline Refinance Guidelines November 2009 - 10/07/09 11:19 AM
Beginning November 17, 2009, the FHA will make it harder to qualify for its popular Streamline Refinance program.
Available exclusively to homeowners with existing FHA home loans, the streamline program is meant to help homeowners reduce mortgage payments as simply as possible.
As such, the program carries minimum eligibility requirements.
In fact, the FHA Streamline Refinance is more notable for what it doesn't require from applicants.
There's no income verification There's no asset verification There's no employment verification There's no appraisal required The two biggest qualifiers, really, are that the homeowner meets a minimum credit score and that the new loan doesn't exceed the original … (0 comments)

Pending Homes Sales Gain For The 7th Straight Month - 10/06/09 11:48 AM
Buoyed by a generous tax credit, affordable homes, and low mortgage rates, the Pending Home Sales Index posted its seventh consecutive monthly gain in August.
It's the longest winning streak in the index's history and the highest reading in 2-1/2 years.
It's also another signal that the housing market is in recovery.
"Pending home sales" are a forward-looking indicator, measuring the number homes under contract to sell, but not yet closed. 
Historically, 80% of homes under contract close within 60 days.  Most others close within 120 days.
It's no wonder home values are rising in so many markets.
Home buyers -- take note.  … (1 comments)

How Often Should You Change Your HVAC Air Filter? - 10/05/09 04:25 PM
It depends. Check out this one minute video!
… (1 comments)

The Sellers' Deadly Sins : How To Keep Your Home From Selling At Maximum Dollar - 10/02/09 03:52 PM
NBC's The Today Show lays it out cleanly in this 5 minute video.
Check it out at The Blair Group.
… (0 comments)

You've Got 15 More Days To Use The First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit - 10/01/09 10:38 AM
The government's First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit program expires November 30, 2009 -- a scant 60 days from today.
Considering it can take up to 60 days to close on a home, first-time buyers have 2 weeks at most to find a home.
Buyers not under contract by October 15 have little chance of meeting the November 30 deadline and, therefore, little chance of claiming the tax credit.
This is especially true for purchases involving short sales and foreclosures.
Congress passed the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit program as part of the 2009 economic stimulus plan.  IRS Form 5405 outlines the program criteria which include … (4 comments)