real estate: The Fed Thinks The Economy Is Improving And What It Means For Home Affordability - 10/15/09 11:55 PM
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 … (0 comments)
|
real estate: Pending Homes Sales Gain For The 7th Straight Month - 10/06/09 12:56 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 … (0 comments)
|
real estate: The Case-Shiller Shows Home Prices Are Still On Their Way Up - 10/01/09 03:18 PM
For the second month in a row, 18 of the 20 Case-Shiller real estate markets posted higher home values. It's the 6th consecutive strong showing for the benchmark private-sector housing index.
Combined with falling home supplies and rising sales figures, this month's Case-Shiller Index suggests that housing may have bottomed sometime … (0 comments)
|
real estate: The Housing Market Index Reaches A 16-Month High - 09/22/09 01:18 PM
According to the country's home builders, the housing market is looking good.
Each month, the National Association of Home Builders releases its Housing Market Index report, a survey geared at taking "the pulse of the single-family housing market".
Respondents report on three facets of their business, each series weighted and averaged:
How … (0 comments)
|
real estate: How To Change Your USPS Mailing Address Online - 08/25/09 03:47 PM
Filing an official Change of Address form with the United States Postal Service is one of the most important steps in the moving process.
It's how bills, letters and catalogs find you after your change of residence.
Strangely, though, a lot of people wait until the last-minute-before-moving before telling the post office … (0 comments)
|
real estate: The end of 2008 market report for Orange County real estate. - 12/29/08 12:58 AM
Hello again, and Happy New Year!
Here is the end of 2008, or start of the year 2009 real estate market report for Orange County, in Southern California, as compiled by Steven Thomas of Altera Real Estate. In it he gives a synopsis of what we have experienced for the past … (0 comments)
|
real estate: For Real Estate Investors, Finding Loans Is Tougher Than Finding Good Deals - 12/26/08 10:39 AM
With home prices falling across most parts of the country, investors in real estate are finding good value in certain rental properties. Unfortunately, they're also finding it harder to get approved for a home loan.
After getting stung by defaults, conforming mortgage standards for non-owner occupied home loans tightened dramatically last … (0 comments)
|
real estate: A Great Combination : Too Many Homes For Sale And Low Mortgage Rates - 12/24/08 11:11 AM
For the first time in over a year, the sales of "used homes" fell below the 5-million unit trendline, helping to push the total home inventory higher by 0.1 percent nationwide.
Based on the rate at which homes are selling nationwide, it would take 11.2 months for the existing housing … (0 comments)
|
real estate: The Fed Funds Rate May Fall Today, But Mortgage Rates May Not - 12/16/08 12:24 PM
The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from its 2-day meeting at 2:15 P.M. ET today.
It's widely expected that the Ben Bernanke-led FOMC will reduce the Fed Funds Rate by a half-percent to 0.500 percent.
Fed Funds Rate cuts are meant to stimulate the economy by lowering borrowing costs for … (0 comments)
|
real estate: Simple Real Estate Definitions : Refinance - 12/12/08 11:35 AM
A mortgage is a contract between a lender and borrower, defining the terms by which a home loan must be repaid.
The paperwork, signed by both parties, includes provisions for things like:
The interest rate The length of the loan The amount of money to be borrowed But, like all … (0 comments)
|
real estate: Increase Your 2008 Tax Deductions -- Pay Your Mortgage A Few Days Early - 12/10/08 12:07 PM
For most Americans, mortgage interest paid on a home loan is tax-deductible in the year in which it was paid.
With advance planning, therefore, homeowners can increase their 2008 tax deductions and limit their tax liability on April 15.
The key is to make the January 2009 mortgage payment before the New … (1 comments)
|
real estate: As Unemployment Rises, Homes Get More Affordable - 12/05/08 11:44 AM
According to the government, American businesses are cutting staff at an accelerated pace, most recently paring 533,000 jobs this past November.
It's the largest one-month decline since December 1974 and raises the year-to-date job losses to 1.9 million workers.
However, there is a silver lining in the data for all Americans … (0 comments)
|
real estate: How 78 Consecutive Days Of Falling Gas Prices Helps Sell Real Estate - 12/03/08 10:53 AM
For the 78th consecutive day, gas prices fell nationwide yesterday. At $1.81 per gallon, the average price at the pump is less than half what it was at its peak in July.
And although gas prices vary by locale, the cost of a fill-up is worthy of national news.
The main … (0 comments)
|
real estate: As LIBOR Falls, Homeowners With Adjusting ARMs Get Lower Rates - 11/20/08 04:09 PM
The interest rate against which adjustable-rate mortgages change is falling -- evidence that the global banking system is starting to stabilize.
This is good news for U.S. housing markets.
On any adjustable-rate mortgage, the initial "starter rate" remains fixed for some period of time, and then adjusts according to some pre-determined … (0 comments)
|
real estate: This may be the best time of the year to buy local real estate. - 11/20/08 09:48 AM
Below is a link to our company president's most recent Orange County Real Estate Market Report:
http://www.OurAgentSpot.com/sthomas/MarketTime-Nov-13-08.pdf
For a briefer synopsis, this next couple of months represent a good opportunity for local home buyers, with lower prices, and reduced competition. ( Most people are more preoccupied with the Holidays, than with house … (0 comments)
|
real estate: Easy access to all the listings in Coto de Caza. - 10/11/08 03:54 PM
You can use my website - http://Coto4Sale.com - to easily search for Coto de Caza homes, estates, condos, and land for sale. Simply click on either of the home page links "Coto de Caza listings" or "Listings in Coto" You can look at all the properties available or you can tailor your search … (0 comments)
|
real estate: Here's good news for homeowners with "problem" loans. - 06/06/08 01:06 AM
Hope Now, the private sector alliance of mortgage servicers, counselors, and investors that is working to help prevent foreclosures, announced today that mortgage servicers provided loan workouts to approximately 183,000 homeowners in April 2008, the highest monthly amount since the program was begun in July 2007. Since July 2007, the industry … (0 comments)
|
real estate: More good news for Orange County real estate! - 04/20/08 01:53 AM
Here is the latest report from the President of our company:
Market Time Report: First Time Home Buyers are Back - April 17, 2008
Current housing demand continues to outpace last year and the reemergence of first time home buyers is a major factor. If you listen to or read all … (0 comments)
|
real estate: The Equestrian Center at Coto de Caza - 04/15/08 09:34 AM
Residents in Coto de Caza can enjoy the use of the full service Equestrian Center.
The riding center was used for modern equestrian pentathlon events during the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. The Equestrian Center boards about 160 horses and includes five arenas and 47 miles of trails in the surrounding … (0 comments)
|
real estate: A brief opportunity to appeal your property taxes! - 04/11/08 02:08 PM
If you have purchased a property in Orange County ( or elsewhere in California, for that matter.) over the past year or two, there's a chance that the "softening" or decline of values for O.C. properties is affecting you. Perhaps you've already discovered, but there is an appeal process that you … (0 comments)
|
;)
;)
