| |
finances: 2011-12 Cost vs. Value: Big-Bang Remodeling Projects - 03/30/12 12:26 PM
Find out which remodeling projects will provide the biggest bang for your buck this year, according to Remodeling magazine. <!-- /.deck --> <!--|--> March 2012 | By Erica Christoffer <!-- /.section-date-author --> <!--<pre></pre>--> <!-- troubleshooting--> <!-- /.main-image-desc --> <!-- /.main-image --> <!--paging_filter--> Optimizing the use of space in a home will not only attract buyers but also give sellers more bang for their buck, according to Remodeling’s “2011–12 Cost vs. Value Report,” conducted in cooperation with REALTOR® Magazine and NAR’s HouseLogic.com.
An attic bedroom addition costing $50,148 was expected to recoup 72.5 percent of the cost nationally—inching up 0.3 percent … (0 comments)
|
finances: Is Rent-To-Own a good option for You? - 02/25/12 08:18 AM
Buyers: If you are considering pursueing a home purchase on a lease with option to buy please read the attached article. Great information to consider! In the Traverse City real estate area we do not see many of these available but they are occassionaly possibilities for the right purchaser and seller. If you are considering a lease option or just a regular Traverse City area real estate purchase please contact Jon Becker- Century 21 Northland anytime!
Sellers: Your home not selling fast enough? Have you already relocated to another home and the home you are selling is vacant? The attached … (0 comments)
|
finances: Mortgage Rates Hit New Lows Again - 02/03/12 03:02 PM
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, February 03, 2012 <!-- /.section-date-author --> <!--<pre><?/*php print_r($node);*/?></pre>--> <!--paging_filter--> Mortgage rates once again inched lower this week, lowering the cost of borrowing and increasing housing affordability.
"Most mortgage rates eased to all-time record lows this week as fourth quarter growth in the economy fell short of market projections,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement.
Here’s a closer look at rates for the week ending Feb. 2:
30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged a new record low of 3.87 percent, with an average 0.8 point, dropping from last week’s 3.98 percent average. A year … (1 comments)
|
finances: 2011 Traverse City Real Estate Statistics - 01/24/12 02:47 PM
2011 Traverse City Real Estate Statistics Despite the gloom and doom we all hear daily from the news media Traverse City area real estate is moving in a positive direction. A year to year comparison from 2010 to 2011 shows that our local area ( mostly Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Benzie, Antrim, Kalkaska counties) is showing increases in average sales price with less inventory on the market than 1 year ago (2010 - 11,323 listings taken, 2011-9731 listings taken) and less listings expiring (2010- 44.72% all , 36.06% single family 2011 42.18% all, 34.23% single family), meaning a larger % of homes … (0 comments)
|
finances: December Existing-Home Sales Show Uptrend - 01/20/12 03:02 PM
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, January 20, 2012 --> Existing-home sales continued on an uptrend in December, rising for three consecutive months and remaining above where they were a year ago, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
The latest monthly data shows total existing-home salesrose 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.61 million in December from a downwardly revised 4.39 million in November, and are 3.6 percent higher than the 4.45 million-unit level in December 2010. The estimates are based on completed transactions from multiple listing services that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops.
… (1 comments)
|
finances: What Had the Biggest Impact on Housing in 2011? - 01/02/12 10:47 AM
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, December 30, 2011 --> The “government, the mortgage industry, and forces of nature all shook the housing market in 2011,” according to a recent Time magazine article, which highlights the key issues that had the greatest impact on the real estate market this year--and what’s expected to have a major impact in the new year as well.
Here are a few of the issues that the Time magazine article by Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist, notes as having some of the greatest impact:
1. The robo-signing scandal
The issue: Banks were accused of approving … (0 comments)
|
finances: Mortgage Rates Continue to Hover at Record Lows - 12/02/11 02:51 PM
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, December 02, 2011 --> Averages on fixed-mortgage rates continued to hover near historic lows for the week, while adjustable-rate mortgages inched down slightly to reach new record lows, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.
"Mortgage rates were little changed this past week, with the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at or below 4 percent for the fifth consecutive week,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement. “The extraordinarily low mortgage rates of the past month may provide a needed spur to housing activity.”
This week, the National Association of … (1 comments)
|
finances: 30-Year Mortgage Rates Drop Under 4% Again - 11/11/11 04:01 PM
Daily Real Estate News | Friday, November 11, 2011 --> For the second time this year, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped below 4 percent and continues to hover around record lows, Freddie Mac reported in its weekly mortgage market survey.
Yet overall, "fixed mortgage rates were little changed this week amid a mix of economic data reports,” Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a statement.
Here’s a closer look at mortgage rates for the week ending Nov. 10:
30-year fixed-rate mortgages: averaged 3.99 percent with an average 07 point, down from last week’s 4 percent average. The last … (0 comments)
|
finances: Bargains Abound: What Are Buyers Waiting for? - 10/26/11 03:26 PM
Daily Real Estate News | Tuesday, October 25, 2011 --> With low home prices and ultra-low interest rates, the housing market is offering “perhaps the best deals of a generation,” notes a recent article by Bloomberg Businessweek.
Since the housing boom of 2006, home prices have fallen about 31 percent. Also, mortgage rates have been hovering at record lows for the past few weeks (4 percent range or even lower on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, according to Freddie Mac’s mortgage market survey).
“It’s hard to see the possibility of losing on a home purchase right now, with these mortgage rates,” says … (0 comments)
|
finances: Traverse City, Michgan - Top 10 places in USA to Retire - 10/19/11 02:29 PM
The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012 These cities will meet your retirement lifestyle needs and suit your budget By Emily Brandon
October 17, 2011 RSS Feed Print
Comment (16) Tweet Related Articles <!--subwidgets--> In Pictures: The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012 10 Places to Retire on Social Security Alone Find Your Best Place to Retire <!--/subwidgets--> In Pictures: The 10 Best Places to Retire in 2012
Better weather, affordable housing, and plenty of interesting things to do are just a few reasons people move to a new place when they retire. Whether you want to spend … (0 comments)
|
finances: Interest Rates Hit Yearly Lows, In time for Buying Season - 05/11/11 10:38 AM
Daily Real Estate News / May 6, 2011
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, a popular choice among buyers, sank even lower this week, matching its yearly low of 4.71 percent from January, reports Freddie Mac in its weekly mortgage market survey. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5 percent.
Meanwhile, the 15-year fixed-rate hit a new yearly low of 3.89 percent this week. Last week, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.97 percent. The 15-year rate averaged 4.36 percent last year at this time. It reached its lowest level on record in November when it averaged 3.57 percent.
The … (0 comments)
|
finances: Make 11.53% more on your home sale w/ Jon Becker - 04/26/11 03:34 PM
TRAVERSE CITY REAL ESTATE SELLERS TAKE NOTE: So far in 2011 Jon Becker of Century 21 Northland is averages his sellers 11.53% more in sales price of their home than the local MLS average for the area. While the MLS average sales to list price % is 87.87 Jon has average for his clients almost full asking price with a 99.40% sales to list price ratio!!! On a $200,000 home that is an extra $23,000+ in YOUR pocket!
Considering selling in the Grand Traverse area? Contact Jon today for your free no obligation consultation and CMA (Comparative Market Analysis).
Sellers: If … (1 comments)
|
finances: Mortgage Delinquencies Continue to Decline - 03/28/11 06:08 PM
Mortgages for single-family homes that are 90 days or more delinquent declined for the third consecutive month in February, Freddie Mac reports. Delinquencies on single-family homes dropped to 3.78 percent in February from 3.82 percent in January. What's more, delinquencies were lower than the 4.2% rate reported one year ago.Freddie Mac also reported that it has completed 23,017 loan modifications for the first two months of the year. Loan modifications in February totaled 11,885 and totaled 11,153 in January. Source: "Freddie Mac: February Mortgage Delinquencies Decline Again," Dow Jones Business News (March 25, 2011) and "Freddie Mac Reports Drop in Single-Family … (0 comments)
|
finances: Home Ownership Offers Plenty of Tax Benefits - 03/24/11 02:23 PM
While renting offers zero tax breaks, buying a home offers several tax benefits that can make homeownership more affordable. Real estate professionals need to be careful in providing detailed tax advice to clients to avoid lawsuits, but you can ensure clients have the information they need to understand the all of the tax benefits of home ownership.
The following is a few of the tax benefits to home ownership, according to Stephen Fishman, an author and lawyer who specializes in small business, tax and intellectual property law.
▪ Home mortgage interest deduction: Home owners can take an itemized deduction on interest … (3 comments)
|
finances: What is a "Safe" Mortgage? - 03/24/11 02:12 PM
What Is a 'Safe' Mortgage?
Later this month, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. will consider new rules that define what a safe or "qualified" residential mortgage is as part of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law. Experts say the classification will likely have broad sweeping effects on the mortgage market..The Dodd-Frank financial overhaul law, which was passed last summer, contains a risk-retention requirement that requires issuers of securities backed by mortgages and other assets to maintain 5 percent of the risk of a loan, if it is packaged into a security and sold to investors, Dow Jones reports. The idea is … (0 comments)
|
finances: Sellers - Do you qualify to SAVE on Michigan Transfer Tax? - 02/24/11 04:47 PM
The following Q&A was authored by Brian Westrin, Manager of Legal Affairs, MAR.You may recall reading in past MAR publications that in April of 2008 Attorney General Mike Cox issued a very helpful opinion aimed specifically at clarifying the proper application of Michigan Transfer Tax exemption "t". While this particular exemption has been on the books since the Act was signed into law, the opinion by Attorney General Cox gave heft and some much needed clarity regarding its usefulness in the current marketplace. With a struggling marketplace and declining values hitting Michigan hard, exemption "t" sets forth that a seller may … (0 comments)
|
finances: Will Rising Rates Jeopardize Housing Recovery? - 02/15/11 09:53 PM
The 30-year conforming mortgage, a popular choice among borrowers, has been on the rise the last few weeks and inched above 5 percent last week for the first time in a year. Experts predict it will go even higher in the coming weeks too. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage most recently stands at 5.1 percent, compared to 4.2 percent from last October. That rise equates to about $50 extra in monthly payments for 30-year mortgage rate borrowers who have a median priced home of $170,000 with a 20 percent down payment. While the rising rate could be significant for home owners, mortgage … (3 comments)
|
finances: FSBOs Vanish, Sellers Turn to Real Estate Pros - 02/15/11 09:51 PM
For-sale-by-owners are rare nowadays. In fact, the number of FSBOs dropped to record lows over the past year. Unrepresented sellers make up just 11 percent of the market, down from 13 percent in 2009, according to the 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.With today's more complex transactions--such as with short sales and foreclosures and frequent changes in mortgage lending--more sellers are finding comfort in the help of real estate professionals to guide them through the process.FSBOs once were lured to try to sell themselves because they thought they could save on commission fees, but now sellers … (3 comments)
|
finances: Residential Market Outlook: Virtuous or Vicious? - 12/29/10 02:15 PM
It's slow. It's uneven. But it's there: the home sales recovery.
"There will be two steps forward, one step back, with sizable local market differences," says NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Chief Economist Lawrence Yun, " but the trend nevertheless will be a rise in home sale activity in the upcoming years."
Yun is forecasting 5.2 million existing-home sales in 2011, up from 4.8 million last year. He also expects modest improvement in prices-a rise of about 1 percent this year on a national basis. That would be the first in what Yun says will be a series of small but steady … (2 comments)
|
finances: 5 Real Estate Market Predictions for 2011 - 12/13/10 12:38 PM
Freddie Mac analysts point to five features that they believe will likely characterize the 2011 housing and mortgage markets:1. Low mortgage rates. With Fed observers expecting the central bank to keep the federal funds rate at its current target range of 0 percent to 0.25 percent for most (or all) of 2011, relatively low mortgage rates will be a feature of the 2011 mortgage market. Thirty-year fixed-rate loans are likely to remain below 5 percent throughout the year, and initial rates of 5/1 hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages will likely remain below 4 percent in 2011.2. Prices have hit bottom. House prices are … (4 comments)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jon Becker
Traverse City,
MI
More about me…
Century 21 Northland
Address: 241 E. State St., Traverse City, Mi, 49684
Office Phone: (231) 929-7900
Cell Phone: (231) 342-5401
Email Me
Keep yourself informed on Northern Michigan Real Estate information including listings for sale, price changes, listings sold, area community information, real estate related laws/ taxes as well as financing information and real estate buying & selling tips & information. For more complete information and to search ALL area listings, photos / slide shows & listing brochures please visit www.c21jb.com
 Listings
Links
Archives
|
;)
;)
;)
