Today, the Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac  was released. It shows most average mortgage rates are slowly increasing because of January’s positive employment data. It is still a great time to get some record low rates! 

Here’s a list from The New York Times on three ways borrowers can show lenders they are low-risk.

1. Have a credit (FICO) score of 740 or higher
2. Put down at least 25%.
3. Lock in a 45-day or 30-day rate guarantee if you are near closing

Good news from data just released from CoreLogic. Check out the decreases in foreclosure rates and delinquent mortgages for the Des Moines-West Des Moines area:

Foreclosure rate:Nov. 2011: 2.48%Nov. 2010: 2.69%

• Year-to-year rate dropped 12.48%
• National average was 3.41% in Nov. 2011

Mortgage delinquency (90+ days):Nov. 2011: 4.71%Nov. 2010: 4.81%

•  Year-to-year rate decreased 7.27%%

The Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa, housing market is ranked 4th by Inman News for a metro area that is expected to “outshine many other markets in real estate performance this year.” The report looked at rising real estate volume sales, low foreclosure activity, appreciating sales prices, home affordability, and growing job markets in areas with populations over 150,000.

The list is as follows:

1. Raleigh-Cary, NC
2. Wichita, Kan.
3. Rochester, NY
4. Des Moines-West Des Moines, Iowa
5. Chattanooga, Tenn.-Ga.

For the complete list, click here.

I get a lot of questions about the 14,000-square foot home with a football field (including goal posts), 1,000-sq ft pool, and guesthouse that was lived in for only 2 years.  Well, the West Des Moines home, formerly owned by Dave Walter’s, that was built for more that $5 million in 2005-06 sold last week for $2.5 million. The property was turned over to the bank in 2008 and Northwest Bank has been trying to sell it since early 2009.  If you’re interested, here’s the property link.

 http://iow.mlxchange.com/DotNet/Pub/EmailView.aspx?r=704494457&s=IOW&t=IOW 

Popular Des Moines neighborhood, Beaverdale, is planning to spruce up it’s business district with a roundabout on the corner of Urbandale and Beaver Avenue.  This is designed to draw residents with bigger sidewalks, slow down traffic, and make the business area more attractive.  Supporters have raised over $1 million to help pay for the project, but plans still need to be approved by the Des Moines City Council.

What do you think? This new trend of creating roundabouts has proponents and opponents.

According to Manpower, an employment services firm, Des Moines companies will be hiring in 2012.  Who’s hiring, firing and maintaining their staff during this first quarter?  The firm surveyed more than 18,000 employers in 100 metro areas to find out, and the results were posted online at Forbes, one of the leading sources for business.

Des Moines, Iowa tied for third in the country with Houston-Sugarland-Baytown, Texas. Each city had a net hiring outlook of 14 percent. 

Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla. and Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla. were tied for first with a 17 percent hiring outlook.

Many cities across the country are showing signs of an improving real estate market, and Des Moines, Iowa, has joined the list.  The National Association of Home Builders’ released new information this week, which brings the rebounding real estate markets to 76, up from 41 in December.  Ames, Iowa also made the list.

NAHB, along with First American’s Improving Markets Index, examines cities across the country.  They look for at least 6 months improvement in housing prices, employment, and housing permits.  More positive news: The study now lists cities in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

Are you looking for other ways to help with that New Year’s Resolution to get in better shape? DIY (do-it-yourself) projects can burn calories.  This list may just help you get off the couch the next time a chore needs to be done.

• Interior painting: 136 calories per hour
• Building a fence: 340 calories per hour
• Caulking windows and doors: 280 calories per hour
• Cleaning rain gutters: 272 calories per hour
• Installing ceramic tile: 238 calories per hour
• Chopping firewood: 340 calories per hour
• Mowing the lawn: 306 calories per hour
• Planting shrubs: 238 calories per hour
• General gardening: 204 calories per hour

Just what you need: Another New Year’s resolution.  Don’t stop reading. Instead of a new diet fad or workout, this list is for one of your largest investments--your home!  HouseLogic, an online resource for homeowners from the National Association of Realtors, put together a fun top 10 list of things a homeowner should try and accomplish in 2012.

1. Lose weight. This means cutting energy use by cleaning out ducts and sealing them in fiberglass insulation.  

2. Quit smoking. Purify indoor air by changing filters regularly, use kitchen vents when cooking, burn real wood instead of pressed, and look into a portable air cleaner.
3. Get out of debt. Set a budget for improvements or maintenance. Experts suggest budgeting between 1% - 3 % of your home’s value.
4. Learn something new.  This is a good time to educate yourself on home finances and maintenance skills.
5. Get organized. Home improvement stores and the Internet have great ideas on storage solutions in an effort to de-clutter.
6. Volunteer.  Look for ways to enhance your area, such as a neighborhood watch program or community garden.
7. Drink less.  You can save money by installing some eco-friendly products that help reduce water flow and waste, such as low-flow shower heads and HE toilets.
8. Spend more time with the family.  Making simple home improvement projects--such as planting a tree or making a home preparedness kit--a family project can help check things of your list while also spending more time together.
9. Get fit.  You can burn hundreds of calories buy doing some simple home improvement projects yourself.
10. Be less stressed.  Installing LED bulbs, fiber-cement siding, ceramic tile and other maintenance-free materials can help create a durable, trouble-free environment.