Nick and Cindy's Blog

30-year mortgages at new record low

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:10 -0600

The average interest rate dropped to an all-time bargain of 4.71% this week thanks to an aggressive government campaign. Read more.

U.S. House passes Buchanan drywall bill

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:15:06 -0600

Move could give owners a temporary break on mortgage payments; the Senate passed a similar bill earlier. Read more.

Government increases pressure on mortgage industry

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:02:10 -0600

At-risk owners need more help; Treasury Dept. plans to withhold incentives, drop contracts and shame lenders. Read more.

Nine consecutive gains for pending home sales

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:26:09 -0600

Oct.'s index increased 3.7% since Sept. and 31.8% since Oct. 2008, for its strongest number in almost four years. Read more.

3 economic reports give reasons for optimism

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:28:47 -0600

Positive employment, consumer spending and home reports suggest a modest recovery rather than a second recession. Read more.

Q&A clears the air about homebuyer tax credits

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:50:53 -0600

Many people want to use the tax break, but may be confused about the process. This info will help answer their questions. Read more.

Tax credit gives home sales best boost in decade

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 13:44:46 -0600

Analysts say first-time buyers provided the biggest surge in sales in a decade - nearly 36% higher than Jan.'s low point. Read more.

Florida’s existing home, condo sales up in October 2009

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:23:03 -0600

Existing sales rose 45%, marking 14 months in a row for higher year-to-year sales. National housing sales up 10.1%. Read more.

Foreclosures hitting more people with good credit

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:01:04 -0600

MBA report: Problems shift from subprime loans to unemployment; Fla. leads nation in number of foreclosures. Read more.

Next wave of foreclosures looms

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:35:54 -0600

Study: About 7 million properties are destined to go into foreclosure compared with 1.27 million in early 2005. Read more.

Court again upholds Fla. homeowner tax breaks

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:50:18 -0600

Judges upheld the legal portability of property taxes for the first time, and Save Our Homes for the third time. Read more.

Tax-credit extension renews buyer interest in buying a home

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:05:13 -0600

Phones rang less often as first-time buyers saw the clock ticking on the tax credit, but now Realtors report renewed interest. Read more.

NAR Survey: First-time homebuyers set record in past year

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:13:46 -0600

NAR Survey: 47% were new buyers this year thanks to tax incentives, high affordability conditions and pent-up demand. Read more.

Homebuyer tax credit has added benefits for armed services

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:41:59 -0600

Military members have an extra year to apply and an exception to the minimum occupancy requirement. Read more.

Foreclosures dip 3% in October from September

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:35:47 -0600

RealtyTrac: The number of owners losing their home dropped for the third straight month; 19% increase year-over-year. Read more.

5% of Americans plan to buy a home next year

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:14:24 -0600

Survey: 1 in 20 Americans - many Southerners in their mid-30s - think prices have bottomed and the time is right. Read more.

Florida's existing home, condo sales up in 3Q 2009

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:31:00 -0600

Existing sales rose 33%, marking the 5th quarter in a row for higher year-to-year sales. National housing sales up 11.4%. Read more.

More walk away from homes, mortgages

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:45:22 -0600

For housing to recover, inventory must go down; but that might not happen if a large number of owners just walk away. Read more.

Obama signs bill: Homebuyer tax credit extended

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:42:24 -0600

It's now law: Buyers get 5 more months to sign a contract, 7 more months to close; Fla. downpayment aid program extended; some move-up buyers get $6,500. Read more.

Tax credit extension passes House and Senate

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:45:22 -0600

Not a done deal, but Obama says he'll sign it. New buyers get 5 more months to sign a contract; existing owners win too. Read more.

Economists expect recovery to stick

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:15:45 -0600

Nearly 80% of the economists in a survey say the stock market rally since March heralds a sustainable recovery. Read more.

UF study: Job uncertainty holds back real estate resurgence

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:42:44 -0600

Uncertainty is the enemy of any economic recovery, and Fla.'s high unemployment rate could slow a real estate rebound. Read more.

Pending home sales rise again

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:18:08 -0600

Sept. reflects eight straight months of increases; the year-over-year increase is the highest on record, says NAR. Read more.

Newcomers to give Florida banks a run for the money

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:11:59 -0500

An influx of new banks cranks up the competition, which should ease credit requirements and increase lending. Read more.

Senate panel OKs extension for home buyers’ credit

Nick and Cindy Davis CDPE,ALHS,Realtor(R) (RE/MAX Premier Group) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:15:33 -0500

But it's not a done deal yet. Current version adds a credit for non-first-time buyers and raises income limits. Read more.