Michael LaFido's (sellmorerealestatetoday) Blog

  Difficult home odors plague homeowners.  Ground into rugs, absorbed into walls, and clinging to furniture, some smells are slow to fade, leaving lasting impressions on both guests and potential buyers. Often, that impression is unfavorable. Do something about it.  In this video 4-minute piece f...

One Reason Why Mortgage Rates Are Back To All-Time Lows   Home affordability improved this week after the Federal Reserve released its November 3-4, 2009 meeting minutes. The FOMC Minutes is a companion to the Federal Reserve's post-meeting press release. It's released 3 weeks after the Fed adjou...

The Home Price Index Shows Home Values Increasing. Case-Shiller Agrees.   It's official -- home prices are no longer in free fall.  According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Home Price Index posted its first quarterly increase since 2007 last quarter. The news was reported Tuesday. The...

Existing Home Sales Blow Past Expectations   Another month, another piece of evidence that the housing market is in recovery. Existing Home Sales surged in October as the nation's homebuyers took advantage of low mortgage rates, low list prices, and, for some, a generous tax credit. Home resales ...

Help! Thanksgiving Is Thursday And I Don't Know What To Cook!   Thanksgiving is Thursday. If you're cooking for group (or a crowd) and you haven't yet put your menu in order, click on through Bon Appetit's Thanksgiving Menu Planner. Answer to 3 basic questions and Bon Appetit serves up a list of ...

Should I Consider A 15-Year Fixed Mortgage?   For today's home buyers and homeowners that can manage the higher monthly payments, 15-year fixed rate mortgage rates look attractive as compared to comparable 30-year products. The 15-year/30-year interest rate spread is near its 5-year high. Despite...

Housing Starts Are Down And Why It's Terrific News For Sellers   A "Housing Start" is a home on which construction has started and, for the 4th straight month, national single-family housing starts held steady last month.  When the demand for homes grows faster than the number of homes for sale, ...

Housing Starts Are Down And Why It's Terrific News For Sellers A "Housing Start" is a home on which construction has started and, for the 4th straight month, national single-family housing starts held steady last month.  When the demand for homes grows faster than the number of homes for sale, p...

Housing Starts Are Down And Why It's Terrific News For Sellers A "Housing Start" is a home on which construction has started and, for the 4th straight month, national single-family housing starts held steady last month.  When the demand for homes grows faster than the number of homes for sale, p...

A conforming mortgage is one that, quite literally, conforms to the mortgage guidelines set forth by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Each year, the government sets the maximum allowable loan size for a conforming mortgage, based on "typical" housing costs nationwide.  Loans in excess of this amount ar...