houston: Great article on the Houston housing market - 11/08/12 03:05 AM
http://houston.culturemap.com/newsdetail/11-06-12-the-best-real-estate-market-in-america-thats-houston-but-how-long-will-it-last/?utm_source=CultureMap+Houston+Daily+Digest&utm_campaign=b66d4b3d88-Daily_Digest_Houston_2012_11_07&utm_medium=email
The best real estate market in America: That's Houston, but how long will the boom times last?    
By Ralph Bivins 11.06.12 | 10:20 am Houston real estate — from new homes to warehouses to office buildings — is arguably the best overall real estate market in the nation right now.
On the residential side, sales are brisk, the inventory of homes for sale is lower than it has been in many years and home builders finally have started constructing new houses en masse again.
It sounds like Chamber of Commerce hype. But this time, it happens to … (2 comments)

houston: Growing Mortgage Branch Seeking Licensed Loan Officer Associate - 07/30/12 02:25 AM
Job Description A growing branch of Texas-based mortgage bank located in the North Houston/Spring area is seeking Licensed Loan Officer Associate to support the sales and marketing efforts of our Branch Manager and Senior Loan Officer.        Responsibilities include:       •  Meet with clients and complete loan application documents       •  Complete pre-qualification of incoming leads       •  Pre-processing loan application package       •  Follow-up on in-house leads       •  Manage loan transaction through processing, underwriting and closing       •  Provide regular and timely communication of loan progress to clients and referral partners       •  Ensure all loans close on time
… (0 comments)

houston: Houston Mortgage - 01/16/11 10:24 AM
Houston Mortgage providers should be selected based upon objective criterion that includes not only current mortgage rates, but also the typical closing costs charged, the company's service ratings, and qualifications.
Rates can vary widely among mortgage lenders, so a borrower should take the time to shop around a bit. A recent survey of Houston mortgage rates conducted by the Houston Chronicle found that rates on 30-year fixed rate mortgage varied from 4.375% to 6.375%. Your actual rate will depend upon your down payment, your credit score, the type of property you own or purchase and the type of mortgage, so it … (0 comments)

houston: FREE WORKSHOP IN HOUSTON! - Winning Strategies for Open Houses - 02/12/10 03:40 AM
Join us for a FREE Workshop Thursday, February 18th at 9:30am or Wednesday, March 3rd at 10:00am 
  Open Houses are one of the most cost effective ways to generate leads. However, most agents don't structure and market their events to maximize attendance and increase their network. If you are disappointed with spending four hours on a weekend only to have two people come by your event, you need to attend this workshop. We will review success stories from agents throughout the country that you can immediately implement in your marketing plan.
This workshop is presented by Blue Ribbon Agent and … (0 comments)

houston: Increased Monthly FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Proposed - 02/02/10 09:25 AM
By now, you've heard, whether here or somewhere else, about the proposed changes to FHA policies that affect down payment requirements, up-front mortgage insurance premiums, allowable seller concessions, and stepped-up enforcement of FHA lenders. These policies are now set to go into effect with FHA case numbers issued April 5th and beyond. This means that if you have potential first-time homebuyers who plan to take advantage of the $8,000 tax credit, they should't wait until the end of April to get a house under contract because it will likely cost them more.
What you may not have heard is that FHA … (0 comments)

houston: Study Shows Houston Real Estate Investors Are Optimistic - 01/24/10 06:38 AM
A recent survey of Houston, TX-area real estate investors shows that they are generally optimistic about the local housing market. Overall, 81% of the respondents, 74% of whom are experienced real estate investors with at least two investment properties, felt optimistic about the prospects for the Houston housing market over the next five years.
Unlike regular homebuyers who typically make buying and selling decisions based upon the current market environment and their psersonal circumstances, real estate investors typically take a longer-term perspective, and are more opportunistic in their buying habits. In my conversations with local real estate agents, it seems investors … (1 comments)

houston: FHA Announces Changes to Mortgage Financing Policies - 01/20/10 02:01 AM
FHA has just announced their policy changes affecting FHA mortgage financing. You might recall we talked about possible options in an earlier posting, but now we have something concrete.
First, as expected, FHA will be increasing their up-front mortgage insurance premium by .50% to 2.25% on a purchase. This is actually good news as it does not affect the borrower's out of pocket cash to close and instead will be paid over the life of the loan. FHA will also pursue legislative authority to increase the maximum annual MIP that can be charged. If this authority is granted, FHA will shift … (2 comments)

houston: Just When You Thought It Was Safe to Go Outside - 01/13/10 10:47 AM
Just as maybe, kinda, you were thinking the housing markets were beginning to stabilize....BOOM! Fitch Ratings, an investment rating service today warned that $47 Billion in interest-only (IO) mortgages are due to reset before the end of 2010, and another $130 Billion in Prime, Alt-A, and Subprime loans will reset before the end of 2012. These loans will be reset to fully amortizing loans at current interest rates, exposing millions of additional borrowers to higher monthly mortgage payments as the current economic downturn continues.
While many of these loans will likely be concentrated in some of the most expensive and highly … (2 comments)

houston: Predictions for 2010 - 01/03/10 07:20 AM
Since we have now thankfully placed 2009 in the rear view mirror, it is time to ask ourselves, "will 2010 be any better?" Being a bit of an amateur prognosticator, I have put together my own list of real estate-related predictions for 2010. Remember, I can't be proven wrong for another year, and by then, most folks will have forgotten this post! Nevertheless, hopefully my comments will generate some discussion.
The housing market will continue to struggle in 2010. Most of the rebound we have seen this year was artificially induced by the first-time homebuyer tax credit coupled with record low … (2 comments)

houston: Marketing to First Time Homebuyers - 12/18/09 10:31 AM
OK, so the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit has been extended and expanded. Now, what are you going to do about it? Maybe you feel you have outgrown working with first time buyers, or perhaps the price point does not appear attractive enough to you, or maybe you're tired of holding their hands through their first home purchase. Well, mark this as your wake up call! Unless you are killing it in this market, first-time buyers need to be a part of your 2010 business plan, and here's why.
We all know that, due to the tax credit, first timers currently represent a … (2 comments)