Howard Sobel's (howardsf) Blog

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.80 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 27, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.74 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.98 percent.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: A veraged 4.09 percent with an averag...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/26/2010 Market Composite Index:(loan application volume)     A  measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 12.0 percent com...

  People remodel because of immediate needs for the owner. Either its time for more space or just a desire to upgrade and modernize. Curb appeal and adding value is an important consideration, But resale value is hard to pin down. Home evaluation is hostage to market forces and individual taste. ...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/19/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)   increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week. Refinance Index: incr...

  30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.71 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 13, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.77 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.06 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.08 percent with an ave...

The Roxie is the oldest continuously operating movie in San Francisco. The Roxie,  a 300-seat theater in the Mission hosts Bay Area and international film festivals,  indie movies and documentaries. Now the Roxie theater in the Mission is having problems, as is the Clay theater on Fiillmore. In 2...

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.77 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 6, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.86 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.09 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.13 percent with an avera...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/12/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)      increased 2.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 47.5 percent compared with the previous week Refinance Index: i...

Does It Matter?NAR did a poll of buyers to test the importance of energy effiency to home buyers. Geographically, colder areas scored higher degrees of interest placed on energy effiency and buyers 55 and older had a greater preference for energy efficicent applicances than younger buyers. By Inc...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/5/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)      d ecreased 3.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week. For the week ending December 31, 2010, this index increased 2.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basi s. Refin...