Real estate blog entries tagged with home values in parkland by Jon Klein, Search Parkland Homes for Sale - Parkland FL (Real Living 1st Choice Realty)

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home values in parkland: Pending Home Sales Index Remains Strong Into Spring - 03/28/12 03:15 AM

The housing market took a step back in February, but remains near post-recession highs. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, February's Pending Home Sales Index slipped 0.5 percent from the month prior, to 96.5. The Pending Home Sales Index is a monthly report which measures the number of homes under contract to sell, but not yet sold, nationwide. The index is benchmarked to a value of 100, the average level of home contract activity in 2001, the first year that pending home sales data was analyzed. It also happened to be a year of historically-high levels of home … (1 comments)

home values in parkland: New Home Sales Slip In February - 03/27/12 12:16 AM

Sales of "new homes" fell to the lowest levels in four months last month. According to the Census Bureau's monthly New Home Sales report, 313,000 new homes were sold in February 2012 on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, representing a 1.6% drop from the month prior. A "new home" is a home for which there has been no prior owner nor tenant. At first glance, the data looks negative for the housing market; a suggestion that the well-publicized housing market recovery may be slowed. However, within February's New Home Sales report are three important counter-statistics worth mentioning. First, although annualized home sales … (1 comments)

home values in parkland: Existing Home Sales Stay Strong; Spring Season Underway - 03/21/12 11:31 PM

The market for home resales stays strong. Despite sparse home inventory, the National Association of REALTORS® reports that 4.59 million existing homes were sold in February on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis. An "existing home" is a home that cannot be classified as new construction. Last month's sales data represents a 9 percent improvement from the year prior. There are now just 2.43 million homes for sale nationwide -- a 19% reduction versus a year ago. The complete home inventory would "sell out" in 6.4 months at the current sales pace. Some analysts believe that a 6-month home supply indicates a housing … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (March 13, 2012) - 03/13/12 09:02 AM

Tuesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. For the fourth consecutive month, the Fed Funds Rate vote was nearly unanimous. Just one FOMC member dissented in the 9-1 vote. The Fed Funds Rate has been near zero percent since December 2008. It is expected to remain near-zero through 2014, at least. In its press release, the Federal Reserve noted that the the U.S. economy has "expanded moderately" since the FOMC's January 2012 meeting, adding that growth is occurring despite "strains in the global financial markets" that … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: The Fed Meets Today : Protecting Your Housing Payment - 03/13/12 02:08 AM

The Federal Open Market Committee meets today, its second of 8 scheduled meetings this year. As a home buyer or would-be refinancing household in Parkland FL , get ready for changing mortgage rates. The Federal Open Market Committee is the 12-person sub-committee within the Federal Reserve that votes on the nation's monetary policy. Led by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, the FOMC's most prominent role is as steward for the Fed Funds Rate. The Fed has said repeatedly that it intends to keep the Fed Funds Rate near 0.000 for an "extended period of time", through 2014 at least. Unfortunately, this … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: How To Remove Soap Scum From Shower Doors - 03/12/12 12:42 AM

Dirty shower doors can ruin an otherwise sparkling-clean bathroom. The soap scum that accumulates isn't just unsightly; it contains body oils and skin particles that provide for a perfect bacteria breeding ground. Supermarket shelves in Parkland and Coral Springs are filled with bathroom cleaners that promise to cut through soap scum, but the cleansers don't always work and those that do often contain harsh chemicals that can irritate your skin. Cleaning shower doors can be more safe and more pleasant, then, when you use chemical-free household products, many of which you likely have in your kitchen already. White vinegar makes an … (2 comments)

home values in parkland: Mortgage Rates Expected To Rise On A Strong Job Report - 03/07/12 10:43 PM

With home affordability at an all-time high, buoyed by the lowest mortgage rates ever, it's been a terrific time to buy or refinance a home using a mortgage. The good times may not last, though, so today marks an ideal time to lock a mortgage rate. Friday brings risk. Here's why. Since 2010, weak economic conditions have been a primary catalyst for low mortgage rates in South FL. Over the last 12 months, though, manufacturing output has been rising, consumer spending has been climbing, and business investment has increasing. In other words, the economy is improving. However, it's the jobs market … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Are You Wasting $471 Per Month On Your Mortgage? - 03/07/12 12:31 AM

According to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rate survey, for 13 straight weeks, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage has held below 4.000% for mortgage applicants willing to pay up to 0.8 discount points plus a full set of closing costs. These are the lowest mortgage rates in history and now -- with a bevy of loan programs for the nation's 11 million "underwater homeowners" including HARP, the FHA Streamline Refinance, and the VA IRRRL -- millions of U.S. homeowners can exploit the current mortgage rate environment. In this 4-minute clip from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn about today's mortgage market … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: FHA To Raise Mortgage Insurance Premiums April 1, 2012 - 03/02/12 12:47 AM

Beginning April 1, 2012, the FHA is once again raising mortgage insurance premiums (MIP) on its newly-insured borrowers throughout Parkland and Coral Springs and the country. It's the FHA's fourth such increase in the last two years. Beginning April 1, 2012, upfront mortgage insurance premiums will be higher by 75 basis points, or 0.75%; and annual mortgage insurance premiums will be higher by 10 basis points per year, or 0.10%. For borrowers with a loan size of $200,000, the new MIP will add $1,500 in one-time loan costs, plus an on-going, annual $200 increase in total mortgage insurance premiums paid. All … (1 comments)

home values in parkland: 50 Creative Reuse Ideas For Your Home And Garden - 02/26/12 11:24 PM

"Creative Reuse" is the transformation of everyday items that would otherwise be thrown out into something useful. It's where being "green" and the arts can converge. In every Parkland Heron Bay home, there are literally hundreds of items that be reused and repurposed, including such disparate items as chipped coffee mugs, step ladders, and bubble wrap. After transformation, for example, these three items can become a simple storage container, a plant stand, and greenhouse insulation, respectively. Real Simple made a list of "50 All-Time Favorite New Uses For Old Things". It's a list of Creative Reuse projects from which you're bound … (2 comments)

home values in parkland: Federal Reserve Wary Of European Spillover - 02/23/12 10:42 PM

The Federal Reserve has released the minutes from its 2-day meeting January 24-25, 2012. The Fed Minutes is a summary of the conversations and debates that shape our nation's monetary policy. It receives less attention than the Fed's more well-known, post-meeting press release, but the Fed Minutes is every bit as important. To rate shoppers in Parkland or Coral Springs , for example, the Fed Minutes can provide clues about whether mortgage rates will generally rise or fall in the coming months. The most recent Fed Minutes reveals a central bank divided on the future of the U.S. economy. The minutes … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Existing Home Sales Climb To A 20-Month Record - 02/22/12 10:51 PM

January's home resales moved to a 20-month high -- additional evidence that the nation's housing recovery is underway. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the January 2012 Existing Home Sales showed 4.57 million units sold last month on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis -- a 4 percent increase as compared to December's revised figures. An "existing home" is one that's been previously occupied and cannot be categorized as new construction. Beyond the headline numbers, though, there was plenty about which for today's Parkland and Coral Springs home sellers to get excited. Demand for homes remains strong, foreshadowing higher home prices through … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Make Your Own Organic Fruit Wash - 02/21/12 07:17 AM

How clean are the fruits and vegetables you eat? Unless you pick your food straight from the farm, your food is likely more dirty than you think. In addition to pesticide treatment made while food is still "on the vine", fruits and vegetables you buy at a grocery are often coated in wax to preserve their "shelf life"; and you can never know how much dirt your food has rolled in. Even organic foods are handled multiple times on the way to the grocery store. They may be pesticide-free, but they're not dirt-free or free from human handling. This is why … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Housing Starts Stay Strong; Building Permits Rise. - 02/16/12 11:28 PM

The housing market has carried forward its year-end momentum. According to the Census Bureau, on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, January's Single-Family Housing Starts crossed the half-million unit marker for the second straight month. This hasn't happened in close to 2 years and is the latest in a series of strong data that suggests the beleaguered housing market has turned a corner -- both nationally and locally in Parkland and Coral Springs. Although single-family starts slipped 1 percent from December, January's annualized 508,000 figure represents a 16% spike from January 2011 and is the second-highest reading since April 2010 -- the last … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Lock An Instant 13% Savings On Your Monthly Mortgage Payment - 02/07/12 01:17 AM

Falling mortgage rates make owning a home more affordable. Mortgage rates are directly tied to monthly mortgage payment so as mortgage rates drop, so does the cost of home-ownership. It's a money-saving time to buy a home in Parkland or Coral Springs -- or to refinance one. Mortgage rates have never been this low in history. According to Freddie Mac, last week, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to 3.87% nationwide for borrowers willing to pay an accompanying 0.8 discount points plus closing costs. 0.8 discount points is a one-time closing cost equal to 0.8 percent of your loan size, … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: 5 Simple Ways To Declutter Your Home - 01/30/12 01:16 AM

When a home is listed for sale, its "clutter" can be the difference between a rapid sale and no sale at all. Clutter, in its strictest sense, is defined as anything untidy; or in a disorderly state. In real estate, the term is broadened to include unnecessary furniture pieces; unwieldy artwork or collections; stacks of papers and/or magazines; and anything that otherwise restricts the open flow of a home's floor plan. In other words, clutter is anything that distracts from your home's natural footprint. As a home seller in Parkland or Coral Springs , understanding how your home's clutter can affect … (4 comments)

home values in parkland: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (January 25, 2012) - 01/25/12 09:38 AM

Wednesday, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed Funds Rate has been near zero percent since December 2008. For the third consecutive month, the Fed Funds Rate vote was nearly unanimous. Just one FOMC member dissented in the 9-1 vote, objecting only to the language used in the Fed's official statement. In its press release, the Federal Reserve noted that the the U.S. economy has "expanding moderately" since its last meeting in December 2011, adding that the growth is occurring despite "slowing in … (1 comments)

home values in parkland: Existing Home Sales Approach Bull Market Territory - 01/24/12 01:16 AM

The housing market finished 2011 with strength, and is carrying measurable momentum into 2012. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis, December's Existing Home Sales climbed by 120,00 units overall from the month prior on its way to an 11-month high. An "existing home" is a home that's been previously occupied; that cannot be considered new construction. After 4.61 million existing homes were sold in December, there are now just 2.38 million homes for sale nationwide. The last time the national home supply was this sparse was March 2005. At today's sales pace, the … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: Behind The Housing Starts Headlines, The Story That Matters - 01/20/12 01:21 AM

When it comes to housing data, sometimes you have to look past the headlines. December's Housing Starts data offers a terrific illustration of why.
Each month, the Census Bureau tallies Housing Starts for the month prior. A "housing start" is a home on which construction has started.
The Housing Starts report is separated by property type. There is a count for single-family homes; a count for 2-4 unit homes; and a count for buildings of 5 units or more, a … (0 comments)

home values in parkland: This Holiday Season, Think Twice Before Saving 15 Percent At The Register - 11/09/11 01:23 AM

This Holiday Season, Think Twice Before Saving 15 Percent At The Register
With Halloween behind us, retailers are in the Holiday Spirit. Businesses know that consumers spent a median $556 on holiday gifts last year and they want this year to be just as strong.
That’s why it’s barely November and, already, Black Friday ads clog our mailboxes and the airwaves. Retailers want our dollars and they’re offering great deals to early shoppers.
There’s one discount a smart shopper should think twice, however — the ever-present ”Open A Charge Card Today And Save 15%” promotion. In the short-term, deals like this … (2 comments)

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