realty: Mortgage Rates Hold At All Time Historic Low - 08/06/10 04:51 PM
Last week the 30 year rate fell to an all time low of 4.57. This week mortgage rates held at 4.57 so we are still sitting on all time historic lows. This is also the 4th week in a row where mortgage rates have either held steady or fallen. The expectation has been that rates were going to rise. Since the economic recovery has kind of sputtered their has been some downward pressure on mortgage rates. If the economy starts to recover we could expect rates to increase. In the meantime I would expect rates to hold steady or fall a … (1 comments)

realty: How to Become a Famous Real Estate Agent - 07/17/10 06:48 PM
So, you have taken the classes and you have now become a real estate agent. Or, you already are a real estate agent. Now that you are, or already are, a real estate agent, how do you become a famous real estate agent?

Before getting into the specifics of becoming famous, you need to sit back, kick up your feet and decide on your niche. Your niche will be the springboard from which you launch your campaign to become famous. Is the luxury market your thing, or maybe being a buyer's agent is more your cup-of-tea. You need to decide … (6 comments)

realty: Mortgage Rates : Volatility is on the Horizon - 03/28/10 08:25 PM
The 30 year rate rose from 4.96 to 4.99 this week. In the last 4 weeks 30 year mortgage rates have remained remarkably stable staying between 4.95 to 5.05. But it looks like that might change over the next few months. The economic instability in Greece and the rest of Europe could lead to instability in the mortgage markets, in addition the US government is likely to stop purchasing mortgage backed securities which could cause rates to rise. At the very least we should start seeing more volatility in mortgage rates for the rest of the year.

The 15 … (0 comments)

realty: Home Median Price Comparisons for Top 10 U.S. Cities - 03/16/10 07:06 PM
You might be surprised to find out the median price homes are selling for in the nation's top ten largest cities. Below, you'll find the median price for resale, new homes and foreclosures.


CITY Resale Median Price
+/- % New Home
Median Price
+/- % Foreclosures
Median Price
+/- %
New York, NY $625,000 -6.0% $4,500,000 0.0% $489,000 0.0%
Los Angeles, CA $449,000 -0.2% $749,900 +8.7% $344,000 +1.7%
Chicago, IL $279,900 0.0% $950,000 0.0% $190,868 -0.6%
Houston, TX $162,500 +1.6% $179,990 0.0% $96,791 +0.4%
Phoenix, AZ $175,000 -2.2% $321,465 -0.2% $161,600 -2.1%
Philadelphia, PA $167,900 … (0 comments)

realty: Home Loan Advantages and Benefits for Military Personnel - 03/08/10 07:14 PM
United States Military Veterans have a plethora of home loan advantages and benefits available to them. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan guaranty program was expanded and extended by the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 2008 and the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) of 2008.

Home loan refinancing is available for up to 100 percent of the home's appraised value. Maximum guarantee amounts were temporarily increased for loans closing January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Until September 2010, the VA is allowed to continue to guaranty adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and hybrid ARMs (HARMs).

… (1 comments)

realty: How to Become a Successful Real Estate Agent - 02/23/10 05:33 PM
What does it take to become a successful real estate agent and maintain that status?

With all the real estate agents in the troubled market right now, it's not surprising that new agents often don't last and brokers are finding it difficult to keep them. Although brokerages can assist new and existing agents in developing and honing their selling skills, there is one common trait to which all successful real estate agents attribute their success - the need to close the sale, and in record time.

It's amazing how many people think that being a real estate agent … (5 comments)

realty: Mortgage Rates Nudge Down - 01/07/10 04:50 PM
So over the last few weeks we have seen a rapid rise in mortgage rates. In the month of December we saw the 30 year rate rise from 4.71 to 5.14. So while the general trend has been rising mortgage rates this week for the first time in four weeks we saw mortgage rates move down a little. The 30 year rate fell from 5.14 to 5.09 and the 15 year rate fell from 4.54 to 4.50. The 5 year arm held steady at 4.44 while the 1 year arm dropped slightly from 4.33 to 4.31. Below are rates from the … (1 comments)

realty: Preparing to Buy a Home - 11/15/09 05:06 PM
Are you preparing to buy a home for the first time? Or have you closed on a number of homes in the past and are preparing to buy your next home? Regardless, you'll want to keep in mind the steps necessary to successfully navigate the preparations for buying that next home.

Initially, you'll want to determine your income, debts and savings and decide what you can afford. Instead of doing all the calculations and attempting to make the determinations yourself, you may want to decide on a reputable lender and have them do it for you through a prequalification. If … (4 comments)

realty: World's Richest Real Estate Moguls - 10/06/09 06:37 PM
No matter what profession you are in, you will be impacted by real estate in some form or another. Whether you own, rent or sub-let, your life is impacted by real estate and the professionals or individuals that sell, manage or own it.

With that in mind, it would make sense that you just might be interested in people who have made it big in real estate. There are a select few in the entire world who have made their tremendous mark on the real estate landscape. Although, there were many struggles along the way, they arrived at that coveted … (4 comments)

realty: Mortgage Rates Spike Up Rapidly - 06/04/09 04:56 PM
Mortgage Rates spiked up this week. The 30 year rate jumped from 4.91 to 5.29. This is the highest we have seen mortgage rates all year. Last week mortgage rates moved from 4.82 to 4.91 last week. What is interesting is that in two weeks mortgage rates have moved from near all time lows (the all time low was 4.78) to the highest point of the year. The 15 year rate moved up from 4.53 to 4.79. We did not see as much movement in the arms. The 5 year arm rose from 4.82 to 4.85 and the 1 year arm … (2 comments)

realty: Easy Home Improvement ideas to Add Value to your Home - 05/13/09 09:00 PM
With spring and summer just around the corner, home owners may want to spruce up their home. Whether you want to add value to your home to sell it or just to update your home for your own pleasure, here are a few low cost ideas that anyone can do.

Custom details can add dollars and character to your home. If you want to do a face life on a room, instead of crown molding, try using wainscoting instead. It is less expensive to use and comes in a variety of styles and you can easily install it yourself!
… (3 comments)

realty: What the Pro's Know- Top 3 Remodeling Tips - 05/13/09 08:49 PM
Curb appeal is the equivalent to your perceived first impression. If you were a salesman, would it be advisable to give a "dead fish" handshake to a brand new customer? Absolutely not- the same goes for your home. You want potential buyers to be ready to get out of the car and look inside your home. As beautiful as your home may be, if the outside is not appealing, it will be very difficult to sell the inside of your home. Even if your home is not on the market, you must be conscience of curb appeal. It can make your … (2 comments)

realty: Finding A Neighborhood that Fits - 05/08/09 05:34 PM
Starting the search for a new home can be both exciting and a little daunting. Whether Austin has been home-base for years or a brand new place, deciding which neighborhood to buy a house in can be a big decision. If you could live anywhere, where would you go?

Generally speaking, the house hunt is restricted by factors such as price and commute. But that is only the start. Some other things to consider are schools, crime rate, taxes, traffic, and proximity to shopping or parks. The list of things to mull over when looking for the right neighborhood can … (4 comments)

realty: Mortgage Rates Plummet and Hit All Time Low - 03/27/09 10:44 PM
Following the release of the government's plan to buy toxic debt from banks mortgage rates fell to new all time lows. The 30 year rate fell from 4.98 to 4.85 this week. This is .11 points below the previous all time low of 4.96 that was reached on January 15, 2009. Below are the 7 lowest rates on record for the last 40 years.


1) March 2009 4.85
2) January 2009 4.96
3) February 2009 5.07
4) December 2008 5.19
5) June 2003 5.23
6) March 2004 5.45
7) May 2003 5.48

Looking through the rates we can … (1 comments)

realty: Preparing to Sell Your Home - 03/23/09 05:28 PM
You have worked hard to maintain your home and ensure that repairs were completed. It's not been that long since everything received a fresh coat of paint and everything else appears to be in good shape ... but is it, really?!

Use the checklist below to ensure that you are ready to sell your home before it ever gets listed on the market.

* Pull out a tablet of paper and a pen. These will be your instruments to identify any repairs or improvements you may have missed.

* You are now going to take a slow and … (5 comments)

realty: How to Buy a Home Without a Down Payment - 03/14/09 05:26 PM
There's an old television program that aired in the 1960's called Hogan's Heroes. Sgt. Schultz (John Banner) was one of the main characters. His constant exclamation throughout his tenure on this show was, "I know nothing!" Is that where you are in regards to how to buy a home without a down payment? If so, you are about to become educated.

Believe it or not, if you have decent credit - and sometimes even if you don't! - you have alternatives as to how to purchase a home without a down payment. Look at the following examples:

* VA … (2 comments)

realty: Mortgage Rates Back Down to Historical Lows - 03/14/09 05:20 PM
30 Year Mortgage Rates dropped from 5.15 to 5.03. With the exception of the weeks of January 8th, 2009 and January 15th 2009 this is the lowest rates have been in over 40 years. The other 3 major mortgage products dropped as well with 15 year arms moving down from 4.72 to 4.64, 5 year arms going from 5.08 to 4.99 and 1 year arms moving from 4.86 to 4.80. Although the 5 year arm has moved below the 30 year fixed for the last few weeks there is still no real reason to get a 5 year arm at 4.99 … (1 comments)

realty: How To Sell Your Home in a Down Economy - 03/03/09 03:10 PM
Okay, so, the economy's down and you're feeling down because of it. You had planned on putting your home up for sale by now. You're discouraged, though, because on your street alone you see three other homes for sale. How can you compete, you wonder, with so many other homes on the market?
Don't lose heart, you're about to learn how.

Stand Out. The challenge you have ahead of you is how to make your home stand out from the rest. The way you do that may not be in the way you think, though.

Before you contact … (3 comments)

realty: National Bank: How to Fix the Housing Crisis for Less than 700 Billion - 10/17/08 07:48 PM
Recently the news has been dominated by developments with the 700 billion dollar bailout package, and rightfully so. 700 billion is an astronomical sum of money. The first problem is that the 700 billion dollar bailout adds a huge amount of money to the national debt. Not only that, some have hinted that the bailout is so large it could actually lower the US Credit Rating. The second problem is just as serious. There is no guarantee that the bailout will work.
The idea behind the bailout is that by taking on billions of dollars of toxic loans the government … (0 comments)

realty: Tips And Tricks For Home Staging - 08/23/08 09:06 PM
Staging a home can end up being a valuable tool in selling the house. Not only can it assist in selling a house, but it can also help the seller get top dollar. The amount of staging needed varies wildly from a small scale de-cluttering of a home to hiring staging professionals to the tune of several thousand dollars, but the goal is the same- creating a pleasant mood by making a house appear bigger, brighter and warmer while neutralizing the area so prospective buyers can visualize how their own furniture and belongings can be incorporated into the home. In a … (1 comments)