ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2011
Friday is a pivotal day for mortgage markets and conforming mortgage rates. At 8:30 AM ET, the government will release its March Non-Farm Payrolls report. More commonly known as "the jobs report", the monthly Non-Farm Payrolls is a market-mover and home buyers would do well to pay attention. Depe...
03/31/2011
On a seasonally-adjusted basis, the Pending Home Sales Index rose 2 percent last month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. A "pending home sale" is defined as a home under contract to sell, but not yet closed. February's Pending Home Sales Index rebound breaks a 2-month losing s...
03/30/2011
Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index for the month of January this week. The index is a home valuation tool, measuring the monthly and annual changes in home prices in select cities nationwide. January's Case-Shiller Index gave a poor showing. As compared to December 2010, home value...
03/30/2011
We have had several major Earthquakes around the world the past three years, and the USGS has predicted an 80% chance of a 6.0 or larger earthquake will hit northern California within the next 30 years, or for most of us, sometime in our lifetime. There is a 60% chance of that Earthquake happeni...
03/28/2011
Mortgage markets worsened last week as nuclear meltdown concerns eased across Japan, and the war within Libya moved closer to a potential finish. Wall Street voted with its dollars, and a return to risk-taking emerged. "Safe haven" buying softened last week and, as a result, conforming mortgage r...
03/28/2011
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The tax cuts in 2001 by Bush lowered estate taxes over 10 years. These cuts brought the existing estate tax rate from a high of 55% to 35% over a 10-year period. The 35% estate tax rate was to stay in effect through the end of 2009. Then, estate taxes were set to disappear in 2010 and finally re...
03/28/2011
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Good morning and happy Monday to you all! If you're looking for a home that's perfect for entertaining, you must check out this new listing from Rebecca Husted from Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate! This house has a huge deck out back with amazing views. Click on the following link to see...
03/28/2011
It's a great time for buyers and homeowners to look at the 15-year fixed rate mortgage. According to Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the relative "discount" of a 15-year fixed rate loan as compared to a comparable 30-year product is the largest in recorded history. The inter...
03/25/2011
Sales of newly-built homes plunged 17 percent to an seasonally-adjusted, annualized 250,000 units in February, and the supply of new homes rose to 8.9 months in February -- a 1.5 month jump from January. It's the lowest New Home Sales reading in recorded history, according to the Census Bureau, a...
03/25/2011
TGIF!! Hope you all have some fun plans for this weekend! Side note: My good friend, Haifa Khoury from Today Sotheby's International Realty has a beautifully remodeled 2Bed/2.5Bath condo for sale in San Carlos! The kitchen is gorgeous with cherry cabinets! Click on the following link to see t...
03/25/2011
Rainmaker
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Michael Haigh
Production Manager/Top Producing Sr. Loan Officer