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Real Estate and Mortgage News

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Mortgage and Lending with Peoples Mortgage

The United States of Department of Agriculture is trying to improve the standards of living in rural areas. Which sometimes lack some of the amenities we are used to here in more urban areas like Internet access, afforable utilities and so on. The USDA is extending their loans and funds to help reduce energy costs for people that live in these remote areas. How you ask? They plan to provide grants that will help both residents and business owners control or sometimes reduce energy costs. They will provide financing for energy efficient and power generation improvements to deliver energy in a more cost effective and environmentally friendly manner.

We also have the technology industry that wants a piece of the real estate pie. They plan to bring you and your clients more mobile applications that will allow access for all of us to take control over our everyday products and appliances all from our smartphone. These companies are providing specialized mobile applications to unlock your car door to turning on your television all from another location. Sometime soon every appliance in your home will have an application attached to it or you will find it useless...

As for real estate in 2011.. We can expect a 10% increase in sales compared to last year. That may not be what we all expected, as many of us were expecting more. But, with the interest rates on the rise, I will be happy with that prediction and I plan on being a big part of that production expectation. We need to drive through the negativity and focus on all the positive energy that surrounds our gradual economic recovery.

Affordability of real estate today is still very high. As in some places the prices of real estate are still falling and we predict rates to get as high as 5.5% towards the end of the year. Still very low rates that set up a great opportunity for buyers of all types. Unemployment may drop below 9% by the end of the year. That will help our situation, along with consumer confidence and spending increases. The increase in jobs and and increase in income levels will help offset much of the impact of the rising rates. This will all help to make 2011 a year of recovery for our housing market.

What are some of the new things that home buyers want today? Maybe smaller more efficient homes. There is evidence in print from the Census Bureau that supports these facts. We believe that this downsizing trend will continue for years to come.

The population is rising year over year. As of April 2010 we stood at around 310 million. That number is expected to rise to 322 million by 2015 and then reach 422 million people by 2050. Our population is getting older and smarter.. Oh, and don't forget about the buyers of the future... These clients are much more energy conscious and more tuned into the environment. People are more focused on what they need now, and not just want they want....This is an important fact to understand going forward..

Builders need and will build smaller homes with more energy efficient features. They will focus on building homes that can adapt to future changes and additions like technology...

So be prepared and keep an open mind on what to expect from our buyers today. We do.