tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:26:34 +0000http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)Blogger72125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-8032360645158881998Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-19T08:07:37.469-05:00real estatereal estate saleshome salesA modest gain in the level of home sales is possible over the next couple months, and an improvement is forecast for the second half of this year as more buyers are able to access affordable mortgages, according to the latest forecast by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in April, rose 6.3 percent to 88.2 http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/pending-sales-up-63-in-april.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-490682395605878243Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-18T08:14:16.497-05:00mortgage industyMortgage Lendersmortgage ratesmortgagesDespite banks’ reactions to the foreclosure crisis, it’s still possible for a potential homeowner to buy with no money down. Some options come from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and are aimed at making homeownership possible for buyers with limited credit and savings, including teachers, firefighters, and members of the military. Some of the loan programs, which are available through cooperating http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/no-downpayment-loans-still-out-there.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-7988372877942615758Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-17T08:12:46.705-05:00vacation propertylake propertyWho doesn't want a house by the beach? Owning a place near water is practically a universal desire, which makes waterfront homes a solid real estate niche in pretty much any market. Jen Miller, author of The Jersey Shore, Atlantic City to Cape May offers these tips that you can share with anyone contemplating the purchase of waterfront property – whether it’s in New Jersey or elsewhere: * http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/3-tips-for-buying-waterfront-homes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-8962200561311558940Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-16T08:00:04.165-05:00home insuranceBuyers who try to save money by cutting back on their homeowners' insurance coverage could regret it, a new study warns. United Policyholders, a San Francisco consumer organization, analyzed the aftermath of last fall’s forest fire in California. The group's research found that 75 percent of fire victims didn’t carry enough insurance to cover their losses. California Insurance Commissioner http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/dont-skimp-on-homeowners-insurance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-5355519295890409738Sun, 15 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-15T08:00:03.245-05:00mortgage industymortgage fraudU.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey considers the surge in mortgage fraud a very serious problem, but says it doesn't warrant the creation of a national task force such as the panel that investigated the Enron debacle in 2002. In a June 5 briefing for reporters, Mukasey said the mortgage fraud problem is more of a localized issue like white-collar street crime and that he supports the approachhttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/mortgage-fraud-white-collar-street.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-1720216330089557168Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-14T08:11:56.461-05:00best citiesbuy a homeWhere are the best cities in the country to live, work, and play? Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine did its best to answer that question in its 2008 Best Cities report. Kiplinger says it looked for strong economies and abundant jobs, a reasonable cost of living, and lots of fun things to do. Kevin Stolarick, research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/10-best-cities-to-live-work-play.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-6283452102914396874Fri, 13 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-13T08:00:12.167-05:00mortgage industymortgage company takeoversBank of America CEO Kenneth Lewis says his company is still committed to buying money-losing lender Countrywide Financial Corp., even though the global credit crisis continues. Lewis says the $3.1 billion Countrywide purchase was an important strategic move, giving Bank of America more than a 20 percent share of the mortgage marketplace. It remains a financially attractive deal, he says, even http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/bank-of-america-still-eyeing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-5983177051129768939Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:55:00 +00002008-06-12T12:59:18.260-05:00realtor association actiontransfer taxThe North Carolina Association of REALORS® has approved a plan to spend $10 million on an advocacy fund to educate the public about the value of private property and affordable housing. The organization particularly opposes any state or local government effort to impose a real estate transfer tax. Since November 2007, 19 counties have voted down real estate transfer tax proposals. "This is a http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/north-carolina-to-fight-transfer-taxes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-3233715214449934472Sat, 07 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-07T08:03:07.801-05:00home salespetsReal estate professionals encourage home sellers to relocate their pets during the sales process. While some buyers are afraid of or allergic to certain animals, the biggest deterrents are pet odors. In addition to keeping pets out of the home at least during showings or open houses, sellers should remove animal toys, leashes, food bowls, cat litter and any other signs that a pet occupies the http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/pet-proofing-home-sale.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-8046657363571380623Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-06T13:04:17.705-05:00mortgage industyMortgage LendersDespite the upheaval among lenders and declining home values, customer satisfaction with home-equity lines of credit remains high, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Home Equity Line/Loan Origination Study released May 28. "Ongoing troubles in the housing and mortgage lending markets have had the effect of lowering customer expectations around the home equity loan and line of credithttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/study-top-lenders-for-home-equity-loans.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-5858340886684866365Thu, 05 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-05T08:00:04.699-05:00mortgage industyMortgage Lendersmortgage brokersConsumers who get their loans through brokers typically pay more than those who obtain them directly from the lender, claims a study prepared for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The study by Susan Woodward, a former chief economist for HUD, says total fees on $105,000 brokered loans were $4,000, compared with $3,150 for loans made directly by the lender. Brokers often defend http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/are-loans-through-brokers-more-costly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-5624501847702522570Wed, 04 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-04T08:00:04.374-05:00builderscondosmultifamilyconsumer sentimentBuyers who renege on a contract to buy a condominium are a growing concern to developers. "There's a fine line a developer has to walk to get these unsold units off the market," says William Rich, a vice president of Delta Associates and director of the firm's condominium practice. Rich says builders in the Baltimore-Washington region have taken steps ranging from converting for-sale projects http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/condo-developers-battle-buyer-remorse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-1869515884325057486Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-03T08:00:06.173-05:00Mortgage Lendersmortgage ratesmortgagesFreddie Mac reports a jump in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 6.08 percent during the week ended May 29 from 5.98 percent the prior week, marking a two-month high triggered by investor concern over inflation. The 15-year mortgage rate climbed to 5.66 percent from 5.55 percent over the same period, while the five-year adjustable rate rose slightly to 5.62 percent from 5.61 percent. However, http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/30-year-rates-climb-past-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-7432806927419030887Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-02T08:00:05.680-05:00vacant landgovernment actionforeclosuresDespite declining tax revenues in many areas, federal, state and local governments are taking advantage of the sluggish real estate market to buy property for preservation. In many cases, the federal government will match the amount spent on property, which makes the cost of preserving land seem reasonable to both government officials and taxpayers. Recent open-space spending includes: * Ahttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/governments-stock-up-on-open-land.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-8898421284533962716Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-06-01T08:00:03.851-05:00real estatebasement problemsdefective homesreal estate lawsuitsA Wisconsin man who purchased a flood-prone home in Milwaukee can sue the sellers, the Wisconsin Supreme Court decided. Chad Novell bought the home in 2003 from family friends. A home inspection at the time of the purchase noted potential problems with water in the basement. But the sellers assured Novell that they had never had water in the nine years they lived there. They also said the crackshttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/buyer-with-leaky-basement-can-sue.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-1765344237377116866Sat, 31 May 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-05-31T08:00:04.459-05:00commercial real estatemutli-family buildingsforeclosuresRising foreclosures are taking a toll on affordable rental housing, according to the Chicago-based Woodstock Institute, which has released a report revealing that two- to six-unit apartment buildings accounted for 35 percent of the nearly 14,000 foreclosures filed in the Windy City last year. In Chicago's West Garfield Park neighborhood, apartment buildings — which provide the bulk of the city'shttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/when-landlords-default-renters-at-risk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-7496935514544728322Fri, 30 May 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-05-30T08:00:06.697-05:00home salesglobal housingThe United States isn’t the only country that is worrying about its housing market. There’s a glut of housing in Spain and Ireland, where home building grew by 187 percent and 177 percent respectively between 1996 and 2006. Home prices in Ireland are falling, while Spanish numbers still show a small annual increase. Meanwhile, there's positive news in other parts of the world. New Zealand house http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-housing-is-faring-around-globe.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-565309201194647456Thu, 29 May 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-05-29T08:00:08.736-05:00mortgage industyMortgage Lenderssubprime mortgageThe FBI was instrumental in 206 convictions in 2007 for real estate securities and commodities fraud. According to an FBI report released Thursday, the 1,204 mortgage fraud cases pursued in 2007 resulted in 321 indictments and court orders for $595.9 million in restitution. The FBI, working in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission, is investigating more than 1,300 http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/mortgage-fraud-crackdown-continues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-3926185455410467387Wed, 28 May 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-05-28T08:00:10.691-05:00homes for salehome salesExisting-home sales slowed in April, partly because tight lending guidelines hampered home buyers. But there are some things to be happy about: A greater number of market areas are showing sales gains from a year ago, and a recent reversal in mortgage policy means the market is better positioned for a turnaround, according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Existing-home sales – http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/existing-home-sales-dip-1-in-april.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-2719611177402046889Tue, 27 May 2008 13:00:00 +00002008-05-27T08:00:05.006-05:00homeownershome improvementThese are skills every home owner should master to save lots of money over the years. Most can be tackled without fancy tools, although it helps to have a variable-speed power drill. * Replace a door lock. * Change furnace and air conditioning filters. * Find a stud in wall. * Learn to install wall anchors. * Hang a ceiling fan. * Drive drywall screws (to repair drywall).http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/8-skills-every-home-owner-should-master.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-2127072528280855447Mon, 26 May 2008 23:24:00 +00002008-05-26T18:24:01.020-05:00real estateconsumer sentimenteconomyConsumer sentiment about the state of the economy dropped to a 28-year low in April, according to the Reuters/University of Michigan index. The survey showed that consumer sentiment fell to 59.5 from 62.6, hitting its lowest point since June 1980. The culprits: High gas prices, a sluggish housing market, and a not-too-great job outlook. Expectations for inflation over the next year rose to 5.2 http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/consumer-sentiment-hits-28-year-low.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-1171054755611047234Sun, 25 May 2008 23:22:00 +00002008-05-25T18:22:00.863-05:00real estatesell a homeDale Stevens, an associate with Prudential Connecticut Realty in Enfield, Conn., has been bitten by dogs and assaulted by parakeets, but her worst experience came as a result of a cat sleeping in a chair: Her client, terrified of cats, took one look at the snoring feline and walked away from the deal. If your sellers have pets at the home, here are some suggestions from Stevens and other http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/tips-for-easing-pet-problems-in-real.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-9221371176440912488Sun, 25 May 2008 16:56:00 +00002008-05-25T11:57:36.464-05:00mortgage industymortgage applicationsExecutives from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac told Congress on Thursday that they are reducing interest rates on some jumbo mortgages. They said their more aggressive purchases in recent weeks of loans between $417,000 and $729,750 have brought rates down. Prices still remain relatively high compared to rates for lower amounts because investors believe borrowers will refinance as soon as rates http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/better-terms-coming-for-jumbo-loans.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-6877147321269520524Sat, 24 May 2008 23:20:00 +00002008-05-24T18:20:00.707-05:00mortgage industyMortgage LendersmortgagesDemocrats and Republicans in the Senate have ended weeks of negotiations with a plan that would allow the federal government to insure up to $300 billion in refinanced loans for struggling home owners. The bipartisan accord, which represents the clearest sign yet that Congress is ready to pass sweeping legislation on housing, also seeks to tighten up oversight of government-sponsored enterpriseshttp://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/us-senate-strikes-housing-rescue-deal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8034985365882854811.post-9005322380976319833Fri, 23 May 2008 13:15:00 +00002008-05-23T08:15:01.631-05:00home foreclosurerentersforeclosuresThe self-storage center is the latest to get a taste of the foreclosure crisis. People who lose their home to foreclosure often rely on self-storage for their belongings. But some people cannot keep up with their storage bills any better than they could handle their mortgage payments. The result: storage companies auction off their property for a pittance. ''You tell yourself, 'I'm only going http://buyhouseblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/self-storage-bills-get-out-of-control.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Robert Flessas)