By Kevin Chiu Home sales declined slightly in April, despite favorable home buying conditions, falling just 0.8% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.05 million units annually, but are still nearly 13% off the pace of last year when the home buyer tax credit was in effect, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing… Continue reading Home Sales Decline Slightly in April
Category: Buying
Best Time to Steal Real Estate
By Kevin Chiu How many times have you heard there isn’t a better time to buy real estate than now? Drummed up by the real estate industry, it’s as old and trite a saying as we get over decades of propaganda. But with prices at lows that haven’t been seen in more than a decade… Continue reading Best Time to Steal Real Estate
Being Frugal Buying a Home
By Kim Olson Can you really be frugal buying a home? Especially when it comes to being a little tight in order to make a profit these days? Turns out you can, but you have to have a plan before you sign the dotted line. When it comes to buying a home if you want… Continue reading Being Frugal Buying a Home
New Homebuilders Brighter Future
By Kim Olson With the real estate market soft many homebuilders, especially large corporate homebuilders are still struggling. Real estate analysts say that the recovery will continue to be slow through 2011, and may in fact be a bit longer. Inventory of newly built homes is still high, with pending and closed sales down. Prices… Continue reading New Homebuilders Brighter Future
Baby Boomers Help Kids Buy Homes
By Kiesha Joseph Baby Boomers, the generation of Americans who are now between 45 and 66, are excited to be helping their children purchase homes. Born between 1946 and 1965, boomers have been a driving force in the U.S. economy for more than 30 years. Boomers are using what they’ve earned over the years to… Continue reading Baby Boomers Help Kids Buy Homes
FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge
By Mike Colpitts A surge in home buying activity is expected to develop as a result of the Federal Housing Administration’s announcement that it will increase charges to home buyers for upfront mortgage fees. The cost of mortgage insurance premiums will rise by 75 basis points April 1st. The increase translates to $750 for every… Continue reading FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge
Drop in Mortgage Rates Felt
By Mike Colpitts Rates on fixed rate home loans dropped this week, falling to near record lows again for 30-year and 15-year mortgages, but budged higher on adjustable rate loans, according to Freddie Mac. The drop on fixed rate loans sends mortgage rates to near all-time record lows, hitting 3.90% just three basis points off… Continue reading Drop in Mortgage Rates Felt
Steps to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market
By Kim Olson Finding “just the right home for you” can be daunting, especially if you’re moving to an area that you’re not familiar with. Fortunately, a good real estate agent can really make the process much easier. Follow these steps to find the best real estate agent in today’s troubled market, and your search… Continue reading Steps to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market
Cash Buyers are King
By Mike Colpitts Pent up buyer demand and much lower housing prices are driving a frenzy of sorts in some home markets as cash buyers turn out in droves to buy up properties on the cheap. Cash is once again king in the real estate market. When markets take a downturn cash buyers snap up… Continue reading Cash Buyers are King
Home Buyers Avoid Foreclosure Properties
By Mike Colpitts A large number of home buyers are refusing to even look at considering distressed properties for sale, according to a monthly survey of real estate market conditions by Campbell Mortgage Finance as prices on foreclosures that are selling continue to fall. Four major national lenders have frozen foreclosure sales as a result… Continue reading Home Buyers Avoid Foreclosure Properties