Home Sales Jump in April

By Mike Colpitts Existing home sales jumped for the first time in three months in April, rising 3.4% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.62 million units, and are 10% higher than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Home prices also showed some improvement. However, homes listed on the market for… Continue reading Home Sales Jump in April

Housing Index Shows Upward Trend

By Mike Colpitts Home prices declined an average of less than one-percent in the U.S. on a year to year basis through the end of March, according to a heavily watched housing price index indicating an upward trend for the marketplace. The CoreLogic index showed that prices were down 0.6% from one year ago, including… Continue reading Housing Index Shows Upward Trend

Home Purchases Jump Two Weeks

By Mike Colpitts Led by a jump in conventional mortgage applications, home purchases rose for the second week in a row signaling a positive turn for the U.S. housing market, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly index. Pushed by record all-time low mortgage rates, buyers turned out to take advantage of the historically low… Continue reading Home Purchases Jump Two Weeks

Home Remodeling Out Paces Purchases

By Mike Colpitts Home remodeling is out-pacing home purchases as homeowners plan on staying put longer than they have in past years, according to a new poll by the National Association of Remodeling Industry organization. An over-whelming number of respondents to the poll said they plan on staying in their current homes at least five… Continue reading Home Remodeling Out Paces Purchases

Home Sales Fall Two Straight Months

By Mike Colpitts Home sales fell for the second month in a row in March, despite unseasonably warm weather and record low mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing home sales, which include single family residences, condominiums and townhouses declined 2.6% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.48 million. However, the number… Continue reading Home Sales Fall Two Straight Months

Real Estate Roller Coaster Rides into Spring

By Mike Colpitts The roller coaster ride in the U.S. real estate market got more evidence of continuing as the new home builder index for single family homes declined for the first time in seven months in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders-Wells Fargo index. The home builders index declined three notches… Continue reading Real Estate Roller Coaster Rides into Spring

Short Sales Finally Speed Up

By Mike Colpitts The nation’s giant mortgage lenders will force banks and mortgage servicers to enforce new guidelines to speed up short sales. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will require lenders to respond to requests for short sales from mortgage borrowers within 60 days under a new mandate ordered by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.… Continue reading Short Sales Finally Speed Up

Kiddie Home Purchases Jump

By Mike Colpitts A tight mortgage market has triggered a jump in parents, grandparents and other relatives helping younger home buyers qualify for a home loan. Baby boomer parents have helped a son or daughter to purchase a home by co-signing for a mortgage, supplying down payments or purchasing a home outright in 20% of… Continue reading Kiddie Home Purchases Jump