Category: Sales

Vacation Resort Markets Turn Around

Economic slowdowns even hit the wealthy and for the rich or the over-extended this real estate crash is serving a serious blow to vacation resort markets like those in Florida, Colorado, Hawaii and California. The second home market saw the largest run-up in prices in U.S. history and the fallout is devastating markets, many of… Continue reading Vacation Resort Markets Turn Around

Mortgage Rates Surge Higher

By Kevin Chiu Mortgage rates surge higher for the fourth consecutive week as Treasuries sold off at the highest level in six months, igniting tempers among many home buyers and homeowners who were waiting to lock-in rates, according to Freddie Mac. Mortgage rates have been particularly volatile as a result of the bond market. Rates… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Surge Higher

Refinance Wave Ends on Higher Mortgage Rates

After four straight weeks of falling loan applications to refinance home mortgages the wave of refinancing has apparently come to an end, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. It’s the lowest the index has been since last June, demonstrating that most homeowners who wanted to refinance their homes or could qualify to do so have… Continue reading Refinance Wave Ends on Higher Mortgage Rates

Pending Home Sales Surge

Driven by all-time record low mortgage rates, pending home sales surged in October as home buyers sought to take advantage of low interest rates before they rose, according to the National Association of Realtors monthly report. Pending sales, which are usually scheduled to close within a month or two and are still contingent upon inspections… Continue reading Pending Home Sales Surge

Refinances Drop as Mortgage Rates Rise

Refinances took a sharp drop demonstrating that most of those homeowners who wanted to refinance their mortgages have already done so or are unable to because their homes are too much upside down, according to a new survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The refinance index dropped 21.6% during Thanksgiving Day week on an adjusted… Continue reading Refinances Drop as Mortgage Rates Rise

$4 Million Tech Mansions Drive Comeback

By Kevin Chiu The vacation home market, still tumbling in a downturn in most of the U.S. is making an isolated comeback in Lake Tahoe, especially in the $4-million plus high-end range, where the titans of high-tech land are driving the mini-boom. As the disparity between haves and have-nots grows across America, gated real estate… Continue reading $4 Million Tech Mansions Drive Comeback

A Daring New Year in Housing Prices

By Kevin Chiu Home inventories rising in most markets, mortgage rates moving higher and markets pulling out of their downturns only to return to negative territory. Some are. Some aren’t. Those are just a few of the factors impacting real estate markets as we move into the New Year affecting whether housing prices go up… Continue reading A Daring New Year in Housing Prices

Home Purchases Rise as Mortgage Rates Jump

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage applications to buy a home shot up more than 14% for the latest week reported by the Mortgage Bankers Association, indicating a major jump in home buying activity driven by near record low mortgage rates that are moving higher. Mortgage rates have slowly moved upward since hitting a record low of… Continue reading Home Purchases Rise as Mortgage Rates Jump

Home Sales Decline in October

Home sales declined in October after climbing for two straight months, according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing home sales are also nearly 26% below the pace a year ago when the federal tax credit was in effect. Sales on residential properties declined to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.43-million for the month, a… Continue reading Home Sales Decline in October