Real Estate Reads – 9/13/13

HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH: Don’t stay too late in the woods…

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Twin Cities area sees housing growth 
Despite rising mortgage rates
• Bay Area sees housing slowdown
Down almost eight percent from July
• 30-year mortgage rates remain steady
Just below two-year high
• England first-time home buyers seeking longer mortgages
In wake of new bubble forming
• Chicago-area family given mortgage-free home
Former NASCAR driver Richard Petty surprised U.S. Marine and family
• Housing market conditions leading toward more foreclosures
End not in sight yet
• A look into factors stalling the housing market
Trulia’s Kolko: There’s no magic formula

• Howard Stern’s right-hand woman lists New York City condo
Robin Quivers also purchasing home in New Jersey
• White House: Housing market not out of the woods yet
Services still require ‘moderate improvement’

Real Estate Reads – 9/3/13

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Rising flood insurance rates could hurt real estate market
The changes to the flood insurance program will phase out so-called subsidies that have kept rates low for insurance on older homes built before flood maps were redrawn to make them accurately reflect financial risk.
• Is buying a home a smart idea?
If you’re justifying the purchase with the well-worn: “I just want to stop throwing away rent money,” you are about to engage in a dumb money move that only sounds smart because no one has worked out the math.
• Higher mortgage rates could revitalize smaller home sales
Following a 30-year bull run in bonds and falling interest rates, can the housing market survive a rising-rate environment?
• Sacramento market is looking stable
After hyperventilating for months, Sacramento’s housing market is starting to catch its breath.
• Four key questions on housing finance reform
As Congress returns from its August recess and prepares to take up the issue of housing finance reform, the history of special-interest pleading and taxpayer bailouts will loom large.

Real Estate Reads – 8/30/13

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Houston Realtor finds success through his people skills
Richard Ray one of John Daugherty, Realtors top producer

• Expert: Texas “on fire,” rest of the nation, not so much
“Housing is not keeping up with demand,” executive said
• What the IRS’ recognition of gay marriage means for real estate
Couples will be treated as married for all federal tax purposes
• Boston suburb experiencing housing climb
52 single-family homes were sold in July compared to 27 in July 2012
• Bay Area leads in underwater mortgage rebounds
150,000 underwater Bay Area homeowners regain equity

Real Estate Reads – 8/14/13

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Uncertainty still worries the market
After rising by more than a full percentage point from early May till the end of June, 30-year mortgage rates have more or less leveled off. However, the impact of higher mortgage rates on the housing market is still unknown.
• Alleged impostor real estate agent nabbed by police
Two women are accused of posing as a real estate agent and prospective buyer to burglarize a house in the Heights, Houston police said.
• Expert: Sacramento housing market not slowing down
The volume of those folks has outweighed the spike in interest rates, firm president said.
• D.C. market is showing increase in sales
Median sales price increases of 10 percent or more since July 2012.
• Oakland, Calif. tops hottest housing market list
Seattle, Santa Barbara and even Detroit make the cut.
• Regulators are set to loosen new mortgage rules
Plans to release a “softer” version on how banks finance mortgages.

Real Estate Reads – 8/1/13

Some news regarding the world of real estate:

• 30-year mortgage rate jumps 4.4 percent
Average rates on fixed mortgages ticked up this week but are still low by historical standards, a trend that has helped the housing market recover.
• Estately: Boulder, and other cities ranked one of best cities for ‘hippies’
“A popular hippie town back in the 1960s, Boulder re-invented itself as an affluent outdoorsy town, but it’s still very rooted in its hippie traditions,” the website said.
• Investors ‘bullish’ on Twin Cities
‘Investment capital remains abundant’ locally and nationally from many sources, including lenders, institutional and private investors, and real estate investment trusts.

Real Estate Reads – 6/13/13

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Invest in real estate without being a landlord
• The smart money may be the short money
• What can I buy in D.C. for $750,000?

• The Sacramento market continues to be hot
• Analyst: This is the end of the great mortgage deal

Real Estate Reads – 5/10/13

Here’s some news regarding the world of real estate:
• Katy Perry puts her Hollywood mansion on the market

• How does the mortgage deduction really work?
• Washington: Real estate positive statewide
• Home ownership: A path for wealth
• Bad odor affecting housing market in Alabama town
• Sacramento: Hot bed for housing

Real Estate Reads – 5/7/13

Here’s some news concerning the world of real estate:

• Want to live like the Great Gatsby?

• “Dans Bois Crete” Dallas home set at $19.5 million
• Sacramento braces for sale of “shadow inventory”
• A personal view of the Manhattan real estate
• How to turn your home into a pension
• A few reasons why the housing recovery remains shaky
• Some Denver residents noticing property tax increases

Real Estate Reads – 3/26/13

Some news concerning the world of real estate:

• It is definitely a seller’s market in Sacramento…
• …and Columbus.
• See how a low mortgage rate improves your cashflow.
• Think you can live in a 275-square foot apartment in San Francisco?
• For the Pharrs, real estate is part of the family business.
• Home values on the rise; highest levels since 2007.
• How’s the market doing? Just look at the hotels…
• …or the foreclosure rates
• Mass transportation=great selling perk, according to the NAR.
• Reading the client is viable strategy say New York-area realtors.

Real Estate Reads – 3/19/13

Some news concerning real estate:

• The National Association of Realtors discusses the importance of Congress’ dueling budget plans and impact it will have on the nation’s Realtors.
• Inventory is going fast in Sacramento!
• Higher mortgage rates=Good news for the market. Here’s why.
• Renting slows as the housing market grows, Bloomberg reports.
• Housing is also turning the corner in Nevada County, Calif.
• An innovative park sweetens the pot for this Manhattan neighborhood.