Real Estate Blog 
Six Keys To Selling Your Home in Todays Market
Monday, May 14th, 2012 at 7:21am. 9 Views, 0 Comments.
Monday, May 14, 2012— According to the National Association of Realtors®, more than 4.25 million homes sold in 2011. That's a lot of real estate and such numbers raise the question: How are sellers doing it?
"Because individual homes are unique, there isn't one single strategy that works equally well for every property," says Wendy Forsythe, the executive vice president of a real estate company. "The real trick is understanding that today's marketplace is cash driven, quick and highly competitive. Owners who understand their local markets and work with a knowledgeable agent are those most likely to succeed."
In March roughly one-third of all sales were cash, meaning a large number of buyers are not dependent on lender financing, the sale of their…
Home Prices Rise in Half the US Cities
Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 9:42am. 19 Views, 0 Comments.
Prices for single-family homes climbed in half of U.S. cities in the first quarter as real estate markets stabilized.
The median sales price increased from a year earlier in 74 of 146 metropolitan areas measured, the National Association of Realtors said in a report today. In the fourth quarter, only 29 areas had gains.
Home Prices Rise in Half of U.S. Cities as Markets Stabilize
A development in Oswego, Illinois.
May 7 (Bloomberg) -- Michelle Meyer, a senior economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, talks about the U.S. economy and real estate market. She speaks with Tom Keene on Bloomberg Television's "Surveillance Midday." (Source: Bloomberg)
The…
The Spring Home Buying Season is Upon Us !
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 at 11:46am. 26 Views, 0 Comments.
It looks like there's spring in the spring homebuying season.
Ponder that Newport Beach-based Surterre Properties says it recorded a company-record $376 million in residential real estate sales in the first quarter. Also, Surterre's first-quarter new escrows jumped 70 percent in a year to $544 million from $321 million in 2011's first three months.
Spring homebuying season may be blossoming. Newport Beach-based Surterre Properties says it recorded a company-record $376 million in residential real estate sales in the first quarter.
CEO Gary Legrand: "I think it's remarkable what our company has been able to accomplish since we opened our doors in 2006, especially in such a challenging real estate market."
Surterre isn't…
Buying a Home Won't Get Much Cheaper
Monday, May 7th, 2012 at 1:53pm. 23 Views, 0 Comments.
(CNNMoney) -- Buying a home may never get any cheaper than this. Several housing experts are predicting that this year will be the last chance for bargain hunters to cash in on the best deals of the weak housing market.
With home prices down 34% nationally since 2006 and mortgage rates at historic lows, homes have never been more affordable -- but it won't stay this way for much longer.
Stuart Hoffman, chief economist for PNC Financial Services (PNC, Fortune 500), said he expects home prices to flatten out by the third quarter and start climbing by next year.
A number of factors will help bolster the housing market, he said, including a decline in the number of foreclosures and continued job growth. In addition, homebuyers will have better…
Multiple offers to buy homes are back
Sunday, May 6th, 2012 at 11:36am. 18 Views, 0 Comments.
The Orange County housing market is starting to rebound nicely. While median prices continue to be down, and most of the transactions are taking place in the first home price range, we are seeing houses under $2 million in all areas of Orange County moving faster than they have in the past couple of years.
We are seeing sellers happier about the prices they are getting, and our agents are the busiest they have been in years, with more buyers in all price ranges.
Us: In 2006, home sales stalled. We ended up with almost 18,000 homes on the market. Now, there are fewer than 7,000, lowest in seven years. Do we have a housing shortage?
Cam: I don’t know if I would call it a shortage, but it is definitely moving back toward being a seller’s market,…
"Homeowners Bill of Rights"
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 4:39pm. 19 Views, 0 Comments.
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Home sales dollars up $58 million in 2012
Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 at 4:37pm. 18 Views, 0 Comments.
Total dollars poured into homebuying rose slightly in Orange County during the first quarter of the year, generating the second-highest amount of revenue for home sellers and their agents since home prices melted down in 2008, figures from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service show.
Given the small number of homes currently on the market and reports about home sellers getting multiple offers, 2012 could shape up to be an improved year for housing.
Click to enlarge
On the other hand, there’s a dark side to the latest CR-MLS report.
Revenue still is down 16% from the first quarter average for the past eight years. And average home prices remain below year-ago levels this year so far.
The regional MLS tracks housing…
Pending home sales increased
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 2:24pm. 25 Views, 0 Comments.
March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering!
Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 11:01am. 6 Views, 0 Comments.
Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February and is 12.8 percent above March 2011 when it was 89.9. The data reflects contracts but not closings.
The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it reached 111.3.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing.…
Pending home sales increased
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 2:24pm. 20 Views, 0 Comments.
March Pending Home Sales Rise, Market Recovering!
Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 11:01am. 6 Views, 0 Comments.
Pending home sales increased in March and are well above a year ago, another signal the housing market is recovering, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 4.1 percent to 101.4 in March from an upwardly revised 97.4 in February and is 12.8 percent above March 2011 when it was 89.9. The data reflects contracts but not closings.
The index is now at the highest level since April 2010 when it reached 111.3.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said 2012 is expected to be a year of recovery for housing.…
Monday, April 30, 2012— Mortgage rates moved into record low
Tuesday, May 1st, 2012 at 2:21pm. 23 Views, 0 Comments.
Mortgage Rates dip to New Lows
Monday, April 30th, 2012 at 11:04am. 4 Views, 0 Comments.
Monday, April 30, 2012— Mortgage rates moved into record low territory again last week, with the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rate ticking lower to 4.09 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.43 discount and origination points.
The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate pulled back to 3.28 percent—also a record low t—while the jumbo 30-year fixed mortgage held at 4.61 percent. Adjustable mortgage rates were mixed, with the average 3-year adjustable down for a third consecutive week to a new low of 3.06 percent, while the 7-year and 10-year…