Real Estate News and Information in Silicon Valley

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26798581759519249262012-01-21T15:27:26.218-08:00Real Estate News and Information in Silicon ValleyOpinions from Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtor, ePro, SRES. News, laws, information regarding current real estate issues.Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.comBlogger1621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-81869967579840437862012-01-21T15:27:00.000-08:002012-01-21T15:27:26.230-08:00Tax crackdown happening now

I heard this week from a friend/client who received a tax bill just recently saying, "We're sorry, but we didn't assess your property improvements you did in 2009. You'll have to pay us retroactive taxes owed since then and will see them on your next tax bill." Serious property tax crack down coming.

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-65328065145168860992011-08-07T15:30:00.000-07:002011-08-07T15:30:23.694-07:00Debt Ceiling and Real Estate - Brandon Knapp of RPM Mortgage

After months of political grumbling back and forth, the Debt Ceiling was finally raised and the country took a step - albeit a small one - towards lowering our enormous budget deficit. With the political stalemate behind us, it's time to focus on how the Debt Ceiling deal will impact Bonds and home loan rates. First, shortly after the deal was announced, Fitch Ratings and Moody's both

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-55529500848674912602011-08-07T15:27:00.000-07:002011-08-07T15:27:11.169-07:00Los Altos Real Estate Market Snapshot 8/7/2011

by Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtor, ePro, SRES, Previews Specialist There are thirty-one homes that closed escrow in the past month in Los Altos. Sixteen sold over their asking price. Seven had lowered their asking price before they sold. The average days on market are twenty-three. Average length of escrow is thirty-two. Currently, the average price received is 100.005% of asking

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-71983485928519371592011-07-22T13:48:00.000-07:002011-07-22T13:48:53.858-07:00New Conforming Loan Limits, How They Effect You

by Deniece Smith, Realtor, ePro, SRES http://www.dsoldit.com/ Conforming loan limits are anticipated to decrease from the now $729,750 to $625,500. What does this mean to you? The conforming loan limit determines the maximum size of a mortgage that FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac government-sponsored enterprises can buy or guarantee. Non-conforming loans, also known as jumbo loans, usually

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-5460643349212184692011-07-10T16:43:00.000-07:002011-07-10T16:43:43.558-07:00Los Altos home sales statistics for June 8, 2011 to July 8, 2011

by Deniece Smith, Realtor, ePro, SRES www.dsoldit.com 37 homes closed escrow in all of Los Altos in the past month. 12 out of the 37 sales, or 32.43%, sold over the original asking price. 4 homes got exactly what they were asking. 9 of the 37, or 24% of the homes reduced their asking price before selling. The average days on market for all listings that closed escrow in the past

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-3176039910396206532011-06-18T12:45:00.000-07:002011-06-18T12:45:11.773-07:00Arbitration and the new PRDS Real Estate Purchse Contract

by Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorwww.dsoldit.com New ContractA new Peninsula Regional Data Service (PRDS) Real Estate Purchase Contract, that is used most frequently in purchases and sales of residential properties up to four units in parts of Silicon Valley, has gotten an overhaul. It is available now for use by all Realtors in our area. One Example of change from the Contract: ArbitrationBoth

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-13741404882879158402011-06-12T14:44:00.000-07:002011-06-12T14:44:44.030-07:00Maximizing your remodeling dollars

Deniece W. SmithWelcome Home.Phone: 650.483.2055License #: 01295757Email: dsoldit@gmail.comWeb: www.dsoldit.comny Considering Selling Your Home? If you are thinking about selling your home in the near future, I am sure you will find the information in the following article very valuable. If you are interested in finding out how much your home will likely sell for in today's market just give me

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-72148618412940245172011-05-15T12:19:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:16:04.668-07:00Cash Buyers, High-End Sales, Local Market Strength

by Deniece Watkins Smith Realtor, ePro, SRES Coldwell Banker, Los Altos www.dsoldit.com Six out of twenty-one homes in Los Altos that have closed escrow in the past month have closed over their asking price. Twelve out of thirty-two homes in Mountain View that have closed escrow in the past month have closed over their asking price. When we hear news on TV about real estate it's

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-30507207735044371052011-03-08T13:39:00.000-08:002011-03-08T13:39:29.184-08:00Considering selling two homes for one

by Deniece Watkins Smith - Realtor, ePro, SRES March 8, 2011 Client: Unfortunately, when our friend the Realtor came to check out both houses (in Arizona) about a month ago, his suggestion was that we wait another year before we try to sell. He said that at this point we'd be lucky to get what we paid (Not what I wanted to hear, of course.)... In the mean time, I'm trying to be patient

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-40150006012174894372011-02-11T12:50:00.000-08:002011-02-11T12:50:57.112-08:00Cash buyers lift housing

from the Wall Street JournalBuyers in markets around the U.S. are snapping up homes in all-cash deals, betting that prices are at or near bottom and breathing life into some of the nation’s most battered housing markets.Read the full story

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-2663155408670272472011-01-24T15:31:00.000-08:002011-01-24T15:31:51.739-08:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update Jan 24, 2010

In This Issue... Last Week in Review: The US Dollar has dropped. Find out why and what it could mean to home loan rates! Forecast for the Week: A full load of economic reports hits the markets. Read what they are and why they matter. View: How much can you deduct for driving? Discover what’s changed...and how you can benefit! Read Entire Article

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-64799274083956125512011-01-21T17:20:00.000-08:002011-01-21T17:20:17.305-08:00When Mortgage Rate Locks Expire

By LYNNLEY BROWNINGPublished: January 6, 2011 A lock-in agreement — also called a rate lock or rate commitment — protects against sudden spikes in interest rates by freezing the terms of a loan while it is being processed, which could ultimately save a borrower tens of thousands of dollars in interest costs over the life of the loan. Read Entire Article

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-87710212693293707332011-01-21T16:40:00.000-08:002011-01-21T16:40:09.503-08:00Fewer default notices issued in Santa Clara, San Mateo counties

By Brandon Baileybbailey@mercurynews.comPosted: 01/18/2011 06:49:57 PM PSTUpdated: 01/19/2011 10:07:30 AM PST Lenders issued fewer default notices to homeowners in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties last year, marking the first year-to-year decline since the foreclosure crisis erupted in 2007, according to a report issued Tuesday by a private tracking service. Read entire article

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-46504301744102660412011-01-21T15:34:00.000-08:002011-01-21T15:34:19.132-08:00California median home prices dip in December

Associated PressPosted: 01/21/2011 12:37:40 PM PSTUpdated: 01/21/2011 12:43:28 PM PST LOS ANGELES -- California's median home price declined nearly 4 percent last month to $254,000 from $264,000 in December 2009, as low-priced foreclosures and other distressed properties continued to dominate the market. Read entire article

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-69432127915022726832011-01-21T15:32:00.000-08:002011-01-21T15:32:02.185-08:00Biz Break: For California's real estate market, hope or despair?

By Frank Michael Russellfrussell@mercurynews.comPosted: 01/21/2011 01:19:10 PM PSTUpdated: 01/21/2011 01:26:38 PM PST Today: Los Altos, Cupertino and Los Gatos were among the state's 10 most expensive communities last month by median home price, and Santa Cruz and Gilroy were among the 10 with the biggest price gains. Plus: Google tries to block "webspam." And: Silicon Valley's jobless rate

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-58471366950945578432011-01-11T13:17:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:17:42.570-08:00Allstate sues Countrywide over toxic investments

NEW YORK -- Allstate has filed a federal lawsuit against Countrywide Financial over $700 million in toxic mortgage-backed securities that the insurer bought beginning in 2005, only to see their value decline rapidly.Read article »

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-22098064899161447232011-01-11T13:12:00.000-08:002011-01-11T13:12:16.547-08:00Mortgage rates: Average on 30-year fixed loans rises to 4.86 percent

NEW YORK -- The average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages rose this week to the highest level in seven months, reflecting higher yields on long-term Treasurys. Read article »

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-5100293583544808362011-01-11T12:49:00.000-08:002011-01-11T12:49:23.943-08:00Court rules against Wells Fargo U.S. Bancorp in foreclosure case

BOSTON -- The highest court in Massachusetts ruled against U.S. Bancorp and Wells Fargo on Friday in a widely watched mortgage foreclosure case that could have serious implications for the nation's largest banks. Read article »

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-44787810970791229242011-01-10T17:48:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:48:20.794-08:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update Jan 10, 2010

In This Issue Last Week in Review: The labor market continues to improve, and while that’s good news for our economy, what does it mean for home loan rates? Forecast for the Week: Very impactful reports are in store for the week ahead - including a look at inflation, retail sales, and how American consumers are feeling these days. View: Breaking news... you won’t need to sweat the dreaded

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-45310124425000567682011-01-10T17:03:00.000-08:002011-01-10T17:03:12.582-08:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update Jan 3, 2010

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-62561119508505927552010-11-19T17:15:00.000-08:002010-11-19T17:15:27.834-08:00Silicon Valley home sales plunge, but median price edges higher

By Frank Michael Russell, San Jose Mercury Newsfrussell@mercurynews.comPosted: 11/18/2010 09:47:09 AM PSTUpdated: 11/18/2010 12:33:50 PM PSTHome sales in Silicon Valley plunged in October from a year earlier, but the median price for a resale house in Santa Clara County was up 2.3 percent to $562,500, MDA DataQuick reported this morning.The number of single-family homes that changed hands in

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-23232465989783888012010-11-12T16:21:00.000-08:002010-11-12T16:26:06.609-08:00Cashin Realtors bought by Coldwell Banker

By Pete Careypcarey@mercurynews.comPosted: 11/12/2010 06:40:42 AM PSTUpdated: 11/12/2010 06:40:44 AM PST Cashin Realtors, a high-end brokerage on the Peninsula, is being acquired by Coldwell Banker for undisclosed terms, the latest in a two-decades-long string of acquisitions by the larger firm.The deal was announced Thursday morning at a meeting with Cashin's managers and agents.Cashin,

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-84448106408916957462010-11-06T14:27:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:27:05.831-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 11/5/2010

Fed rate update and more Read full story

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-38067607498611322452010-11-06T14:10:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:11:47.499-07:00Wide variation seen in mortgage servicers’ performance

Data suggest a wide variation in how well the firms handle such things as dealing with delinquent homeowners and negotiating loan modifications.Read the full story.From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-78640573865830101862010-11-06T14:06:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:06:52.409-07:00Mortgage Bankers push housing recovery to 2012

Last week, the nation’s mortgage bankers released a report saying that they expect the housing market to continue limping along into next year. Things could pick up, they say, in 2012.Read the Full StoryFrom the Wall Street Journal

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-4904525162510328542010-11-06T14:03:00.000-07:002010-11-06T14:03:43.127-07:00Should you refinance if you’re over 50?

With interest rates near record lows, refinancing has never looked so tempting – especially for people nearing retirement, who’d love some extra cash to pad their diminished savings. But for homeowners over 50, there’s more to consider than just a lower rate. Read the full story From Smart Money

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-42100972452169576222010-11-06T14:01:00.001-07:002010-11-06T14:01:59.356-07:00Refinance in under a year? Maybe

Low mortgage rates have some homeowners considering refinancing, even if it has been less than a year since they last refinanced or bought their home. Read the full story From the Wall Street Journal

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-35820718802051464482010-11-06T13:58:00.000-07:002010-11-06T13:58:12.044-07:00Homeownership stays at lowest level in a decade

The nation’s homeownership rate remained at its lowest in more than a decade, hampered by a rise in foreclosures and weak demand for housing. Read the full story From the San Francisco Chronicle

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-71338560511199365402010-11-06T13:56:00.000-07:002010-11-06T13:56:30.295-07:00Three ways low mortgage rates can work for you

Just when it looked like mortgage rates couldn’t fall any further, they did. So what’s in it for you? A lot, potentially. Read the full story From CNN Money

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-67541017597527690292010-11-06T13:50:00.001-07:002010-11-06T13:50:54.753-07:00California expects mortgage-aid program to begin in weeks

The California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) reported this week that its “Keep Your Home California” program will be delayed because of logistical issues with the program. The program was scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 1. Read the full story From the Sacramento Bee

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-10522387135006263832010-10-22T15:11:00.000-07:002010-10-22T15:11:17.492-07:00Credit scores: How 720 became the new 680

Until recently, a credit score of 680 was something to be proud of. It meant you paid most of your bills on time, got dinged when you went shopping for a refi, but in general, had a solid enough record to get a loan at the best rate. Read Full Story From Smart Money.com

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-50747979562646947352010-10-22T15:09:00.000-07:002010-10-22T15:09:48.246-07:00Mortgage database’s murky legal status adds another wrinkle to foreclosure mess

Major banks and mortgage lenders are coming down with another legal headache in their efforts to seize properties from homeowners in default. Read Full Story From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-76023315291898505952010-10-22T15:05:00.000-07:002010-10-22T15:05:03.227-07:00Mortgage rates edge higher after three weeks of declines

Fixed rates on home loans edged higher this week after three weeks of declines, Freddie Mac said in its latest survey. Read full story From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-77582072372917395962010-10-22T14:14:00.000-07:002010-10-22T14:14:54.312-07:00Real Estate News for week of 10/22/2010 from San Jose Mercury News

Home sales fall in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties Mortgage rates: 30-year fixed loans at 4.21 percent, up from decades low Silicon Valley house sales slide in Sept., but median price rises to $575,000 Southern California home sales drop 16 percent in September Who sold what, published Oct. 16 Foreclosure mess: Federal agencies probing banks, White House says Bank of America starts thaw in

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-57209206745351961992010-10-18T17:51:00.000-07:002010-10-18T17:51:53.221-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 10/18/2010

Last Week in Review: Quantitative Easing is heading our way, but when, why, what will it mean? Many questions remain...Forecast for the Week: What kind of outlook will the economic reports of the week create?View: 5 Facebook posts that put you at risk! Do you know what they are? Click here for full update

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-17002664550910913062010-10-15T16:00:00.000-07:002010-10-15T16:00:32.007-07:00Fannie-Freddie add-on fees put damper on refis

With mortgage rates at unprecedented lows, why are more people not taking advantage of them to refinance or buy houses? Read the full story

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-18899156938245479322010-10-15T15:58:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:58:32.507-07:00Banks seize 288,000 homes in Q3, but challenges await

Lenders seized more U.S. homes this summer than in any three-month stretch since the housing market began to bust in 2006. But many of the foreclosures may be challenged in court later because of allegations that banks evicted people without reading the documents. Read the full story. From the San Francisco Chronicle

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-33353559659975739092010-10-15T15:56:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:56:54.154-07:00HUD’s Donovan: National foreclosure moratorium risks ‘going too far’

The Obama administration’s top housing official on Monday said that a national foreclosure moratorium to correct flawed legal filings risked exacerbating the mortgage crisis. Read the full story From the Wall Street Journal

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-29698842275085122092010-10-15T15:54:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:54:45.183-07:00Unemployed? Get a federal loan to pay your mortgage

Unemployed and can’t pay your mortgage? You soon can apply for a no-interest government loan for up to $50,000 to pay your mortgage and cover your arrears. The loan, which can offer assistance for up to two years, will be forgiven if the homeowner stays in the house for five years. Read the full story. From CNN Money

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-12758620085436313282010-10-15T15:52:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:52:39.598-07:00California to join multistate inquiry of foreclosures by banks

In late September and early October several major lending institutions began voluntarily halting foreclosures in select states while they reviewed their foreclosure processes. This action is in response to findings that questioned whether some lenders/servicers were following the correct procedures to foreclose on a property.Read the full story. From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-66632274871319284622010-10-15T15:37:00.000-07:002010-10-15T15:37:59.675-07:00Real Estate News for week of 10/10/2010 from San Jose Mercury News

Foreclosure crisis: Officials in 50 states, D.C. launch probeFirst came revelations that errors riddled foreclosures across the country. Next, several large lenders put their operations on hold amid lawsuits and calls for a national moratorium. On Wednesday, the attorneys general in all 50 states joined forces to see whether the corner-cutting banks had broken the law as they pushed delinquent

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-67201558368855496162010-10-12T09:25:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:25:20.743-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 10/12/10

Jobs numbers Fed meeting results Texting while driving..no longer a worry..see why See full report here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-81393996250745088492010-10-08T14:32:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:32:14.203-07:00Biz Break: Will California's flailing real estate market stabilize next year?

Just how grim is the real estate market in the Golden State? Even the Realtors (normally an optimistic bunch whose income depends on improving conditions in the housing market) expect sales to plunge 10 percent this year from 2009. Read full article » From the San Jose Mercury News

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-88949399123408100352010-10-08T14:30:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:30:37.929-07:00Mortgage rates fall to decades-low of 4.27 percent

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rates on 30-year mortgages fell to the lowest level in decades for the ninth time in 12 weeks, pushed down by traders anticipating a move by the Federal Reserve to pump more money into the economy. Read full article » From the San Jose Mercury News

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-48558442961381143662010-10-08T14:25:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:25:24.912-07:00Bank of America halts foreclosure sales in all 50 states

WASHINGTON -- Potential flaws in foreclosure documents are threatening to throw the real estate industry into a full-blown crisis, as Bank of America on Friday became the first bank to stop sales of foreclosed homes in all 50 states. Read full article » From the San Jose Mercury News

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-91107694686123128232010-10-08T14:21:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:21:12.550-07:00Lack of title insurance could slow sales of foreclosed homes

Foreclosed homes could get harder to buy now that one of the nation's largest title insurance companies has stopped insuring titles to homes foreclosed by JPMorgan Chase and GMAC Mortgage. Read the full story. From USA Today

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-62677803612800319802010-10-08T14:12:00.001-07:002010-10-08T14:12:21.363-07:00Refinancing into shorter loans

Grim headlines about the housing market can make that final mortgage payment seem like a distant dream. But a growing number of homeowners are refinancing into shorter-term mortgages designed to make the dream become a reality sooner. Read the full story. From the New York Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-33458994093415627762010-10-08T14:09:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:09:10.591-07:00A new way to cut a mortgage

Some homeowners who already have refinanced into low-interest-rate mortgages are using a little-known strategy to make their monthly payments even smaller. Called "recasting" or "re-amortizing," the strategy allows a borrower to lower the monthly payment on an existing fixed-rate home loan for a small fee without having to apply for a new loan and without having to pay reappraisal and other fees

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-1500964208929232072010-10-08T14:07:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:07:11.009-07:00Serious delinquencies fall for fifth month in a row

Fannie Mae said serious delinquencies on single-family mortgages slid in July from June, the fifth-straight month of declines, further signaling that home-loan problems were on the downswing. Read the full story. From the Wall Street Journal

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-28660089315099339132010-10-08T14:05:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:05:09.813-07:00College-student housing presents investment opportunities

It's not free of risk and is far more management-intensive than conventional multifamily properties, but student housing has a long history of growth and stability. Read the full story. From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-12766115701288229842010-10-08T14:02:00.000-07:002010-10-08T14:02:03.615-07:00Prices rise for homes in foreclosure or sold by banks

Prices for homes either in foreclosure or sold by banks rose in the second quarter, according to a real estate group, underscoring competition in the market for distressed properties and the degree to which the mortgage crisis has spread to more affluent neighborhoods. Read the full story. From the Los Angeles Times

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-79350478884078274462010-10-08T13:57:00.000-07:002010-10-08T13:57:38.227-07:00California REALTORS® forecast slight rise in 2011 home sales

Sales of existing, single-family homes are expected to decline slightly in 2010 compared with 2009, but are forecast to rise slightly in 2011, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2011 California Housing Market Forecast.” Meanwhile, the median price of homes in California is expected to increase both in 2010 and 2011 compared with the year prior. Read the full story.

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-4038740157937134092010-10-06T17:34:00.000-07:002010-10-06T17:34:11.791-07:00New California Laws for 2011

The recent end of the 2009-10 legislative session has brought the end of short sale deficiency judgments for first loans, and other new laws affecting REALTORS® and their clients. To view the full text of the following bills, go to www.leginfo.ca.gov. No Short Sale Deficiencies: Starting January 1, 2011, a seller's first trust deed lender cannot obtain a deficiency judgment against the seller

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-38153090608647464932010-10-04T11:20:00.000-07:002010-10-04T11:20:05.159-07:00Brandon Knapp's Views You Can Use October 2010

Unintended consequences and home loan rates 7 Ways to teach financial responsibility to children Q & A: How much home can you afford? Full Details Here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-56466579962970729862010-10-03T11:16:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:16:38.193-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market update 9/27/10

Last Week in Review, Forecast for the Week, Mortgage Market Guide Full Market Update Here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-65953583704164815452010-10-03T11:12:00.001-07:002010-10-03T11:12:54.613-07:00Downsizing is booming

Smaller homes are trendy again as baby boomers look to shed excess room and recession makes large homes too costly. Read the full story. From the San Diego Union Tribune

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-84658498199812645922010-10-03T11:11:00.001-07:002010-10-03T11:11:57.498-07:00One in three unlikely to qualify for a mortgage

Nearly a third of Americans are unlikely to qualify for a mortgage because their credit scores are too low, making homeownership out of the question for many, according to an analysis by Zillow.com Read the full story. From the Orange County Register

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-57234398241968014592010-10-03T11:10:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:10:14.852-07:0022 percent of private mortgage mods redefault

Banks have been ramping up their mortgage modifications, helping out troubled borrowers who can’t qualify for President Obama’s foreclosure-prevention program. Too bad these homeowners redefault at more than twice the rate. Read the full story. From CNN Money

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-15574743434065778552010-10-03T11:08:00.001-07:002010-10-03T11:08:33.687-07:00Fannie Mae offers housing aid to military families

Mortgage giant Fannie Mae plans to give military families a break on their home loan payments if they are struggling because of the death or injury of a service member. Read the full story. From The Sacramento Bee

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-70150715348767674342010-10-03T11:06:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:06:46.668-07:00Home prices up, but growth rate slows

Home prices have risen for five straight months, but the rate of growth has slowed, according to an industry report released Tuesday. Read the full story. From CNN.com

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-91243880286664014822010-10-03T11:03:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:03:52.876-07:00How to buy a home at a $100,000 discount

With nearly 150,000 foreclosed homes on their books, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are trying to pare down their growing inventory of repossessed properties, in turn providing home buyers with tremendous purchasing opportunities. Read full story From Smart Money

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-72585294277839938882010-10-03T11:00:00.000-07:002010-10-03T11:00:26.855-07:00Mortgage rates: 30-year fixed lonas match low of 4.32 percent

WASHINGTON -- Rates on 30-year mortgages matched the lowest level in decades and rates on 15-year loans dropped to their lowest point in nearly 20 years. Read full story » From the San Jose Mercury News

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-76610643046421821962010-10-03T10:58:00.000-07:002010-10-03T10:58:26.746-07:00Congress holds conforming loan limites at nearly $730,000

WASHINGTON -- Congress has extended a policy that allows homeowners in pricey real estate markets to secure government-backed mortgages of nearly $730,000. Read article » From the San Jose Mercury News

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-55695109967371319272010-09-23T11:09:00.000-07:002010-09-23T11:09:55.369-07:00Excellent 3 page article on understanding Short Sales and what to watch out for

Provided by the California Department of Real Estate, the report below is excellent. It defines short sales, gives examples, and explains warning signs. It includes resources for help. Well worth the read. http://dre.ca.gov/pdf_docs/ca/ConsumerAlert_ShortSales.pdf

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-73306907765411287932010-09-23T10:58:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:58:39.350-07:00Foreclosure activity increases 4 percent in August

Foreclosure filings – notices of default, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions – increased 4 percent in August compared with July, but decreased 5 percent compared with the same period a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. Properties receiving a notice of default decreased 1 percent in August compared with July and 30 percent compared with August 2009 marking the seventh consecutive month of

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-42041517961304232010-09-23T10:56:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:56:59.003-07:00Listing price reductions rise to 26 percent in September

A recent report found 26 percent of homes listed for sale nationwide experienced at least one price reduction in September, an increase compared with August, according to Trulia.com. The average discount for price-reduced homes remained unchanged at 10 percent of the listing price. In California, price reductions have increased steadily since the federal home buyer tax credit expired on April 30

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-38097787046255038042010-09-23T10:54:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:54:51.809-07:00Fannie Mae's Latest Nationwide Survey Shows Consumers See Mixed Outlook for Housing

Fannie Mae's Latest Nationwide Survey Shows Consumers See Mixed Outlook for HousingMajority of Americans Believe Home Prices Have BottomedRents Expected to Increase More than Home PricesAmericans Remain Cautious, with Many Preferring to Rent Now and Buy LaterMortgage Borrowers and Underwater Borrowers Are Less Discouraged About Homeownership, While Delinquent Borrowers and Renters Are More

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-32914142686540091052010-09-23T10:51:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:51:55.615-07:00California home sales and prices edge up from July (From C.A.R.)

California home sales edged up 1.8 percent in August compared with July, but were down 14.9 percent from August 2009, C.A.R. reported today. The statewide median home price also increased 1.2 percent from July and was up 8.6 percent from a year ago. “Buyers who are holding out should consider the opportunities in today’s market,” said C.A.R. President Steve Goddard. “Favorable home prices and

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-44831262498064671042010-09-23T10:47:00.000-07:002010-09-23T10:47:26.758-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market update 9/20/10

Brandon's report talks about bonds and China this week. Good stuff! http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-4784504197816167022010-09-18T10:46:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:46:15.323-07:00Bad FICO score? How to boost it

If you’re thinking about buying a home, you know it’s more important than ever to have a high FICO score. Several components make up your score. What steps would you take to bump it up? How would you even know where to start? Read the full story

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-47668155796817990792010-09-18T10:40:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:40:56.969-07:00Lenders putting few foreclosed homes on the market

Thousands of homes remain stuck in the foreclosure process as lenders continue to offer relatively few foreclosed homes for sale, according to a report released Tuesday. Read the full story

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-79219892266836516832010-09-18T10:21:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:21:11.854-07:00Foreclosure fraudsters: The criminals who slow down recovery

From the Wall Street Journal Foreclosures are once again on the minds of many. After a summer of record lows in home sales and widespread pessimism in the economy, many market-watchers say the next leg down in home prices may come from pressure brought by foreclosed home inventory hitting the market. Read full story here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-25860009235098260672010-09-18T10:19:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:19:35.174-07:00Borrowers beware of credit fixer scams

From the Los Angeles Times Recession-hammered consumers across the country have seen their credit scores decline, and that has made them susceptible to scams that purport to erase delinquencies, judgments, foreclosures, and other problems from their files at the three national credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Read full story here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-40775102194204336902010-09-18T10:17:00.001-07:002010-09-18T10:17:52.689-07:00Home buyer tax credit: 950,000 must repay

From CNN MoneyNearly half of all Americans who claimed the first-time home buyer tax credit on their 2009 tax returns will have to repay the government. Read full story here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-58808674909431229672010-09-18T10:13:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:13:33.328-07:00A downside of short sales

From the New York TimesStruggling homeowners have found some refuge in short sales, in which lenders allow borrowers to escape foreclosure by selling a home for less than what is owed on the mortgage. Government programs offering incentives to both parties will push the number of short sales to 400,000 this year from 100,000 in 2008, according to CoreLogic, a financial consulting firm. But the

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-10383215033823050762010-09-18T10:11:00.001-07:002010-09-18T10:11:52.112-07:00California housing prices on the rebound

From CNN MoneyThe national housing market is shrouded in uncertainty. But in California, there are glimmers of stability. Read full story here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-62101292731147608872010-09-18T10:09:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:09:24.757-07:0010 reasons to buy a home

From the Wall Street Journal With newspaper headlines declaring that foreclosures are on the rise, short sales are difficult to navigate, and the rate of homeownership is on the decline, some home buyers may no longer see the value of purchasing a home. However, there are several reasons why homeownership makes economic, financial, and personal sense. Read full story here

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-40062556895827948882010-09-16T12:14:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:14:04.928-07:00Short-sale 'flopping' may be next big housing scam

Sep. 5, 2010 Lenders lose more — an average of $41,500 in one of every 53 short-sale transactions, according to the study by CoreLogic — when fraud is involved. Short-sale 'flopping' may be next big housing scam

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-77566394689055114902010-09-16T12:07:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:07:24.302-07:00Widespread Real Estate Scam Hits San Diego

Sep. 7, 2010 Two brothers have been busted in a widespread real estate fraud ring, including 40 properties in San Diego County, according to San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. Widespread Real Estate Scam Hits San Diego

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-23042292444424644472010-09-16T12:05:00.002-07:002010-09-16T12:05:40.537-07:00FBI crackdown on fraudulent mortgages

Sep. 14, 2010 When the Federal Bureau of Investigation began Operation Stolen Dreams in March 2010, the government’s largest mortgage fraud takedown, the FBI estimated about $2.3 billion of fraudulent mortgages were originated in 2009. However, recent estimates from a source monitoring the operation indicates that number is now closer to $14 billion. FBI crackdown on fraudulent mortgages Whole

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-40140348230562648262010-09-16T12:05:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:05:28.874-07:00FBI crackdown on fraudulent mortgages

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-14515582821471260752010-09-14T14:24:00.001-07:002010-09-14T14:24:07.093-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 9/13/10

Here is a link to Brandon Knapp's weekly lending update from September 13th, 2010. Labor Markets are the focus this week. http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-6518146313696060902010-09-03T16:24:00.000-07:002010-09-03T16:24:37.417-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market update 9/3/10

xxProvided to you Exclusively by Brandon Knapp For the Month of September 2010 --- Vol. 5, Issue 9 Brandon Knapp Branch Manager / RPM Mortgage Office: 408-583-3205 Fax: 408-404-5574Email: bknapp@rpm-mtg.com Website: www.rpm-mtg.com/bknapp What you don’t know CAN hurt you. Financial markets are complex systems with nuances that can impact your home loan and budget. This issue is

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-61787093330425201082010-09-03T11:55:00.000-07:002010-09-03T11:56:18.619-07:00Five Mistakes Home Buyers Make - From the Wall Street Journal

Even in this market, buyers can get tripped up. Here are a few do's and don'ts for first-timers.By SARAH MAXHome buyers are an increasingly rare breed these days. Many who were eager to buy a house raced to take advantage of federal homebuyer tax credits. When those government perks expired in April, home sales essentially went into deep freeze, plummeting to levels not seen in more than a

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-26130952050079101122010-08-23T13:02:00.000-07:002010-08-23T13:10:30.367-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 8/23/10

Brandon KnappBranch ManagerRPM MortgageOffice: 408-583-3205Fax: 408-404-5574E-Mail: bknapp@rpm-mtg.comWebsite: www.rpm-mtg.com/bknapp For the week of Aug 23, 2010 --- Vol. 8, Issue 34 "There is nothing wrong with change, if it is in the right direction." Winston Churchill. And certainly, seeing our economy improve is change in the right direction. But what steps will get us there... and

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-20618329332689281872010-08-18T14:35:00.000-07:002010-08-19T10:42:01.195-07:00Low-Flow No-Go, Issues with new low-flow toilets

by Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtor Trying to be conscientious environmental consumers, my husband and I recently updated our circa 1940's toilets to low-flow toilets. We took advantage of the rebate that Santa Clara County offered and got a toilet that flushed at a rate of 1.6 gallons per flush. Just this last weekend, only two months after installing the toilet, we had to call a plumber in

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-89017138830262573872010-06-23T14:17:00.000-07:002010-06-23T14:17:06.739-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 6/21/10

Will rates remain attractive? http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-4911192677149279392010-05-26T17:51:00.000-07:002010-05-26T17:51:34.481-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 5/24/10

Stock market going bear lately. Mortgage interest rates down. TONS of news coming out this week. http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-50564922147136621462010-05-19T15:46:00.001-07:002010-05-19T15:46:57.413-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 5/18/10

Last Week in Review: Events in Europe continue to dominate the economic headlines. Find out what it means for our economy and home loan rates.Forecast for the Week: A double dose of inflation data is on the way, and more news from the Eurozone is sure to be in store...plus updates on housing, manufacturing and jobless claims.View: Learn what great project could help you increase the value of

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-51428730860983045492010-05-19T15:41:00.001-07:002010-05-19T15:41:55.198-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 5/10/10

http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-59209559716455900732010-04-08T14:01:00.000-07:002010-04-08T14:05:32.536-07:00Cash Dwindling For No-Money Down Home Loan Program

MARCH 25, 2010, 3:40 PM ETWall Street Journal LGI HomesA house for sale at Canyon Crossing, priced around $145,900.At the Canyon Crossing community in southwest San Antonio, buyers can still get into a $135,000 four-bedroom home for no money down.It’s possible thanks to a program from the Department of Agriculture’s rural development division, which offers no-money-down loans in certain parts

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-8512107867498105862010-04-05T18:54:00.000-07:002010-04-05T18:54:59.304-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market update 4/5/10

Mortgage rates on the rise, more than 150,000 jobs created in March. Here is Brandon Knapp's most recent market update link. http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-4649837778440977522010-04-03T11:10:00.000-07:002010-04-03T11:12:16.004-07:00Credit scores can drop after getting loan help

By ALAN ZIBEL, AP Real Estate WriterFriday, March 19, 2010Some homeowners who sign up for the government's mortgage assistance program are getting a nasty surprise: Lower credit scores. For borrowers who are making their payments on time but are on the verge of default, the Obama administration's loan modification program can reduce their credit score as much as 100 points. That makes it

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-41283269812910416902010-04-03T11:04:00.000-07:002010-04-03T11:04:34.074-07:00Pace of house flipping picks up

Robert Selna, Chronicle Staff WriterTuesday, March 30, 2010Lance Iversen / The ChronicleLuis Jimenez bought and remodeled this home in Richmond, and he is now in contract to sell it at a profit. When Luis Jimenez bought a two-bedroom house in Richmond from a bank last year for $46,000, he joined the ranks of Bay Area real estate investors, who in 2009, purchased homes in moderate-priced ZIP

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-81864810069219069372010-04-03T10:55:00.000-07:002010-04-03T10:55:29.199-07:00Economy in U.S. Preserves Biggest Gain in Six Years (Update1)

March 26, 2010, 9:06 AM EDTBy Timothy R. Homan(Adds economist comment in third paragraph.)March 26 (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. economy expanded at a 5.6 percent annual rate in the fourth quarter of 2009, and corporate profits climbed, setting the stage for gains in employment that may broaden and preserve the expansion.The rise in gross domestic product, while smaller than the government’s previous

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-66695274021499682362010-04-03T10:50:00.000-07:002010-04-03T10:50:56.548-07:00Mortgage rates inch up, but stay below 5 percent

Associated PressPosted: 03/25/2010 09:31:51 AM PDTUpdated: 03/25/2010 09:31:51 AM PDT McLEAN, Va. — Mortgage rates moved slightly higher but remained just below 5 percent this week, as a Federal Reserve program that has maintained rates near record lows prepares to end.The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage inched up to 4.99 percent this week from 4.96 percent last week, mortgage

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-71728174103831889402010-04-03T10:47:00.000-07:002010-04-03T10:47:53.285-07:00White House proposes new aid to homeowners

By David Streitfeld New York TimesPosted: 03/25/2010 09:48:33 PM PDTUpdated: 03/26/2010 07:37:46 AM PDTWASHINGTON — The Obama administration will announce today a broad new initiative to help troubled homeowners, potentially refinancing several million of them into fresh government-backed mortgages with lower payments.The escalation in aid comes as the administration is under rising pressure from

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-41890144256621675762010-04-02T10:11:00.000-07:002010-04-02T10:11:44.005-07:00A Good Time to Buy? Yes, But No Need to Rush

MARCH 27, 2010, 12:47 AM ET Wall Street JournalBy Nick TimiraosToday’s look at the high-end housing market reveals how more sellers are beginning to get more realistic about home prices and cut deals on million-dollar homes.Many housing economists say that for borrowers who can get a mortgage and who have stable incomes, pulling the trigger on a house they like makes a lot of sense right now.

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-44138659595916372242010-04-02T09:36:00.001-07:002010-04-02T09:36:42.198-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 4/1/10

http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2679858175951924926.post-33470407307710370602010-03-22T11:28:00.001-07:002010-03-22T11:28:53.630-07:00Brandon Knapp's Market Update 3/18/10

How the health insurance bill could affect home loans is included in this informative report. http://www.mmgweekly.com/w/index.html?SID=89e3b2c88ef35d68afff6abeb34bec4c

Deniece Watkins Smith, Realtorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00484950128523231655noreply@blogger.com0