Real Estate Blog

About a half hour before President-elect Barack Obama gave his acceptance speech as the 44th president of the United States, the first condo went up on Craigslist.com for rent for Inaugural Week. With no pictures or flowery descriptions, the ad for the 1 bedroom condo simply stated: BE THERE TO BE A PART OF MOST HISTORIC MOMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY!!!!1 (sic). The price for three nights — a mere $5,000.

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Condo Trends: Capitol Hill Condos Hot for Inauguration

McLEAN, VA — Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.04 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 20, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 6.14 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.20 percent.

Continued here:
Long-Term Mortgage Rates Down for Third Consecutive Week

Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas Realtors are so up on their market that they even created a web site about it: www.DFWHousingFacts.org. The web site touts all the reasons the 4th largest metropolitan area in the U.S. is a great place to buy in today s economic environment.

Originally posted here:
Hot Market: Dallas/Ft. Worth: Where Everything’s Big

The nationwide boom in foreclosures and bank-owned real estate (REO) property sales to investors is producing an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous side effect: Growing numbers of confrontations occur when investors visiting supposedly empty properties find them occupied — and the inhabitants don’t want to leave or let anybody in.

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Investor Report: REO Scam Warning

In many homeowner associations, wood burning fireplaces are a warm and inviting amenity that boost market value and livability. Some use them passionately, burning cords of wood each season while others rarely use them except for special occasions like Christmas. Regardless of the usage, the homeowner association has an obligation to see that they all meet fire safety codes.

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Clean Sweep HOA Chimneys

In May of 2007, I was convinced by someone I used to like (just kidding, sort of) to set up a booth at the NAR Expo in Las Vegas. She convinced me it would be fun and that she would handle all the details — all I’d have to do is show up.

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Confessions of a NAR Exhibitor

What’s an Obama administration, plus heavy new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate, going to mean for housing and real estate?

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Washington Report: What Obama Means for Housing

Two-thirds of baby boomers who make more than $100,000 intend to downsize in suburbia, according to a report from building industry watcher Hanley Wood. Boomers are the Americans born between 1946 and 1964 and number 78 million strong — 28 percent of the population.

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Condo Trends: Boomers Driving Higher Density Housing

It may not always make sense to sell your home. If that’s the case, renting it could be a good option. But understanding the rental process and using expert help will alleviate extra stress.

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Can’t Sell Your Home? Why Not Rent it?

McLEAN, VA — Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.20 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 6, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 6.46 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.24 percent.

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Weaker Job Market Leads to Lower Mortgage Rates

In garden or townhouse style condominiums, a curious phenomena takes place: Certain owners feel compelled to commandeer the common area adjacent to their units. This takes on many forms. Some use it for personal plantings, sometimes even running irrigation systems through it. Some expand their patio or deck into it. Some build storage sheds in it or place hot tubs there. Some brazenly fence off “their” yard.

Excerpt from:
HOA Commandos

Some investors may believe the headlines and assume that nobody’s lending money anymore — and certainly not for small residential rental projects.

Excerpt from:
Investor Report: Who is Lending?

Realtors in the Orlando, Florida, area have found themselves very busy this fall. Sales are up a whopping 37 percent in September with more than 1,300 buyers moving into their new homes compared to the same period a year ago. With prices slipping about 9 percent to a median sales price of $182,000, the area’s affordability index leapt in September to 123.74 percent, according to a report from the Orlando Regional Realtor Association.

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Hot Market: Orlando Searing As Market Turns

Here’s a question for you? What type of pipe carries gas into your home? This isn’t Trivial Pursuit; it’s actually an important question that many homeowners and interested buyers can’t answer. But they ought to know for safety reasons.

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Don’t Let Your Home Pipe in a Fire Hazard

McLEAN, VA — Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.04 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending October 23, 2008, down from last week when it averaged 6.46 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.33 percent.

More here:
Lower Than Expected Inflation and Weaker Housing Allowed Most Mortgage Rates to Ease