Posted in Pondering Home on March 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Freddie Mac Monthly Average Rate & Points for 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgages
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
January
5.05
0.7
5.76
0.4
6.22
0.4
6.15
0.5
5.71
0.7
February
5.13
0.7
5.92
0.5
6.29
0.4
6.25
0.6
5.63
0.7
March
5.97
0.5
6.16
0.4
6.32
0.6
5.93
0.7
April
5.92
0.4
6.18
0.5
6.51
0.6
5.86
0.6
May
6.04
0.5
6.26
0.4
6.60
0.5
5.72
0.6
June
6.32
0.7
6.66
0.4
6.68
0.5
5.58
0.6
July
6.43
0.6
6.70
0.4
6.76
0.5
5.70
0.5
August
6.48
0.7
6.57
0.4
6.52
0.4
5.82
0.5
September
6.04
0.7
6.38
0.5
6.40
0.5
5.77
0.6
October
6.20
0.6
6.38
0.5
6.36
0.4
6.07
0.5
November
6.09
0.7
6.21
0.4
6.24
0.5
6.33
0.6
December
5.29
0.7
6.10
0.5
6.14
0.4
6.27
0.5
Annual Average
5.05
0.7
6.03
0.6
6.34
0.4
6.41
0.5
5.87
0.6
~Freddie Mac
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Last week many of you received my real estate newsletter. In it I had some of the programs that are coming out of the Obama stimulus plan. I received many inquiries as to what a “cramdown” was, based on this section:
Foreclosure Relief
Those who are “upside-down” on their mortgages (owing more than the property’s value) will [...]
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Posted in Pondering Home on February 19, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Despite negative numbers in real estate values, new research from Pew Research Center shows Americans still find comfort in their home. Reinforcing my belief that most people relize owning your own home has a deeper meaning and adds a value to your life greater than simply being a financial investment.
No Place Like Home — Even if the [...]
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Posted in Pondering Home on February 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Looks like a good time to capitalize on interest rates and buy a home. ..
Freddie Mac Monthly Average Rate & Points for 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgages
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
Rate
Pts
January
5.05
0.7
5.76
0.4
6.22
0.4
6.15
0.5
5.71
0.7
February
5.92
0.5
6.29
0.4
6.25
0.6
5.63
0.7
March
5.97
0.5
6.16
0.4
6.32
0.6
5.93
0.7
April
5.92
0.4
6.18
0.5
6.51
0.6
5.86
0.6
May
6.04
0.5
6.26
0.4
6.60
0.5
5.72
0.6
June
6.32
0.7
6.66
0.4
6.68
0.5
5.58
0.6
July
6.43
0.6
6.70
0.4
6.76
0.5
5.70
0.5
August
6.48
0.7
6.57
0.4
6.52
0.4
5.82
0.5
September
6.04
0.7
6.38
0.5
6.40
0.5
5.77
0.6
October
6.20
0.6
6.38
0.5
6.36
0.4
6.07
0.5
November
6.09
0.7
6.21
0.4
6.24
0.5
6.33
0.6
December
5.29
0.7
6.10
0.5
6.14
0.4
6.27
0.5
Annual Average
5.05
0.7
6.03
0.6
6.34
0.4
6.41
0.5
5.87
0.6
~Freddie Mac
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Posted in Pondering Home on February 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Once again in a survey of where people want to live. Another one of our greater Seattle area neighborhoods pops up.
Jan. 22, 2009 from Frontdoor.com: KNOXVILLE, TN – In honor of HGTV’s 13th Dream Home Giveaway, FrontDoor explores 10 of the dreamiest places to live in the United States. Whether it’s lush acreage, majestic views [...]
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Posted in Pondering Home on January 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
For Half of America, Grass is Greener Somewhere Else
29 Jan 09 Pew Research Center Where would Americans most like to live–and how do they feel about the place they currently call home?
A new national survey by the Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project finds that nearly half (46%) of the public would rather [...]
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The following is from my Spring newsletter:
Interesting times right now in real estate. The market continues to be slow and the lending pendulum has officially swung all the way.
Inventory is way up, sales are down and we never saw our traditional high Spring sales activity. In Seattle we have depreciated about 8-10% from last years [...]
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With the recent discussion on dwellingspot about the bland nature of some townhouses and a proposal that there be design guidelines. I wanted to introduce a property that was built as a simple and affordable way for homebuyers to enter the Seattle market.
Often referred to as Minimal Traditional style or “A world War II Cottage”. [...]
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Posted in Pondering Home on May 1, 2008 | 3 Comments »
Yesterday the Seattle Times continued the confusing Seattle message regarding housing. Just a few days after Earth Day and everyone painting themselves “green” and complaining about growing carbon footprints, the Seattle Times turns on the local townhouse developers and gives another forum to Vlad Oustimovitch, a person simply on a personal crusade against one local [...]
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