2011: The Year a House Again Becomes a Home

by THE KCM CREW on DECEMBER 29, 2010

For almost a decade now, every time we talked about real estate we immediately discussed money. We didn’t talk about the value of a home but instead about the price of the house. We didn’t worry about a roof over our heads but instead the ceiling on our interest rate. We didn’t care as much about where we raised our family as we cared about how much we increased our family’s net worth.

That will change in 2011. The KCM Crew believes very strongly that real estate will return to what it has been for the 200+ year history of this country: a place for us and our families to live comfortably. It will also prove to be a great long term investment as it always has been.

Our parents and our grandparents didn’t buy their homes as a short term financial investment. They bought it so they had a place of their own to come home to at the end of the day; a place to raise their family; a place they could feel safe.

Sure they dreamed of a ‘mortgage-burning’ party. They realized it was a form of forced savings. They were taught that, if they paid their mortgage every month, they would wind up with a little retirement account decades later.

And, they realized that wouldn’t happen if they rented.

However, in the last decade, we somehow forgot that the financial aspect was the serendipity not the major reason to buy. We believe that 2011 will be the year that people return to the historic reasons families purchased a home. This is the year when we again remember that homeownership is a major part of the American Dream.

What about the challenges to a housing recovery? Let’s look at them.

The Economy

Most reports are showing that the economy is doing better than expected. This shopping season provided additional proof of this point. As the economy recovers, so will consumer confidence. This will be great news for housing.

Unemployment

There is much talk about a ‘jobless recovery’. We agree that unemployment will continue to be a challenge. However, when you talk about housing, it is not the unemployment rate that is all telling. Instead, it is the change in the rate. As unemployment skyrocketed, people started to worry about their own job. Any change creates concern. Unabated concern turns to fear. Fear causes paralysis. The spike in unemployment has plateaued. People no longer have the felling that ‘they are next’. The fear will diminish and people will start moving on with their lives. This too will be great news for housing.

Interest Rates

It seems the bottomless pit in which rates have been falling does have a floor after all. And it seems we have found it. Those purchasers who had been waiting for the best interest rate may have already missed it.

Prices

Economists are projecting that prices will not see any appreciation in 2011. Sellers who had been waiting for 2006 to return will come to the realization that waiting any longer makes little sense. They will instead decide to get on with their lives and sell this year.

Prices probably will soften further. However, the possible savings to potential buyers will be minimized by a rise in interest rates.

Bottom Line

This is the year that normalcy returns to real estate. People will buy and sell based on the desire for a better life for themselves and their families. They will realize that is the true value of homeownership and they will be willing to pay for that value.

Tax Deal Has Home Owner Benefits

Home owners were among those who benefited from the tax compromise that President Obama signed last week. Among the most home owner-friendly provisions are:

Deductions for private mortgage insurance: The agreement extends through 2011 a provision allowing home owners to deduct mortgage insurance premiums. To qualify for the full deduction, homeowners must have an adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less. Taxpayers with AGI of $100,000 to $109,000 can claim a partial deduction. Borrowers can’t deduct mortgage premiums on home loans that closed before 2007.

Tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. Home owners who install insulation, new windows or other energy-saving improvement in 2010 are eligible for a tax credit worth 30 percent of the cost up to a lifetime maximum of $1,500. Improvements must be bought and installed by Dec. 31. Those who delay improvements to 2011 still get a tax credit, but it is capped at $500.

Source: USA Today, Sandra Block (12/21/2010)

Four Steps to Sustainable Homeownership

Purchasing a home is an exciting step in anyone’s life, but there is more to the process than just getting approved for a loan. In fact, it is even more important to make certain you are ready to keep your home for the long term. To that end, here is a look at 4 things you can do to make your homeownership sustainable.

Step #1: Increase Your Knowledge

The first step you need to take is to learn as much about your mortgage loan options as possible. This way, you can be certain to apply for the best type of loan to meet your personal needs. In addition to learning about the pros and cons of various loan options, you need to learn more about how credit scores, discount points and other factors affect the overall cost of a loan. As part of this process, you should contact your local HUD housing counselors to learn more about special buyer programs that might be available in your area.

Step #2: Get Your Finances Under Control

Before you can purchase a home, you need to be certain you will qualify to buy it. If your credit score is below 620, you will be better off taking some time to bring up your score before you make a purchase. This way, you can keep your interest rates down, which will help keep your mortgage payments down and will make it easier for you to keep up with your monthly payments. Of course, by getting your finances under control before you buy, you will also be more likely to be able to stay on top of your bills after you make a purchase.

Step #3: Create a Budget

In order to remain safely within your means, your mortgage payments should never be more than 28 to 33 percent of your total monthly gross income. If you have other debts, such as car payments, student loans, credit cards or child support payments, the total cost of these debts and your mortgage payment should not exceed 36 to 40 percent of your monthly gross income. Therefore, before you make a purchase, carefully analyze your debts and create a budget that will ensure your monthly payments remain below this figure while also leaving enough money available to put toward a savings plan.

Step #4: Get to Saving

Before you start looking for a home, you should have plenty of money saved up to apply toward the purchase of your home. In most cases, Earnest money, which is a deposit provided to the seller, will be required when making an offer. Earnest money requirements can range anywhere from $500 to two percent of the purchase price. In addition, depending upon the type of loan you get, you might need to make a substantial down payment or closing costs. In addition, by establishing good saving habits now, you will be better prepared to handle your finances effectively in the future.

Growing Economy Big Factor for Buyers

Economists are surprisingly positive about the impact of rising interest rates on home sales.

The consensus is that while rates are up from where they were, they are still at historically low levels and rock bottom rates are only a part of what encourages people to buy homes. More important factors could be jobs and other financial issues, which appear to be improving.

“Since the recent rate increases have essentially just undone the declines from earlier months, it is hard to see why sales should drop significantly further from current levels,” wrote Goldman Sachs economist Ed McKelvey in a research note published Thursday evening.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nick Timiraos (12/17/2010)

Home Building Edged Up in November

Housing starts increased 3.9 percent last month from October, the U.S. Department of Commerce reports.

Despite the gain, activity remains 45 percent below the threshold — 1 million units annually — that is considered healthy. And permits, which gauge future demand, slid 4 percent to the lowest level since April 2009.

In November, builders broke ground on 555,000 units, fueled by a 6.9 percent jump in construction of single-family homes; multifamily projects, conversely, declined 9.1 percent.

Source: Boston Globe (12/17/10)

Rising Rates Could Get Buyers Moving

Ironically, it could be rising interest rates that finally push home buyers off the fence and into the market.

While Congress is debating the tax-cut compromise, the financial markets have interpreted the proposal as a development that will likely push mortgage interest rates higher than they have been for months.

Analysts are predicting that buyers will move quickly when it looks like rates are going up and are unlikely to come down. "Once people see this might actually be the bottom, they’ll go for it," says Paul Dales of Capital Economics.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed loan increased to 4.61 percent in the week ended Thursday, Dec. 9, from 4.46 percent the previous week. The average 15-year rate rose to 3.96 percent from 3.81 percent.

Source: Fortune, Nin-Hai Tseng (12/10/2010)

Advocacy Group Urges FHA Reform

The Center for Responsible Lending on Thursday called on the Federal Housing Administration to take further action to protect consumers from what it characterized as “Wild West lending.”

"The FHA was created to make mortgages accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Without clear rules to prevent overcharging, abuses are inevitable. That undercuts the reason the program was created in the first place," said Evan Fuguet, senior policy counsel for the center, in a statement.

The CRL recommended that the FHA adopt the following policies:

· Immediately apply pending Federal Reserve rules that, come April, will ban kickbacks and other incentives to overcharge for mortgages.
· Establish reasonable limits on loan costs to prevent inconsistent and abusive pricing.
· Maintain a strong focus on access to fair and affordable credit for all families regardless of race.
· Continue to strengthen efforts to enforce FHA rules.

Source: Center for Responsible Lending (12/09/2010)

How Home Prices, the Economy, and Your Attitude Are Connected

Home prices are tied to the economy very closely. When the economy is running smoothly, home prices and sales are soaring and people feel more secure with their money and their stability. But when one of these things changes, they all change with it.

If the economy starts to turn, people begin to lose jobs and want to leave the area searching for different work. Because there is less work, less people want to move to the area, leaving sellers stuck. As the housing market begins to lower, home prices drop and people aren’t worth as much money as they were before. They begin to feel poorer and stop making big ticket purchases. The loss of that cash flow hurts the economy more, and the spiral continues.

Housing Market

If the housing market begins to turn, then homes lose value, people feel poorer and the economy suffers. If people begin to feel poorer without either the economy or the Dallas housing market turning, they can drag the whole thing down. Sometimes politicians or other interest groups want people to feel poorer to sway public opinion, so it is possible for this to occur, and it has occurred in the past.

You can do your part to help the economy and the housing market by remaining calm about your finances. Focus on making smart economic decisions and stay calm. It’s important to prepare for a down-turned economy, and keep as level as possible. If you practice this when the market is high, it will be easier on your family when the market is low.

Easier Said

This advice is easier said than done, especially with job loss, the rise of foreclosure rates, and increasing Dallas short sales. The light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer. It will be a long battle to get there, but we will be seeing relief.

Rising Interest Rates Stall Some Home Sales

Rising interest rates have closed the door on $1 trillion in loans, said Scott Buchta, an investment strategist at Braver Stern Securities in Chicago.

As rates on loans guaranteed by FHA rise above 5 percent, fewer and fewer buyers qualify. LendingTree Chief Economist Cameron Findlay pointed out that a 30-basis-point rise in the 10-year Treasury note's yield would typically add about $45 per month to the payments on a $250,000 mortgage.

"Should rates rise higher from here, you'll start to have an impact on a purchase market that is just starting to recover," said Buchta.

Source: Reuters News, Al Yoon and Daniel Trotta (12/08/2010)

Holiday Decor Can Catch a Buyer's Eye

Tastefully done holiday decorations can be the eye candy that captures a buyer’s interest, says Lee Ralph, an associate with Coldwell Banker North Tampa (Fla.).

“We even negotiated a contract on Christmas Day last year,” Ralph says.

Ralph suggests using elegant themes and warns against over-decoration. “That may keep the buyer from being comfortable and able to visualize the home as their own,” Ralph says.

Designer Rick Davies, co-owner of Lafayette & Rushford Home, a home decor store in Dunedin, Fla., makes these suggestions:

· Work with what can’t be changed. Work carefully with the color, style, and age of the home.

· Consider proportions. Don’t put a huge wreath on a tiny door.

· Light the way. Simple pathway lights are a gracious way to greet potential buyers.

· Be subtle. Choose contemporary colors, including bright greens, lemongrass, golds, and ambers.

· Natural is in. Natural-look and organic materials are in vogue, including berries, artichokes, moss, twigs, acorns, and feathers.

Source: St. Petersburg Times, Terri Bryce Reeves (12/04/2010)

Things to Consider Before Doing a Remodel

Because contractors continue to have difficulty finding work in many parts of the country, many home owners are enjoying home-remodeling bargains.

Before signing a contract, here are some things Tara-Nicholle Nelson, author of "The Savvy Woman's Homebuying Handbook" urges people to consider:

· When the market is flooded with properties, buyers are frequently unwilling to pay for upgrades, although an upgraded home may sell more quickly than a dated one.
· Sellers concerned about guaranteeing a remodeling return on investment should focus on preserving the value and the likelihood of resale instead of on aesthetics.
· Don’t overbuild. McMansions have fallen out of fashion.

Source: Boston Globe, Tara-Nicholle Nelson (12/06/2010)

Mortgage Rates Continue Upward Climb

Freddie Mac reported that fixed-rate mortgages rose for a third consecutive week during the period ended Dec. 2.

· Interest on 30-year loans inched up to 4.46 percent from 4.4 percent.

· Rates on 15-year mortgages averaged 3.81 percent, an increase from 3.77 percent a week ago.

Adjustable-rate mortgages were slightly higher as well:

· One-year ARM rose up to 3.25 percent from 3.23 percent

· Five-year ARM moved up to 3.49 percent compared to 3.45 percent.

Source: Inman News (12/03/10)

Hurdles to Buying A Home

A lot of hype out there right now about the time being right for buying a home because home prices are down and mortgage rates are near all time lows – making home ownership very affordable. But, so many people are sitting on the sidelines according to NAR as home sales are 25% less than figures from 2009.

So what has people sitting on the sidelines if NAR’s figures are accurate?

First off, the $8000 home buying tax credit that the Bush administration started and the Obama administration renewed and extended has expired (except for Vets – yes Vets can still take advantage of low VA rates and 100% financing using the tax credit until April 2011). Many real estate and mortgage experts suggest this has had an impact on the market slow down. Ok, I buy it. Next reason…

Credit Scores – Mortgage guidelines are the toughest they have been in years. It seems like every month we get a notice saying that FICO score requirements for mortgage programs go up. Currently many lenders are requiring credit scores of 640 or greater to qualify. Some predict that with this sole requirement, at least 1/3 of all possible US based home buyers cannot qualify because their scores are less than 640. Ouch for a housing market turnaround.

Income and Assets – mortgage qualifications have tightened their analysis of job history, income, and assets. Bank statements, for example, are looked at more closely than ever with even the slightest elevated deposits questioned. A shaky job history could lend itself to you getting the thumbs up or thumbs down in the case where an underwriter has some discretion about approving your mortgage. And for income, you must be able to solidly prove it with pay stubs, W-2′s and tax returns, etc. If you are self employed be prepared for an even tougher road.

Appraisals – Perhaps one of the most frustrating thing is the continued weakness in the housing market caused by foreclosures and short sales. Perfectly good homes where the owners are not in financial trouble are facing diffculty in being fairly valued because they are surrounded by now substandard foreclosure and short sale homes. Sellers can’t agree on price with buyers and home values are not matching up with sales contract prices. According to some, the business of appraising is just a mess.

And finally, the fear of the unexpected – With the economy in the state that it is in, many people have little confidence in job security or that the economy has made a turn for the better. With job security at question as well as fears that home prices are still not at the bottom it is no wonder why so many people are waiting.

One proactive thing you can do if you are looking to buy a home is to get yourself pre approved with a mortgage lender. At the very least you can take care of your credit scores and personal finance hurdles in the mean time if you also have fears about the economy and housing prices.

4 Reasons To Buy A Home During The Holidays

Real estate sales and mortgage loan transactions tend to slow way down during the winter holidays. This phenomenon is certainly understandable – there is enough going on with holiday shopping, traveling, parties, cooking, and decorating without adding a move. But before you pack it in and close up shop until after New Years consider these reasons to buy a home during the holidays:

1) Get A Great Deal – Anxious sellers with homes on the market are likely thinking their chances of selling during November or December are slim. You may be able to get an even lower price accepted at this time of year. Consider the cost of 2 – 3 additional mortgage payments and maintaining the home for that time. There is also the added value of the peace of mind for the sellers that comes with closing before the new year.

2) Undivided Attention – Because home sales decline during the holidays both real estate agents and mortgage professionals are less busy and will be able to devote more time and energy to the deals they are working on. It is good to consider holiday closings and vacations that may be scheduled and to be up front about how this might affect the time line of the purchase.

3) Available Contractors – If a home requires some work before it can be moved into this is an ideal time of year to have it done. Most general contractors and specialists such as electricians, painters, roofers, and plumbers are not very busy around the holidays. Most home owners don’t want to undertake a home improvement project with the holidays looming and risk serving Thanksgiving dinner with a torn up kitchen, or having work done on the house while the in-laws are in town for Hanukkah. Have the pick of the professionals in the area and possibly a discount as well by getting projects started now.

4) Time Off – While moving might not be the most relaxing way to spend the time around the holidays it is convenient in that it’s a time when many people have vacation from work and school. If the office is closed for a few days around the holidays it could be an ideal time to move and start the new year in the new house! For moves scheduled before the holidays homeowners with children should be sure to head off their kids’ fears and include Santa when updating everyone with the new address.

Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Dip Down

Mortgage rates retreated last week, following two consecutive weeks climbing higher. The average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased to 4.58 percent, according to Bankrate.com. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.40 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage decreased to 3.97 percent, and the larger, jumbo 30-year fixed rate dipped as well to 5.18 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages dropped as well, with the average 5-year ARM at 3.66 percent and the average 7-year ARM falling to 3.97 percent.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was Nov. 2008. At that time, the average rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 4.58 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,022.90, a savings of $219 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.

SURVEY RESULTS

* 30-year fixed: 4.58% -- down from 4.62% last week (avg. points: 0.37)
* 15-year fixed: 3.97% -- down from 4.02% last week (avg. points: 0.32)
* 5/1 ARM: 3.66% -- down from 3.71% last week (avg. points: 0.38)

Bankrate's national weekly mortgage survey is conducted each Wednesday from data provided by the top 10 banks and thrifts in the top 10 markets.

Employment growth helps Texas economy outpace nation's

By David S. Jones | columnist

Employment in the Texas private sector is keeping the state's job growth headed in the right direction.

In his Monthly Review of the Texas Economy for October, Ali Anari, Ph.D., says the state added 166,000 jobs during the fiscal year ending in September.

"That's an annual growth rate of 1.6%," says the Real Estate Center research economist. "Over the same period, the U.S. economy gained 321,000 jobs, an annual growth rate of 0.2%.

"The private sector posted an annual employment growth rate of 1.9%," reports Anari, "compared with 0.5% for the U.S. private sector during the year."

Texas' seasonally adjusted unemployment was 8.1% in September, unchanged from September last year. Meanwhile, the nation's September-to-September rate decreased from 9.8% to 9.6%.

"All Texas industries except trade, construction, and information had more jobs in September 2010 than they did 12 months earlier," Anari points out. "Mining and logging ranked first in job creation with an annual employment growth rate of 14.1%. The average number of active rotary rigs increased from 379.4 in October 2009 to 687.96 (in October 2010)."

The complete report is available online free at http://recenter.tamu.edu/econ/

Mortgage Purchase Applications Hit 6-Month High

Mortgage applications to purchase homes increased 14.4 percent last week on an adjusted basis compared to the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.

The unadjusted Purchase Index increased 9.6 percent compared with the previous week and was down 7.4 percent compared to the same week a year ago.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, this is the highest Purchase Index recorded since the week ending May 7, 2010 in the middle of the tax-rebate push.

“The increase in purchase applications last week aligns with other incoming data suggesting that consumers are feeling somewhat more confident with their financial situation,” said Michael Fratantoni, the association’s vice president of research and economics.

“The level of purchase applications on a seasonally adjusted basis is now at its highest level since the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit,” Fratantoni concluded.

Interest rates were mixed, with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages rising to 4.50 percent from 4.46 percent and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreasing to 3.83 percent from 3.87 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (11/24/2010)

Dallas-area home prices are largely unchanged, a U.S. agency reports

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

Dallas-area home prices were basically unchanged from a year ago in the third quarter, according to the latest U.S. government estimate.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency also said that Fort Worth-area prices were down 1.15 percent from a year ago in its report released Wednesday.

Nationally, prices were down 3.2 percent from third quarter 2009, the agency said. That compares with a 0.3 percent gain in the Dallas area.

The federal home price index is based on mortgages issued by government-sponsored mortgage companies – Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and FHA. That makes the data different from price reports that use a broader measure.

The National Association of Realtors reported recently that Dallas-Fort Worth area home prices were up 1.6 percent in the third quarter based on sales through the local Multiple Listing Service.

Texas, with its overall 1.1 percent rise, was one of the top states for home price gains in the third quarter, the FHFA said.

The biggest declines were in Idaho , which was down 9.8 percent, and Arizona, down 9.3 percent.

Among individual cities, Deltona-Daytona Beach, Fla., topped the list of losers at 15.68 percent, followed by Bend, Ore., with a 13.73 percent annual price drop.

The largest annual price increases were in Battle Creek, Mich., up 4.39 percent, and San Jose, Calif., 4.10 percent.

Mortgage Rates Rise Significantly

Mortgage rates increased again this week, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate now 4.62 percent, according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.37 discount and origination points.

To see mortgage rates in your area, go to http://www.bankrate.com/funnel/mortgages/.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage increased to 4.02 percent, and the larger jumbo 30-year fixed rate soared as well to 5.24 percent. Adjustable rate mortgages also climbed higher, with the average 5-year ARM inching higher to 3.71 percent and the average 7-year ARM rising to 4.01 percent.

Mortgage rates jumped significantly this week, posting a second consecutive weekly increase since the Federal Reserve announced renewed measures to boost the economy. Worries that the Fed's quantitative easing program will spark higher inflation, coupled with stronger economic data on retail sales and weekly unemployment filings fueled the latest increase. Although mortgage rates have increased, they remain extremely low in a historical context and will not be an impediment to well-qualified borrowers for the foreseeable future.

The last time mortgage rates were above 6 percent was November 2008. At that time, the average rate was 6.33 percent, meaning a $200,000 loan would have carried a monthly payment of $1,241.86. With the average rate now 4.62 percent, the monthly payment for the same size loan would be $1,027.68, a savings of $214 per month for a homeowner refinancing now.

Why I'm jealous of today's homebuyers

By: Marty Kramer | Consumer columnist

When I bought my current home, nobody was talking about real-estate-market woes or foreclosure troubles or a struggling national economy. And yet, I'm a little jealous of buyers today.

The big story back then was the insane seller's market we were in. Time after time, my wife and I would look at a home hours after it came on the MLS only to learn it was already under contract.

Many houses sold before ever making it to the MLS. Bidding wars were common, and good properties fetched asking price or above. Seller concessions? Forget it.

My wife and I spent about seven minutes in the home we now own before telling our REALTOR® we would make an offer. Full price, of course. Even then, we worried someone would outbid us.

We asked the sellers if they could adjust the closing date so we wouldn't have to move twice. I don't know if they laughed at our request … they knew we had
zero leverage.

It all turned out well. My family is happy in our home, and we love our neighbor-
hood. Still, it would have been nice to have had more time, more choices.

Every real estate market has pros and cons. Right now, interest rates and housing inventory are extremely attractive. The market is pretty balanced, slightly favoring buyers in many locales. If your personal situation is favorable for purchasing a home, why hesitate? Hey, you probably can spend more than seven minutes in a home before deciding if you want to make an offer.

Well-Kept Yards Most Important Factor in Determining Neighborhood Safety

A new survey conducted by Relocation.com finds that 75 percent of Americans believe the most important factor in determining a neighborhood's safety is the up-keep of surrounding homes, especially the conditions of the front lawns, which trumps even Googling neighborhood statistics to get a feel for a community.

The latest Relocation.com survey finds that 74 percent of respondents indicated they would select a neighborhood based on "word-of-mouth" or its local reputation over any other reason, while 67 percent of the respondents say they pay attention to local crime reports and statistics as reported in the local media. Less compelling, according to the survey, are "a gated community with security patrols" and "proximity to a police or fire station" when determining the safety of a neighborhood.

"It's interesting to see how home buyers determine neighborhood safety based on the neighborhood's appearance and not as much based on police statistics or crime reports," says Relocation.com Chairman and Founder Sharon Asher. "Our findings suggest that some home sellers who are struggling to generate interest may want to go the extra mile and help their neighbors with landscaping needs in order to create buyer interest."

The Relocation.com survey was conducted in mid-October, 2010, in a continuing effort to provide information on lifestyle factors that drive moving and relocation decisions in the U.S.

Danny Force with Keller Williams Real Estate

Danny Force with Keller Williams Real Estate

Mortgage Rates Back on the Rise

Rates for 30-year fixed mortgages rose to 4.39 percent this week from 4.17 percent a week ago, and average interest on 15-year loans moved to 3.76 percent from 3.57 percent, said Freddie Mac.

Interest for five-year adjustable-rate mortgages jumped to 3.4 percent from 3.25 percent, meanwhile, and one-year ARMs held at 3.26 percent. Rates have climbed along with long-term Treasury yields as traders unloaded Treasurys purchased before the Federal Reserve announced a $600 billion bond purchase program.

Source: Chicago Sun-Times (11/19/10)

Top Tips to Winter-Proof Your Home

As winter sets in, there's nothing better than hibernating on the sofa with a good book or classic film. But having this spoiled by a home emergency can add a real chill to your winter warmth, especially if it's preventable.

We're all familiar with the issues winter forces upon us: the boiler breaking, pipes bursting or a break-in, which can make the harsh effects of winter far more severe.

Planning ahead now can help protect you against these potential problems. Here are some simple tips from John Lewis Insurance to prevent home emergencies from happening. Many of them are relatively quick and easy to do.

Quick fixes:
* Change the battery in your smoke detector or install them if you don't have any - it's a simple task that can save your life. And make sure you test them regularly.

* Inspect your roof for missing or cracked tiles. If repairs are needed, get them done as soon as you can.

* Vacuum the coils on the back of the fridge. This will help your fridge work more efficiently and will help you save money on your power bills.

* Turn your mattress regularly. We all spend more time in bed over winter - turning your mattress regularly will extend its life and ensure a more comfortable night's sleep.

* Get your boiler serviced. If you haven't had your boiler serviced this year, now is the ideal time to ensure it's in good working order.

More time needed:
* Oil your power tools and if you have a gas-powered lawn mower, drain the gas from it. They will survive the winter better and be in top shape for spring.

* Check all taps for leaks and locate the main pipe to the water mains. Pipes can burst if they freeze so if you leave home for more than a few days, ideally you should turn off the water and drain the pipes.

* Bleed your radiators by opening the valve until water appears - they will work more efficiently.

* The cold doesn't deter burglars so be sure to inspect your locks and any burglar alarms - and consider using lighting timers for that lived in appearance.

Worth the effort:
* It may take a day or two to sort out but cleaning your gutters properly will guarantee they won't get blocked or overflow.

* Trimming back trees is always recommended in the autumn.

* Clean out the garage before anything is stored that can get spoiled by the cold.

Finally, preparing an emergency kit is a great way to make those small and big emergencies as easy to handle as possible. This is what you should have at hand's reach:

* A small tool bag containing a torch, a roll of insulation tape, spare fuses, spare batteries and a screwdriver

* A radiator key

* A fire extinguisher if you have one, checked or recently replaced

* Important telephone numbers like the police, a trusted plumber, electrician, etc.

Mortgage Activity Logs Biggest Drop of the Year

Home loan demand fell 14 percent last week, as higher interest rates sent refinancing down 17 percent. This was the biggest drop of the year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.

Applications for mortgages to purchase homes fell 5 percent last week compared to the previous week on an adjusted basis. On an unadjusted basis, purchase applications decreased 8.2 percent compared with the previous week and were 11.3 percent lower than they were the same week a year ago.

Purchase applications had been on the rise for the previous three weeks, but “rates increased sharply last week due to stronger economic data and lingering uncertainty regarding the structure and impact of the Fed’s QE2 program. Mortgage applications … dropped in response,” said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics.

Here are the average rates:

▪ 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.46 percent from 4.28 percent.

▪ 15-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 3.87 percent from 3.64 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (11/17/2010)

NAR Praises FHA's Increased Stability

The latest independent audit of the Federal Housing Administration shows the agency’s financial condition has improved from last year, when it announced its capital reserve fund had fallen below the 2 percent level mandated by Congress. The annual audit shows that the capital ratio for the single-family portfolio rose from 0.42 percent to 0.79 percent over the past year.

The audit, which calculates the financial condition of the agency’s insurance fund, also showed the mortgage insurance fund grew more than $1 billion in 2010 and reserves are expected to remain above $9.9 billion even if home prices were to fall further. The audit indicates that FHA will most likely not require a bailout now or in the future.

“As the leading advocate for home ownership, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® strongly supports FHA’s mortgage insurance programs,” NAR President Ron Phipps said. “FHA announced major changes earlier this year and took critical steps to strengthen and ensure its long-term financial soundness, and those efforts have paid off.”

FHA’s audit reflected a change in home values, and was not tied to excessive increases in defaults or unsound underwriting practices. In fact, the credit quality of FHA borrowers has increased significantly in the last several years; the average credit score for FHA customers has grown to 693, and less than 8 percent of the agency’s purchase borrowers this year had FICO scores below 620. The capital reserves are not FHA’s only reserve fund; FHA also has a cash reserve account separate from the capital reserve – and actual total reserves have grown to $33 billion.

“The future health of FHA’s reserve funds depends heavily on the direction of home values in the coming years. Home values have shown patterns of stabilization over the past 18 months, and in a recent independent survey, most economists expect modest home price gains over the next 3 years, so FHA’s reserves should steadily improve,” Phipps said.

FHA has played a key role in providing mortgage liquidity to qualified home buyers in recent years and has greatly increased its market share; according to the agency, FHA guaranteed nearly 40 percent of home purchases in the past year.

NAR is working closely with FHA to reassess and amend their lending policies so even more qualified home buyers can become home owners.

Source: NAR

3 Reasons to Sell a Home Soon

What do you tell a client who asks whether to sell a house now or wait? Steve McLinden, real estate adviser with Bankrate.com, offers these three good reasons not to wait, even though the holidays are approaching:

1. The market is improving. Most markets have either turned or are close to turning.

2. All real estate is local. Homes in great locations are always in demand.

3. Spring is coming soon. Many potential buyers are starting their online searches right after the holidays, making mid- to late February a great time to start marketing.

Source: Bankrate.com, Steve McLinden

Commercial real estate outlook improving

By STEVE BROWN / The Dallas Morning News

North Texas commercial real estate experts expect further recovery next year and say they hope the market will be mostly righted by 2012.

The same can be said of the economy.

“We made it through 2009 and are still here,” D’Ann Petersen, business economist with the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said Friday. “We are starting to see some positive signs.”

Petersen predicted “moderate economic growth next year” for the Dallas-Fort Worth area at a breakfast meeting sponsored by The Dallas Morning News.

The commercial property business will follow the economy’s lead. “It will lag any rebound,” Petersen said.

Moody Younger, who manages Grubb & Ellis Co.’s Dallas office, said he’s already seen a great change in business.

“In 2009, you could not find a deal,” he said. “Our revenues are twice what they were last year. In 2011, we will see a lot more.”

Office tenants are more willing to step up and sign a lease, he said.

“Office is leading us out of it this time,” said Younger, who predicts that D-FW office occupancies will be back in shape by 2012. “I think we will take off pretty fast.

“If you are a developer, by the end of 2011 you need to think about building.”

Petersen said jobs in the professional and business service sector have been among the fastest-growing, which will help the local office market and its 23 percent vacancy.

“We are starting to see some export growth, and that will help the industrial building sector,” she said.

The apartment market is considered the country’s strongest real estate industry. And Addison-based Behringer Harvard has been one of the top nationwide apartment investors over the last couple of years.

“When we started buying multifamily in 2008, we would be the only bidder,” Behringer Harvard president Robert Aisner said. “We are now seeing a huge amount of money that believes multifamily will lead the rebound.”

Aisner said his firm is looking at additional property buys.

“Hotels are getting an awful lot of interest,” he said. “If you can buy hotels now, you assume you are at the bottom.”

Total U.S. commercial property investment last year was about $50 billion, Aisner said. That’s down from $500 billion in 2007.

“It’s coming back but coming back slowly this year,” he said.

Herbert Weitzman, chairman and founder of Dallas-based Weitzman Group, said it will be “three years on the outside” before the D-FW shopping center market recovers from the recession.

North Texas has about 190 empty big box stores with more than 3 million square feet of space, he said. But the overall vacancy rate is still significantly less than it was in the late 1980s downturn.

“We think we are stabilized, and retail sales are getting better,” Weitzman said. “If you are creative and stay in business long enough, there will be some great opportunities.”

With retail construction at a virtual standstill, merchants are slowly filling up empty space – even sites that might have once been passed over. “We are filling up centers today that we couldn’t fill up in better times,” he said.

Most of the retailers that have made it through the down economy will survive, Weitzman said.

“We have bottomed out – that’s the good news.”

Realtors' report says Dallas-Fort Worth home prices rose slightly in third quarter

Dallas-Fort Worth home prices were up by a small margin in the third quarter, and most of the increase was probably due to more sales of higher-priced homes.

The National Association of Realtors reported Thursday that median home sales prices in the D-FW area were up 1.6 percent from third quarter 2009.

The small gain here came as nationwide prices were basically flat, the Realtors said.

"Even with swings in home sales, prices this year have been changing very little from year-ago readings," Realtors' chief economist Lawrence Yun said in the report. The Realtors are forecasting flat home prices in the year ahead.

The just-released national data lines up with local figures that show median home prices in North Texas are up 1 percent year-to-date.

Of the 155 metropolitan areas that the Realtors track each quarter, 76 markets showed price declines.

Home sales in North Texas have slowed dramatically since federal housing tax credits expired at the end of April. But the bulk of the decline has been for lower- and moderate-priced homes. High-end home sales are still rising in many neighborhoods.

"Now that the tax credits have expired, we have seen a real drop-off in the activity at the lower end of the price spectrum," said Ted Wilson, a housing analyst with Dallas-based Residential Strategies Inc. "As a result, the median price has climbed."

David Brown of MetroStudy Inc. agreed: "The average and median prices have increased over the last year because of the surge in sales of homes priced over $500,000."

Consumers are Paying Less on Monthly Payments Than Three Years Ago

Experian, a leading global information services company, released its insights on average monthly payments* of the top 25 metropolitan areas. The study found that nationally, consumers are paying $903 per month on their bills, which could include a combination of credit cards, auto loans and leases, and mortgages—a decrease of two percent in the last three years.

The study also reveals that Washington D.C., Seattle and Baltimore top the list with the highest average monthly payments with Washington D.C. coming in at 42 percent higher than the national average. Cities with the lowest payments include Cleveland, Tampa and Pittsburgh .

"The trend we're seeing is that consumers have lower payments, indicating both proactive deleveraging by consumers and tighter limits from lenders and certainly consumers are making fewer major purchases than they were a few years ago," said Michele Raneri, senior director of analytics, Experian. "There are many ways to manage and develop a positive credit score and good payment habits. Paying bills on time is generally the single most important contributor."

Below are some tips for your clients to take into consideration when making a major purchase:

* Get your credit report. Before approving your request for a home loan, mortgage lenders review your credit report. If you review your credit report in advance, you'll see yourself from a lender's perspective.
* Be prepared. When lenders review your credit report, they evaluate how much you already owe, how much unused credit you have available, how prompt you are in paying your debts and whether you've recently applied for new credit.
* Count your savings. To buy a house, you generally need a down payment in the range of 5 percent to 20 percent of your new home's purchase price, depending on your credit risk. You also need money for closing costs and be sure to set aside extra funds for emergencies. If you spend everything on your down payment, you're statistically more likely to lose your new home to foreclosure sometime in the future.
* Make your payments. How much you borrow, how much you owe and when you pay become a part of your credit history. When you apply for new credit purchases, other lenders will review this history. Late payments can stay on your credit report for up to seven years, can keep you from buying another house or can make it more expensive to buy a car. A good credit history proves that you manage your finances well. It lets you enjoy using credit at your convenience and at a lower cost.

Mortgage Applications Rise

Applications to purchase homes rose 5.5 percent last week compared to the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.

On an unadjusted basis, purchases increased 3.1 compared over the previous week. This was the third consecutive week that purchase applications rose. They are at the highest level since May.

“The increases in purchase applications we have seen over the past couple of weeks align with the better than expected news from October’s employment report and other data indicating some improvement in the economy’s growth prospects,” says Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics.

Mortgage rates held steady:

· 30-year fixed-rate mortgages remained unchanged at 4.28 percent.
· 15-year fixed-rate remained unchanged at 3.64 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association

Real Estate Investing – Is It Possible To Still Make Money?

By: Tina Feston, Atlanta Realtor

Some people may wonder if it is even possible anymore to make money from real estate. The answer is an emphatic “Yes!” Like any other investment, the goal is to buy low and sell high, and by finding foreclosed properties that banks are anxious to unload, you can certainly do the “buy low” part.

The skill you need is to know how little you can pay, and know ways you can purchase distressed real estate while risking little or none of your own money. When people default on their mortgages, the process of foreclosure isn’t instant, or even quick. It is a long, protracted affair during which many legal steps must be followed. Look at it from the bank’s point of view: a borrower has defaulted on his or her loan, has stopped making payments, and pretty soon the bank is going to be stuck with a piece of property that they’re probably going to have a hard time selling. It is far from ideal for the lenders.

When lenders are buried in repossessed real estate and cars, it is a losing situation for them. Every day that a foreclosed house sits empty is a day that the grass grows, the mice get in, and the property values of surrounding real estate drop a little due to blight. Banks are faced with owning an undesirable property whose desirability will most likely continue to drop.

That’s why savvy real estate investors can step in and purchase property from lenders. Even if you only offer a fraction of the asking price, they may consider it, because they have a lot to lose by hanging onto the asset and not much to gain unless real estate in that particular area experiences some unexpected boost, such as a retail or industrial operation locating nearby.

In a slow housing market, obviously people are reluctant to buy real estate. But people still need a place to live, and real estate is the one of the few assets that we have a finite amount of. While some neighborhoods may not like having a rental property down the street, they’d much rather have a rental property than an abandoned, boarded up house that looks worse by the day.

If you are able to buy a foreclosed house for a great price at a decent interest rate, once you make any necessary repairs, you can rent it to one of those people who are averse to buying, and they will most likely cover your monthly mortgage payment and then some with their rent. You’ll be rescuing an undesirable property, making the neighbors happy, you’ll be providing someone a home, making them happy, and you’ll be taking the albatross of undesirable property off the neck of the mortgage lender, which will make them happy.

Successful investing in real estate doesn’t just happen when the market is going up rapidly. In fact, a stagnant or contracting real estate sector is a great time to get in on the ground floor of this type of investment. Business cycles come and go, there is only a finite amount of real estate on the planet, and the world’s population continues to grow. The question isn’t so much “if” real estate investments will pay off as “when” real estate investments will pay off. Successful investment in real estate, like any other worthwhile endeavor, will require brains and hard work, but done right, an investment in real estate can be a sound, long term asset that continues to pay off.

Home Sales Could Enter 'Virtuous Cycle'

Consumer confidence and business spending are key to whether the U.S. housing market will move into a virtuous or a vicious cycle in 2011, NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun told a packed audience at the Residential Economic Outlook Forum Friday in New Orleans.

After the downturn, the housing market has clawed its way back to a point of near stability, Yun said, with the pace of new foreclosures easing, sales moving toward historically normal levels and prices on a national basis gaining modestly.

At the same time, affordability remains strong. He said all of the price excesses from the housing bubble have been squeezed out. In San Diego, for example, buyers today would pay $1,564 a month in mortgage payments for a house that at the height of the boom would have cost them $2,833 a month.

The broader economy is also showing positive signs, with businesses enjoying strong profits, sitting on huge cash reserves, and even adding jobs. Yun predicts this positive trend to continue into 2011, with existing home sales reaching 5.5 million units, prices rising a modest 1 percent, and the U.S. gross domestic product increasing to about 2.5 percent.

“We are entering a virtuous cycle,” he said. But for the positive trend to continue, he added, businesses will have to start spending some of their cash to fuel job growth at a far greater pace than they’re doing now. Currently, businesses are adding jobs at a pace of about 100,000 a month. That needs to grow to about 400,000 a month for unemployment
to start shrinking.

The scenario will be far more negative if businesses continue to sit on their cash. In that case, sales will fall, inventories will rise, the high rate of foreclosures will resume, and the cost to the federal government of bailing out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will surge.

Federal Reserve Governor Thomas Koenig, who shared the data with Yun, said the Fed’s continued effort to spur the economy, most recently through a $600 billion bond buying program, is understandable given concerns over the slow pace of growth. But the continued subsidization of the market could unleash inflationary forces.

Yun said he sees possible evidence of inflation building, but it’s not visible now because the housing-cost portion of inflation measurements is holding down prices.

30-Year Mortgage Rates Inch Up

Freddie Mac confirms that average interest for 30-year fixed mortgages rose for the third consecutive week, bumping up to 4.24 percent from 4.23 percent a week ago.

The average 15-year rate for the week ended Nov. 4 was 3.63 percent, a drop from 3.66 percent.

Scott Brown, chief economist at Raymond James & Associates Inc., says this week's Federal Reserve actions "aren't going to change the economy right away, but they should help keep mortgage rates low for quite some time."

Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch (11/05/10)

Preparing Your Home for the Cooler Months

This year has certainly flown by, and now, with the fall in full swing, it’s a great time to start prepping your home before winter strikes. From water leaks to the chimney, it’s better to be ready for the cold season…before it hits.

Here, State Farm offers up some fall maintenance tips for your home:

Check all window and door locks for proper operation
* Windows that can be opened by breaking the glass and unlocking them, are less effective deterrents to criminals. Check with the hardware store for window lock alternatives.
* All exterior doors should have deadbolt locks.

Make sure there are working nightlights at the top and bottom of all stairs
Other safety ideas for stairs:
* Tile and painted wood or concrete stairs can be slippery when wet or when a person's shoes are wet. Resurface the treads with slip-resistant strips near the stair nosing.
* All stairs of at least three risers should have a handrail.
* Do not store items on the stairs.

Have a heating professional check your heating system every year
Woodburning stove connector pipes and chimneys should be inspected by a certified chimney sweep at least annually.

Replace your furnace filter
Furnace filters need to be replaced frequently to allow your heating and cooling systems to operate properly.

Run all gas-powered lawn equipment until the fuel tank is empty
By doing this, you are removing flammable liquid storage from your garage. At the same time, make sure you aren't storing dirty, oily rags in a pile. They can ignite spontaneously.

Have a certified chimney sweep inspect and clean the flues and check your fireplace damper
Soot and creosote, which build up inside the chimney, can ignite when a fire is lit in the fireplace.

Remove bird nests from chimney flues and outdoor electrical fixtures
Bird nests on top of light fixtures are a fire hazard. Bird nests in chimney flues can prevent a proper venting of combustion gases and can catch fire from sparks. You should exercise great caution when working on your roof or consider hiring a qualified professional to take care of any work that needs to be done.

Make sure the caulking around doors and windows is adequate to reduce heat/cooling loss
Check glazing for loose or missing putty or glazing compound. This will also help reduce water damage to the windows and door frames.

Make sure that the caulking around your bathroom fixtures is adequate to prevent water from seeping into the sub-flooring

Check for cracked or missing caulk around the base of your toilet, bath tub, and bathroom cabinets. Properly sealing gaps between your bathroom fixtures and flooring material can prevent damage.

Mortgage Purchases Rise

Applications to purchase homes rose 1.4 percent last week compared to the previous week on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.

On an unadjusted basis, purchases increased 0.2 percent last week compared to the previous week, but were down 28 percent compared to the same week a year ago.

Overall, mortgage application volume declined 5 percent over the last week on a seasonally adjusted basis because refinances decreased 6.4 percent.

Interest rate changes were mixed.
Average 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.28 percent from 4.25 percent, while the average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased to 3.64 percent from 3.67 percent.

Source: Mortgage Bankers Association (11/03/2010)

Housing Starts Rise in September

Spending on construction rose 0.5 percent in September with home building and government projects leading the way, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Monday.

Spending on home building rose 1.8 percent, but the increase was offset by spending on commercial construction, which dropped 1.6 percent. Overall, non-residential construction was at the lowest level since January 2005.

Housing starts rose 0.3 percent in September, the Commerce Department said, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 610,000 units – still low, but improving.

Source: Bloomberg, Courtney Schlisserman (11/01/2010)

3 New Anti-Foreclosure Strategies

Here are three programs that are considered promising replacements for the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), which has failed to stop foreclosures.

· Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be encouraged to refinance loans for some 30 million borrowers with high-interest rate mortgages. The new mortgages would be folded into a new round of mortgage-backed securities issued by the government-sponsored finance firms.

· The right-to-rent plan would offer delinquent borrowers an option of renting their foreclosed homes at a market rate for five years. At that point, owners turned renters would have another chance to buy their homes at market value. It’s a compromise. Borrowers lose their homes, but lenders have to accept lower payments.

· Mortgage cramdowns give a bankruptcy judge the right to consider all of a borrower’s debts and create a solution that would force all interested parties, including holders of mortgage debt, to compromise.

Sales volume of Texas homes down in third quarter, flat year-to-date

According to the Texas Quarterly Housing Report released today, the volume of real estate sales in Texas decreased in the third quarter of 2010, but was essentially flat year-to-date, due to an early peak in the market driven by the expiration of federal homebuyer tax credits.

For the period of July through September 2010, sales of existing single-family homes decreased 20% to 48,625 compared to the same quarter of the prior year. Year-to-date, home sales are esentially flat at 158,699, down less than one percent compared to 2009. The median price home in Texas remained virtually unchanged in 2010-Q3 at $152,000, and the months of inventory of Texas homes edged upwards to 8 months.

Bill Jones, chairman of the Texas Association of REALTORS®, commented on the results, "If you view these results only within the third quarter, they appear discouraging. However, the expiration of homebuyer tax credits distorts the picture. When evaluated on a broader year-to-date basis, it becomes clear the market is performing consistently compared to 2009. It's also encouraging to see how Texas real estate is holding its value."

Chairman Jones continued, "This year, Texas is withstanding the economic storm that has ravaged other parts of the country, in large part because the leaders of our state made the protection of private-property rights a priority. As we approach the upcoming legislative session, it's important for lawmakers to continue to support public policies that keep Texas on the leading edge of the economic recovery."

The Texas Association of REALTORS® works in partnership with lawmakers to promote policies that protect property rights and homeowners throughout the state. Currently, Texas ranks 41st out of 50 states in homeownership. Electing lawmakers who advocate on behalf of Texas homeowners is crucial to opening the path of homeownership — and the wealth-building opportunities it creates — for more Texans.

Jim Gaines, Ph.D., an economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, noted, "This is a difficult time to compare statistics because we're comparing two very different markets — one with substantial support from the federal government in the form of tax credits and one without that support. Thus, year-to-date sales volume is a more meaningful figure to evaluate the current condition and that is still on pace with 2009."

Gaines added, "Although it's hard to predict where the market is headed, if you look at the long-term trends that determine real estate growth, Texas is in a good position. As a state, we are still adding population and we've experienced positive employment growth since almost the first of the year, which is key to rejuvenating our economy overall."

The Texas Quarterly Housing Report is issued four times a year by the Texas Association of REALTORS® with multiple listing service (MLS) data compiled and analyzed by the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University.

Majority of Americans: Buying a Home Is a Good Decision

Despite the continuing challenges facing the U.S., nearly eight out of 10 respondents believe buying a home is a good financial decision, according to NAR's eighth annual Housing Opportunity Pulse Survey.

The survey, which measures how affordable housing issues affect consumers, also found job security concerns to be the highest in eight years of sampling, with 70 percent of Americans saying that job layoffs and unemployment are a big problem in their area; eight in 10 cite these issues as a barrier to homeownership. The telephone survey of 1,209 urban and suburban adults in the top 25 metropolitan statistical areas was conducted for NAR by American Strategies and Myers Research & Strategic Services for NAR's Housing Opportunity Program.

Some key results:

* Americans continue to believe that buying a home is a good financial decision (77 percent believe strongly or not so strongly, 68 percent strongly so).
* More than two-thirds of respondents (68 percent) say that now is a good time to buy a home.
* Job insecurity and the lack of jobs continue to be the primary obstacle to home ownership and market recovery.
* Respondents see the recession and job losses as the main reasons for the foreclosure problem, a shift from last year when they were more likely to blame homeowners who bought homes they could not afford.
* A majority of renters say that owning a home at some point in the future is either one of their highest priorities (39 percent) or a moderate priority (24 percent). Just 21 percent of renters say that owning a home is not a priority at all.
* Frustration with banks is up: now a majority worry that banks have made it too hard to qualify for a home mortgage loan.
* 51 percent of respondents say foreclosures remain a big or moderate problem in their area. While there has been a significant drop in the percentage of those surveyed who say foreclosures have increased, 51 percent say that the rate of foreclosures is about the same as it was last year.
* Most of those surveyed say that it is harder to sell a home in their neighborhood than it was a year ago.
* Looking forward, 70 percent expect real estate sales in their neighborhood to remain about the same over the next few months. A nearly identical number (69 percent), also expect home values to remain the same.
* Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) are now very concerned about the number of homes and condos for sale in their area—a number that is up 7 points from last year.
* Most respondents are more concerned about the drop in home values than they are about home costs being too high. Still, cost remains the significant barrier to many who would otherwise like to buy a home.

13 Tips for a Safe Halloween

Halloween is a wonderful time to dress up, let loose and, of course, eat lots of candy.

However, there are a number of things to be cautious about when it comes to costumes, candy and parties. Here are the “lucky 13” guidelines from FDA, Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

1. Wear costumes made of fire-retardant materials; look for “flame resistant” on the label. If you make your costume, use flame-resistant fabrics such as polyester or nylon.
2. Wear bright, reflective costumes or add strips of reflective tape so you’ll be more visible; make sure the costumes aren’t so long that you’re in danger of tripping.
3. Wear makeup and hats rather than masks that can obscure your vision.
4. Test the makeup you plan to use by putting a small amount on your arm a couple of days in advance. If you get a rash, redness, swelling, or other signs of irritation where you applied it, that’s a sign you may be allergic to it.
5. Check FDA’s list of color additives to see if additives in your makeup are FDA approved. If they aren’t approved for their intended use, don’t use it.
6. Don’t wear decorative contact lenses unless you have seen an eye care professional and gotten a proper lens fitting and instructions for using the lenses.

Safe Treats
Eating sweet treats is also a big part of the fun on Halloween. If you’re trick-or-treating, health and safety experts say you should remember these tips:

7. Don’t eat candy until it has been inspected at home.
8. Trick-or-treaters should eat a snack before heading out, so they won’t be tempted to nibble on treats that haven’t been inspected.
9. Tell children not to accept—or eat—anything that isn’t commercially wrapped.
10. Parents of very young children should remove any choking hazards such as gum, peanuts, hard candies, or small toys.
11. Inspect commercially wrapped treats for signs of tampering, such as an unusual appearance or discoloration, tiny pinholes, or tears in wrappers. Throw away anything that looks suspicious.

For partygoers and party throwers, FDA recommends the following tips for two seasonal favorites:
12. Look for the warning label to avoid juice that hasn’t been pasteurized or otherwise processed, especially packaged juice products that may have been made on site. When in doubt, ask! Always ask if you are unsure if a juice product is pasteurized or not. Normally, the juice found in your grocer’s frozen food case, refrigerated section, or on the shelf in boxes, bottles, or cans is pasteurized.
13. Before bobbing for apples—a favorite Halloween game—reduce the amount of bacteria that might be on apples by thoroughly rinsing them under cool running water. As an added precaution, use a produce brush to remove surface dirt.

5 Traits of Today's Home Buyers

A survey by American Lives, a consumer research firm in California, conducted a study for the trade magazine Builder to answer that question. Here are their conclusions:

· They are young. Most are under 45. Half said they had annual household incomes of $75,000 or less. Two-thirds are married.
· They are frugal. They consistently told surveyors they were eager to live a simple lifestyle.
· They are concerned about their financial future. About 70 percent said the economy is “not so good” with 27 percent saying it was getting worse and 27 percent saying it was getting better, and two-thirds saying it would get better in a year. Some 55 percent said they were concerned that they might lose their jobs.
· They see themselves as energy efficient but not necessarily “green.” About 32 percent said they’d pay extra for energy-efficient features but only 16 percent said they’d pay extra for recycled or renewable construction materials.
· Neighborhood is important. Ninety-five percent said they thought the community was as important as the home itself. Seventy-nine percent wanted the most square footage they could afford, but 69 percent said they’d consider a smaller home in the right neighborhood.

Source: Inman News, Mary Umberger (10/27/2010)

Simple Tips to Take the Stress Out of the Home-Buying Process - Focus on the Positives

For many prospective buyers, the thought of going through the home-buying process is often filled with a lot of stress. From finding a qualified real estate agent, to narrowing down your choice of homes and then packing your belongings and moving across town can be an overwhelming process.

Here are some tips to help you keep your cool as you begin the process of a buying a home.

-Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your lifetime, and along with the finances come emotions. When you are choosing a real estate agent to work with, be patient and take the time you need to find an agent that you connect with. Finding a highly-skilled agent who fits with your personality is crucial.

-Every home buyer and seller is in a different situation, so it is important that you don’t compare your timeline and decisions to anyone else’s. As you make your way through the home buying process, remember that there is no right time to buy, just as there is no perfect time to sell. If you find a home that fits your needs, don’t let it slip out of your hands by waiting for interest rates to drop lower as you run the chance of losing out on the home of your dreams.

-It is natural to want to get opinions from those you trust before you make your final choice, but too much input will ultimately make the decision process much harder. Remember to focus on what your immediate wants and needs are so that everyone will be happy with the final decision.

-You probably aren’t going to find a home that is 100% perfect, so it is important to make a list that includes your top priorities that you can’t live without. Be sure to stick to the items on your list and let go of the minor things.

-Negotiation is an important part of the real estate buying process, but be sure you don’t take your negotiating too far. Trying to get an extra-low price or refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home in the end. Successful negotiation depends on give and take, so make sure you are being fair in your requests.

-Don’t get too caught up in all the physical aspects of a home and forget about the more important issues. While the size of the rooms and the layout of the kitchen might not be exactly what you expected, be cognizant of issues such as noise level, location to amenities and other aspects that will have an impact on your day-to-day life.

-Getting approved for a mortgage should be taken care of well before you find a home and make an offer.

-Create a budget before you move into your new home and be sure to include maintenance and repair costs. Even if you buy a new home, there will be extra costs, so it is important to not come up short and let your new home deteriorate.

-After purchasing a home, a little buyer’s remorse is inevitable, but it will pass. Buying a home is a big financial commitment, but it also yields big benefits. If you are feeling remorseful after buying your home, remind yourself why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with your new property.

-When choosing a home, buy it because you love it. A home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live, so don’t get bogged down with thinking about your home’s appreciation.

Get Credit Score in Order Before Applying for Credit

If your mailbox is starting to fill up again with credit card offers and you're tempted to apply, be realistic about your chances of qualifying.

Increased credit card solicitations are an indication that things have gotten much better for card issuers, with declines in defaults and delinquencies, said Bill Hardekopf, CEO of LowCards.com and author of "The Credit Card Guidebook."

"They are once again aggressively pursuing new customers, but this time around, they seem to really be focusing on those with good or excellent credit scores," he said.

Consumers may have to jump through more hoops than before to get a credit card today. But it's not impossible to get a card.

Before you apply for a credit card, get a copy of your credit report and your FICO credit score, the dominant score used by lenders, which uses a score range of 300 to 850.

Use your credit score as a guide to what kind of credit card you should apply for.

If your score is lower than you expected, check your credit report for errors and correct them before you apply for credit. If your score is too low, be prepared to pay.

"If your FICO score is 750 or above, you should apply for the cards specifically offered for excellent credit," Hardekopf said. "A score of 720 or above is considered good credit; 660 to 720 is acceptable."

If your score is below 650, you could find yourself in the subprime category, and you could have a tough time getting approved, he said.

"Anything below a 650 FICO score seems to be the dividing line between prime and subprime," agreed John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education at Credit.com.

The scary thing is that as of April, 35.2 percent of consumers had FICO scores below 650, according to the company that produces the influential number.

"Scores below 650 are there for a reason," Ulzheimer said. "It's negative information, such as late payments, foreclosures, bankruptcy, tax liens, hitting your credit report and excessive credit card debt."

According to Hardekopf, "consumers should not waste their time and apply for a card for which they are not qualified. If you apply for too many credit cards at once, this is a red flag and may actually cause your score to drop."

Some credit card issuers will give you some guidance as to what your credit level is.

For example, Capital One considers you to have excellent credit if you've had a loan or credit card for at least five years, have a credit limit of more than $10,000, have never been more than 60 days late on a credit card, medical bill or loan payment and have never declared bankruptcy.

You have average credit in Capital One's eyes if you have a credit card limit of less than $5,000 or you may have been late on more than one credit card, medical bill or loan payment in the past six months.

How you pay your credit card bill also should determine what kind of card you apply for.

If you pay off your card each month, you should look for a card with a good rewards program, Hardekopf said.

But if you carry a balance each month, you want a card with the lowest annual percentage rate and then work your tail off to pay off the card as quickly as possible.

"You really need to decide before you apply for a card what kind of credit card customer you are," Hardekopf said.

(c) 2010, The Dallas Morning News.

What You Should Know Before Buying a Home

There are so many things to understand as you embark on purchasing a home, especially if it's your first purchase. Learn the basics as you get started and understand everything you need to know as it relates to financing.

Here are 10 tips about financing:

1. Before you start looking for a home, get pre-qualified for a loan. Banks, credit unions and mortgage bankers make home loans; mortgage brokers process them. The lenders will take an application, process the loan documents, and see the loan through to the funding stage.

2. If you have marginal or bad credit, consult your lender. You may be able to qualify for a loan depending on how long ago and what reason(s) caused the bad credit. A lender should be able to advise you on whether your credit history will prevent you from qualifying for a home loan.

3. You will need a down payment. Down payment requirements vary depending on the type of loan. Many down payment assistance programs exist. These programs may loan or grant you the funds necessary for the down payment. Consult with a lender about programs available in your area.

4. You will need funds for closing costs. Closing costs are charges for services related to the closing of your real estate transaction. They include, but are not limited to:

* Escrow fees charged by the company handling the transaction
* Title policy issuance fees charged by the title insurance company
* Mortgage insurance fees
* Fire and homeowners insurance
* County Recorder fees for recording your deed
* Loan origination fees

Consult your lender for an actual estimate of these costs, as well as information about loan programs which can assist in financing your closing costs

5. Some loans have "points" and some do not. A point is a loan origination fee equivalent to 1% of the loan amount. Together with the interest rate they constitute the yield on your loan for the lender. Some lenders charge a higher interest rate to compensate for charging no points. It is important to comparison shop lenders to make sure your loan is at a competitive yield.

6. Should you select a mortgage with a fixed rate or an adjustable rate? The answer to this question depends on whether mortgage rates are at a high or a low point when you purchase, and on how long you plan to live in the home. If rates are high, an adjustable rate might be attractive since subsequent rate drops could reduce your monthly payments. Additionally, lenders may offer a low rate during the first few years of an adjustable mortgage to make it appealing to you. If interest rates are low you might want to take a fixed rate to protect yourself against the possibility of rising interest rates.

7. Be aware of the two main types of loan categories.

* Conventional Loans. Conventional mortgage loans are available with fixed or adjustable interest rates. Some loans may require mortgage insurance.
* Government Loans. These include Federal Housing Administration (FHA) fixed and adjustable rate mortgage loans, and Veterans Administration (VA) fixed rate mortgage loan

8. If you are a low or moderate income home buyer, there are special programs designed to help you. These loans are available through private lenders, as well as local and state housing agencies, like the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA). Most lenders specializing in real estate mortgage loans are aware of these types of loan programs.

9. Why might I have to pay mortgage insurance? Mortgage insurance protects the lender from potential loss if you should default on your mortgage loan payment. Generally, conventional loans that require larger down payments do not require mortgage insurance. Mortgage insurance is always required on FHA mortgage loans.

10. Many organizations offer home loan counseling to prospective home buyers. These organizations provide classes for homebuyers to cover the steps to homeownership. They will cover home selection, realtor services, lenders, loan programs, homeownership responsibilities, saving for a down payment, and other important pieces of information. Many first-time home buyer programs require homebuyers to attend this type of class to be eligible for selected programs.

Survey: Economy Driving People Out of the Housing Market

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say the current economic situation is making them less likely to buy a house, according to a new national survey by FindLaw.com (http://www.findlaw.com), a popular legal information website.

Sixty-three percent of American adults say they are less likely to buy a house because of the current state of the economy. Despite record-low mortgage rates and an abundance of houses available on the market, only 8 percent of people say the current economic situation makes them more likely to buy a house. About a quarter of people – 28 percent – say they are neither more likely nor less likely to buy a house because of the economy.

In particular, the current economy is driving lower-income individuals and families out of the market. People with annual incomes less than $50,000 were significantly more likely to say they are less inclined to buy a house than people with higher incomes.

"The current economic situation has greatly changed the dynamics of the housing market," said Stephanie Rahlfs, an attorney and editor with FindLaw.com. "Although mortgage rates are near record lows, stricter lending requirements are often making it more difficult for many people to obtain mortgages. High unemployment rates are raising concerns about housing appreciation, affordability and foreclosures. Together, these factors are causing many people to shy away from the idea of buying a house. Buying a home, selling a home and owning a home are all becoming more complicated, and it's important to know the ins and outs of contracts, finances and your rights as a buyer, seller or owner."

Free Internet resources such as the FindLaw Real Estate center (http://realestate.findlaw.com/) can provide helpful information on buying, selling and owning a home, including obtaining a loan, borrowers' rights, finding the best mortgage, homeowners' rights, avoiding foreclosure and more. It also has useful information for renters, including negotiating a lease, tenants' rights, and fair housing and discrimination laws.

The FindLaw.com survey was conducted using a demographically balanced telephone survey of 1,000 American adults and has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percent.

Fannie Mae Announces New Incentives for HomePath Properties

Fannie Mae announced a seller assistance incentive on Fannie Mae-owned properties listed on the company’s REO website, www.HomePath.com, and expands the initiative to offer an incentive to real estate agents and brokers. Qualified homebuyers who will be owner-occupants can receive up to 3.5 percent of the final sales price that can be used toward closing cost assistance, including a home warranty, if desired and available. In addition, selling agents representing owner-occupants will receive a $1,500 bonus. Eligible offers must be submitted on or after September 23, 2010, and must close by December 31, 2010. The sale must close within 60 days of the offer being accepted.

“More than eighty-seven thousand families have purchased HomePath® properties in the first half of 2010—nearly double the number of Fannie Mae foreclosed properties sold in the first half of 2009,” said Terry Edwards, Executive Vice President of Fannie Mae’s Credit Portfolio Management. “We continue to look for ways to stabilize neighborhoods and offer incentives to qualified buyers who will occupy these properties over the long-term and help support their communities."

HomePath properties are owned by Fannie Mae and include a wide selection of homes, including single-family homes, condominiums, and town houses. HomePath properties may also be eligible for special HomePath Mortgage and HomePath Renovation Mortgage financing.

Fewer Homes Pushed into Foreclosure

Big banks pushed fewer U.S. households into foreclosure for the seventh consecutive month in August, a real estate firm reported, though repossessions of properties already ensnared in the process hit a record.

The continued convergence of the two trends — fewer notices of default filed on homes but more properties sold at courthouse steps — indicates that major lenders are meting out foreclosures in a systematic way so as not to flood the housing market with a wave of steeply discounted properties, RealtyTrac said.

RealtyTrac Chief Executive James J. Saccacio called the trends "a clear indication that the clogged foreclosure pipeline is being carefully managed on both ends by lenders and servicers."

A total of 94,469 properties received default notices in August, a 1 percent decrease from July and a 30 percent decrease from August 2009. On the other end of the process, lenders seized 95,364 properties in August, the highest monthly total in the history of RealtyTrac's report, an increase of 3 percent from July and a 25 percent jump from August 2009.

Lenders are working through a backlog of properties that developed last year after many foreclosures were frozen by moratoriums and slowed by trial mortgage modification attempts.

(c) 2010, Los Angeles Times.

100 Dollars Can Go a Long Way for a Great Looking Yard

Got a hundred bucks and a free weekend? Then you've got what it takes to invest in some yard care improvements.

"Some of the best upgrades to your yard can be done with a few dollars and a few hours," says Trey Rogers, Ph.D., the Briggs & Stratton Yard Doctor. "When budgets are tight, get creative and do it yourself."

What can you do for $100 right now?

-- Mow the right way. Don't scalp your lawn. Instead, let it grow a little longer, which is healthy for the lawn. When you mow, cut only one-third the length of the grass blade. Cost: About $3.00 for a month of mowing.
-- Apply bark mulch. Few things dress up a yard more than mulch around flowerbeds and trees. Cost: About $3.00 per bag.
-- Fertilize naturally. When you mow, leave a light layer of grass clippings on the lawn as a natural fertilizer. Cost: $0.
-- Maintain your mower. Once a year, change the oil, replace the spark plug and change the filter. Tune-up kits are available and make it\ easy. Cost: $10-14 for a walk-behind mower.
-- Let nature water your lawn. If water is costly where you live, let nature handle irrigation. If too little rain falls, your lawn may go dormant, but unless you are in a drought situation, it will green up
again when the rain falls. Cost: $0.

With the rest of your $100 bill, splurge on some annual flowers to dress up your front doorway, patio or deck.

6 Reasons it Pays to Shop Around Before Choosing a Mortgage

You wouldn’t buy a house without shopping around first, right? Then why would you commit to the loan you use to buy that house without making sure you’re getting the best deal possible? From the experts at LendingTree, here are six reasons why it’s essential to take a few minutes to browse before you borrow:

1. To get the best interest rate possible
Over the life of a $200,000, 30-year fixed rate loan, a one-tenth of a point difference in interest rate could save or cost you thousands of dollars.

2. To pay lower loan fees
Once your loan application is accepted, the lender will get back to you with a good-faith estimate (GFE), including an itemized list of all the costs associated with the loan. If there are any parts of the GFE that you don’t understand, don’t be afraid to ask the lender to explain each fee that is listed.

3. To avoid a prepayment penalty
In these transient times, it seems no one stays in their home long enough to pay down their mortgage the old fashioned way: in monthly increments over a period of decades. So you’ll want to be clear on whether the terms of your loan include a penalty if you pay off your mortgage early—either because you move or refinance.

4. To find a lender you feel comfortable with
You don’t want any surprises popping up at closing time. Get a lender who is responsive to your questions and is willing to give you the details in writing.

5. To find a lender that specializes in your situation
Recent volatility in the mortgage markets means that people with bad credit or little money for a down payment might have to look a little harder to find a lender.

6. To get the rate lock period you want
Once you’ve found the lender offering the best mortgage rate and terms, you’ll want to get a written commitment, known as a “lock” that puts in writing that the lender will make the loan to you at that the specified interest rate. The length of the lock can vary from 30-90 days, but many lenders will charge a fee for a rate commitment of longer than a month. Negotiate the lock period that is right for you, depending on when you plan to close on your new home and if interest rates are expected to creep higher during that time.

Vacant Homes Pose Insurance Risks

As the U.S. housing market struggles to rebound, many homeowners are stuck with hard-to-sell properties longer than expected. Some frustrated home sellers who must relocate for a new job opportunity, want to downsize or simply want to buy a new place have left homes empty. Vacant or unoccupied homes can leave the homeowner exposed to loss and liability that may not be covered by their insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

The Pending Home Sales Index, released today by the National Association of Realtors, dropped 2.6 percent to 75.7 based on contracts signed in June from 77.7 in May, and is 18.6 percent below June 2009 - another sign of the stagnant housing market.

"In many cases, people who have been trying to sell their homes for awhile have moved forward with their plans regardless, leaving a vacant home on the market," said NAIC President and West Virginia Insurance Commissioner Jane L. Cline. "Having an unoccupied home can create several insurance implications that typically are not covered under a standard homeowners policy."

The Added Risks of Vacant Homes
Homeowners policies are meant to insure homes that are occupied, so they generally include exclusions for neglect or property abandonment on a home left vacant or unoccupied for a specified number of consecutive days.

In insurance terms, a vacant home is one the resident has moved out of and taken his/her belongings with him/her. An unoccupied home is one where the resident is not staying at the home, but the furniture and other belongings remain.

Because vacant and unoccupied homes pose a higher risk for damage than occupied homes, insurance companies insure these properties differently and usually at a higher price. These risks include:

-- Break-ins: When a home has been unoccupied for awhile, it can show signs that nobody is around - unkempt lawn, full mailbox, no lights on - that can tip off burglars to an easy target.

-- No emergency response: Without anyone home to call 911 or respond to emergencies, a manageable problem - such as a small electrical fire - can turn into a much larger, more costly disaster.

-- Property liability: There is no one present to prevent others from entering the property or to supervise activity, which could increase the likeliness of an accident on the premises or property damage when the owner is not there.

Keeping A Vacant Home Properly Insured
The definition of vacancy and unoccupancy can vary from policy to policy. Some insurers may not pay claims if a home is vacant for 60 days or more. Some policies might automatically shift to a different amount of coverage (e.g. liability insurance only) after a specific number of days unoccupied.

Many homeowners policies have a "vacancy clause" that can be triggered if the homeowner is gone for an extended period of time. If this happens, the homeowner could violate the terms of their contract and some or all of their coverage may not apply in the event of a loss.

"Before you decide to leave a home vacant or unoccupied for a long period of time, talk to your insurance agent or company to learn how they define vacancy and unoccupancy, and whether the company will pay claims if a house is unoccupied," said Cline. "Be honest about your situation, because while an extra policy might cost more, it could save you money down the road should there be an accident or damage to the home."

Many insurance companies offer an endorsement that will provide coverage for a dwelling that is unoccupied for an extended period of time. Vacancy policies can also be purchased for different term lengths to cover a few months to a year, depending on the need.

The cost of vacancy coverage depends on the company and state in which the property is located, but costs usually are higher than a typical homeowners policy due to the overall increase in risk.

School Performance Can Increase Home Values, Buyer Interest

Because proximity to a quality school is such a high priority for some families as they search for their next home, buyers and sellers in cities with top ranked schools or school districts can often expect to see higher median list prices as compared to the statewide median list price, sometimes as much as 10 to 28 percent higher.

"Without a doubt the 'right' school district increases value by 12 to 14 percent in my area even in today's market," said Maria Picardi-Kenyon, a longtime Realtor located in New Jersey. "I've spoken with many clients who are convinced that a preferred school district provides as much as 20 percent or more value to a home."

To help families as they search for academic excellence and affordable housing during this year's back to school season, Move, Inc., a leader in online real estate, today releases median list prices in ten communities ranked with high education quality scores, along with tips on how to expedite this season's real estate search before the school bell rings.

In an April 2010 review of 17,377 cities and towns in 49 states, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky led the review with the highest ranking school districts in terms of educational quality scores and median list prices under $200,000. The review took into consideration K-12 public school enrollment data, student test scores, and population data that determined average education quality scores, among other data.

Data from the same April 2010 review also indicated the highest ranking school districts in terms of educational quality scores with median list prices between $200,000 and $345,270 today can be found in Vermont, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Minnesota.

Factors Associated With Selecting Housing Near Quality Schools
While the National Education Association's study on student achievement reports the proximity of affordable housing in stable neighborhoods remains a key component to a student's success, buyers also often consider location to jobs, shopping, freeways, and property taxes among other things when searching areas with high ranked school districts.

"Clients focused on a particular school district are often inclined to favor neighborhoods that have great accessibility to community facilities like parks, pools, tennis courts, running/biking trails, as well as access to retail and restaurants," said Tom Thornton, an EcoBroker with Realty Austin of Austin, Texas. "In Austin, popular neighborhoods with good schools can have an average negotiation range of two to three percent from list price, while the resale advantage can be as much as a five or 10 percent premium compared to neighborhoods without popular amenities."

Is Bigger Better?
The ability to live, earn and learn often comes with a price in communities that serve larger student populations. According to The United States Department of Education, three states - California, Florida and Texas - account for 45 of the nation's largest public school districts with an average of 169 school choices per district.

Median list prices for single-family homes listed for sale on the Move Network in California, Florida and Texas in July 2010 were $335,000, $215,000, and $179,900 respectively, while the national media price was $212,900 during the same time period.

Average active list prices for single-family homes listed for sale on the Move Network in the nation's top three largest school districts in July 2010 were $816,545 in New York, $879,743 in Los Angeles, and $425,869 in Chicago.

Community Information, School Data and More Available online 24/7
Regardless of the time of year, consumers searching for a property on the Move Network can easily find local community information at the bottom of each listing detail page including school name, distance from the home of interest, type of school, grades taught, Great Schools Rating, parent rating; and the location of the home on a map that can be viewed in road, aerial or bird's eyes views.

Additional information on these listing detail pages includes: cost of living; climate; distinctive community characteristics such as the closest airport, colleges, closest major sports team, and general community information such as population statistics; household information including number, size and family make up of recorded households; general housing information such as pricing, dwelling age and annual residential turnover; available transportation types; income, net worth and employment by industry and occupation.