In its latest real estate and economic forecast, the National Association of REALTORS® anticipates that sales of existing homes, after falling 4.8 percent in 2010, will rise 7.9 percent this year, to 5.3 million, and another 4.5 percent in 2012, to 5.53 million.
The median price of existing homes, meanwhile, rose 0.3 percent in 2010 after a 12.9 percent drop in 2009, and is expected to rise 0.5 percent this year, to $173,800, and another 2.4 percent in 2012, to $177,900.
Sales of new single-family homes are expected to rebound faster, rising 17.7 percent this year, to 374,000 sales, after a 15.5 percent drop in 2010, and then rising 51.1 percent in 2012, to 565,000 sales. In an earlier forecast, released last month, NAR anticipated that sales of new single-family homes would climb 20.8 percent in 2011 and 30.9 percent in 2012.
Tuesday, March 01, 2011
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Why You Need to Shop Around For Your Mortgage
If you are buying Florida real estate, these are some things you should consider. 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.
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.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Real Estate Local Experts
A good site with a great resource for both agents and consumers. The featured Real Estate local experts are comprised of real estate professionals, investors, speakers and authors.
Article topics have related subjects that may be of interest, such as home and garden, interior design, finance, home improvement, and many more.
Article topics have related subjects that may be of interest, such as home and garden, interior design, finance, home improvement, and many more.
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Central Bank Ready To Cut Interest Rates Again
Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said in a speech Thursday that the central bank is prepared to continue lowering interest rates in order to help keep the economy on track.
"We stand ready to take substantive additional action as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks," Bernanke said in prepared remarks before the Women in Housing and Finance and Exchequer Club in Washington, D.C.
Stocks, which had been trading lower before the speech, rebounded on the news as Wall Street interpreted Bernanke's comments to mean that there is now an increased likelihood the Fed will lower its key federal funds rate by a half of a percentage point, to 3.75 percent, at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on January 30.
To that end, investors are pricing in an 86 percent chance that the Fed will lower rates by a half-point on January 30, according to federal funds futures listed on the Chicago Board of Trade.
"We stand ready to take substantive additional action as needed to support growth and to provide adequate insurance against downside risks," Bernanke said in prepared remarks before the Women in Housing and Finance and Exchequer Club in Washington, D.C.
Stocks, which had been trading lower before the speech, rebounded on the news as Wall Street interpreted Bernanke's comments to mean that there is now an increased likelihood the Fed will lower its key federal funds rate by a half of a percentage point, to 3.75 percent, at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on January 30.
To that end, investors are pricing in an 86 percent chance that the Fed will lower rates by a half-point on January 30, according to federal funds futures listed on the Chicago Board of Trade.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Florida's Existing Home Sales Slower in October 2007
Disruptions in the mortgage market and tightening credit continued to impact Florida’s housing sector in October. Statewide, sales of existing single-family homes totaled 9,165 last month while 12,846 homes sold in October 2006 for a decrease of 29 percent in the year-to-year comparison, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).
While the latest market outlook from the National Association of Realtors’® (NAR) expects conditions for the mortgage industry to improve in the coming months, it predicts that the impact of the credit crunch will continue to be felt through the end of this year, leaving home sales fairly flat. Keeping the current housing market in perspective, 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales, according to NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun. “It appears raw inventories are stabilizing, but the housing supply is a bit inflated now because the sales pace does not reflect underlying market conditions – sales were dampened by the mortgage cancellations,” he says.
Florida’s median sales price for existing single-family homes last month was $222,100; a year ago, it was $242,700 for an 8 percent decrease. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. In October 2002, the statewide median sales price for single-family homes was $140,900, for an increase of 57.6 percent over the five-year-period, according to FAR records.
While the latest market outlook from the National Association of Realtors’® (NAR) expects conditions for the mortgage industry to improve in the coming months, it predicts that the impact of the credit crunch will continue to be felt through the end of this year, leaving home sales fairly flat. Keeping the current housing market in perspective, 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales, according to NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun. “It appears raw inventories are stabilizing, but the housing supply is a bit inflated now because the sales pace does not reflect underlying market conditions – sales were dampened by the mortgage cancellations,” he says.
Florida’s median sales price for existing single-family homes last month was $222,100; a year ago, it was $242,700 for an 8 percent decrease. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. In October 2002, the statewide median sales price for single-family homes was $140,900, for an increase of 57.6 percent over the five-year-period, according to FAR records.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Florida's Existing Home Sales Ease in August 2007
Low mortgage rates, low unemployment rates and strong demographics continued to reflect positive economic signs in Florida in August. Statewide, sales of existing single-family homes totaled 11,279 last month and were closer to activity in August 2001 and 2002 – before the peak of the housing boom years – than the August 2006 figures, when 15,252 homes sold for a 26 percent decrease in the year-to-year comparison, according to the Florida Association of Realtors® (FAR).
Florida’s median sales price for existing single-family homes last month was $231,900; a year ago, it was $246,800 for a 6 percent decrease. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. In August 2002, the statewide median sales price for single-family homes was $141,200, for an increase of 64.2 percent over the five-year-period, according to FAR records.
In July 2007, the national median sales price for existing single-family homes was $228,600, down 1 percent from the previous year, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). In California, the statewide median resales price was $586,030 in July; in Massachusetts, it was $365,775; in Maryland, it was $323,838; and in New York, it was $249,700.
NAR’s latest market outlook notes that disruptions in the mortgage market are dampening the forecast for home sales, particularly in August and September. However, the mortgage markets will calm in the months ahead, says NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun. “The volume of existing-home sales this year will be better than 2002, which was the second year of the housing boom,” he says. “Conventional loans – the vast majority of available financing – are available to creditworthy borrowers. Buyers in most areas who do their homework will recognize that housing remains a good long-term investment.”
Sales of existing condominiums in Florida also decreased last month, with a total of 3,380 condos sold statewide compared to 4,522 in August 2006 for a 25 percent decline, according to FAR. The statewide median sales price for condos last month was $196,800, down 3 percent from August 2006’s condo median price of $201,900. NAR reported the national median existing condo price was $230,600 in July 2007.
Last month, interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57 percent, according to Freddie Mac, close to the average rate of 6.52 percent in August 2006. FAR’s sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
Among the state’s larger markets, the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) reported 568 existing homes sold last month compared to 655 homes sold a year ago for a 13 percent decrease. The market's median sales price for homes was $366,200; it was $386,000 in August 2006 for a 5 percent decrease. A total of 435 existing condos changed hands in the MSA last month, down 16 percent from the 515 condos sold the previous year. The existing condo median sales price in August was $209,000; a year ago, it was $220,300 for a 5 percent decrease.
“Palm Beach offers a unique lifestyle, with beautiful beaches, cultural amenities and other wonderful opportunities,” says Norma Mirsky, president of the Palm Beach Board of Realtors and president of Mirsky Realty Group. “Mortgage rates continue to be very favorable and this is a great time to buy a home in the area, especially if you’re looking for a place to live in and call home.”
Among the state’s smaller markets, the Fort Walton Beach MSA reported a total of 219 homes sold in August compared to 255 homes a year ago for a 14 percent decrease. The existing home median sales price was $227,300; a year ago, it was $229,200 for a 1 percent decrease. A total of 51 existing condos sold in the MSA last month compared to 47 condos the previous August for a 9 percent increase. The market’s existing condo median price was $311,500; a year ago, it was $356,300 for a decrease of 13 percent.
Harry Millsaps, president of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and a Realtor with Prudential Coastal Properties Inc., says that home sales are returning to a more normal pace in the area, with buyers attracted by the laid-back, friendly lifestyle. “The Federal Reserve Board’s recent cut in a key interest rate could make it easier for many people to find an affordable mortgage that’s right for them,” he says. “It is especially good news for homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages; now, as many ARMs reset their rates, those borrowers could see some savings as a result of the lower interest rates. Buyers seeking to make a long-term investment in a home of their own have more options now.”
Two charts showing statistics for Florida and its 20 MSAs are attached. One chart compares the volume of existing, single-family home sales and median sales prices; the other compares the volume of existing, condominium sales and median sales price in August 2007 to August 2006 based on Realtor transactions.
Single-Family Stats and Condominium Stats
Florida’s median sales price for existing single-family homes last month was $231,900; a year ago, it was $246,800 for a 6 percent decrease. The median is the midpoint; half the homes sold for more, half for less. In August 2002, the statewide median sales price for single-family homes was $141,200, for an increase of 64.2 percent over the five-year-period, according to FAR records.
In July 2007, the national median sales price for existing single-family homes was $228,600, down 1 percent from the previous year, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). In California, the statewide median resales price was $586,030 in July; in Massachusetts, it was $365,775; in Maryland, it was $323,838; and in New York, it was $249,700.
NAR’s latest market outlook notes that disruptions in the mortgage market are dampening the forecast for home sales, particularly in August and September. However, the mortgage markets will calm in the months ahead, says NAR Senior Economist Lawrence Yun. “The volume of existing-home sales this year will be better than 2002, which was the second year of the housing boom,” he says. “Conventional loans – the vast majority of available financing – are available to creditworthy borrowers. Buyers in most areas who do their homework will recognize that housing remains a good long-term investment.”
Sales of existing condominiums in Florida also decreased last month, with a total of 3,380 condos sold statewide compared to 4,522 in August 2006 for a 25 percent decline, according to FAR. The statewide median sales price for condos last month was $196,800, down 3 percent from August 2006’s condo median price of $201,900. NAR reported the national median existing condo price was $230,600 in July 2007.
Last month, interest rates for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.57 percent, according to Freddie Mac, close to the average rate of 6.52 percent in August 2006. FAR’s sales figures reflect closings, which typically occur 30 to 90 days after sales contracts are written.
Among the state’s larger markets, the West Palm Beach-Boca Raton Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) reported 568 existing homes sold last month compared to 655 homes sold a year ago for a 13 percent decrease. The market's median sales price for homes was $366,200; it was $386,000 in August 2006 for a 5 percent decrease. A total of 435 existing condos changed hands in the MSA last month, down 16 percent from the 515 condos sold the previous year. The existing condo median sales price in August was $209,000; a year ago, it was $220,300 for a 5 percent decrease.
“Palm Beach offers a unique lifestyle, with beautiful beaches, cultural amenities and other wonderful opportunities,” says Norma Mirsky, president of the Palm Beach Board of Realtors and president of Mirsky Realty Group. “Mortgage rates continue to be very favorable and this is a great time to buy a home in the area, especially if you’re looking for a place to live in and call home.”
Among the state’s smaller markets, the Fort Walton Beach MSA reported a total of 219 homes sold in August compared to 255 homes a year ago for a 14 percent decrease. The existing home median sales price was $227,300; a year ago, it was $229,200 for a 1 percent decrease. A total of 51 existing condos sold in the MSA last month compared to 47 condos the previous August for a 9 percent increase. The market’s existing condo median price was $311,500; a year ago, it was $356,300 for a decrease of 13 percent.
Harry Millsaps, president of the Emerald Coast Association of Realtors and a Realtor with Prudential Coastal Properties Inc., says that home sales are returning to a more normal pace in the area, with buyers attracted by the laid-back, friendly lifestyle. “The Federal Reserve Board’s recent cut in a key interest rate could make it easier for many people to find an affordable mortgage that’s right for them,” he says. “It is especially good news for homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages; now, as many ARMs reset their rates, those borrowers could see some savings as a result of the lower interest rates. Buyers seeking to make a long-term investment in a home of their own have more options now.”
Two charts showing statistics for Florida and its 20 MSAs are attached. One chart compares the volume of existing, single-family home sales and median sales prices; the other compares the volume of existing, condominium sales and median sales price in August 2007 to August 2006 based on Realtor transactions.
Single-Family Stats and Condominium Stats
Monday, July 02, 2007
Property Insurance Companies Want to Raise Rates
Five homeowners insurance companies want to raise rates just weeks after the state ordered providers to lower premiums. The state has been asked to approve requests from Auto Owners (average of 41.9 percent), Cincinnati Insurance (37.5 percent), Florida Farm (30.3 percent), Hartford, (29.5 percent) and Metropolitan Property and Casualty (14.9 percent).
Read the full story.
Read the full story.
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Governor Crist Signs Home Inspector Licensing Bill
It’s official: Gov. Charlie Crist signed SB 2234, which creates a program to license home, mold and wind mitigation inspectors working in Florida. But don’t expect quick changes. The new law becomes effective July 1, 2010.
Read the full story.
Read the full story.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Pros and Cons of Property Tax Relief Methods
One method of property tax relief may be “too rich” for counties with low real estate values, another would disproportionately benefit Florida’s wealthiest homeowners and the third could create inequities among taxpayers from one county to another.
Each of the three approaches that Florida lawmakers are considering also has advantages over the others, legislative staffers Monday told a select House-Senate committee trying to come up with a plan both chambers can accept at a June 12-22 special session.
All three versions, though, have something in common. Each is a percentage-based tax exemption. Lawmakers are in general agreement that’s the way to go after failing to reach consensus on other proposals during their regular session, which ended May 4.
Each of the three approaches that Florida lawmakers are considering also has advantages over the others, legislative staffers Monday told a select House-Senate committee trying to come up with a plan both chambers can accept at a June 12-22 special session.
All three versions, though, have something in common. Each is a percentage-based tax exemption. Lawmakers are in general agreement that’s the way to go after failing to reach consensus on other proposals during their regular session, which ended May 4.
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