1.The real economy is finally doing better than the money economy
“FORTUNE — Here’s a switch: The bankers are all of a sudden doing worse than the butchers, the bakers, and the candlestick makers.”
2.Treasuries Decline With Dollar as U.S. Stocks Fluctuate
“Treasuries fell with the dollar and oil climbed as U.S. jobless claims hovered near the lowest level in almost seven years. “
3.O.C. median home price hits $580,000
“Sales of new and luxury homes in March helped boost the Orange County median home price to $580,000, the highest point in seven years, according to DataQuick Information Systems.”
4.HOME SALES: Spring sales hit a 6-year-low
“Home sales across Southern California fell to a six-year low as median prices rose to its highest point since 2008, a new report from the real estate aggregator DataQuick said.”
5.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate Falls to 4.27 Pct
“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell this week for the second straight week as the spring home-buying season begins.”
6.Sellers’ market has few homes
“Home sales in the Sacramento region were stuck in an odd rut in March, traditionally the start of the spring homebuying season.”
7.Orange County and Los Angeles County. Southland homes sales reach 6 year low while median price hits 6 year high.
“I always found it fascinating that one of the most toxic mortgage products ever created, the option ARM was pushed heavily by California banking institutions. Places like WaMu, Countrywide Financial, First Fed, and other bygone institutions were heavily into this crack for housing mortgage.”
8.Americans still think real estate is best long-term investment
“Americans today are more likely to think real estate is the best option for long-term investments than in the past, ranking it ahead of gold and stocks, according to Gallup Inc.”
9.How to sail through a home appraisal
“Real estate appraiser Matt Cook just finished working his way through a house to gauge its value when the homeowner reached out to shake his hand.”
10.Should Fannie and Freddie Bankroll ‘Affordable Housing’
“On Jan. 24, 33 Democratic senators sent a letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mel Watt, requesting funding for two initiatives that have been suspended since their inception in 2008 — the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) and the Capital Magnet Fund (CMF). The NHTF, created by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, was intended to send money to states which would end up benefiting low-income renters as well as first-time homebuyers. “