Month: April 2014

1.Want to make money as a landlord? Try Detroit
“Want to make money as a landlord? Consider Detroit… seriously.”

2.Stocks: Off to a good start
“Earnings, economic data, and China seemed to be the special sauce for a good market start on Wednesday.”

3.Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 16, 2014) — Mortgage applications increased 4.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 11, 2014. “

4.Should American Dream still be owning a home?
“There are plenty of buyers in the market now and there’s not much holding them back,” says Kershisnik, 34, who works out of Germantown, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. “

5.Real estate market has buyers, but needs more homes
“Good home sale numbers for the first quarter are certainly a welcome jolt for the spring real estate season, but Realtors report that inventory is low and new listings are sorely needed.”

6.HUD AND CENSUS BUREAU ANNOUNCE NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY IN MARCH
“WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau today announced the following new residential construction statistics for March 2014”

7.Detroit’s $1,000 houses may be a lousy deal
“For Sale: A spacious 1,600-square-foot, three-bedroom Tudor-style home built in 1929, with one-and-a-half baths, glass block windows, hardwood floors, crown molding and custom fireplaces. Within walking distance of restaurants, playgrounds and public schools. “

8.Southern California housing market shows two sides in March
“Southern California’s tepid housing market took on a split personality in March, with sales stuck near a six-year low and prices at a six-year high, a market tracker said Tuesday.”

9.U.S. Industry Shows Some Vigor, But Housing Still Soft
“WASHINGTON — – U.S. industrial production rose at a faster-than-expected clip in March, the latest sign the economy was gaining momentum.”

10.The Five Biggest Mortgage Mistakes You Can Make
“For most buyers, the mortgage is the largest monthly expense they will have. Yet most borrowers will do little to no preparation, negotiation, or shopping to get the best deal. And they end up paying much more for their loans than they need to. You? You’re smarter than that, or you wouldn’t be reading this article. Here are five of the biggest mistakes that can cost you real money.”

11.Make These Upgrades to Save Energy & Boost Your Home’s Resale Value
“Most homeowners would benefit from a home energy audit, especially those with older homes. An audit will uncover where your home is wasting energy and how to best remedy the situation. Remodeling your kitchen, bathroom or living room may add to your home’s resale value, but the following energy-efficient upgrades add value and save you money on your monthly utility bills – and you’ll help the environment, too.”

12.Southland Home Sales Stuck at 6-year Low; Median Price Rises to 6-Year High
“La Jolla, CA—Southern California home sales quickened last month compared with February, as they normally do, but remained far below average and at the lowest level for a March in six years. The median sale price rose to a more-than-six-year high, driven up by demand that continues to exceed supply in many areas, as well as a shift toward a greater share of sales in middle and high-end markets, a real estate information service reported. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Applications for New Home Purchases Increased in March 2014
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 15, 2014) — The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for March 2014 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased by 15 percent relative to the previous month.  This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. By product type, conventional loans composed 68.3 percent of loan applications, FHA loans composed 17.2 percent, RHS/USDA loans composed 1.6 percent and VA loans composed 12.9 percent.  The average loan size of new homes increased from $295,008 in February to $296,428 in March. “

2.Why buyers do not make offers on over-priced listings
“Sellers often wonder why they have not received an offer on their home. After all, their home is so nice, upgraded, and they have put so much money into the home. The answer is the price is probably too high. But, “buyers can always make an offer, right?” Of course they can, but serious buyers usually don’t make an offer on a home that’s priced too high.”

3.Return of the ‘Ownership Society’?
“There are plenty of buyers in the market now and there’s not much holding them back,” says Kershisnik, 34, who works out of Germantown, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, D.C. “

4.Qualified mortgages could make it harder to get a loan
“Just about everyone in banking, finance and real estate has heard about the new lending laws from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that took effect in January. A result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, these new rules are designed to protect lenders and borrowers, and ultimately the national economy, from another economic crisis like the one we experienced in 2010.”

5.Pittsburgh among world’s best long-term real estate investments

“Pittsburgh’s propensity for comebacks makes for good long-term real estate investment, according to a report by an international property development company.”

6.Scarce land could blunt recovery for U.S. homebuilders
“April 15 (Reuters) – A resurgent U.S. housing market has created an unforeseen land shortage that could take the shine off an otherwise promising year for homebuilders.”

7.US stocks drift lower at midday; Homebuilders sink
“NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are moving lower in midday trading, giving up an early gain.Beazer Homes, Ryland Group and other homebuilder stocks fell after a survey showed that the industry’s confidence in the housing market remains low.”

8.Americans’ economic confidence holds steady – for now
“Steady as she goes seems to be the operative phrase for Americans about the economy, at least recently, according to a new survey by Gallup Inc.”

9.10 hidden costs of commercial real estate — part 3
“In my first article, I highlight three of the lesser known costs of commercial real estate we sometimes forget about: city business license fee, sewer fees and environmental cleanup fees. The second article discussed other costs: capital expenditures, commissions and readying the space, vacancies, prepayment penalties and building code upgrades. In my third article of the series we will talk about two tax related costs: special assessment districts and income tax misconceptions.”

10.Southern California housing market shows two sides in March
“Southern California’s housing market took on a split personality in March with sales stuck near a six-year low while prices hit a six-year high, a market tracker said Tuesday.”

11.Why 2014 Will Be a Downer for Mortgage Lenders
“There’s little doubt that 2014 is going to be a tough year for mortgage lenders, something which has been apparent for some time.”

12.Can you run a successful business without Zillow, Trulia or realtor.com?
“The guest opinions presented below are responses to Inman News’ first ‘Real Debate’ question: “Can you run a successful real estate company without Zillow, Trulia or realtor.com?” We invite you to share your own thoughts on the matter in the comments section of this article.”

13.What Happens When Your Loan is Sold?
“Question: We refinanced our home loan in March with an on-line mortgage lender. Within a couple of weeks, we received a letter from another mortgage company advising us that our May payment was to be made to them. A May payment invoice was included. I contacted the original lender, and was told that the loan was not sold.”

14.Why Do Some Real Estate Agents Do Well in Today’s Economy?
“Is that a question you’ve ever asked yourself? Have you ever wondered why some real estate agents do well in today’s economy while others fail? There is a huge discrepancy right now between people who are failing and people who are succeeding.”

15.Homeowners: Are You Really Insured?
“Homeowners insurance, also known as hazard insurance, provides you protection from the damage or loss of your property as well as liability coverage for anyone who has an accident on your property.”

16.Southland Home Sales Stuck at 6-year Low; Median Price Rises to 6-Year High
“La Jolla, CA—Southern California home sales quickened last month compared with February, as they normally do, but remained far below average and at the lowest level for a March in six years. The median sale price rose to a more-than-six-year high, driven up by demand that continues to exceed supply in many areas, as well as a shift toward a greater share of sales in middle and high-end markets, a real estate information service reported. “

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Bullish March retail sales brighten growth outlook
“U.S. retail sales recorded their largest gain in 1-1/2 years in March, in the latest sign the economy was emerging from its weather-induced slumber and on track to accelerate in the second quarter.”

2.Evictions from rent-controlled units on the rise in L.A.
“Arie Shashou remembers simple pleasures from the decades spent in his Westside home: helping neighbors with small tasks; the daily chats with the former manager of the complex; the paintings that line the walls of his one-bedroom.”

3.7 of the biggest home-buyer turnoffs
“Home sellers in hot real-estate markets — where there’s not enough for-sale inventory for the number of people who want to buy — may not feel compelled to go all out in preparing their home before listing. And they may not need to, given the reduced competition. “

4.Retail sales spike, signal improving economy
“U.S. retailers saw their biggest gains in more than a year in March, according to figures released by the U.S. Commerce Department.”

5.Technology changes real estate agent’s role
“In days of old, Lori Reiland was in the field with clients 70 percent of her business time and on the computer 30 percent. Now, said the associate broker with the Peoria office of Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, those percentages have flipped.”

6.Yearly foreclosures down, but quarterly increase seen in CA foreclosure starts
“Year-over-year foreclosure activity – default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions – continued a downward trend in California, with another double-digit decline in March, according to Irvine-based RealtyTrac.

7.How open data is changing the business of real estate
“Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff talks about how the explosion in open data that’s available to tech companies will affect the real estate business.”

8.Home Sellers’ Asking Prices Hit Five-Year High
“If housing demand has softened, someone forgot to tell home sellers.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Stocks: The sell-off saga continues
“Investors looking for a ray of hope from the banking sector will need to keep looking.”

2.Fannie Mae Selling to Investors Backpedals on Homebuyers
“Fannie Mae (FNMA) is selling more of its foreclosed properties to investors as prices rise, limiting homebuyers’ access to cheap housing.”

3.Are rising rates good for banks – and you?
“There’s a silver lining to rising mortgage rates, which have crept up over the past year. It’s now easier to get a mortgage — and it won’t likely take as long to close the loan, either.”

4.Rise in wholesale prices may signal strengthening economy
“WASHINGTON – The prices companies receive for their goods and services jumped in March led by gains for food, clothing, jewelry and chemicals. “

5.Mortgage rates fall but big banks doing less: Here’s why
“As investors flee the stock market and rush to the relative safety of bonds, consumers are seeing at least one benefit: Lower mortgage rates. The average rate on the 30-year fixed conforming loan ($417,000 or less) dropped from 4.5 percent to 4.375 percent for most borrowers and as low as 4.25 percent for those with the highest credit scores, according to Mortgage News Daily. “

6.How the economy stacks up: 2014 vs. 2007
“The number of people applying for new unemployment benefits has fallen to the lowest level since mid-2007, shortly before the Great Recession began.”

7.Why big data matters to agents and the buyers and sellers they serve
“What kind of insights can be developed by applying technology to massive amounts of data? How about an app that would let an agent see how their “social heat map” compares to other agents in their market, and recommend specific actions they can take to improve their social score? Those are the kinds of products that Software Incubator CEO Matt Kumar says his company is helping startups develop.”

8.Countertops 101: Today’s Kitchen Trends
“Granite is still the big dog in kitchen countertops, and the No. 1 most requested material when it comes to kitchen remodels.”

9.Back to the city: Re-urbanization movement brings opportunities
“Over the past few years, economic and demographic trends have led to what’s known as reurbanization—the movement of residents from the suburbs back to urban areas. Because much of this activity involves developing communities that had previously been neglected, it’s providing opportunities for commercial real estate firms. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Urban Real-Estate Prices Are Booming, but Most People Live in Suburbs
“Has there been a Renaissance in city living over the past year? That depends on how you look at it.”

2.Home Prices and Population Growth: Cities vs. Suburbs
“From some angles, it looks like the housing recovery has brought an urban resurgence: for instance, the most urban counties are growing faster now than during the housing bubble, and many dense cities are having a boom in apartment construction. However, the most recent data show that asking prices in urban neighborhoods are rising only slightly faster than in the suburbs, and the suburbs actually have higher population growth.”

3.Trailer Parks Lure Wall Street Investors Looking for Double-Wide Returns
“When Dan Weissman worked at Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and, later, at a hedge fund, he didn’t have to worry about methamphetamine addicts chasing his employees with metal pipes. Or SWAT teams barging into his workplace looking for arsonists. “

4.Top secrets to sell your home this spring
“The spring real estate market is beginning to bloom. But it hasn’t quite shown its true colors yet.”

5.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate Down to 4.34 Pct.
“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages declined this week, edging closer to historically low levels as the spring home-buying season begins.

6.IMF: World Economy Is Stronger but Faces Threats
“The global economy is strengthening but faces threats from super-low inflation and outflows of capital from emerging economies, the International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday.”

7.What a $200,000 mortgage will cost you
“Mortgages aren’t one-size-fits-all products. Loan types and lenders all have different requirements, benefits and drawbacks. “

8.US foreclosures fall to lowest quarterly level since mid-2007: RealtyTrac
“The U.S. housing market is back on its feet, aided by rising home prices, steady job growth and fewer troubled loans. “

9.What does $500,000 buy you in Southern California real estate? A look at Culver City, Pasadena, and Riverside.
“We have a large readership from California but also many others that simply enjoy peeking into the mania that is SoCal real estate.  It must appear to an outsider that all Californians ever think about is buying, selling, and flipping real estate.  During certain periods of time the mania gets out of hand and the delusion runs rampant across the L.A. River”

10.No improvement for Congress’ job approval rating
“Americans’ approval of the job performances of the men and women they hire to be members of Congress is down to 13 percent in the new Gallup Inc. survey released Thursday.”

11.More homeowners are becoming first-time landlords
“The real estate market has long worked on a simple system: If you want to buy a new house, sell the old one and use the equity for a down payment.”

12.Mortgage rates decline as spring buying season begins
“Fixed mortgage rates edged down as the spring homebuying season began to kick in this week, Freddie Mac reported.”

13.Banks turning attention to homes in ‘foreclosure limbo’
“Foreclosure activity in March remained well below year-ago levels, but ticked up on a monthly basis as some states began to push properties through the foreclosure pipeline that have long languished in delinquency, RealtyTrac reported. “

14.Foreclosures have Doubled in Some States Despite Overall Decline
“RealtyTrac reported today that an uptick in foreclosure starts last month drove an overall increase in the nation’s foreclosure activity.  There was a 7 percent jump in the filings of initial public notice – Notice of Default (NOD) or Lis Pendens (LIS), part of a total of 117,485 foreclosure related filings during the month.  March filings, which also included Notice of Scheduled Auctions and Bank Repossessions (REO) were up 4 percent from February but were 23 percent lower than in March 2013.  Scheduled Auctions were also up, rising 6 percent from the previous month. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Jobs recovery killing entrepreneurial spirit
“As more and more Americans find jobs, it’s having a chilling effect on potential new entrepreneurs, according to a new industry report.”

2.Mortgage Purchase Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2014) — Mortgage applications decreased 1.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 4, 2014.  “

3.7 home-selling mistakes to avoid this spring
“The housing inventory is creeping up and properties are staying on the market for a longer period of time. Buyers may soon have the upper hand in this home-selling season. But that doesn’t mean your house won’t sell; it just means you’ll have to make smarter moves to land a buyer.”

4.Attract serious buyers, discourage lookie-loos
“Serious buyers want to find a home. They’ve been pre-qualified by a lender, chosen a real estate agent, and are ready to make an offer on the right home. A lookie-loo is a person who is not seriously in the market to buy a home. “Loo” could be a nosy neighbor, an open house junkie, or worst of all — someone who thinks they’re serious, but are incapable of making a realistic offer.”

5.San Diego Real Estate Regained Some Ground In March
“Real estate in San Diego regained some ground in March, with the median price of a single-family home rising 4.3 percent to $490,000, according to the San Diego Association of Realtors.”

6.Mortgage Applications Fall as Refinancing Drops
“NEW YORK — Applications for U.S. home mortgages fell last week as refinancing slipped, an industry group said Wednesday.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Homebuyer Traffic in March Was Down From Last Year
“What would you do if you went to a store and found bare shelves and high prices? If the answer is come back later, then you have a good idea of how home shoppers are feeling as real estate heads into the important spring selling season.”

2.Mortgage Credit Availability Increases Slightly in March
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2014) — Mortgage credit availability increased slightly in March according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which analyzes data from the AllRegs® Market Clarity® product. “

3.Sanctions On Russia Take Their Toll On US Real Estate Market
“Yahoo Finance’s The Daily Ticker produced a report today, April 7th, highlighting the fact that the high-end real estate market in several U.S. cities had been hurt by the ongoing Russia/Ukraine crisis and the sanctions that have been levied against wealthy Russians. Julie Satow, who wrote an article in The New York Times on the topic, was interviewed for the report.”

4.Sam Zell: Stock market is overvalued
“Real-estate tycoon Sam Zell thinks investors are way too optimistic and that’s pushed the stock market to overvalued levels, according to CNBC, where he sat down for an interview on Tuesday”

5.Housing pain could halt stocks’ gain
“The S&P 500’s SPX +0.46%   outsized gain of 30%-plus last year certainly can’t be repeated. And if the first quarter is any indication, not many investors will make much money by owning the benchmark index. “

6.Home buyers being pushed out of reach
“Zillow says high prices, climbing interest rates and flat incomes are pushing home-buying out of reach for more Southern Californians.”

7.Homebuying Factors that Mortgage Calculators Miss
“If you’re thinking about buying a home, you’ve probably used — or at least heard of — a mortgage calculator. These nifty tools can help you figure out the price range of homes you may be able to afford and estimate your monthly mortgage payment.”

8.The New World of Mortgage ‘Buffers’
“There’s a great curiosity in the real estate marketplace: interest rates are low while home values have yet to reach the prices seen in 2007 and yet borrowers are having trouble getting loans.”

9.The Three Biggest Turn-Ons For Buyers
“As a seller, you have a lot more control in pleasing buyers than you think. If you start the selling process by learning what buyers really want, you can prepare your home to come as close to their dreams as possible.”

10.Agents: Put Public Relations to Work For You!
“Historically, in the real estate industry, the work of public relations has mostly been pursued by the corporate offices of big brands. Agents and smaller office groups usually don’t put a strategic focus on this important facet of branding for many reasons. It could be a cost issue, a manpower issue or a lack of understanding about just why public relations efforts are important. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Shortage of low-income housing pushes tenants into dangerous situations
“Dozens of people shared only three showers in the building that Patricia McDowell called home for the last 2 1/2 years. Roaches skittered across the floor, she said, and lights went out and stayed out. In recent months, McDowell said she had to run an extension cord to another room to keep electricity going.”

2.Fannie and Freddie’s steep fees hurting home buyers, critics say
“WASHINGTON — When you’re raking in tens of billions of dollars in profits by helping credit-elite borrowers buy homes, couldn’t you lighten up on fees a little for everyday folks who’d also like to buy?”

3.U.S. Stocks Decline as Tech, Consumer Shares Extend Slide
“U.S. stocks fell, after the biggest drop for the Nasdaq 100 Index in two years, as technology and consumer companies extended last week’s slide before the start of corporate earnings season. “

4.The Internet is for sellers and real estate agents, not buyers
“Last week one of my clients asked to see a property she’d found on Zillow. I looked it up, and it was listed as a for-sale-by-owner. The details stated that the owner would work with real estate agents.”

5.US Tax Court ruling could save real estate trusts millions
“As we’ve discussed many times in this column, anyone who can qualify as a “real estate professional” for federal tax purposes enjoys some unique tax benefits.”

6.The Real Deal / Tough year for beach-area values
“2013 was a tough year for some beach-area properties, due to a double whammy that even the most experienced agents did not see coming.”

7.4 reasons why rising mortgage rates are good
“There’s a silver lining to rising mortgage rates, which have crept up over the past year. It’s now easier to get a mortgage — and it won’t likely take as long to close the loan, either. “

8.Housing pain could halt stocks’ gain
“The S&P 500’s SPX -1.12%   outsized gain of 30%-plus last year certainly can’t be repeated. And if the first quarter is any indication, not many investors will make much money by owning the benchmark index. “

9.US home market: Few buyers and not enough sellers
“WASHINGTON — Entering the 2014 spring buying season, the U.S. housing market faces an unusual dilemma: Too few people are selling homes. Yet too few buyers can afford the homes that are for sale.”

10.Home values hit stable patch in capital region
“Home values in Sacramento have hit a stable patch, leveling out at prices that make sense given area incomes, rents and other basic economic factors, several experts said last week”

11.Fannie Mae Releases March 2014 National Housing Survey Results
“WASHINGTON, DC – Recent month-to-month volatility in the housing market has softened the ongoing recovery. However, the majority of the Fannie Mae National Housing Survey indicators on consumer attitudes have continued to move in a positive direction during the past year, which may portend a pickup in home buying and selling activity this spring.”

12.How to List and Sell Real Estate
“It’s not too often you get to interview one of the First Ladies of Real Estate, so I was thrilled to connect with none other than industry pioneer Danielle Kennedy last week to congratulate her on the 30th Anniversary of one of the most timeless real estate books written, How to List and Sell Real Estate. As always, she’s delightful, strong, passionate and right to the point. I hope you’ll enjoy her words of wisdom! “

13.Fannie Survey Hints at Warmer Spring for Housing
“Fannie Mae sees results from its most recent National Housing Survey (NHS) as possibly portending a pickup in home buying and selling activity this spring.  Results of the survey show that despite recent month-to-month volatility in housing markets and a softening of the recovery, many consumer attitudes have continued to move in a positive direction”

14.Despite Record Low Mortgage Originations, “Significant Opportunity to Grow”
“Black Knight Financial Services said that mortgage originations at the end of February were at the lowest levels in at least 14 years, as far back as the company has kept records.  Still, the company’s Senior Vice President of Data and Analytics said real estate sales have remained relatively steady, thanks to the number of cash transactions.  “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Mortgage rates climb to 4.41 percent
“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) publishes the results of a weekly applications survey that covers roughly 50 percent of all residential mortgage originations and tracks the average interest rate for 30 year and 15 year fixed rate mortgages as well as the volume of both purchase and refinance applications. “

2.U.S. economy adds a solid 192,000 jobs in March
“WASHINGTON — U.S. employers added jobs at a solid pace in March and hired more in January and February than previously thought. Friday’s government report sent a reassuring signal that the economy withstood a harsh winter that had slowed growth.”

3.U.S. Stocks Drop From Record as Tech Shares Resume Slide
“U.S. stocks fell the most in three weeks, as technology and consumer shares sank, after benchmark indexes had climbed to records on a government report showing employers added to payrolls last month. “

4.No real estate bubble here: home prices to level off
“Home prices increased 12.2% from February 2013 to February 2014, marking the 24th consecutive month of year-over-year growth, according to the most recent CoreLogic Home Price Index Report. That trend is expected to continue, with a 10.5% year-over-year increase projected for March. There was also a slight month-to-month increase of 0.8% from January to February. “

5.Spring homebuyers facing sticker shock
“More potential buyers are out trolling the nation’s neighborhoods for their dream homes. Unfortunately, they are finding little to look at and, even worse, they are finding higher prices than they expected. “

6.California gasoline prices increase for seventh straight week
“California gasoline prices have increased for the seventh week in a row in most areas but the pace has slowed for the last couple of weeks, according to price surveys Friday.”

7.Rents expected to rise for a fifth consecutive year as demand surges
“These are good times for U.S. landlords. For many tenants, not so much. “

8.Most U.S. Homes Now Affordable for Average Buyers
“The majority of homes nationwide are more affordable now than they were in the years leading up to the start of the housing bubble, with homebuyers currently spending a smaller share of their incomes on a mortgage than they have historically. Nationwide, roughly two-thirds (66.4 percent) of homes for sale on Zillow are considered affordable, and in many metro areas, the majority of homes are more affordable now than they have been historically for typical buyers making the area’s median income, according to new research from Zillow.”

9.WeChat and Weibo will help you land Chinese clients and get them to the closing table
“Linda Lee, a San Diego-based broker with Keller Williams Realty Inc., says that if you want to land Chinese clients, you’re not going to find them on YouTube and Facebook. Lee recommends using WeChat and Weibo to reach Chinese clients instead. Be ready to serve Chinese clients when they’re most likely to be in the country — Chinese New Year and summer break, for example — and be prepared to hire a translator if necessary to help close deals.”

10.Best Rental Returns Are Found In These Markets
“In many areas housing prices are rising and that has some investors thinking about if and where they should buy their next rental.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.U.S. Stocks Fluctuate Near Record on Jobless Claims Data
“U.S. stocks fluctuated, with benchmark indexes trading near records, as data on jobless claims and services missed estimates while the European Central Bank indicated it would take action to head off deflation. “

2.Houses taking about two months to sell
“The following update on local real estate information for Fullerton is based on Multiple Listing Service data as of March 27. “

3.HOME PRICES: Inland home prices doing double-time
“Real estate in the Inland region is still having a field day when it comes to price appreciation, give the new CoreLogic chart predicting price growth.”

4.REAL ESTATE: One reason for Inland sprawl: Price
“Smart Growth America has just released a new Measuring Sprawl 2014 report and my hunch is many real estate watchers aren’t surprised to see Inland Southern California on the Top 10 list of large metro areas in the nation with urban sprawl.”

5.Money Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate Rises to 4.41 Pct
“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose slightly this week but remained near historically low levels.”

6.5 Things Your Real Estate Agent Won’t Tell You (VIDEO)
“Buying a home can be a wonderful investment and, not to mention, an exciting new life step. But between shopping for mortgages, scouring listing services and visiting one open house after another, it’s certainly not a simple, one-stop-shop kind of process. And (as if that wasn’t enough to deal with) there’s also the small little detail of coping with real estate agents. “

7.Investors scale back home purchases – who will fill the gap?
“Investors are scaling back home buying, according to data released Wednesday, and there’s concern that the gap in purchases won’t be filled as prospective first-time buyers struggle with a choppy jobs market and high barriers to obtaining a mortgage.”

8.Real estate investment clubs for fun and profit, with luck
“Kimberly and Edward Rushing’s fledgling real estate investment venture got off to a rocky start”

9.Inventory slowly creeps back into the California housing market: Homes for sale in Los Angeles up nearly 18 percent year-over-year and price gains stall. Cash sales still a big part of market.
“Inventory is finally starting to show up in the California housing market.  The main motivator of this growing inventory is the delusional prices being asked by sellers are no longer generating massive amounts of sales from house lusting buyers.”

10.Home Sellers: What a Great Agent Can Do For You
“You already know the smart way to sell your home is through a real estate professional, but you may not realize how much your agent really does for you.”

11.Home Prices Will Keep Rising, but Level-Off Soon
“Home prices continue to increase by double digit percentages on a year-over-year basis CoreLogic said today.  The company’s Home Price Index (HPI) for February, an index that includes distressed sales, was up 12.2 percent compared to February 2013.”

TonyAlvarez.com