Tag: the reo mentor

1.Stocks: Bouncing back after early losses
“It started as an ugly day on Wall Street, but the carnage may be contained, for now.”

2.The 10 Best Cities to Flip a Home
“As the national housing market continues to rebound, real estate investors are trying their hand at home flipping — buying and selling a house within six months. While in some markets home flippers lost money, in others they earned a decent return on their investment.”

3.CALIFORNIA FORECLOSURES: BUYING HOUSES MADE SIMPLE
“People just like you are buying Real Estate for as much as Half-Off Retail Prices! You can learn how to save Big Money Right Now! “

4.How long will the real estate upswing last?
“Houston’s housing market never experienced serious declines during the downturn, but the upswing has been fierce.”

5.Tight inventory, high demand send real estate prices higher
“If Palm Beach real estate were a melody, the season that just ended wasn’t exactly the same song as last season. But it wasn’t an entirely new tune, either.”

6.‘Overbid Madness’ Strikes San Francisco Real Estate Market, Home Sold $600K Above Asking
“Realtors are using the words “overbid madness” to describe what’s happening in San Francisco’s housing market. One case in point is a home that was sold hundreds of thousands above the asking price.”

7.The battle between traditional buyers and cash buyers: Cash buyers still make up over 30 percent of market and purchase applications fall to lowest level since December of 2000.
“People adapt very quickly to new circumstances. Today, many are coming to terms that the housing market is dominated by investors.”

8.Foreclosure activity lowest in 8 years in California, Los Angeles County
“California’s foreclosure activity has flatlined. For the last three quarters, the number of homeowners receiving default notices has hovered around a level last seen eight years ago, according the the latest report from market tracker DataQuick.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.KB Home launches new subdivisions in Santa Clarita
“The big Los Angeles-based homebuilder has bought 278 lots in two subdivisions in the Plum Canyon area of the north Los Angeles County city, with plans to start construction by early summer.”

2.Hiring in U.S. Kicks Into Higher Gear as Unemployment Plunges to 6.3%
“America’s job-creation machine kicked into higher gear in April as employers boosted payrolls by the most in two years and the jobless rate plunged to the lowest since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. “

3.20 million U.S. families could buy homes, but don’t
” For Rebecca Diamond, a marketing manager in Randallstown, Md. who’s getting married this month, buying a home with her new husband would seem like the logical next step. But she’s not even considering it. “

4.House flipping becomes more profitable
“If you’ve been dreaming of fixing up a home and unloading it for a tidy profit, now may be the time to do it. “

5.These cities are rising real estate stars
“Househunters in Miami, Chicago and Lagos had better get ready for their dream homes to get that much more expensive. The cities have joined the list of locations that could outperform real estate markets in more established global cities, according to a new report.”

6.Jobs vs GDP: Which economy is it?
“A look at recent headlines may have some scratching their heads about the state of the economy. “

7.Home loans fall off as sales slow, rates rise
“Fewer home sales and rising interest rates have led to the nation’s lowest level of mortgage lending in 14 years.”

8.Baby boomers moving back home with mom and dad from the silent generation? 2 million adults live with parents in California and those 50 to 64 moving in with parents has surged.
“House horny Californians try to avoid the overarching statistics starring them directly in the face. Many Californians are all hat and no cattle.”

9.U.S. jobless rate drops to 6.3 percent in April
“Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 288,000, and the nation’s unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 6.3 percent in April, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says Friday.”

10.Foreclosure activity lowest in 8 years in California, Los Angeles County
“California’s foreclosure activity has flatlined. For the last three quarters, the number of homeowners receiving default notices has hovered around a level last seen eight years ago, according the the latest report from market tracker DataQuick.”

11.House flippers grow more cautious as price appreciation slows
“Easing home price appreciation made home flipping less attractive to investor buyers in the first quarter, but rates of return on flips rose, according to the latest report from data aggregator RealtyTrac.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Manufacturing Picks Up as U.S. Consumers Open Wallets: Economy
“Manufacturing picked up in April after consumer spending surged the prior month, showing the U.S. economy is poised to lift off in the second quarter. “

2.Appraisal Value And Market Value Are NOT Always The Same Thing
“As we’ve seen values soften over the last 6 months with slightly higher interest rates, I’ve had multiple conversations with sellers fixated on a price for their home based on an appraisal they had a few months ago.”

3.Do foreclosures and short sales still exist?
“Unfortunately short sales and foreclosures are still taking place. Yes the real estate market is getting better but there are still homeowners losing their homes. “

4.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate Eases to 4.29 Pct
“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages declined slightly this week as the spring home-buying season has gotten off to a slow start.”

5.House flipping becomes more profitable
“In the first three months of this year, home flippers raked in a 30% gross return on their investment — one of the highest levels in years, according to data released Thursday by RealtyTrac ; that’s compared to just 4% in the last quarter of last year. Flippers bought the homes for an average of $183,276 and sold them for $238,850, the data showed.”

6.Fewer homes ‘flipped’ in first quarter, says RealtyTrac
“In a sign that real-estate markets may be returning to a more rational level of appreciation and value, house-flipping, namely purchases and resales of the same home within six months, fell in the first quarter of 2014 to a rate of just 3.7% of all single-family homes sold in the U.S., RealtyTrac reported. “

7.Home flipping slips as price gains slow
“The housing recovery is turning out to be especially profitable for home flippers—who are pocketing returns as high as 80 percent in some markets. “

8.What’s wrong with housing?
“The weather is warming up, home prices are still strong, and more listings are coming onto the market.”

9.5 trends heating up REITs as other stocks stall
“So far this year, real estate investment trust (REIT) stocks have bucked the trend in the equity markets stall out. The MSCI US REIT Index has returned 12.18 percent, while the S&P 500 has sputtered to a 2 percent gain. “

10.Real estate agents are outsmarting the listing portals’ ‘three-headed monster’: what to do immediately after signing a new listing
“Are you tired of having three other agents’ pictures displayed prominently next to your listing on another brokerage or listing portal, especially when your contact information is buried where almost no one can find it? While it’s difficult to slay the “three-headed monster,” there are steps you can take to limit its destructiveness to your business.”

11.Pooled MLS listings create new market opportunity for Realtors
“More than 88,000 agents and brokers belonging to two of California’s biggest multiple listing services will soon be able to seamlessly access each other’s listing information and offer buyers and sellers listings from across the state on their public websites.”

12.A Kitchen Clean Up Pays When Selling Your Home
“When it comes to selling a home, a kitchen clean up pays. You don’t have to do an expensive remodel to make your kitchen appealing to buyers. If you’re starting with a good kitchen space, then making a few inexpensive modifications can help you get your home noticed and sell for more money. “

13.As prices rise, housing recovery wobbles
“A housing recovery that was expected to accelerate this year is instead sputtering. And no, you can’t just blame the weather.”

1.Stocks flat as all eyes turn to Fed
“Investors looked past a weak report on U.S. economic growth Wednesday as they await the latest statement from the Federal Reserve.”

2.U.S. economy stalls on inventories, trade
“The U.S. economy barely grew in the first quarter as the severe winter hampered exports and led businesses to curtail investment spending, but activity already appears to be bouncing back.”

3.Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications decreased 5.9 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 25, 2014.  “

4.U.S. Stocks Fluctuate Before Fed as Economic Growth Slows
“U.S. stocks fluctuated, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index heading for a monthly gain, as data showed growth in the world’s largest economy stalled before a Federal Reserve decision on monetary policy. “

5.U.S. homeownership rate lowest since mid-1990s
“The U.S. homeownership rate hit its lowest level since the mid-1990s, according to a Census release that showed that despite two years of recovery in the housing market there are still fewer homeowners than there were before the recession. “

6.Home prices in major US cities flat in February
“Year-over-year gains in home prices in large U.S. cities slowed in February, another sign the market cooled before the spring home buying season kicked off, according to a closely watched index.”

7.Real Overpriced Counties of America: Orange County named most overpriced county in the entire United States. Fitch Ratings and Trulia point to a bubble in the OC with prices overvalued by 30 percent.
“When it comes to real estate, we know that Californians enjoy drinking from the gold cup of mania. Lusting over real estate seems to be as common as traffic on the 405. People in California have a deep rooted cultural and economic amnesia”

8.Economy shows slight pulse: GDP up just 0.1 percent
“The U.S. economy, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product, grew by an almost imperceptible 0.1 percent in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of last year, the Bureau of Economic Analysis says Wednesday.”

9.Home prices kept cooling as cold winter progressed
“U.S. home price gains cooled in February from the previous year for the third month in a row, as harsh winter weather and high buying costs have slowed sales. “

10.Pooled MLS listings create new market opportunity for Realtors
“More than 88,000 agents and brokers belonging to two of California’s biggest multiple listing services will soon be able to seamlessly access each other’s listing information and offer buyers and sellers listings from across the state on their public websites.”

11.10 Essential Ways to Prevent Damage and Stay Safe During Upcoming Storm Season
“Storm season is here, and with it comes increased opportunity for home damage, both major and minor. Whether you have to deal with hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, or hail, preparation is key for securing your personal safety and assets against the ravages of inclement weather. Protect your family and home this spring and summer by following these ten tips.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Why Conforming Loan Limits Should Be Part of Housing-Finance Reform — But Aren’t
“The current system of conforming loan limits falls far short of reflecting the actual differences in local home prices and ends up favoring borrowers in lower-cost markets. More than 30% of homes for sale in many California and Northeastern markets are above the conforming loan limit, versus less than 10% in much of the rest of the country. “

2.Real Estate Sees Return of ‘Boomerang Buyers’
“Boomerang buyers, homeowners once in a state of mortgage distress who are buying again, may be just what the economist ordered.”

3.Home prices cool in February
“Home prices cooled off in February, according to the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index.”

4.Pending Home Sales Increase in March
“After months of stagnant activity, pending home sales rose in March, marking the first gain in the past nine months, according to the National Association of Realtors®.”

5.Homeownership rate slips to 19-year low while rental market tightens
“The nation’s homeownership rate slipped to its lowest level in 19 years in the first quarter as more households rented and home sales remained low.”

6.U.S. Homeownership Rate Falls to the Lowest Since 1995
“The homeownership rate in the U.S. declined to the lowest in almost 19 years as rising property prices and mortgage rates held back demand.”

7.Real-estate investing without the headaches
“From the time he was young, he started buying old houses to rent. He had a good feel for what would be a good buy and what he should pay considering the future rents. By the time he was about 60, he had a total of over 50 houses in his stable. “

8.Inside a bankruptcy — Part 1
“I recently sold a well-known commercial property in Napa as part of a bankruptcy. After more than a year and a half of working with the property owner, two lenders, the bankruptcy attorney, trustee, the trustee’s attorney and the two brokers who represented the buyer, we were able to get some relief to the owners.”

9.Home prices kept cooling as cold winter progressed
“U.S. home price gains cooled in February from the previous year for the third month in a row, as harsh winter weather and high buying costs have slowed sales. “

10.US home price gains slow for third straight month
“U.S. home price gains cooled in February from the previous year for the third month in a row, as harsh winter weather and high buying costs have slowed sales.”

11.Case-Shiller: Home Prices Gain Ground in February
“U.S. home price gains cooled in February from the previous year for the third month in a row, as harsh winter weather and high buying costs have slowed sales”

12.The Real Reason New Home Sales Are Down
“The real estate industry has been trying to explain lagging new home sales in the best way it can, but are such interpretations  correct? If you’re a real estate investor or home buyer there’s an alternative you may want to consider. “

13.Real Trends rankings reveal which real estate brokerages grew the fastest in 2013
“Most of the U.S.’s largest brokerages grew their businesses in 2013 at a pace exceeding the growth of the market as a whole, according to an annual analysis by Real Trends that also reveals which companies grew the fastest.”

14.The Critical First Two Weeks of Marketing Your Home For Sale
“Brokers share their listings with other brokers in the multiple listing service (MLS) under certain rules of cooperation and compensation. One of the rules of cooperation is that each broker and agent make a new listings available to other MLS members within 24 or 48 hours of signing the listing agreement with the seller.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Slowing Housing Market Needs the ‘Boomerang Buyer’
“The real estate has exhausted the refi boom, and the investor money is drying up as well. If the market is going to keep growing, it’s going to need a new crop of buyers.”

2.U.S. pending home sales rise in March; first gain in nine months
“Pending home sales rose in March, as the national housing market showed signs of life at the start of the spring buying season.”

3.Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Rise Most Since 2011
“Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes climbed in March by the most in almost three years, showing residential real estate was starting to stabilize entering the spring selling season. “

4.Groundfloor stretches crowd-funding’s limits
“A renovated historic home near downtown Atlanta hits the market this week, an accomplishment for 39 Georgians who lent $40,000 for the project through Groundfloor, an online crowd-funding platform.”

5.Contracts to Buy US Homes up, 1st Time Since June
“More Americans signed contracts to buy homes in March, the first increase since June and a sign that the housing market might pick up after a sluggish start to the year”

6.Home sales still weaker than last year
“look, march numbers were better than expected, but far weaker than a year ago. that as analysts revising down dramatically.”

7.A fading middle-class perk: lower mortgage rates
” WASHINGTON — For three decades, the U.S. middle class enjoyed a rare financial advantage over the wealthy: lower mortgage rates.”

8.What will be the impact of cash investors slowing purchases in California? Large investor sales drop 31 percent year-over-year in California. 1.2 million homeowners underwater.

“The market in California is starting to splinter off into two distinct segments. First, in lower priced areas the pullback of investors has caused inventory to steadily rise.”

9.Bay Area house flippers star in new reality TV series
“In an era of rising home prices, making money flipping a house seems like a slam-dunk. But buying, remodeling and quickly selling a house at a profit is an art practiced successfully by only a few, even as many of us dream that we could do it ourselves.”

10.Is Housing Ringing The Stock Market’s Bell Again?
“It is said that they don’t ring a bell at stock market tops. However, the housing industry has sometimes been quite adept at doing just that. In fact, it has been quite prescient in leading the economy, and thus the stock market, in both directions.”

11.Pending Home Sales Jump, End Losing Streak
“WASHINGTON — Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes rose in March for the first time in nine months, a sign the housing market could be stabilizing after suffering a setback from a rise in interest rates and a severe winter.”

12.6 market insights your real estate clients can use for a quicker sale this spring
“The spring housing market is about to get into full swing. And while agents may be fully aware of the state of this year’s emerging housing market, your clients may not be. It’s your job to get your sellers up to speed with what the 2014 home-selling season will bring.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.U.S. Stocks Drop Amid Earnings as Kerry Warns Russia
“U.S. stocks declined, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index erasing a weekly gain, as results from Amazon.com Inc. to Visa Inc. disappointed and tension escalated over Ukraine. “

2.Denver real estate market favors sellers, homes move in record time
“Homes in the Denver metro area are among the fastest selling in the nation, ranking fourth in pace of sales out of 100 metro markets, according to a report released Thursday by Trulia.”

3.Carefully weigh real-estate investments
“Most people can succeed investing in real estate if they’re willing to do their homework, which includes selecting top real-estate professionals”

4.Why I still like real estate
“I have said this many times. You will not get rich in the stock market, you will get reasonable rates of return over time but people who are wealth generally do not do it that way. Wealthy people are wealth because of 1 of 4 things. “

5.Why the housing market is still stalling the economy
“If the economy still feels stuck, blame the housing market.”

6.Housing goes from hopeful to underwhelming as 2014 moves along
“WASHINGTON — A spate of new economic reports shows that a speedier recovery of the housing market does not appear in the cards this year.”

7.A fading middle-class perk: lower mortgage rates
“WASHINGTON — For three decades, the U.S. middle class enjoyed a rare financial advantage over the wealthy: lower mortgage rates.”

8.Pending homes sales jump in March, short sales decline
“Pending home sales in California rose to their highest level in eight months in March and the percentage of short sales plummeted to levels not seen since 2008, the California Association of Realtors reported Wednesday.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.A new housing bubble?
“Even though the recent financial crisis is barely in the rearview mirror, risk is starting to build once again in both the U.S. mortgage and housing markets.”

2.March new home sales plunge 14.5%
“Sales of new single-family homes dropped sharply last month as severe winter weather and higher mortgage rates continued to slow the housing recovery”

3.U.S. stocks rebound; Nasdaq leads gains
“NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — The U.S. stock market staged a late-morning rebound and moved higher, shaking off worries about Russia’s military drills on the border with Ukraine. “

4.UPDATE 2-D.R. Horton, PulteGroup raise prices in tight U.S. home market
“D.R. Horton Inc and PulteGroup Inc, the two biggest U.S. homebuilders, said a tight supply of homes is helping them to raise prices, suggesting that the market is regaining strength ahead of the crucial spring selling season.”

5.Survey: Most small business owners optimistic about the economy
“For the first time in five years, a majority of small business owners are optimistic about the economy, and business owners in regions of the country that last year were most concerned about the economy are now looking up, according to results of a new survey paid for by U.S. Bank.”

6.Sales of new U.S. homes plunge 14.5 percent in March
“WASHINGTON — The number of Americans buying new homes plummeted in March to the slowest pace in eight months, a sign that real estate’s spring buying season is off to a weak start. “

7.Home Staging on a Budget: 10 Simple Steps That Sell
“You’ve decided to sell your home, and you want to get top dollar for it. And you’ve seen TV shows where homeowners spend thousands of dollars staging their homes for sale, but there’s an important detail to consider: You don’t have thousands and thousands to spend.”

8.Compensation model crucial when creating real estate team
“You’re working 14 hours a day, you haven’t had a day off in months, and you’re losing market share to competitors because you can’t keep up with all the incoming business. Is the time right to start a team? “

9.Sell Your Home With Words
“What is written about a home that’s for sale may have a positive impact on its sale price. I’ve written many times about how professional videos and photos can help sell your home faster and possibly for more money but we can’t forget the power of the written word. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.March new home sales
“Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko on the drop in new home sales in March.”

2.Where Homes Are Going Fastest This Spring
“For-sale homes are disappearing from the market fastest in the San Francisco Bay Area, Denver, Seattle, and southern California. The 2014 spring market is moving slightly faster than 2013, led by the lowest price tier of homes.”

3.Cities where home prices are hitting new highs
“Big Oil, and the big money it has brought with it, has kept Dallas’ economy running on all cylinders. “

4.New-home sales tumble in March; prices rise
“New-home sales tumble in March; prices rise”

5.Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 23, 2014) — Mortgage applications decreased 3.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 18, 2014.  “

6.Rising Home Prices Crack Foundation of U.S. Real-Estate Recovery
“A crack is starting to form in the foundation of the U.S. housing-market recovery that extends beyond bad winter weather. “

7.Housing rebound in U.S. loses steam as prices rise
“The housing recovery in the U.S. is running out of steam as buyers balk at record prices and higher mortgage rates that are making properties less affordable.”

8.Foreclosures in Sacramento fall far below historic norms
“Sacramento-area foreclosures fell far below long-term averages in the first few months of this year, continuing to decrease as the housing and job markets recovered, DataQuick reported Tuesday.”

9.The façade of a recovering housing market: New home sales collapse and supply of inventory finally reaches six months.
“New home sales had a horrible reading in the latest set of data. Hard to blame the polar vortex on this one since the only area in the country that saw a jump in sales was in the frigid Northeast but what of the other areas?”

10.Realtors: California pending home sales jump in March
“California pending home sales increased more than usual in March and rose to the highest level in eight months, according to figures compiled by the California Association of Realtors.”

11.San Fernando Valley housing inventory jumps 50 percent
“The number of homes for sale soared 50 percent in the San Fernando Valley during March, but sales remained soft as prices crested the half-million-dollar mark, a trade association said Monday.”

12.10 Reasons Why Homeowners Have an Edge on Renters
“Homebuying has earned a bad rap in recent years: The subprime mortgage crisis and ensuing economic meltdown left many homeowners underwater, unable to pay their mortgage and even facing foreclosure.”

13.47 Least Affordable U.S. Housing Markets
“RealtyTrac recently analyzed the affordability of renting and buying in 1,586 U.S. counties and found a surprising number of Americans living in markets that are unaffordable by traditional standards.”

14.California Foreclosure Starts Hover Near 8-Year Low
“La Jolla, CA.–For the third consecutive quarter California foreclosure starts remained little changed at a level last seen in early 2006, the result of steady economic growth and higher home values. Foreclosure processors are still mostly plowing through a pool of toxic subprime mortgages originated back in mid-to-late 2006, a real estate information service reported. “

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Home sales slip in March across U.S.; price growth slows
“Home sales slipped across the U.S. in March as would-be buyers continue to grapple with tough credit standards and too few houses on the market.”

2.Sales of US Existing Homes Slip to a 20-Month Low
“Sales of existing U.S. homes slipped in March to their lowest level since July 2012 as rising prices and a tight supply of available homes discouraged many would-be buyers.”

3.UPDATE 2-U.S. home resales hit 1-1/2 year low, but may be stabilizing
“WASHINGTON, April 22 (Reuters) – U.S. home resales fell to their lowest level in more than 1-1/2 years in March, but there were signs a recent downward trend that has plagued the housing market may be drawing to an end”

4.Foreclosure rates edge downward in Central Valley
“The pace of homes falling into the foreclosure process declined in February across much of the Central Valley, once the epicenter of the nation’s mortgage meltdown, according to a report Tuesday from financial information company CoreLogic Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) of Irvine.”

5.Thawing out: Warmer temperatures lift U.S. economy
“A recent batch of government and business reports show a U.S. economy emerging from winter’s deep freeze. “

6.Real Estate Q&A: Money-Saving Home Improvements, Who To Call If There’s A Fire In Your Home
“I just bought a house that was built in the late 1950s and has no insulation in the walls, attic or crawl space. It also has older single-pane windows that I’m considering replacing. For my limited budget, which project is the most financially advantageous, if any?”

7.San Fernando Valley housing inventory jumps 50 percent
“The number of homes for sale soared 50 percent in the San Fernando Valley during March, but sales remained soft as prices crested the half-million-dollar mark, a trade association said Monday.”

8.Alternatives to Putting 20 Percent Down on a Home
“It’s a mantra often repeated in the real estate industry: If you want to buy a house, you need a 20 percent down payment. But with the average house in the U.S. costing $311,400 as of December 2013, according to the Census Bureau, all one has to do is the math to get a coronary. Raising a 20 percent down payment isn’t an easy thing to do.”

9.What we are lacking right now is not intelligence, but wisdom
“When you look around the world right now, you see an amazing number of leaders, with very high IQs, making terrible decisions,” says Huffington Post Media Group Chairwoman, President and Editor-in-Chief Arianna Huffington. “The problem is not that they are not smart. The problem is they are not wise. What we are lacking right now is not intelligence, but wisdom.”

10.Best Renovation To Add Value? Income Suites
“What’s the best renovation project if you want to add resale value to your home? Most of us would say improving the kitchen or bathroom, but the correct answer is adding an income suite, says Scott McGillivray, a real estate investor, contractor and the host of Income Property on HGTV Canada.”

11.Rich Dad Poor Dad: How to Buy Your FIRST Real Estate Investment Available for FREE Download
“The Rich Dad Company makes How to Buy Your FIRST Real Estate Investment workbook available for free eBook download beginning today. “

TonyAlvarez.com