Tag: tony alvarez

1.Mortgage rates hit 2014 low
“The average rate for a 30-year loan now stands at 4.1%, according to Freddie Mac. That matched its lowest level since June 2013, when it stood at 3.93%. The average 15-year fixed was 3.23%. ”

2.In some housing markets, all-cash deals still rule
“Buying a home? You still have to compete against the big money bringing all-cash. But it’s getting a little easier.”

3.Existing-Home Sales Continue to Climb in July
“WASHINGTON (August 21, 2014) – Existing-home sales increased in July to their highest annual pace of the year, and the ongoing decline in distressed sales reached an important milestone, according to the National Association of Realtors®.”

4.U.S. home sales jump; key mortgage rate hits low for the year
“Sales of previously owned homes rose more than expected in July, a sign of growing strength in the housing recovery.”

5.L.A.-O.C. housing market is least affordable in U.S., Zillow says
“Los Angeles and Orange counties are the least-affordable housing market in the country. And it’s likely to only get worse.”

6.Sales of Previously Owned U.S. Homes Climb to 10-Month High
“Purchases of previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly rose in July to a 10-month high as low borrowing costs and an increase in inventory drew buyers.”

7.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate at 4.10 Pct
“Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week, with the 30-year loan rate hitting its low for the year.”

8.US Existing Home Sales Rise for 4th Straight Month
“Sales of existing U.S. homes rose for the fourth straight month in July to their highest level in nearly a year, the latest sign that the housing recovery is picking up after stumbling at the start of the year.”

9.U.S. housing, jobs data bolster economic outlook
“U.S. home resales rose to a 10-month high in July and the number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits fell last week, signaling strength in the economy early in the third quarter.”

10.U.S. existing home sales rise at fastest pace in 10 months
“Americans resold their homes in July at the fastest pace in almost a year, a sign the housing market was gaining steam again after a year-long slump.”

11.Home price appreciation in San Fernando Valley flattening out
“Home price appreciation slowed dramatically in the San Fernando Valley during July as the sales slump dragged on, a research center said Tuesday.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Construction of new homes hits eight-month high in July
“New-home construction in the U.S. surged to an eight-month high in July, lifting the stock market and prospects for a broader economic recovery.”

2.Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications increased 1.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 15, 2014.  ”

3.No ‘slow market’ seen here
“If you’ve been reading a variety of print and online real estate news recently, reports are that the market has slowed. My experience is just the opposite. ”

4.America’s recession-torn construction belt
“If America had a “Construction Belt” that showed where homebuilding was thriving, it would only have a few notches on it, and they wouldn’t be near each other. ”

5.Percentage of all-cash home sales falls
“Fewer Americans are paying for their homes in cash.”

6.Are foreclosures finally catching up with Oregon residents?
“Yesterday, I reported on data from real estate buyer Gorilla Capital, which suggested that the Oregon housing market will be slower to recover due to a large number of foreclosure filings that have yet to be resolved.”

7.Don’t count on U.S. consumer to save economy
“In spite of recent increases in employment, consumers are still reluctant to ramp up their purchases of goods and services.”

8.Housing Starts Rebound in U.S. as Inflation Eases: Economy
“Home construction rebounded in July and the cost of living rose at a slower pace, showing a strengthening U.S. economy has yet to generate a sustained pickup in inflation. ”

9.Regulators increase mortgage cost
“CNBC’s Diana Olick reports the housing market is seeing the most pristine mortgages in the history of lending right now.”

10.Home construction surges
“New home construction shot up by nearly 16 percent last month”

11.Home price appreciation in San Fernando Valley flattening out
“Home price appreciation slowed dramatically in the San Fernando Valley during July as the sales slump dragged on, a research center said Tuesday.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Hottest Homebuilding Markets of 2014
“Construction activity is a fundamental measure of local housing market health. That’s because homebuilding is both a signal of where builders are betting on future housing demand as well as a creator of local jobs. In this housing recovery, construction might even be a better measure of local market health than home price changes, which have been driven in part by investors and others buying undervalued homes.”

2.Home builder confidence ticks up again in August
“Home builders are feeling better about their prospects these days.The National Assn. of Home Builders reported Monday that its home builder confidence index is up for the third straight month, to its highest level since January.”

3.Homebuilder Confidence in U.S. Increases to Seven-Month High
“Confidence among U.S. homebuilders rose in August to the highest level in seven months, showing the industry is making more headway after weakness earlier this year. ”

4.How much house does $600K buy you in O.C.? Not as much now
“How much home does $600,000 buy you? Not as much as it did a year ago.”

5.Real estate investing picks up in July with $113M in top 10 deals
“The volume of real estate transactions in the Dayton region picked up in July, dominated by a portfolio sale in West Chester. Including an $81 million office portfolio sale, the top 10 largest sales totaled $113 million. ”

6.Reality of improving home builder sentiment
“CNBC’s Diana Olick breaks down the surprising home builder confidence data for August. ”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.How six Californias’ six housing markets might fare
“The ballot proposal to break California into six new states – a process that voters may choose to start in 2016 – raises plenty of fascinating political, governance and societal questions. ”

2.Lansner on housing: Fewer buyers paying more
“Buyers purchased 20,369 residences in Southern California in July – down 12 percent from a year ago, CoreLogic DataQuick reported Wednesday. Sales activity in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties have dipped below year-ago levels for 10 straight months.”

3.How long will the expansion last?
“NEWS that America’s economy grew at a brisk annualised rate of 4% in the second quarter was greeted with relief. After a puzzling first-quarter contraction, growth has returned, though the recovery remains the weakest since the second world war. As of June, the expansion is now five years old, longer than the post-war average of 58 months ”

4.Sacramento’s housing market cools off from fevered rebound
“Sacramento’s housing market has cooled down a few degrees after a feverish two-year rise in home prices.”

5.Bay Area home prices plateau on slowing sales
“The turbocharged Bay Area housing market ran out of gas in July as the region turned out the lowest annual price gain in almost two years, according to a report Thursday.”

6.Southern California home sales fall, median price drops
“Southern California home sales hit a three-year low for the month of July and the region’s median home price dipped to $413,000, industry tracker CoreLogic DataQuick reported Wednesday.”

7.Why 19 Percent is the New 43 Percent for Housing Affordability
“If you spend more than 19 percent of your monthly household income on  housing you might be spending too much.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

1.Southern California home sales plunge in July
“Southern California home sales plunged in July and show little signs of rebounding. And that, economists say, could stunt the region’s economic growth.”

2.Applications for New Home Purchases Increased in July 2014
“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for July 2014 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased by 2 percent relative to the previous month.  This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns.”

3.S.J. home foreclosure activity jumps in July
“San Joaquin County foreclosure activity took a big jump in July, up by 43 percent to 300 total filings, from just 209 notices of default, trustee sales or bank repossessions in June, real estate data firm RealtyTrac Inc. is reporting today.”

4.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate at 4.12 Percent
“Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week, approaching their lows for the year.”

5.California home sales decline amid tight market
“California home sales declined in July compared to the same time last year as buyers struggled to find something they could afford in the tight market, a research firm said Thursday.”

6.Power House: San Diego real estate
“A snapshot of San Diego’s real estate market, with Geoffrey, Schiering, The San Diego Realty Pros. ”

7.Bay Area home prices plateau on slowing sales
“Single family home sales dropped last month and prices hit a plateau in much of the Bay Area after a sizzling run-up in the first part of the year, according to a report released Thursday, with the nine-county region seeing the lowest annual price gain in almost two years.”

8.Gregory J. Wilcox: Housing affordability all over the map and falling for everybody
“Turns out housing affordability indexes can offer interesting market snapshots.”

9.California July Home Sales
“An estimated 39,608 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide in July. That was up 0.9 percent from 39,254 in June, and down 8.7 percent from 43,381 sales in July 2013, according to Irvine-based CoreLogic DataQuick. ”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications decreased 2.7 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 8, 2014.  ”

2.Record income gap fuels US housing weakness
“The income gap between America’s richest and poorest metropolitan regions has reached its widest on record, shaping an uneven housing recovery that threatens to hold back the broader revival of the world’s largest economy.”

3.US in good position: Pro
“Dissecting the U.S. market compared to around the world, with Ben Willis, Princeton Securities Group, and Michael Farr, Farr, Miller & Washington. ”

4.California’s housing affordability declines
“Lower interest rates in the second quarter of 2014 failed to offset continued home price increases in California, lowering housing affordability, according to the California Association of Realtors.”

5.Homes less affordable, but San Bernardino more affordable than most
“The housing affordability index, which measures the percentage of all households that can afford to purchase a median-priced single- family home in California, fell in the second quarter, the California Association of Realtors reported today.”

6.Southland Home Sales Fall Yr/Yr Again; Prices Rise at Slower Pace
“Southern California home sales fell to a three-year low for the month of July as supply continued to fall short of demand, some buyers struggled with higher prices, and investor activity fell. Cash deals declined to the lowest level in more than four years, while the median sale price dipped from June and rose from a year ago at the slowest pace in more than two years, a real estate information service reported. ”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Home-Price Gains Decelerate in Many Metro Areas during Second Quarter
“WASHINGTON (August 12, 2014) – Home-price growth continued to moderate in many metropolitan areas in the second quarter and national year-over-year price appreciation is now at its slowest pace since 2012, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors®.”

2.Orange County is 3rd-priciest housing market in U.S.; L.A. is 9th
“Orange County is the third-most-expensive housing market in the country, with two other chunks of the Southland ranking in the top 10.”

3.First-Time Buyers Shut Out of Expanding U.S. Home Supply
“The four-bedroom house that Ilia Nielsen-Dembe purchased in west Denver earlier this year wasn’t her top choice. The first-time buyer had to settle on a home in a neighborhood with a high crime rate after losing out on bids for five properties in more desirable areas. ”

4.US Job Openings in June Hit 13-Year-Plus High
“U.S. employers in June advertised the most monthly job openings in more than 13 years.”

5.Landing a great real estate deal can be a humbling experience
“Justin Pierce is a real estate investor who regularly writes about his experiences buying, renovating and selling houses in the Washington area.”

6.Home Price Growth Slowdown a Mixed Trend for Economy
“Home-price appreciation is slowing, a trend that could be good for potential buyers looking for an opportunity to jump into the market, but bad for homeowners still looking for relief for underwater mortgages.”

7.Home sales slow
“CNBC’s Diana Olick reports home sales in Q2 are up from Q1, but down 4.5 percent from a year ago. ”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Job Market Tilts Toward U.S. Workers in Virtuous Cycle: Economy
“The balance of power in the job market is shifting slowly toward employees from employers. ”

2.As home-equity loans reset, these owners are most at risk
“Home-equity lines of credit, popular during the housing boom of the mid-2000s, are now a source of concern, as many of these loans are due to reset to higher payments in the next few years. ”

3.Denver home inventory shortage eases in July
“The months-long shortage of homes on the market in the Denver area eased slightly in July, the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR) said in its latest market update.”

4.Huge backlog of Baltimore-area homes under contract could negate weak July home sales
“It was a slow July for Baltimore home sales, but there are indications that August could make up for the decline in closed transactions last month.”

5.Low rates boost REITs, commercial real estate stocks
“As interest rates hover near recent lows, and investors search for anything with yield, commercial real estate is finding its footing yet again, outperforming the broader U.S. stock market. ”

6.The World May Be in Flames, but the U.S. Economy Is Finally Catching Fire
“The stock market has been under pressure for the first time in months. The Eurozone is faltering. China’s credit issues never really went away. American airplanes are once more pounding bombs into the Iraqi desert. Russia and Ukraine. Gaza. There’s a lot to worry about.”

7.The Downside Of Up: How Rising Mortgage Rates Will Lead To Lower Sales
“For 30 years, falling mortgage interest rates have enabled homeowners to move into ever-larger homes on the promise of ever-cheaper financing. But that party is over, and the impact on existing home sales could be significant.”

8.Rising ‘Used-Home’ Obsolescence Drives New Home Sales For Alert Realtors
“REALTOR Janice had worked two months with a couple who insisted on expensive renovations to every short-sale they liked, but could never agree on the cost of renovation. A friend suggested that as alternative to showing another short sale, show a new home because ‘it was already renovated’ for price comparisons.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Home Price Gains Now Driven More By Jobs Than By Rebound Effect
“The Trulia Price Monitor and the Trulia Rent Monitor are the earliest leading indicators of how asking prices and rents are trending nationally and locally. They adjust for the changing mix of listed homes and therefore show what’s really happening to asking prices and rents. Because asking prices lead sales prices by approximately two or more months, the Monitors reveal trends before other price indexes do. With that, here’s the scoop on where prices and rents are headed.”

2.Housing recovery ‘changing shape,’ hinges on job growth, report says
“After two years of rebounding off the bottom of a bust, the recovery in the housing market is “changing shape” this summer, and any new price gains will depend more on job growth and economic fundamentals.”

3.Delinquency and Foreclosure Rates Decrease in Second Quarter
“The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 6.04 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2014. The delinquency rate decreased for the fifth consecutive quarter and reached the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2007.  The delinquency rate decreased seven basis points from the previous quarter, and 92 basis points from one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.”

4.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate at 4.14 Percent
“Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose slightly this week but remained near their lows for the year.”

5.As home-equity loans reset, these owners are most at risk
“Home-equity lines of credit, popular during the housing boom of the mid-2000s, are now a source of concern, as many of these loans are due to reset to higher payments in the next few years. ”

6.The real estate gamble in Arizona: Inventory is up 35 percent from last year as cash investors begin to pull away from the market.
“In many markets, investors were purchasing properties to rent out for a short period of time before they had any intention of selling. Many of the large investors have hinted at buying places and holding them for 5 to 7 years before selling them off. Since big money entered the market in 2008, we are already seeing that phase one is being completed and big money is certainly exiting the market. ”

TonyAlvarez.com