Real Estate News 7.8.14

1.International Home Buyers Continue to Invest in Profitable U.S. Market
“Favorable exchange rates, affordable home prices and rising affluence abroad continue to drive international buyers to the U.S. to purchase properties and make real estate investments.”

2.5 states with the most (and fewest) foreclosures
“There were 47,000 completed foreclosures nationally in May, down from 52,000 a year ago, which is a drop of 9.4%. But if you look at the month-over-month numbers from just April to May, completed foreclosures were up by 3.8%, according to mortgage-data firm CoreLogic. This is still more than double the amount of foreclosures that typically took place before the housing market crash in 2007: Completed foreclosures averaged 21,000 per month nationwide between 2000 and 2006. ”

3.To win a house bidding war, get creative
“You’ll want to do the basics: Make sure you have your financing in place, turning in all your loan paperwork before placing an offer, said Gibran Nicholas, Chairman of CMPS Institute, an organization that trains and certifies mortgage bankers and brokers. Better yet, if you have the means, you’ll really catch a buyer’s attention if you make an all-cash offer. ”

4.Florida leads nation in international real estate sales
“Florida again topped the nation as the state of choice among international real estate buyers, capturing 23 percent of sales transactions, according to the National Association of Realtors.”

5.Market draws an influx of real estate agents
“Thomas Arbuckle started a landscaping business while studying marketing at USF Sarasota-Manatee, but to supplement his income, he decided to earn a real estate license. After joining Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate last year, he has been so busy that he sold the landscape business to focus exclusively on selling real estate”

6.Say hello to U.S. economy’s newest bubble
“Call it irrational exuberance, part two. Like old man river, the stock market just keeps rolling along. Last week it was Dow 17,000. Will this week see the market go even higher?”

7.Foreign real estate buying hits record $92 billion
“Overseas buyers scooped up $92.2 billion of U.S. real-estate last year, driven mainly by wealthy Chinese looking for a safe haven for their families and fortunes. ”

8.U.S. economic confidence stuck at the so-so level
“A measurement of American’s economic confidence has remained stuck at the same so-so level for the past three weeks, according to Gallup Inc.”

9.47,000 completed foreclosures in May
“There were about 47,000 completed foreclosures nationally in May, down from approximately 52,000 in May 2013, a year-over-year decrease of 9.4 percent, according to a new report Tuesday from financial information company CoreLogic Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) of Irvine”

10.Three Negotiating Mistakes Sellers Make
“When you list your home for sale, you may think you’ve priced it right, staged it beautifully, and timed the market for a quick sale.”

11.Why the US real estate sector needs a really big boost
“Key economic releases this week could impact your ETF investments”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tony’s Daily Success Tip #3

Who comes first…?
Whenever we fly on a major airline before the plane takes flight the flight attendant gives emergency landing instructions, it goes something like this- “Should the aircraft encounter disturbance or a drop in cabin pressure an oxygen mask will drop from the ceiling, please place the mask over your nose and mouth tighten the straps an either side and proceed to breathe normally- for those of you with children, remember to place YOUR mask on FIRST- then your child’s…” The reason for this is obvious, if you don’t get that oxygen into your brain FIRST you may pass out and therefore in the long run you will have been of no help to the child you love and care for. My parents spend their lives doing their best for my brothers and me at the expense of their own financial education and therefore, although they provided a loving home and taught us good work ethic, to be hardworking and ethical. They could not teach us what they did not know – So, we learned by WATCHING and WORKING with them – they taught us to get jobs, (doing ANYTHING even if we hated it) to always be listening and learning from others we were working for because we could always learn something from anyone- and it was obvious they knew something we had to learn- To work harder than anyone else (meaning, as hard as we could) to save money, to ALWAYS pay our debts on time, to utilize financing even HIGH interest financing when necessary to accomplish our goals, to become friends with as many people in our community as possible, the Mayor as well as the garbage man or mailman- to treat EVERYONE with respect and dignity, to become home owners as soon as possible, and to find a way to buy and own SOME NOT ALL little inexpensive rental properties to help us become financially stable and protect ourselves from the unexpected financially. Why? So we would learn to discover our God given ability to forever be independent AND from being a financial burden to others. Those were good lessons that served us well; something that would become extremely important to us in later years.
Now, have I always conducted myself with the utmost integrity, honored all I learned from my folks, been proud of my own behavior? Not hardly! But I do my BEST to be a burden to no one; now or in the future. That is the commitment I have made to myself – What’s yours?!
One last point- I understand that we as individuals do not as yet understand our God given limitless abilities and true self-worth. Please keep in mind that although the words I write can sometimes be strong and very direct, remember that as I write them there is no judgment of YOU in them, as I must FIRST always read what I write with my own eyes. So, these words are first and foremost directed at ME and for my benefit, AS IN MANY WAYS WE ARE NO DIFFERENT. As Guy Finley has always reminded us – “The Truth is like medicine- it taste bitter but it heals…”
Try to see that we ALWAYS have the option to choose to live our lives as victims and out of control or we can put our efforts and focus on doing what is under our control and be well with what is not- the trick is to SEE through our minds perpetual lying stories and excuses that keep us a prisoner of our negative thinking and our agreement to continue to punish ourselves. We, YOU, have no limitations; save those our thoughts have deceived us into believing are real and true. Be well.

Tony’s Daily Success Tip #2

No hope for me…
For those of you with no hope of ever getting started in the money making real estate business (or anything else your heart desires…)- PERCEPTION IS EVERYTHING – Human beings come into this Life in a host of different flavors- Some look out at the world and see what is possible; some only see what is not. Some wake up and realize that all achieving any level of success (financial or otherwise) is no different than anything else they have mastered in their lives; the simple things, brushing your teeth, walking, blowing bubble gum, hitting a baseball or catching one someone else hit, swimming, GARGLING, making love, even going potty…
Nobody, and I MEAN NOBODY comes into this Life with a SURE FIRE ANYTHING! And YES there is a price to pay- BUT not always or even SELDOM always with cash or any of the excuses our minds can conjure up! What you want – YOU have to WORK & FIGHT for!
ALL of the answers to ALL of your questions, YOU already have. What most DON’T want to do is take the NEXT STEP! The one that puts you square in front of a mirror looking at the only person responsible for your entire life. THERE ARE NO SECRETS TO SUCCESS YOU WILL EVER DISCOVER if you are unwilling to take that first step by yourself & on your own! Everything else- INCLUDING the simple answer to those nagging lying questions like- ” I HAVE … no money, no equity, no friends, no contacts, no education, no experience, no knowledge, and the old “I don’t believe this really works, & I don’t believe I CAN DO THIS” ALL of them have absolutely NO validity but what WE give them- MORE IMPORTANTLY, a person who loves their misery more than anything else, will hang onto it at all cost. WE have to see through our self-created excuses and cowardice- We must learn to walk in the direction of our NEEDS FIRST , then our wants. WITH FAITH! (PLEASE look up the definition of the word FAITH and its origin) Success in anything, does not visit the individual who claims failure before taking ANY action to change their situation or improve themselves- to learn something new with absolute blind faith it WILL be possible. WHY CAN’T WE EVER SEE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR FAITH IN ACTION AND OUR ULTIMATE DESTINY. If you want to see and hear proof of people with a lot less going for them than YOU right now, when they first got into this business and succeeded beyond their own expectation – make the time and go to http://www.tonyalvarez.com/ and find those video interviews I have done with folks that have done what you THINK/BELIEVE is an impossibility for yourself. It’s that simple. Be well-

Tony’s Daily Success Tip #1

Hey, you know what? Success is a Commitment,
NO DAILY SYSTEMS- (ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY)
NO PROFITABLE OUTCOMES!
I Know, you’re BUSY- YOU SEE THAT WORD- BUSY… That;s how the evil spirits steal our lives as TIME ticks on by. So to beat them we must first be aware of TIME and then set specific actions to bring about certain WANTED outcomes. Please dedicate 15 to 20 minutes of your entire fun filled day to set just 3 specific action steps that you can either do yourself- automate by computer software- or delegate to some TRUSTED individual who will gain monetarily and with recognition for their efforts and faithful work. Then consistently grease those wheels with your loving care and attention. Nothing but wealth for ALL concerned will ever come from what I wrote. Skip any step and Regret will always be you best friend. WOW! I Cant believe I just wrote that- I guess 32 years of business and financial ups and downs did teach me a few things…
Buenas Noches & Good night

Real Estate News 7.7.14

1.Housing market is a ‘crapshoot’
“The housing market is a “crapshoot” now, according to one of America’s leading real estate experts.”

2.All-cash home buyers big players in Capitol Hill real estate market.
“All-cash home buyers have been a force in the Capitol Hill and Central District real estate markets, too, but prices are now so inflated, even these flush buyers have begun to back off.”

3.The Realities of Real Estate: Different types of home loans
“When someone buys a home, they can either pay cash or finance the purchase. Increasingly, people are paying cash.”

4.What’s making US economy a world beater? 5 factors
” How does the U.S. economy do it? Europe is floundering. China faces slower growth. Japan is struggling to sustain tentative gains”

5.Second-half outlook: Housing
“What might heat up the housing market in the second half of the year? ”

6.The real estate gamble in Las Vegas: Year-over-year inventory up 51 percent in Las Vegas. Cash buyers fall by 20 percent from last year.
“If you really want to see the impact of cash buyers pulling out of a market look no further than Las Vegas. Las Vegas was the poster child of real estate mania and many California home owners contributed to the previous boom by tapping out equity and purchasing properties for flips or for the occasional gambling trip down the I-15.”

 

Real Estate News 7.3.14

1.Mortgage Rates for 30-Year U.S. Loans Fall for Third Week
“U.S. mortgage rates for 30-year loans fell for a third week, reducing borrowing costs as housing demand regains strength.”

2.Payrolls Jumped as U.S. Jobless Rate Fell to 6.1% in June
“Job creation surged beyond expectations in June and the unemployment rate fell to an almost six-year low of 6.1 percent, underscoring the strength of a U.S. labor market that will help spur a rebound in growth. ”

3.Dollar Rises on Speculation June Jobs Gains to Bolster Outlook
“The dollar rose from almost an eight-week low against a basket of peers as a stronger-than-forecast private jobs report boosted optimism that nonfarm payroll data tomorrow may show the U.S. economy is gaining traction.”

4.US Hiring Surges as Unemployment Dips to 6.1 Pct.
“U.S. employers accelerated their hiring last month, adding a robust 288,000 jobs and helping drive the unemployment rate to 6.1 percent, the lowest since September 2008.”

5.Hiring booms in June as economy speeds up
“The economy created 288,000 jobs last month, posting a fifth straight gain of 200,000 or more, according to the government’s survey of worksites. The last time that happened was in 1999.”

6.Crowdfunding changing real estate financing for operators and investors
“Two years ago, U.S. Congress passed the JOBS (Jumpstart our Businesses) Act, which empowered smaller companies to raise financing more easily.”

7.Jobs blowout: Economy gains 288,000 in June
“The labor market continued to gain momentum and defy a mixed economy in June as employers added 288,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Thursday.”

8.Best markets for buying residential rentals found
“Investors buying U.S. residential rental property in the second quarter of 2014 are getting an average annual return of 9.97 percent, down from an average annual return of 10.60 percent a year ago, according to a study by RealtyTrac Inc. of Irvine.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate News 7.2.14

1.Mortgage Applications Decrease Slightly in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications decreased 0.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 27, 2014.  ”

2.Americans on the Road Again as Recovery Gains Traction
“Traci Butler and her husband cut out vacations after the U.S. recession five years ago. This week, the couple is taking their two boys on a weeklong trip that includes a July 4th visit to the nation’s capital, just a few weeks after touring Italy on their own. ”

3.Why your rent is so damn high
“Rents advertised by landlords rose by 0.8% during the second quarter to $1,099, according to data released Wednesday by real estate research firm Reis Inc., while the national vacancy rate was 4.1%, in line with the first quarter and down slightly from 4.3% for the same period a year ago.”

4.Boston one of Nation’s ‘Riskiest’ Markets
“Don’t know where you are going to be in five years? Think twice about buying.That’s a pretty good rule of thumb no matter where you live, but especially here in Greater Boston, now pegged as one of the nation’s “riskiest” housing markets, a new report finds.”

5.Jobs Growth Adds More Sunshine to U.S. Economic Performance
“Nearly seven years after the last recession began, the U.S. economy has been ticking along at a good clip lately. Private employers added 281,000 jobs in June, according to a report on Wednesday from the ADP Research Institute (ADP), a number that exceeds the most optimistic forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.”

6.California’s dwindling middle class: California is gaining more renter households, a drop in homeownership, and housing affordability continues to be a problem.
“The housing wealth effect is in full motion. There are many people in the market that see the rise in home equity and are now out buying bigger ticket items and also, upgrading their homes.”

7.Number of Americans with fulltime jobs increases
“As Americans prepare for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, there is good news on the jobs front: More than four in ten have fulltime jobs.”

8.Five Great Reasons to Buy a Home Right Now
“The nature of market bottoms is that it’s hard to tell one’s occurred until prices and sales volume start to rise again. That’s why the best time to buy is when market conditions suggest a bottom.”

9.The US Economy Has Some Serious Momentum Right Now
“Wednesday’s ADP jobs report didn’t just beat expectation; it crushed them. According to the firm’s estimate, U.S. private companies added a whopping 281,000 jobs in June, which blew away expectations for a 205,000 gain.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate News 7.1.14

1.New Orleans among riskiest real estate markets in country, Bloomberg reports
“New Orleans is among the most risky real estate markets in the country when looking at the biggest gains and losses homeowners have experienced over the past three decades, Bloomberg reported recently.”

2.Real Estate Markets ‘Recovering from the Recovery’
“A joint research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) claimed that 2014 will be the year when real estate markets “recover from the recovery,” as buoyed by steadily growing demand for commercial real estate properties.”

3.US stocks close at records; Dow near 17,000
“U.S. stocks jumped on Tuesday as Wall Street started the second half of the year with the Dow rising to within two points of 17,000, as data showed expansion in U.S. manufacturing and better-than-expected sales for major U.S. automakers. ”

4.Global economy seems to be improving: Trader
“Dissecting the current trading environment and how the economy is improving, with Dani Hughes, Divine Capital CEO; “Fast Money” trader Brian Kelly; CNBC’s Bob Pisani; Eunice Yoon and Sharon Epperson. ”

5.Bullish on housing: Pro
“Tim Rood, The Collingwood Group chairman, discusses the state of the housing market. ”

6.U.S. home prices rose by 8.8 percent year over year in May
“Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased 8.8 percent in May compared to a year earlier, the 27th straight month of consecutive year-over-year increases in home prices nationally, according to a new report Tuesday from financial information company CoreLogic Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) of Irvine.”

7.US home prices rose more slowly in May
“U.S. home prices rose in May compared with a year earlier, but the gains have slowed.”

TonyAlvarez.com

Real Estate News 6.24.14

1.Bubble Watch: Home Prices Still Undervalued, But Not For Much Longer
“Trulia’s Bubble Watch reveals whether home prices are overvalued or undervalued relative to their fundamental value by comparing prices today with historical prices, incomes, and rents. “

2.Housing Isn’t Overvalued, Except in These 10 Spots
“A deluge of U.S. housing data this week point to a sector that is bouncing back from the winter doldrums, but experts say the real estate market is still far from the bubble-like conditions it reached before the financial crisis hit.”

3.Home prices jump nearly 11% in April
“Home prices jumped nearly 11% in April , and are now up more than 22% from the bottom three years ago.”

4.Existing-Home Sales Heat Up in May, Inventory Levels Continue to Improve
“Existing-home sales rose strongly in May and inventory gains continued to help moderate price growth, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four regions of the country experienced sales gains compared to a month earlier.”

5.U.S. home prices up less than forecast in April: S&P/Case-Shiller
“U.S. single-family home prices rose less than expected in April, a closely watched survey said on Tuesday.”

6.Rooftop Solar Leases Scaring Buyers When Homeowners Sell
“Dorian Bishopp blames the solar panels on his roof for costing him almost 10 percent off the value of the home he sold in March. “

7.Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Rise at a Slower Pace
“Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace than forecast in the year ended in April as declining affordability put a lid on appreciation. “

8.Sold Signs Fill Builder Lots as U.S. Confidence Rises: Economy
“Buyers swarmed builder lots in May to propel the biggest gain in sales of new homes in 22 years, while consumer confidence this month was the strongest since 2008, showing how an improving U.S. job market is giving the economy a much-needed lift.”

9.US Home Prices Rise at Slowest Pace in 13 Months
“U.S. home prices rose in April from a year ago at the slowest pace in 13 months, reflecting a recent drop-off in sales.”

10.US New Home Sales Rocket Higher in May
“Sales of new U.S. homes rose in May to the highest level in six years, providing the strongest signal yet that housing is recovering from a recent slowdown.”

11.10 markets where home sales are falling
“The number of U.S. existing residential properties sold in May was 5.15 million, unchanged from April and up less than 1% from May 2013, real-estate data firm RealtyTrac announced Tuesday. But new U.S. home sales sold at an annual rate of 504,000 in May, the highest level in six years, the government said in a separate statement. Still, the number of sales fell in 31 of the 50 metro areas, RealtyTrac found.”

12.Sales Pickup Shows Healing U.S. Real Estate Market
“Americans snapped up previously owned homes in May in the biggest monthly sales gain in almost three years, a sign the residential real estate market is regaining its footing after a stumble early in the year. “

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate News 6.23.14

1.Existing-Home Sales Heat Up in May, Inventory Levels Continue to Improve
“WASHINGTON (June 23, 2014) – Existing-home sales rose strongly in May and inventory gains continued to help moderate price growth, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four regions of the country experienced sales gains compared to a month earlier.”

2.U.S. housing regaining footing as supply improves

“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump.”

3.Existing home sales surge in May as housing market heats up
“A wavering housing recovery found firmer footing last month.”

4.Sales of US Existing Homes up 4.9 Percent in May
“Sales of previously owned U.S. homes posted the best monthly gain in nearly three years in May, providing hope that housing is beginning to regain momentum lost over the past year.”

5.Housing sales are up, but the market trails last spring’s blazing pace
“The housing market is a tale of two markets, with sales slowing but prices continuing to rise.”

6.Will higher rents drive up mortgage rates? Expert argue
“For the first time in a year, mortgage rates are now lower than they were a year earlier. That, however, may be short-lived, and some claim it’s due in part to surging rents. “

7.U.S. housing regaining footing as supply improves
“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump.”

8.US existing home sales, inventory surge in May
“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump. “

9.May existing home sales up 4.9%
Video.

10.The flipping real estate problem: Flipping is another factor inflating real estate values in many markets. Average gain from 2013 flips in San Francisco is $194,000. Stock market wealth impacting real estate.
“Making money during the first housing bubble was virtually fool proof. And even if you were a fool, you had plenty of do-it-yourself television shows to hand hold your way into real estate riches.”

 

TonyAlvarez.com