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.”