Real Estate News from Homes101™

November 20, 2009

15-Year FRM Drops to Lowest Ever Recorded in Freddie Mac Survey Hi

McLean, VA -- Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.83 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 19, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 4.91 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.04 percent.

Investor Report: HUD's Condo Rules

HUD just changed its condominium rules again, and there's both good news and sobering news for investors and developers tucked away in the revisions.

Green-building Growing, More Jobs, More Buyer Interest

According to a new study from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Booz Allen Hamilton, construction in the green-building industry will support 7.9 million jobs over the next four years while pumping into the American economy $554 billion. Currently, 2 million American jobs are supported by the same industry and more than $100 billion in gross domestic product and wages is generated.

November 19, 2009

Overcoming Five Common Investing Mistakes Made by Property Owners & Managers

[Note: To follow is an excerpt of a radio show interview conducted by Peter L. Mosca, host of Income Property Investment Talk, with Robert Cain, who since 1987 has been publishing information, giving speeches and conducting seminars and workshops for landlords and investors on how to buy, rent and manage property more effectively. Cain talks about avoiding five common investing mistakes. To listen to the show archive or download an MP3, go to www.IncomePropertyInvestmentTalk.com/102109.]

Low Interest Rates Spur Refinancing, Buying Interest

If you purchased a home a year ago and have the equity and creditworthiness to swing it, a refinance today could save you hundreds of dollars a month.

November 18, 2009

Building Ordinance or Law Insurance

Insurance policies are written based on the concept of "indemnity" which means "protection or security against damage or loss." Fire insurance policies are not designed to put a policyholder in a better position than he was prior to a loss. Otherwise, having insurance might create an incentive to have a loss.

ABC Forecasts 2010 Construction Activity Will See Winners and Losers

The recession, thought to have begun in December 2007 and in many ways the deepest since World War II that impacted every state and every metropolitan area, is over noted the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) in its 2010 economic forecast for the commercial and industrial construction industry. While good news, it may not be a time to rejoice, yet. "While the industry battled the effects of the recession in 2009, expect 2010 to be a transitional but sluggish year on the road to recovery," said ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu.

November 17, 2009

Real Estate Outlook: Moving Towards Recovery

The huge impact of the federal home buyer tax credit program, which is now set to continue and even expand through next spring, dominates the housing resale numbers this week.

Loan Modification Scams are Targeted

Loan modification scams may not be the worst of monetary crimes, but they are certainly in the running. Taking advantage of financially distressed homeowners, the most common form of these scams is this: They take a large up-front fee (in the thousands) and then do nothing, or next to nothing, producing no beneficial results for the beleaguered borrowers.

7 Things All Buyers Ought to Know

"Ignorance is bliss" was never said about real estate purchases for 7 good reasons: