Posts Tagged ‘multiple listing service’
Thursday, March 17th, 2011
Renting is a very frustrating way of life. The money you pay every month disappears, leaving you with few benefits other than a roof over your head. Compared to owning a home, renting is a futile exercise that leaves you with nothing after your lease is up. It’s no surprise that people want to get out of the rent race, and here are 10 reasons why people decide to buy a home versus renting.
1. They Want to Build Equity
Homebuyers build equity as their property increases in value over time. This equity has many benefits, including the ability of a homebuyer to leverage equity in lines of credit to make repairs or additions to their home. Equity is a powerful thing and a natural consequence of home ownership. Renters never gain equity in their rental space, and at the end of their lease they are thrown out on the street with nothing to show for years of on time rental payments.
2. They Don’t Want to Throw Their Money Away
Without equity, what does paying your rent on time gain you every month? The truth is that paying rent guarantees a roof over your head for about 30 days and nothing more. In that sense, renting is like an extended stay hotel in that at the end of your rental period or lease you have nothing to show for the money you’ve paid. This makes renting a terrible investment when compared to home buying.
3. They Want More Space
It’s incredible how little you get for your rental payment each month. Most renters are lucky to have even a tiny balcony, let alone roomy closets o storage space. Many homes come with luxurious yards and spacious garages for storage. This makes buying a home an attractive option for those who prefer to stretch their legs.
4. They Want to Make Upgrades
Most leases forbid the renter from altering the rental space. For those do it yourselfers, this can mean a boring living experience. Home buyers are not only allowed to make upgrades, but doing so can be a great investment and raise the overall value of your home. From an investment perspective, this is a no brainer.
5. They Don’t Want to Pay Extra to Own Pets
For those pet lovers out there, renting can be a major financial undertaking Pet deposits can be very expensive, and some apartments add a monthly premium to rent just for having a pet, and separate deposits/premiums for each pet. These fees can add up fast! Homebuyers don’t have to deal with these sorts of fees, and they can also typically provide a better environment for their pets as well.
6. They Don’t Want to Be So Close to Noisy Neighbors
Have you ever lived on the second floor of a 3 story apartment complex? Wild partiers underneath blaring music at 4AM and home fitness gurus doing jumping jacks above you can make you realize just how annoying living so close to your neighbors can be. Homebuyers can sometimes deal with annoying neighbors as well, but at least they’re not rattling your chandelier when they stomp their feet down the hallway.
7. They Don’t Want to Deal With a Landlord
Sometimes dealing with a landlord can be tough. Some landlords are not very friendly or flexible, and won’t hesitate to throw you on the street if rent isn’t on time. Other landlords can be so distant that problems with rent or appliances don’t get resolved for months or even years. As a homeowner, there’s no landlord to deal with and you have the freedom and independence of conducting business on your own terms.
8. Their Hobbies Make Renting a Bad Idea
Drummers and musicians need a place to live, but do you want them living above you in a cramped apartment complex? For those renters who have hobbies or professions that are noisy or require space, renting just isn’t an option for them. Owning a home with plenty of space is their only way to go.
9. They Don’t Want to Deal With Deposits
Security deposits? These never seem to work out in the renters favor and come moving time it always seems like every little problem leads to forfeiture of the sometimes huge security deposits we have to pay just to sign the lease. Home buyers don’t have to deal with this as their home is more closely tied to their assets and their individual independence.
10. They Want to Live the American Dream
Owning a home is a big part of the American dream, and most people would say that the independence, autonomy, and sense of accomplishment that owning a home brings is an essential part of the American way of life. Does renting an apartment do the same?
The Bottom Line is now is the time to buy! With interest rates at historic lows, and home prices now beginning to level back out you have so much to gain. Add up what you are losing.
For more tips and tricks on the housing market keep checking RuhlHomes.com
Some information is provided by KCM Blog.
Tags: agents, buying, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, New Construction Home Sales, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
There is an interesting phenomenon taking place in the real estate market. While house prices are falling, the rich are starting to purchase. DataQuick Information Systems reported last week that sales on homes $1 million or more rose 18.6% last year after four consecutive years of decline. This is at the same time that sales outside of this price point actually fell 2.8%.
And even more amazing is that homes over $5 million have also increased substantially. Housing Wire reported that:
In 2010, 975 homes sold in this bracket, up nearly 14% from the year prior.
Why would the wealthy be starting to purchase especially when everyone is predicting that prices will soften? The people of wealth understand finances. They realize that the COST of real estate is a much more important than its PRICE. With the government attempting to make massive changes to the residential lending business, the wealthy know financing a home may never be better. They realize it is time to buy. They can purchase a million dollar+ home for a rate lower than at almost any time in history.
Rates are at historic lows and the spread for jumbo loans has shrunk dramatically. As CNN Money explained:
Normally buyers have to take out a jumbo loan to finance any mortgage beyond the $417,000 threshold ($729,000 in high-cost cities such as New York). These loans have higher interest rates because they are considered non-conforming — or higher risk — and are not backed Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
In 2009 buyers of high-end homes paid 1.8 percentage points more in interest than the average buyer. But in 2010, that spread had shrunk to just 0.6 points more.
They can also fix that rate for 30 years. The 30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage may be a victim of the new lending reforms. Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Economics addressing the administration’s recent report on reform:
“A private system would likely mean the end of the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage as a mainstay of U.S. housing finance. A privatized U.S. market would come to resemble overseas markets, primarily offering adjustable-rate mortgages.”
Bottom Line
Let’s assume the rich aren’t just lucky. Let’s assume they built their wealth by making good financial decisions. What have they decided about real estate? It’s time to buy!
For More up to date information on the housing market keep checking RuhlHomes.com
Provided By: KCM Blog
Tags: agents, buying, caroline ruhl, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate News, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Thursday, March 3rd, 2011
We often point out that a buyer should be more concerned about the COST of a home rather than the PRICE. Price obviously is a component of cost. However, unless you buy all-cash, you must also be concerned about the financing of the purchase. The price and the financing together determine the cost of a home. Today, we want to look at only the financing piece.
An opportunity exists today because of recent government involvement; an opportunity that may never again be available in our lifetimes. There has been much discussion about what role the federal government should have in supporting homeownership. We will leave our opinions on the debate for another time. However, we want to alert you to two advantages available to a purchaser today that may disappear in the future:
- Historically low interest rates
- The ability to lock in these rates for thirty years
Interest Rates
Because of the financial crisis, the government stepped in and instituted a series of programs which pushed mortgage interest rates to historic lows. If we look at 30 year mortgage interest rates before and after government intervention we see the impact these programs had (see chart below).
According to Freddie Mac, from 2006 to the start of the financial crisis (the fall of 2008), the average rate was 6.29%. Since then, the average rate has been 4.92%.
A purchaser can still get a 30 year-fixed-rate-mortgage at approximately 5%. However, interest rates this low may soon disappear. The government has questioned its role in supporting homeownership. In the administration’s REFORMING AMERICA’S HOUSING FINANCE MARKET: A REPORT TO CONGRESS, they are very strong in voicing their thoughts on this issue:
…our plan also dramatically transforms the role of government in the housing market. In the past, the government’s financial and tax policies encouraged housing purchases and real estate investment over other sectors of our economy, and ultimately left taxpayers responsible for much of the risk incurred by a poorly supervised housing finance market.
Going forward, the government’s primary role should be limited to robust oversight and consumer protection, targeted assistance for low- and moderate-income homeowners and renters, and carefully designed support for market stability and crisis response…
Under our plan, private markets … will be the primary source of mortgage credit and bear the burden for losses.
What are the probable results of this decision?
The Royal Bank of Scotland:
“The (government) currently provides 95% of housing finance in the U.S.; any reductions of their involvement in supporting mortgages mean interest rates will have to go up to induce private lending.”
AnnaMaria Andriotis, writer for SmartMoney:
“In the proposals were changes that will mean more expensive mortgages, with higher fees and, probably, higher interest rates, larger down payments and, in the near term, fewer lenders to choose from.”
The day of a 5% rate seem to be coming to an end.
Locking in a rate for thirty years
We must also realize that having the ability to lock-in a rate for 30 years may soon be a thing of the past.
There are a growing number of people who think that our mortgage industry should imitate those of other industrial countries around the world. If we do start limiting government support for the mortgage process, the 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage may disappear. Other countries, like Canada, only allow a purchaser to lock in a rate for a five year term. After that, the borrower must renegotiate a new mortgage at current rates. Could that happen here?
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist of Moody’s Economics.com addressing the administration’s recent report:
“A private system would likely mean the end of the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage as a mainstay of U.S. housing finance. A privatized U.S. market would come to resemble overseas markets, primarily offering adjustable-rate mortgages. Based on the experience overseas, the fixed-rate share in the U.S. would decline to an average of between 10% and 20% of the mortgage market compared with a historical average of closer to 75%.”
Bottom Line
The COST of a home is dramatically impacted by the mortgage component. Today, we can get a 5% mortgage and lock it in at 5% for the next thirty years!! Both of these opportunities may disappear in the future. You should take this into consideration if you’re looking to purchase a home.
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for up to date information on the real estate market.
Some information and statistics provided by: KCM Blog
Tags: 1862, 1862 Mortgage, agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, interest rates, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, mortgage, mortgage rates, multiple listing service, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, quad city, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Tuesday, March 1st, 2011
There is a very famous saying which asserts “Sell High, Buy Low”. It is obviously great advice no matter what the investment. Below is a graph showing the cycle of investments. It shows the points of maximum risk and maximum opportunity when purchasing. We want to sell high (point of maximum risk) and buy low (point of maximum opportunity).
The challenge is how to determine when we have hit bottom if you are a purchaser. The only time you can guarantee a bottom is after you pass it.
However, there is more and more evidence that the COST of a home has in fact hit bottom. Notice we have used the word COST. Unless you are an all cash buyer, you must take into consideration the expense of financing a property to determine the true cost of purchasing the home. Interest rates have increased over the last quarter; and the rise in rates has counteracted any fall in prices.
Let’s look at an example:
Let’s say you were going to take out a $200,000 30-year-fixed-rate mortgage in November of 2010. At that time, interest rates were 4.17% (as per Freddie Mac). Your principle and interest payment would have come to $974.54. According to the most recent report from Case Shiller house prices fell 3.9% in the 4th quarter of 2010. The most recent report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency shows a 0.8% fall in prices. Let’s use the larger percentage decrease: 3.9%.
For the sake of keeping the math simple, we will now say you can get the same house with a $192,000 mortgage (4% discount from November price). Interest rates are now 4.95% (as per Freddie Mac).
Your principle and interest payment would now be $1,067.54.
By waiting to pay less for the PRICE of the house, the COST increased $93 a month. That adds up to $1,116 a year and over $33,000 over the life of the loan.
We realize that there are other things to consider (ex. the mortgage tax deduction, etc.). This example is just a simple way to show that there is a difference between COST and PRICE.
Bottom Line
If you want to buy low, buy now. It appears COST has hit its lowest point.
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the real estate market!
Some information and statistics provided by: KCM Blog
Tags: agents, buying, caroline ruhl, davenport, eastern iowa, first time buyers, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes
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Friday, February 18th, 2011
The conventional wisdom when selling a home has always been to wait until the ‘Spring Buying Season’. Over the years, that has seemed to make sense and is now accepted as a good strategy for those who want to sell their house and receive the best possible price. This real estate market has shattered many previously held beliefs. The wisdom of waiting for a spring market is another belief that is about to fall. Here are five reasons why?
1.) Interest Rates Are On the Rise
Interest rates have spiked up rather dramatically over the last ninety days and are now over 5%. Initially, an increase in rates has a positive effect on the market as it forces buyers off the fence. However, it also eats into a buyer’s purchasing power. As rates increase, the mortgage amount a buyer qualifies for decreases. This will eventually have a negative impact on prices.
2.) Your Dream Home Will Never Be Cheaper
If your family goal is to sell your current house and take advantage of the fabulous selection of properties currently available to buy the home of your dreams, DO IT NOW! Prices will continue to soften in most markets. However, if you are buying, COST should be more important than PRICE. Cost can be dramatically impacted by rising mortgage interest rates. Do the math and decide if now is the time.
3.) Buyers Are Out Early
There is mounting evidence that buyers are coming out earlier this year. A belief that now is a good time to buy coupled with the increase in interest rates has started the buying season early.
The National Association of Realtors just reported that the number of house sales increased 12.9% over last month.
4.) Inventory Increases Every Spring
Every year there is an increase of inventory which comes to market as we approach the spring. Here is the number of listings available for sale in 2010.
- February – 3,531,000
- March – 3,626,000
- April – 4,029,000
We believe there will be an increase in these numbers in 2011 as there is a pent-up selling demand created by the weak market of the last few years. You won’t have to worry about this increasing competition if you sell now.
5.) We Are in the Eye of the Foreclosure Storm
While banks are trying to rectify their foreclosure procedures, there is a large supply of discounted properties which has been delayed coming to market. This inventory will be released sometime in the next few months. Foreclosures sell on average at a 41% discount. When released they will be competing with your house for the buyers in the marketplace. If you are looking to sell in 2011, you want to sell before this inventory becomes your competition.
CNN Money quoted the leadership Of RealtyTrac on this issue:
“We’ve now seen three straight months with fewer than 300,000 properties receiving foreclosure filings, following 20 straight months where the total exceeded 300,000,” said James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac.
“Unfortunately,” he added, “This is less a sign of a robust housing recovery and more a sign that lenders have become bogged down in reviewing procedures, resubmitting paperwork and formulating legal arguments related to accusations of improper foreclosure processing.”
“We expect a spike in the first quarter,” said Rick Sharga, a RealtyTrac spokesman.
Bottom Line
These are five strong reasons to sell now instead of waiting until later in the year. Sit down with a local real estate professional today and decide the best options for you and your family.
Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS would be happy to help you with your decision. If you do decide now is the time to buy we can help! Contact us in any one of our 10 real estate offices ranging from markets in the Quad Cities to Iowa City.
Tags: agents, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, davenport, eastern iowa, first time buyers, home, home buyer programs, home buyers, home search, housing market, housing sales, ia, il, illinois real estate, illinois real estate communities, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa city area, iowa real estate, iowa real estate communities, multiple listing service, New Construction Home Sales, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling, selling your home
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Thursday, February 3rd, 2011
The financial turmoil we have experienced over the last five years has definitely taken it’s toll. It has especially been a difficult time for real estate. Nationally, values have fallen over 25% and there may be more softening in prices to come. We realize that this has caused difficulty, and in some cases, heartbreak for many families. People unable to make their mortgage payments have been forced to sell or, even worse, have faced foreclosure.
However, the thing that has continued to amaze us is the country’s steadfast belief in the benefits of homeownership even in these most difficult of times. The vast majority of Americans still realize that the value of a family owning a home goes far beyond just the financial considerations.
There have been three major surveys done in the last 75 days delving into Americans’ current belief in the value of owning a home:
- The National Housing Survey by Fannie Mae this past November.
- The Housing Survey by the Gallup Organization completed last month.
- The American’s Attitudes About Homeownership (AAAH) study completed by Harris Interactive for the National Association of Realtors.
Each showed the country still believes that buying a home makes all the sense in the world. Let’s consider some of the findings:
Is owning a home good for a family?
- In the AAAH study, 87% of homeowners and 64% of renters believed that “owning a home provides a healthy and stable environment for raising a family”.
- The Fannie Mae study showed that the main reason people gave for buying a home is that “it is a good place to raise children and provide a good education”.
Has owning a home been a positive experience?
- AAAH: The study shows that an astonishing 88% say it has been “a positive or very positive experience”. An overwhelming majority of home owners are happy with their decision to own a home. A full 93% of owners surveyed would buy again.
- Fannie Mae: The study shows that 95% see homeownership as a “positive experience” for them and their families.
Do renters aspire to own a home?
- AAAH: Most renters aspire to home ownership. The majority of renters (63%) say they are at least somewhat likely to purchase a home at some point in the future. Among them, young adults (18- to 24-years-old) have the strongest aspirations for home ownership.
- Fannie Mae: 67% of renters plan to purchase a home in the future.
Is now a good time to buy a home?
- AAAH: 78% of homeowners and 58% of renters believe now is a good time to buy.
- Fannie Mae: 64% of those surveyed said it is a good time to buy a home.
- Gallup Poll: 67% of Americans think now is a good time to purchase a home.
Bottom Line
Surveys after survey report Americans believe two things: that there is a value in owning a home and that now is the time to buy!! What are you waiting for?
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the real estate market!
Tags: agents, buying, caroline ruhl, first time buyers, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, ia, il, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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Tuesday, February 1st, 2011
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has been reporting great news recently. Last week’s Existing Home Sales Report and this week’s Pending Sales Report both showed consecutive months of increases in the number of homes sold. Finally, buyers are jumping off the fence and taking advantage of one of the most opportune times to purchase a home in America’s real estate history. With an increase in demand, price appreciation can’t be far behind, can it?
Actually, the answer is NO! Prices are not determined by demand alone but in the relationship of demand to available supply. The inventory of homes for sale is still too high and about to surge higher. Along with the news of increased demand yesterday, RealtyTrac released their 2010 Year-End Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report. The report showed that distressed properties across the country are on the rise:
… foreclosure levels remained five to 10 times higher than historic norms in most hard-hit markets, where deep fault lines of risk remain and could potentially trigger more waves of foreclosure activity in 2011 and beyond.
The report also explained that the foreclosure epidemic is spreading to more and more of our communities:
… foreclosures became more widespread in 2010 as high unemployment drove activity up in 72 percent of the nation’s metro areas — many of which were relatively insulated from the initial foreclosure tsunami.
What does this mean for prices?
Here are a few quotes from this week.
Washington Post:
The closely watched S&P/Case-Shiller report shows that housing prices, compared year-over-year, have declined nationally for six consecutive months. The downward path suggests that housing prices could, by spring, hit their lowest level since April 2009, said David Blitzer, the index committee’s chairman.
New York Times:
A new slide in housing prices has begun in earnest, with averages in major cities across the country falling to their lowest point in many years.
CNN Money:
Barclay’s Bank analyst Theresa Chen doesn’t expect a reversal in housing market trends any time soon, since there is no end in sight to the foreclosure crisis.
“We expect softness to persist,” she said, “as home prices continue to face headwinds from the large pipeline of foreclosures entering the market.”
Housing Wire:
“… we believe that home prices will continue to weaken on a month-over-month basis until spring, and a year-over-year basis through the end of 2011,” the Radar Logic said.
Bottom Line
Prices will continue to soften in the first half of 2011 in most regions of the country. This information should be taken into consideration if you plan on selling your house in the next twelve months.
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the real estate market!
Originally Published By: KCM Blog
Tags: 2011 home sales, 2011 housing market, 2011 market, agents, buying, caroline ruhl, davenport, eastern iowa, home, home prices, home search, housing market, housing prices, ia, il, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, multiple listing service, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, Real Estate, Real Estate News, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume, selling, selling incentive
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Friday, January 7th, 2011
If you are thinking about purchasing a home right now, you are surely getting a lot of advice. And most of that advice is probably negative. Why buy now with prices still falling? Don’t you realize real estate is no longer a good investment? Don’t you know that people who bought five years ago lost their shirt? We understand the concern your friends and family have. However, let’s look at whether or not now is actually the perfect time to buy a home.
There are three questions you should ask before purchasing in today’s market:
1. Why should I buy if house prices are still depreciating?
We believe that in most parts of the country prices will in fact soften in 2011. Price is the major concern for anyone selling a home. When you are buying, COST should be your primary concern however. Your monthly payment (cost) is definitely impacted by the price of the home you purchase. The other major component is the interest rate. Waiting for prices to bottom out while rates are increasing can wind up costing you more over the life of the mortgage.
Over the last seven weeks, rates have increased over 1/2 a point going from 4.17 to 4.86. Waiting for prices to bottom out seems to make perfect sense. Yet, at a time when rates are increasing, it might NOT make sense. Make sure to have a mortgage professional help you with the math before making a decision, 1862 mortgage is here to help! Contact 1862 Mortgage with all your mortgage or financial needs.
2. When will I begin to see appreciation if I buy now?
This is a great question. Macro Markets, LLC is a company that studies housing prices. They started their Home Price Expectation Survey in 2010. They ask 100+ housing industry experts to project housing prices through 2015. The most current survey shows that the experts are predicting prices to soften until 2012. The experts then project prices to rise reaching a cumulative appreciation of over 10% by 2015.
Purchasing a home today makes great sense from a financial standpoint. Think of the old axiom: You want to buy low and sell high. We may be at the low point regarding the COST of a home. But, this decision should not only be a financial one.
That leads me to my third and final question:
3. Why am I buying a home in the first place?
This truly is the most important question to answer. Forget the finances for a minute. Why did you even begin to consider purchasing a home? For most, the reason has nothing to do with finances. The Fannie Mae National Housing Survey shows that the four major reasons people buy a home have nothing to do with money:
- A good place to raise children and for them to get a good education
- A place where you and your family feel safe
- More space for you and your family
- Control of the space
What non-financial benefits will you and your family derive from owning a home? The answer to that question should be the reason whether you decide to purchase or not.
Bottom Line
The COST of a home will probably remain relatively unchanged even if prices continue to depreciate. Don’t allow money to get in the way of you making the right decision for you and your family. In the long run, the finances will work in your favor anyway.
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the real estate market!
Some information and statistics provided by: KCM Blog
Tags: 1862, 1862 Mortgage, 3 questions, agents, before buying a home, buying, Buying a Home, caroline ruhl, eastern iowa, first time buyers, getting pre approved, home, home buyer programs, home search, housing market, ia, il, illinois real estate, Illinois Real Estate Market, iowa city area, iowa real estate, Iowa Real Estate Market, Mobile Ruhl, multiple listing service, purchasing a home, quad cities, Quad Cities Real Estate, Quad Cities Real Estate Market, quad city, Real Estate, Real Estate Sales Volume, realtors, regional markets, ruhl, Ruhl and Ruhl, ruhl&ruhl, Ruhl&Ruhl Market Share, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, RuhlHomes, sales volume
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Tuesday, December 21st, 2010
RealtyTrac released its U. S. Foreclosure Market Report for November 2010, which shows foreclosure filings were reported on 262,339 U. S. properties in November, a 21 percent decrease from the previous month and a 14 percent decrease from November 2009. One in every 492 U. S. housing units received a foreclosure filing during the month.
Both the 21 percent month-over-month decrease and 14 percent year-over-year decrease in foreclosure activity were the highest drops recorded since RealtyTrac began publishing the U. S. Foreclosure Report in January 2005.
Despite a 20 percent monthly decrease in foreclosure activity, Nevada posted the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the 47th straight month. One in every 99 Nevada housing units received a foreclosure filing in November — nearly five times the national average.
Thanks in part to sharp monthly drops in foreclosure activity in Arizona, Florida, California and Michigan, Utah’s foreclosure rate leapfrogged to second highest among the states in November after being sixth highest the previous month. One in every 221 Utah housing units received a foreclosure notice during the month — more than twice the national average.
With one in every 233 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing in November, California posted the nation’s third highest foreclosure rate despite a nearly 14 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from the previous month and a 22 percent decrease in foreclosure activity from November 2009.
Other states with foreclosure rates ranking among the top 10 in November were Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Idaho, Illinois and Colorado.
Reno-Sparks, Nev., also posted a foreclosure rate in the top 10, at No. 8 with one in every 150 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing in November.
While our region does not have the nearly the foreclosure problem that Florida, Nevada, Arizona and California are experiencing, we do have a substantial number of sellers who are struggling with delinquent mortgages and a growing number of foreclosure properties are coming onto the market.
At Ruhl&Ruhl, for example we have around 1,352 properties listed for sale. Of these, 71 are foreclosures, or 5.25% of our inventory. In addition, Ruhl&Ruhl is managing 88 properties that are in the foreclosure process but not yet listed for sale. So including those, foreclosures would account for 11.8% of our inventory. Further, we have 45 foreclosure properties currently pended, i.e. under contract to sell, but not yet closed. So foreclosures are defiantly negatively impacting our prices and will do so increasingly, unless we can educate sellers to opt for short sales instead.
Sellers who are delinquent on their mortgage and anticipate that they may need to sell their property for less than the mortgage amount should contact their mortgage lender as soon as possible to see if they can structure a “short sale” instead of going into foreclosure. It is far less costly than the foreclosure process, does less damage to the homeowner’s credit, and can be accomplished faster. The sooner sellers address this with their lender and Realtor, the better the options for the sellers. And short sales don’t sell as nearly at discounted prices as foreclosures, and therefore don’t hurt the neighborhood property values as much.
Keep checking RuhlHomes.com for the most up to date information on the real estate market!
Statistics and Information Provided By: Real Trends
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Friday, December 17th, 2010
With all the teeth-gnashing over the real estate bubble, the bust and the mortgage mess, you can be forgiven for failing to notice this little tidbit: Housing had a superb decade. In fact, the value of a square foot of housing in the U.S. is up 58% from its January 2000 level, according to data from New York housing analytics firm Radar Logic on the 25 largest U.S. metropolitan areas. That represents an average annual gain of 4.3% in the value of one square foot of housing. While the average gain was impressive, some cities did exceedingly well while others languished. New York came out best of all, with home values rising 6.2% a year, thanks in large part to the explosion in Wall Street wealth. Homes in New York now cost 91% more per square foot than they did in 2000. Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., weren’t far behind, rising 85% and 72%, respectively. Who lagged behind? The usual suspect, Detroit, was the big loser, shedding an average of 3.3% a year during the decade. Houses in and around the Motor City cost 33% less per square foot than they did in January 2000. Las Vegas’ hammering has left houses there 11% cheaper. Cleveland came in third worst, down 9% for the decade.
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Renting is a very frustrating way of life. The money you pay every month disappears, leaving you with few benefits other than a roof over your head. Compared to owning a home, renting is a futile exercise that leaves you with nothing after your lease is up. It’s no surprise that people want to get out of the rent race, and here are 10 reasons why people decide to buy a home versus renting.
