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| Main / Real Estate |
Author: maricela Created: 2/12/2007 10:01 AM |
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Real Estate information locally or nationally. |
Saturday, January 26, 2008
To buy or rent? That is the dilemma facing many potential homeowners today. At times it seems that buying a home is more costly and time-demanding than renting a home. However, if you can comfortably afford to do so, and you have plans to stay at your location for a while, buying a home has significant advantages.
Financially, owning a home is often promoted as a better choice than renting. Currently, there are significant federal and state tax breaks: homeowners can claim deductions for real estate property taxes and for the interest paid on their mortgage each year. In addition, long-term homeowners build equity both by paying down their mortgages and when their home appreciates in value. Many savvy homebuyers increase their equity more quickly by buying homes that need cosmetic improvements (such as decorating or landscaping) rather than structural renovation. These minor improvements can significantly increase the value o...
| Posted by maricela at 11:27 AM |
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Boise - There is no doubt - according to various reports - that the state of national housing market is poor, but here in Idaho, things are much different. In the microcosm that is the Gem State, the housing economy is steadily growing, unemployment rates are low (2.7 percent versus the national average of 4.7 percent according to November 2007 statistics from the U.S. Department of Labor), the technology sector of the Idaho economy continues to grow and the U.S. Census Bureau noted an increase in Idaho's personal income - the sixth-highest in the nation. Despite the economic prosperity, there still exists the buyer's 'wait-and-see' mentality; who can blame them with all the negative local and national coverage? However, one must truly examine and weigh data against their local market. Jonathan Miller at Radar Logic (a New York- based real estate research firm) describes the predicament best in saying that, "...there is no 'national' housing market, resulting in ...
| Posted by maricela at 12:01 PM |
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
http://www.housingmarketfacts.com/
Source: National Association Of Realtors
| Posted by maricela at 10:26 AM |
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
WASHINGTON, December 03, 2007 -
Many buyers judge a house by its exterior, or so it seems from the results of the 2007 Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Three of the four projects with the highest national percentage of costs recouped this year were exterior upgrades.
The most profitable project on the national level was upscale siding replacement, recouping 88 percent of costs upon resale. Wood deck additions and wood window replacements also returned more than 80 percent of costs, at 85 percent and 81 percent, respectively. On a national average, the only interior project to return more than 80 percent of remodeling costs this year was a minor kitchen remodel, returning 83 percent of project costs at resale.
"The results of this year's Cost vs. Value report underscore the importance of curb appeal in the buyer's eye," said NAR President Dick Gaylord, a broker with RE/MAX Real Estate Specialists in Long Beach, Calif. "Realtors® know what attracts buyers in thei...
| Posted by maricela at 10:52 AM |
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Wednesday, November 21, 2007
WASHINGTON, November 20, 2007 -
Commercial real estate market activity is expected to level out, suggesting stable business opportunities for commercial practitioners in the months ahead, according to a forward-looking index for the commercial real estate sectors published by the National Association of Realtors®.
The Commercial Leading Indicator for Brokerage Activity* slipped 0.1 percent to an index of 120.6 in the third quarter from a record reading of 120.7 in the second quarter, but remains 0.7 percent higher than the third quarter of 2006 when it stood at 119.7. The dip follows nine consecutive quarterly increases; NAR's track of the index dates back to 1990.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said momentum in the commercial market appears to be leveling at a high plateau. "Commercial real estate has been performing quite well over the past few years and the flattening index means net absorption of space in the industrial and office sectors is ...
| Posted by maricela at 9:37 AM |
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Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Buying a home is a great way to build long-term wealth. There are some other important dividends, too.
To counter recent negative housing reports in the media, NAR is helping local REALTOR® associations across the country explain the real facts behind the real estate market in their area.
NAR has created a print ad that targets potential home buyers, educating them about the long-term value of housing and providing insight into local real estate markets to help buyers make informed decisions about what can be the biggest investment opportunity of their lives.
A full-page version of the ad will run in USA Today on November 2 and November 9, 2007. Local versions of the ad will run in select markets nationwide on November 4 and November 11, 2007.
Local REALTOR® associations can create and place a version of the ad in their own markets. Visit the online Ad Generator and select "Public Awareness Campaign," "Buyer" to request a customized version.
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| Posted by maricela at 2:17 PM |
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Thursday, October 18, 2007
The Élan Collection, a private residence club, has purchased a site at Tamarack Resort for $17.2 million and plans to build 60 condominiums there, according to a press release.
Élan Tamarack would offer fractional ownership homes with club-level services and amenities. Amenities would include a private wine label, a concierge, and Harley-Davidson motorcycles for touring the Payette River Mountains. Developers plan to break ground in 2008.
Source: Idaho Business Review
| Posted by maricela at 11:02 AM |
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Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Three of the country's largest banks are expected to announce that they are creating a large rescue fund to ease the pain on mortgages securities. The plan, backed by the Treasury Department, is designed to assure investors that it's okay to put more money into the troubled credit market. The new fund will be able to buy as much as $100 billion in bonds and other debt, and will prevent a sudden sell off of assets. That's what happened in August. The cost of mortgages soared and the stock market plunged.
AP News Wire: Business
3 Largest Banks Team on Rescue Fund
from The Associated Press
NEW YORK October 15, 2007, 6:17 p.m. ET · The nation's three largest banks said Monday they are teaming up to create a rescue fund of sorts - potentially as large as $100 billion - to help bail out troubled global credit markets.
Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., and JPMorgan Chase & Co., at the prodding of the Treasury Department, will buy distressed debt from markets...
| Posted by maricela at 12:43 PM |
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Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Improvement in Mortgage Market Bodes Well for Housing in 2008
WASHINGTON, October 10, 2007 -
Conditions in the mortgage market are improving for consumers, which should help to release some pent-up demand in early 2008, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.
Lawrence Yun, NAR senior economist, notes that widening credit availability will help turn around home sales. "Conforming loans are abundantly available at historically favorable mortgage rates. Pricing has steadily improved on jumbo mortgages since the August credit crunch, and FHA loans are replacing subprime mortgages," he said.
Yun said it's important to place the current housing market in perspective, and that 2007 will be the fifth highest year on record for existing-home sales. "Although sales ...
| Posted by maricela at 11:29 AM |
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Problems with subprime and some other nontraditional mortgages moved the Idaho Housing and Finance Association to market its post-purchase and foreclosure-prevention counseling services more aggressively. The nonprofit association about two years ago rolled out the services for anyone in Idaho, not just people who took out Idaho Housing and Finance loans. The Federal Housing Administration approved Idaho Housing as a counseling center.
Idaho Housing and Finance views the foreclosure-prevention counseling services as important given fresh concerns about subprime mortgage foreclosures and delinquencies, as well as the large number of borrowers facing upward-adjusting mortgage payments, President and Executive Director Gerald Hunter and Homeownership Lending Director Susan Semba said in an interview.
Semba said Idaho Housing foreclosure-prevention counselors assess the borrower's financial situation including ratios of monthly obligations to income. Idaho Housing can work with the borro...
| Posted by maricela at 10:24 AM |
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