As far as my presence on the Internet is concerned, I’ve decided to expand the information that I share to include some of my personal interests in addition to information about buying and selling real estate, getting financing, and similar topics that pertain to the real estate market as a whole. I’m going to share […]
Home Selling Strategies from Popular Mechanics’ The DIY Guy
Some of the topics covered in the article include: Prep the exterior Prep the interior Kill the clutter Depersonalize Focus on the kitchen and bath Check mechanicals Clean everything Control pets Be ready to show Get out of the way As an agent with many years of experience, I say “Hurray!” to Popular Mechanics magazine for […]
Bank of America stops US foreclosures for review, According to the AP
According to a story published by the AP, “Bank of America on Friday halted foreclosures on homes across the country so it could review paperwork in tens of thousands of cases for flaws, expanding a crisis at a perilous time for the housing market.”
Seattle-area home sales rose sharply in March
Seattle-area home sales rose sharply in March compared with both February and the unusually low level of a year ago, according to a report by DataQuick Information Systems.
The Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Program Expires Soon
The Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extended the tax credit of up to $8,000 for qualified first-time home buyers purchasing a principal residence.
Existing U.S. Home Sales Rise to Highest Level Since 2007 in Recovery Sign
A story published on Bloomberg.com today states that “Sales of existing U.S. homes in November rose to the highest level in almost three years as first-time buyers rushed to take advantage of a government tax credit and lower prices.“
Zillow Real Estate Market Report for Washington, Oregon and the U.S.
The Zillow Home Value Index for the U. S. as a whole declined 5.7% over the past year. This chart compares the U.S. data with that for Washington and Oregon for the same period.
Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit all-time low
According to MarketWatch, “Rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.78% this week, matching an all-time low in Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates, released Wednesday. The mortgage averaged 4.83% last week and 5.97% a year ago. This week’s average matched a low set the week ending April 30.”
Zillow’s Real Estate Market Reports for September
According to Zillow’s Real Estate Market Reports for September, Pierce County home values are down 6% from the previous year. Seattle home values were up 0.0% compared to August and down 9.1% compared to September 2008.
The Extension and Expansion of the First-time Homebuyer Tax Credit is Now Law
The government has just extended and expanded tax credits for home buyers – and not just those buying for the first time. First time home buyers can now receive an $8,000 tax credit through April 30, 2010 Home buyers who have lived in their residences for five years may now receive a credit of $6,500 […]