 Here's an interesting article regarding what's happening with new home sales and the mortgage market. The chief economists at Fannie Mae are expecting new purchases to rise 3.5% -- which is pretty good-- however, they anticipate the amount of refinances to decline -- also good in my opinion. If the banks get less refinance business, they may be more inclined to lend again to buyers. Hopefully this will change the mood of the majority of real estate agents who think nothing will sell or settle. Their negative outlook hampers recovery. If morale improves we could see a much better year.
I'm going to interject my comments throughout the original article. Please email or call me with any questions..... Add Comment  I love the way Steve McLinden starts this article. He's a man after my own heart! I hope you enjoy reading it and find it helpful. One bit of extra advice I always give my sellers, is make sure you repair the important things like leaky roofs and basements. Let's say the repair will cost you $1,000, potential buyers will blow the repair out of proportion and request a $10,000 reduction in price.
 I hope this article will be good news for some of you out there.....
Fannie Mae, banks halt foreclosures for the holidays By Les Christie @CNNMoney December 1, 2011: 4:11 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Happy holidays struggling homeowners! Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and several large mortgage lenders have pledged not to foreclose on delinquent borrowers during the Christmas season.  Due to the sour economy, 1 in 5 American families are adopting the multi-generational living style. The home builder, Lennar, is hoping their new 2-in-1 designs will attract buyers back to the new home market. The idea being the homes will appeal to families moving in together and pooling financial resources. Very wise... Putting extended families under 1 roof By Alejandro Lazo | Tribune Newspapers | 11.27.2011 Home is where not only the heart is these days — but also the elderly parents, the boomerang kids and the aging-in-place boomer homeowners. To accommodate the new generations-stacked-upon-generations lifestyle spawned by one of the most severe economic downturns in decades, builder Lennar Corp. is focusing on houses with something few others on the block can boast about: another house. The company has built two San Bernardino County, Calif., models of its so-called NextGen designs for its master-planned Rosena Ranch community. Like a Russian nesting doll with a smaller doll inside, the new residential design incorporates a smaller home with a separate front entrance, kitchenette, bathroom and bedroom.... I just found this SantaVoice App and it's making me laugh before I even try it. I have two jaded teenagers, but one sweet 4 year old who definitely is a believer and I'm going to get this one! I hope you enjoy these Apps. From my family to yours, "Merry Christmas! Ho Ho Ho....."  SantaVoice by WebbForce Mobz If you've tried everything else and you still cant get your kids to believe in santa, just pull out this app and transform your voice into Santa Clause! It plays back your voice in a lower voice to sound like santa without altering the speed of your voice. You can also play sleigh bells in the background if you desire! $1.99  Flightview by FlightView Inc.
Track flights,gate #s, delays and cancellations. Sees in-flight progress. An airport delay map with radar weather overlay. Covers all flights with one endpoint in N America. Free  I'm encountering some folks who experienced either a foreclosure or short-sale and are interested in buying again. Helping depends on how long ago it happened, current credit and income. Here's an insightful article with advice not only about the logistics of purchasing again but also about re-evaluating your life and a little soul searching...... 4 steps to buy again after foreclosure
Mood of the Market By Tara-Nicholle Nelson, Tuesday, November 29, 2011. Inman News Homeowners facing foreclosure seem to be desperate to buy again....... Here are some silly, mostly useful Thanksgiving Apps to make cooking, celebrating and shopping for deals a bit easier. Before you get started, you MUST add the Thanksgiving Wallpaper App to help put you in the mood. From my family to yours..."Happy Thanksgiving"!  Festive Holiday Baking
Find unique holiday recipes with this Festive Holiday Baking app. The app features tasty recipes that can be made with 8 ingredients or less and also has colored photos to help you decide which tasty treat you might want to try next! $1.99  If you want to rent, fine. I'm not hell bent on buying, but right now it can be a lot cheaper. Because the rental market is so strong rents have risen about 3%. Meanwhile, houses are less expensive than they were and interest rates are so low. In a lot of cases the same exact type of home is $800-$1500 cheaper per month to buy than to rent! People buying foreclosures get in with very little down payment because of the DSELP Program. DSELP is the Downpayment and Settlement Expense Loan Program that helps eligible borrowers by funding a portion of their closing costs. Individuals or families who are approved to purchase a home using a CDA first mortgage loan (a lower interest loan) can apply for a DSELP.
 This is a golden time for investors who have cash to purchase rental properties. The rental market is so strong right now. It rose more than 3% annualized rate in the third quarter of 2011 and data shows it make grow at a rate of up to 5%. At 3.5% rents double in 20 years and at 5% they will double in.....
 Ben Color Capture
Take a picture or upload an image and Ben will suggest the matching Benjamin Moore paint. Click "Strip" for six similar colors or "Harmony" for four complementary colors. |  Tom McTear
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