Wednesday, March 21, 2012

10 Major Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid

‎10 Major Mortgage Mistakes to Avoid http://ow.ly/9utDL

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Existing Home Sales Dip In February; Median Price Up Slightly

February existing-home sales declined from an upwardly revised January pace but are well above a year ago, while the median price posted a slight gain, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales were up in the Midwest and South, offset by declines in the Northeast and West.

Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, slipped 0.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.59 million in February from an upwardly revised 4.63 million in January, but are 8.8 percent higher than the 4.22 million-unit level in February 2011.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said underlying factors are much better compared to one year ago. “The market is trending up unevenly, with record high consumer buying power and sustained job gains giving buyers the confidence they need to get into the market,” he said. “Although relatively unusual, there will be rising demand for both rental space and homeownership this year. The great suppression in household formation during the past four years was unsustainable, and a pent-up demand could burst forth from the improving economy.”

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage was a record low 3.89 percent in February, down from 3.92 percent in January; the rate was 4.95 percent in February 2011; recordkeeping began in 1971.

NAR said market conditions are improving: "Supply and demand have become more balanced in more markets, but with tight supply in the lower price ranges – particularly in the West,” he said. “When markets are balanced, we normally see prices rise one to two percentage points above the rate of inflation, but foreclosures and short sales are holding back median prices.”

The national median existing-home price2 for all housing types was $156,600 in February, up 0.3 percent from February 2011. Distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales sold at deep discounts – accounted for 34 percent of February sales (20 percent were foreclosures and 14 percent were short sales), down from 35 percent in January and 39 percent in February 2011.

“The bottom line is investors and first-time buyers are competing for bargain-priced properties in much of the country, with home prices showing signs of stabilizing in many areas,” Veissi said. “People realize that homeownership is an investment in their future. Given an apparent over-correction in most areas, over the long term home prices have nowhere to go but up.”

Total housing inventory at the end of February rose 4.3 percent to 2.43 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.4-month supply4 at the current sales pace, up from a 6.0-month supply in January. Even so, unsold listed inventory has trended down from a record 4.04 million in July 2007, and is 19.3 percent below a year ago.

“Falling visible and shadow inventory, combined with a dearth of new-home and apartment construction during the past three years, assure that rents will continue to rise, with likely home price increases in 2012,” Yun said.

Fifty-one percent of NAR members report that contracts settled on time in February, 18 percent had delays and 31 percent experienced contract failures; the cancellation rate was 33 percent in January and 9 percent in February 2011. Contract failures are commonly caused by declined mortgage applications and failures in loan underwriting from appraisals coming in below the negotiated price.

“Many buyers are staying in the market after experiencing a contract failure and making an offer on another property, showing their determination to take advantage of the favorable conditions, but the cancellations are contributing to an uneven sales pattern,” Yun said.

All-cash sales rose to 33 percent of transactions in February from 31 percent in January; they were 33 percent in February 2011. Investors account for the bulk of cash transactions.

Investors purchased 23 percent of homes in February, unchanged from January; they were 20 percent in February 2011. First-time buyers accounted for 32 percent of transactions in February, down from 33 percent in January and 34 percent in February 2011.

Single-family home sales declined 1.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.06 million in February from 4.10 million in January, but are 9.4 percent higher than the 3.71 million-unit level a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $157,100 in February, which is 0.1 percent above February 2011.

Existing condominium and co-op sales were unchanged at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 530,000 in February and are 3.9 percent above the 510,000-unit pace in February 2011. The median existing condo price was $153,000 in February, up 1.6 percent from a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast fell 3.3 percent to an annual level of 580,000 in February but are 5.5 percent above a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $225,800, down 1.9 percent from February 2011.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 1.0 percent in February to a pace of 1.02 million and are 13.3 percent higher than February 2011. The median price in the Midwest was $120,500, which is 0.5 percent below a year ago.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 0.6 percent to an annual level of 1.77 million in February and are 9.3 percent higher than a year ago. The median price in the South was $138,100, up 1.8 percent from February 2011.

Existing-home sales in the West declined 3.2 percent to an annual pace of 1.22 million in February but are 6.1 percent above February 2011. The median price in the West was $195,300, up 3.1 percent from a year ago.

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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

GLVAR reports increasing home sales, prices, decreasing inventory

Statistics released today by the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) show the number of existing homes being sold in Southern Nevada continues to go up, while the number of homes available for sale continues to go down.

“So far this year, local home sales remain strong and above the record sales pace we set in 2011,” said GLVAR President Kolleen Kelley, a longtime local REALTOR®. “At the same time, we’re seeing fewer homes available for sale each month, especially bank-owned homes. With the supply of homes going down, it makes sense that the median price of homes went up last month.”

Kelley said the inventory of available homes had been declining through much of 2011. That trend seems to have accelerated since Oct. 1, 2011, when a new state law known as AB284 took effect, requiring lenders to prove they have all the necessary documents in place before proceeding with a foreclosure. Since Oct. 1, she said this law has curtailed the number of bank-owned homes being put on the market in Southern Nevada.

Still, Kelley said existing home sales are even stronger so far in 2012 than they were in 2011, which set a record for existing home sales in a single year with 48,186 sales, including 38,153 single-family homes and 10,033 condominiums and townhomes.

According to GLVAR, the total number of local homes, condominiums and townhomes sold in February was 3,794. That’s up from 3,591 in January, and up from 3,371 total sales in February 2011.

Compared to one year ago, single-family home sales during February increased by 17.8 percent, while sales of condos and townhomes decreased by 5.0 percent. As for prices, GLVAR reported the median price of single-family homes sold in February was $121,000, up 2.5 percent from $118,000 in January, but down 5.5 percent from $128,000 one year ago. Meanwhile, the median price of local condominiums and townhomes sold in February was $60,000. That’s up 9.1 percent from $55,000 the previous month, but down 3.6 percent from $62,250 the previous year. Kelley said this is the first time the median price of local condos and townhomes had topped $60,000 since May of 2011. The total number of homes listed for sale on GLVAR’s Multiple Listing Service decreased from January to February, with a total of 18,870 single-family homes listed for sale at the end of the month. That’s down 1.5 percent from 19,160 single-family homes listed for sale at the end of January and down 15.4 percent from one year ago. GLVAR reported a total of 4,016 condos and townhomes listed for sale on its MLS at the end of February. That’s down 2.8 percent from 4,133 condos and townhomes listed in January, and down 16.2 percent from one year ago. (more) GLVAR housing stats – page 2

As in past months, the number of available homes listed for sale without any sort of pending or contingent offer also declined compared to the previous month and year. By the end of February, GLVAR reported 6,543 single-family homes listed without any sort of offer. That’s down 18.2 percent from 8,001 such homes listed in January and down 45.6 percent from one year ago. For condos and townhomes, the 1,598 properties listed without offers in February represented an 8.5 percent decline from 1,746 such properties listed without offers in January and a decrease of 45.6 percent from one year ago. In February, GLVAR reported that 53.2 percent of all existing homes sold in Southern Nevada were purchased with cash. That’s up from 52.5 percent in January and another indication to Kelley that “investors continue to see great value in our housing market.” Meanwhile, 29.3 percent of all existing local homes sold during February were short sales, which occur when a lender agrees to sell a home for less than what the borrower owes on the mortgage. That’s up from 28.1 percent in January, but still short of the peak of 34 percent set in June 2010.

Bank-owned homes accounted for 42 percent of all existing home sales in February, down from 45.5 percent in January. GLVAR reported that the median price of bank-owned single-family homes sold in February was $104,900, up from $100,000 in January. The median price of single-family homes sold as part of a short sale in February was $120,000, down from $121,000 in January. This month’s GLVAR statistics include activity through the end of February 2012. GLVAR distributes such statistics each month based on data collected through its MLS, which does not necessarily account for newly constructed homes sold by local builders or for sale by owners. Other highlights include:

• The monthly value of local real estate transactions tracked through the MLS during February increased by 8.2 percent for homes to nearly $454 million. For condos and townhomes, the total value of all sales in February was more than $62 million, up 19.6 percent from January. Compared to one year ago, total sales volumes in February were up 12.1 percent for homes, but down 12.2 percent for condos and townhomes.

• Through February, 57.1 percent of all homes and 61.1 percent of all condos and townhomes sold within 60 days. That compares to January, when 56.6 percent of all homes and 63.4 percent of all condos and townhomes sold within 60 days.

The Eckerman Group
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What Happens When You Walk Away From Your Home?

Does it make sense to keep paying a massive mortgage, knowing that it might be decades before a home regains its prior value?

What Happens When You Walk Away From Your Home?

The Eckerman Group
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Monday, March 19, 2012

Should you buy a home, or should you rent? Take this six-question quiz to find out.

QUIZ: Should You Buy or Rent a Home? http://ow.ly/9wl3d

The Eckerman Group
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Friday, March 16, 2012

Real Average Weekly Earnings Report

Real average hourly earnings for all employees fell 0.3 percent from January 2012 to February 2012, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. A 0.1 percent increase in the average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.4 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings fell 0.3 percent over the month due to the decline in the real average hourly earnings combined with an unchanged workweek. Since reaching a peak in October 2010, real average weekly earnings has fallen 1.2 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 1.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, from February 2011 to February 2012. The decrease in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours resulted in a 0.4 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period.

Real average hourly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees fell 0.3 percent from January 2012 to February 2012, seasonally adjusted. A 0.2 percent increase in the average hourly earnings was more than offset by a 0.5 percent increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W).

Real average weekly earnings was unchanged over the month due to a 0.3 percent increase in the average workweek and the decrease in real average hourly earnings. Since reaching a peak in October 2010, real average weekly earnings for production and nonsupervisory employees has fallen 1.7 percent.

Real average hourly earnings fell 1.5 percent, seasonally adjusted, from February 2011 to February 2012. The decrease in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6 percent increase in average weekly hours resulted in a 0.9 percent decrease in real average weekly earnings during this period.

The Eckerman Group
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Consumer Prices Up In February

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4 percent in February on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.9 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The gasoline index rose sharply in February, accounting for over 80 percent of the change in the all items index. The gasoline increase led to a 3.2 percent rise in the energy index despite a decline in the index for natural gas. The food index was unchanged in February, with the food at home index unchanged for the second month in a row as major grocery store food indexes were mixed.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.1 percent in February after increasing 0.2 percent in January. Indexes for shelter, new vehicles, medical care, and household furnishings and operations all advanced, while indexes for apparel, recreation, used cars and trucks, and tobacco all declined.

The all items index has risen 2.9 percent over the last 12 months, the same figure as last month. The index for all items less food and energy was up 2.2 percent, a slight decline from last month's 2.3 percent figure, while the 12-month change in the food index fell to 3.9 percent in February, its lowest level since last June. In contrast, the 12-month change in the energy index was 7.0 percent in February compared to 6.1 percent in January.

Golden Opportunity For Real Estate Investors

The following from Investopedia: In August 2011, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced their mandate to reduce the volume of real estate owned (REO) properties, stabilize property values in areas hard-hit with foreclosures and increase the supply of affordable rental housing in those same markets. In February 2012, the FHFA launched the REO-to-Rental Pilot Initiative that will attract smaller investors and increase private investment in REO properties.

The FHFA has regulatory and supervisory oversight over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The agency worked with the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Treasury Department and many state and local governments to develop the REO-to-Rental Pilot Initiative to increase participation from smaller and private investors to purchase, rehabilitate, manage and rent REO properties in areas with declining market values and deteriorating conditions.

THE BOTTOM LINE:  This is an excellent opportunity for individual real estate investors, developers and property managers to enter or re-enter the buy-to-hold and rental real estate market under favorable conditions.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Las Vegas Sun: Reports indicate improvements in Las Vegas real estate market

Las Vegas Sun reports that, "Home Builders Research reported 310 new-home sales locally in February, lifting the total for the year to 526...The two-month total is up by 57 sales, or 12.2 percent, from the same period in 2011...The median price of new homes and condominiums closing in February was $193,900, down 6.7 percent from January and down 2.3 percent from February 2011."

The Sun also reported that, "Separately, foreclosure tracker RealtyTrac reported that while Nevada maintained its No. 1 ranking among the 50 states for foreclosures in February, the number of foreclosures in the state declined markedly."

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Thursday, March 8, 2012

AP: Vegas single-family home sales up 18 percent

The Associated Press reported that, "Real estate agents in Las Vegas say more single-family homes in southern Nevada were sold in February compared with the same month last year, but prices were lower.

"The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors said Thursday that nearly 3,800 single-family homes were sold in February. Fewer than 3,400 homes were sold during the same month last year.

"The median price was $121,000, down 5.5 percent from $128,000 a year ago."

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Bankrate: How to sell a home when there's a tenant in it

If you rented out your home to a tenant instead of selling the house during a slow market, you might be ready now to put it on the market. The effort to sell a home can be complicated by the presence of a renter.

While many real estate agents recommend waiting until your lease expires and selling your home without a renter in residence, not all landlords can afford to have their home vacant for a few months during the transition. In addition, local regulations can impact the process of selling an investment property. Click here to read the full story by BankRate.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Housing Affordability Soars to Record High

Low mortgage rates and falling home values have brought housing within reach to more families than ever before, according to the latest National Association of REALTORS® housing affordability index.

Housing affordability in January reached its highest level since NAR began tracking it in 1970. The index -- which tracks median home price, median family income, and the average mortgage rate -- reached 206.1 in January.

"This is the first time the housing affordability index has broken the 200 mark, meaning the typical family has roughly double the income needed to purchase a median-priced home," says Moe Veissi, 2012 NAR president. "For buyers who can qualify for a mortgage, now is a very good time to become a home owner."

An index of 100 means that median-income household has exactly enough income to qualify for the purchase of a median-priced existing single-family home, also accounting for a 20 percent down payment and 25 percent of gross income devoted to the mortgage principle and interest payments.

NAR projects that affordability will remain high for the remainder of the year.

"Housing inventory levels have declined to a point where conditions are becoming much more balanced in much of the country," Veissi said. "If access to credit improves, we could see a much more meaningful increase in home sales and broader stabilization in home prices with modest gains in areas with stronger job growth."

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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NAR: Government Foreclosure to Rental Pilot Programs Not Needed In Most Markets, Say Realtors

Housing markets are complex and varied, and a government pilot program to turn bank-owned properties into rentals could be disruptive and counterproductive in some markets, according to the National Association of Realtors.

NAR urges the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to proceed cautiously with its Real Estate-Owned (REO) Initiative pilot program to sell homes repossessed by government agencies to private investors to convert into rental units.

“As the nation’s leading advocate for homeownership and housing issues, Realtors® support efforts to reduce the high inventories of foreclosures, but all real estate is local and we are concerned that REO-to-rental programs are not necessary in some areas and could even hinder the recovery,” said NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami. “In many communities REOs are already moving well through the normal processes, so we urge caution when proceeding with a rental program.”

According to a recent NAR analysis, while the overall visible inventory of foreclosures has been trending down across the country, there is a noticeable difference in foreclosure inventories in states that require judicial proceedings to foreclose on a property versus inventories in states that do not require the court’s intervention. Foreclosure inventories in judicial states are currently 2.5 times higher than non-judicial states. In addition, the disposition of foreclosure inventories is considerably faster in non-judicial states, where foreclosure sales rates are four times higher than in judicial states.

“Inventories of condos and single-family homes for sale continuously fell last year, suggesting that there is no significant oversupply of visible foreclosure inventory in the market,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Even the shadow inventories of distressed homes have fallen, though they remain elevated and are an ongoing concern. The government REO-to-rental plan could work in areas where buyers are not quickly absorbing the shadow inventory.”

To prevent further increases in foreclosure inventory, NAR has repeatedly called for improved lending to creditworthy home buyers and have urged lenders to make more loan modifications, mortgage refinancings, and short sales, which will help stabilize struggling housing markets.

“While REO-to-rental programs could be successful in a few communities, we believe that doing more to ensure mortgage availability for qualified home buyers and investors could be even more beneficial in helping absorb excess foreclosure inventories across the country,” said Veissi.

NAR urges that a national advisory board be created to ensure that current and future REO-to-rental pilot programs truly benefit the local community, minimize taxpayer losses and stabilize home values, and suggests substantial participation of local market experts, especially licensed real estate professionals, who have unparalleled knowledge of local market conditions.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Wednesday, February 29, 2012

January Construction at $827.0 Billion Annual Rate; Down Slightly From December

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during January 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $827.0 billion, 0.1 percent below the revised December estimate of $827.6 billion. The January figure is 7.1 percent above the January 2011 estimate of $772.0 billion.

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $538.7 billion, nearly the same as the revised December estimate of $538.7 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $253.6 billion in January, 1.8 percent above the revised December estimate of $249.2 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $285.0 billion in January, 1.5 percentbelow the revised December estimate of $289.5 billion.

In January, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $288.3 billion, 0.2 percent below the revised December estimate of $289.0 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $71.6 billion, 0.9 percent below the revised December estimate of $72.2 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $83.7 billion, 0.2 percent (±3.8%)* below the revised December estimate of $83.9 billion.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Monday, February 27, 2012

January Pending Home Sales Rise, Market on Uptrend

Pending home sales are on an upward trend, which has been uneven but meaningful since reaching a cyclical low last April, and are well above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 2.0 percent to 97.0 in January from a downwardly revised 95.1 in December and is 8.0 percent higher than January 2011 when it was 89.8. The data reflects contracts but not closings.

The January index is the highest since April 2010 when it reached 111.3 as buyers were rushing to take advantage of the home buyer tax credit.

The PHSI in the Northeast rose 7.6 percent to 78.2 in January and is 9.8 percent above a year ago. In the Midwest the index declined 3.8 percent to 88.1 but is 10.8 percent higher than January 2011. Pending home sales in the South increased 7.7 percent to an index of 109.1 in January and are 10.5 percent above a year ago. In the West the index fell 4.4 percent in January to 101.9 but is 0.7 percent above January 2011.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Friday, February 24, 2012

New Home Sales In January Down From December, Up From Last Year

Sales of new single-family houses in January 2012 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 321,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 0.9 percent below the revised December rate of 324,000, but is 3.5 percent (±17.6%)* above the January 2011 estimate of 310,000.

The median sales price of new houses sold in January 2012 was $217,100; the average sales price was $261,600. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of January was 151,000. This represents a supply of 5.6 months at the current sales rate.

The Eckerman Group
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Las Vegas NV 89113
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

December Construction Spending Up From November

The U.S. Census Bureau of the Department of Commerce announced today that construction spending during December 2011 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $816.4 billion, 1.5 percent above the revised November estimate of $804.0 billion. The December figure is 4.3 percent above the December 2010 estimate of $782.9 billion. The value of construction in 2011 was $787.4 billion, 2.0 percent below the $803.6 billion spent in 2010.

Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $529.7 billion, 2.1 percent above the revised November estimate of $518.8 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $241.2 billion in December, 0.8 percent above the revised November estimate of $239.4 billion. Nonresidential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $288.5 billion in December, 3.3 percent above the revised November estimate of $279.4 billion.

The value of private construction in 2011 was $504.1 billion, 0.7 percent above the $500.6 billion spent in 2010. Residential construction in 2011 was $236.2 billion, 1.1 percent below the 2010 figure of $238.8 billion and nonresidential construction was $268.0 billion, 2.4 percent above the $261.8 billion in 2010.

In December, the estimated seasonally adjusted annual rate of public construction spending was $286.6 billion, 0.5 percent above the revised November estimate of $285.3 billion. Educational construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $70.6 billion, 0.6 percent below the revised November estimate of $71.1 billion. Highway construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $84.5 billion, 1.8 percent above the revised November estimate of $82.9 billion. The value of public construction in 2011 was $283.3 billion, 6.5 percent below the $303.0 billion spent in 2010. Educational construction in 2011 was $70.9 billion, 5.3 percent below the 2010 figure of $74.9 billion and highway construction was $78.9 billion, 4.5 percent below the $82.5 billion in 2010.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Monday, January 30, 2012

Case-Shiller Index Down Again In November

• Home prices in the U.S. expected to decline 3.6 percent into mid-2012, and then rebound 2.4 percent in second half 2012 through first half 2013 • Price declines and low mortgage rates have resulted in dramatic improvement in housing affordability • Ratio of monthly mortgage payment to median family income lowest on record; Monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home nearly 40 percent lower than at peak

Fiserv, Inc. today released an analysis of home price trends in more than 380 U.S. markets based on the Fiserv®Case-Shiller Indexes®. The indexes are owned and generated by Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, and data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The double-dip in home prices that started in 2010 continued to take home prices lower this spring and summer. Single-family home prices dropped 5.9 percent in 2011 second quarter compared to a year ago, according to the national Fiserv Case-Shiller home price indexes. Prices fell in 340 out of 384 metro areas, with 302 metros hitting new home price lows. Fiserv projects that home prices across the U.S. will decline another 3.6 percent by the second quarter of 2012, before rising by 2.4 percent by the second quarter of 2013.

"Housing affordability has improved dramatically because of declines in both prices and mortgage interest rates," said David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv. "The monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced single-family home is now $700, compared to $1,140 in 2006 — a decline of nearly 40 percent. Nationally, purchase mortgage payments now account for only 13 percent of monthly median family income, the lowest percentage on record (since 1971), and compared to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2006."

Elaborating on the reasons for continued weakness in the housing market, Stiff continued, "Although homes have become much less expensive, housing demand remains depressed with existing home sales back to 1998 levels, averaging 4.3 million units per year since June. Many households cannot finance first-time or trade-up home purchases to take advantage of lower home prices because of much stricter mortgage lending standards. But even households with access to mortgage credit are hesitant to buy homes while job growth is weak and consumer confidence is low."

Stiff pointed to several factors that can help the market find a bottom and begin a gradual and cautious recovery. "If economic growth picks up in the second half of 2011, then home prices should stabilize early next year. New housing construction is at an all-time low and inventories of foreclosed properties are starting to shrink. Lower levels of housing supply and more steady demand next year will reduce downward pressure on prices. As homebuyers become more confident, many who are sitting on the sidelines will begin to enter the market and prices will start to increase. But we should not expect a rapid rebound in home prices. Very large inventories of foreclosed properties must be liquidated and absorbed before the healthy functioning of housing markets is restored."

"Potential buyers must be convinced that the economic recovery is back on track and that the double-dip in home prices is nearly over before housing demand will begin to rise," Stiff concluded.

Other highlights from the latest Fiserv Case-Shiller Indexes include:



      • Prices dropped by double-digits in 30 metro areas, while 25 metro areas had small price increases of 1 percent or more.

      • Between 2011 second quarter and 2012 second quarter, prices are projected to rise by double digits in only two metros (Madera-Chowchilla, Calif. and Carson City, Nev.) and decline by double digits in 16 metro areas (Naples-Marco Island, Fla.; Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev.; Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, Calif.; Miami-Miami Beach-Kendall, Fla.; Salinas, Calif.; Cape Coral-Fort Myers, Fla.; Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla.; Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, Fla.; Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, MD; Merced, Calif.; Detroit-Livonia-Dearborn, Mich.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Ocean City, N.J.; Port St. Lucie, Fla.; Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz.; Palm Coast, Fla.)

      • Projections for the following 12 months, i.e. the 2012 second quarter to 2013 second quarter period, illustrate why the housing market is poised to stabilize next year: home prices in 372 of the 384 markets are projected to rise in that time period, with only 12 markets expected to experience declines.

      • California and Florida have borne the brunt of the worst declines in home prices. Of the 33 markets where homes have lost at least 50 percent of their value since peak, 28 are in the Sunshine and Golden States.

      • In markets with the largest home price bubbles and crashes, improvements in housing affordability have been even larger. For example, the ratio of monthly mortgage payment to family income dropped from 32 percent (2006:Q1) to 11 percent in Las Vegas, from 42 percent (2007:Q1) to 19 percent in Miami, and from 59 percent (2007:Q2) to 27 percent in Los Angeles.




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Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

December New Residential Home Sales Down From November

Sales of new single-family houses in December 2011 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 307,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 2.2 percent below the revised November rate of 314,000 and is 7.3 percent below the December 2010 estimate of 331,000.

The median sales price of new houses sold in December 2011 was $210,300; the average sales price was $266,000. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of December was 157,000. This represents a supply of 6.1 months at the current sales rate.

An estimated 302,000 new homes were sold in 2011. This is 6.2 percent (±3.6%) below the 2010 figure of 323,000.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
(702)900-9372
info@theeckermangroup.com
 

Freddie Mac: Mortgage Rates Hit All-Time Low

Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing mortgage rates easing to new all-time record lows for all products covered in the survey helping to keep homebuyer affordability high. The average for the 30-year fixed mortgage rate has been below 4.00 percent for six consecutive weeks.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.89 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 12, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.91 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.71 percent.

  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.16 percent with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.23 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.08 percent.

  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.82 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.86 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.72 percent.

  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.76 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.80 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.23 percent.


The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
(702)900-9372
info@theeckermangroup.com

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Friday, January 20, 2012

NAR: December Existing Home Sales Rose 5 Percent

Existing-home sales continued on an uptrend in December, rising for three consecutive months and remaining above a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors.

The latest monthly data shows total existing-home sales rose 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.61 million in December from a downwardly revised 4.39 million in November, and are 3.6 percent higher than the 4.45 million-unit level in December 2010. The estimates are based on completed transactions from multiple listing services that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said these are early signs of what may be a sustained recovery. “The pattern of home sales in recent months demonstrates a market in recovery,” he said. “Record low mortgage interest rates, job growth and bargain home prices are giving more consumers the confidence they need to enter the market.”

For all of 2011, existing-home sales rose 1.7 percent to 4.26 million from 4.19 million in 2010.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to another record low of 3.96 percent in December from 3.99 percent in November; the rate was 4.71 percent in December 2010; recordkeeping began in 1971.

NAR President Moe Veissi, broker-owner of Veissi & Associates Inc., in Miami, said more buyers are expected to take advantage of market conditions this year. “The American dream of homeownership is alive and well. We have a large pent-up demand, and household formation is likely to return to normal as the job market steadily improves,” he said. “More buyers coming into the market mean additional benefits for the overall economy. When people buy homes, they stimulate a lot of related goods and services.”

Total housing inventory at the end of December dropped 9.2 percent to 2.38 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.2-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 7.2-month supply in November.

Available inventory has trended down since setting a record of 4.04 million in July 2007, and is at the lowest level since March 2005 when there were 2.30 million homes on the market.

“The inventory supply suggests many markets will see prices stabilize or grow moderately in the near future,” Yun said.

Foreclosures3 sold for an average discount of 22 percent in December, up from 20 percent a year ago, while short sales closed 13 percent below market value compared with a 16 percent discount in December 2010.

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $164,500 in December, which is 2.5 percent below December 2010. Distressed homes – foreclosures and short sales – accounted for 32 percent of sales in December (19 percent were foreclosures and 13 percent were short sales), up from 29 percent in November; they were 36 percent in December 2010.

All-cash sales accounted for 31 percent of purchases in December, up from 28 percent in November and 29 percent in December 2010. Investors account for the bulk of cash transactions.

Investors purchased 21 percent of homes in December, up from 19 percent in November and 20 percent in December 2010. First-time buyers fell to 31 percent of transactions in December from 35 percent in November; they were 33 percent in December 2010.

Contract failures were reported by 33 percent of NAR members in December, unchanged from November; they were 9 percent in December 2010. Although closed sales are holding up better than this finding would suggest, contract cancellations are caused largely by declined mortgage applications and failures in loan underwriting from appraised values coming in below the negotiated price.

Single-family home sales increased 4.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.11 million in December from 3.93 million in November, and are 4.3 percent higher than the 3.94 million-unit pace a year ago. The median existing single-family home price was $165,100 in December, which is 2.5 percent below December 2010.

Existing condominium and co-op sales rose 8.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 500,000 in December from 460,000 in November but are 2.0 percent below the 510,000-unit level in December 2010. The median existing condo price was $160,000 in December, down 3.0 percent from a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast jumped 10.7 percent to an annual pace of 620,000 in December and are 3.3 percent above a year ago. The median price in the Northeast was $231,300, which is 2.7 percent below December 2010.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest rose 8.3 percent in December to a level of 1.04 million and are 9.5 percent above December 2010. The median price in the Midwest was $129,100, down 7.9 percent from a year ago.

In the South, existing-home sales increased 2.9 percent to an annual level of 1.76 million in December and are 3.5 percent above a year ago. The median price in the South was $146,900, down 1.1 percent from December 2010.

Existing-home sales in the West rose 2.6 percent to an annual pace of 1.19 million in December but are 0.8 percent below December 2010. The median price in the West was $205,200, up 0.3 percent from a year ago.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Thursday, January 19, 2012

Freddie Mac: 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Edges Down

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 19, 2012 -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average mortgage rates changing little amid mixed economic data. Regardless, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged down slightly to 3.88 percent to a new all-time record low marking the seventh consecutive week below 4.00 percent.

News Facts
30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.88 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 19, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.89 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.74 percent.
15-year FRM this week averaged 3.17 percent with an average 0.8 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.16 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.05 percent.
5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.82 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, matching last week when it averaged 2.82 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.69 percent.
1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.74 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.76 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.25 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
(702)900-9372
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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

December Housing Starts Down From November; Up From A Year Earlier

Privately-owned housing starts in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 657,000. This is 4.1 percent  below the revised November estimate of 685,000, but is 24.9 percent above the December 2010 rate of 526,000.

Single-family housing starts in December were at a rate of 470,000; this is 4.4 percent above the revised November figure of 450,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 164,000.

An estimated 606,900 housing units were started in 2011. This is 3.4 percent above the 2010 figure of 586,900.

Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 679,000. This is 0.1 percent below the revised November rate of 680,000, but is 7.8 percent above the December 2010 estimate of 630,000.

Single-family authorizations in December were at a rate of 444,000; this is 1.8 percent above the revised November figure of 436,000. Authorizations of units in buildings with five units or more were at a rate of 209,000 in December.

An estimated 611,900 housing units were authorized by building permits in 2011. This is 1.2 percent above the 2010 figureof 604,600.

Privately-owned housing completions in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 605,000. This is 9.2 percent above the revised November estimate of 554,000 and is 7.1 percent above the December 2010 rate of 565,000.

Single-family housing completions in December were at a rate of 448,000; this is 0.9 percent  below the revised November rate of 452,000. The December rate for units in buildings with five units or more was 147,000.

An estimated 583,900 housing units were completed in 2011. This is 10.4 percent below the 2010 figure of 651,700.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
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Mortgage Applications Surge 23%


Record-low mortgage rates sparked a wave in mortgage applications for home purchase and refinancings last week, increasing more than 20 percent in a week, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports.




For the week ending Jan. 13, mortgage applications for refinancing applications jumped 26.4 percent while home purchase applications, a future gauge for home buying, increased 10.3 percent.

"With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped," Michael Fratantoni, MBA's vice president of research and economics, said in a statement. "Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season."

Freddie Mac reported that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged a record low of 3.89 percent for the week ending Jan. 12. For six consecutive weeks, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages -- the most popular choice among home buyers -- has averaged below 4 percent.

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
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Las Vegas NV 89113
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Friday, January 13, 2012

Foreclosure filings posted a 33 percent drop in 2011, falling to their lowest levels since 2007, RealtyTrac reports.

According to the National Association of Realtors, "During 2011, one in every 69 homes received a foreclosure filing and 804,000 homes were repossessed — compared to 1.05 million homes that were repossessed during the foreclosure crisis peak in 2010, according to RealtyTrac.

"Foreclosures have plagued many communities, putting downward pressure on overall home prices. In the past five years, more than 4 million homes have been lost to foreclosure.

"So is the worst finally over for the housing market?

"Not yet, analysts say. Banks took more time to process foreclosures last year, which explains some of the declines, housing analysts note. In fact, the average process time for a foreclosure rose to 348 days in the fourth quarter, up from 305 days one year prior.

"RealtyTrac CEO Brandon Moore says that while he expects foreclosures to increase in 2012, he also expects foreclosures to  stay well below the 2010 peak. Refinancing programs, such as the government’s Home Affordable Modification Program, are helping more borrowers lower their payments and avoid foreclosure, Moore says.

"Still, the biggest problems with foreclosures remains centered in certain areas, particularly where investors helped drive up home prices during the housing boom. For example, Nevada remains the No. 1 foreclosure hot-spot, in which one out of every 16 households received some kind of default notice during 2011. Arizona and California also are continuing to face some of the highest foreclosure rates in the country too, according to RealtyTrac data."

The Eckerman Group
Real Estate and Wealth Building Education
7345 South Durango Drive
Suite B107 #13
Las Vegas NV 89113
(702)900-9372
info@theeckermangroup.com