Real Estate Technology
Top Real Estate and Mortgage Headlines for March 26th
March 26, 2011 by WelcomeHomeNWI · 1 Comment
The weekend is in full swing and tonight the world will celebrate Earth Hour. What is Earth Hour? Every year individuals, businesses and communities are asked to shut off their lights for one hour to show their commitment to protect the one thing that unites us all…the planet.
Before we all collectively unplug and power down in support of Earth Hour, let’s take a minute to review what the top real estate and mortgage headlines are today according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Real Estate Web Site Traffic Jumps 27%
More Web visitors were eyeing real estate Web sites last year. Find out the most popular keyword searches when it comes to real estate. - Proposal Would Pay Defaulters to Leave Homes
The nation’s five largest mortgage service providers were asked by regulators this week to consider an industry-wide “cash-for-keys” program, in which banks would pay delinquent borrowers up to $21,000 each to leave their home. - Mortgage Rates Edge Up This Week
Still sitting below 5 percent, 30-year mortgage rates–a popular choice among home buyers–were on the rise this week but still remain at overall low levels, Freddie Mac reports. - Seller’s Market a Year Away, Survey Says
More than 61 percent of Americans say that the tables will soon turn and a real estate market where the seller’s are more in control is at least a year away, according to a new survey. - Questions Raised Over Good Faith Estimates
The lack of clarity in the revamped disclosure reforms for home buyers and borrowers can lead to delayed closings or the loss of a locked-in interest rate, says a spokeswoman for the Mortgage Bankers Association. - NAR Home Ownership Bus Tour Stops in Portland
If you are in Portland, come out for prizes, information, and fun during the Home Ownership Matters Bus Tour at the Better Living Home Garden & Lifestyle Show on Saturday, March 26.
These are the top real estate and mortgage headlines for Saturday, March 26, 2011.
Want to know how these national real estate headlines could impact you right here locally in Northwest Indiana? Subscribe to this blog, Today’s Real Estate Reality, and let our collective years of real estate experience in Northwest Indiana guide you to an informed and successful real estate transaction today.
Real Estate Technology
Top Real Estate and Mortgage Headlines for September 1st
September 1, 2010 by Cathy Mattan · 1 Comment
It’s Wednesday and it’s the start of a new month. Here is today’s top real estate headlines according to the National Association of Realtors.
- Commercial Real Estate Yields Spur Investors
Capitalization rates averaged 7.22 percent in the second quarter, or 4.29 percentage points higher than the yield on 10-year government bonds. - Housing Less Likely to Be Wealth Builder
The markets will stabilize, but some experts doubt that prices will rise faster than inflation. - Mortgage Applications Slip Slightly
The purchase index dropped 0.4 percent, but refinancings were up 2.8 percent last week as interest rates continue to fall, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. - No Class-Action Status on Phony Appraisals
A U.S. District Court refused a request for class-action status in a suit by First American Corp. shareholders who said that the stock tanked when the company was charged with colluding with Washington Mutual to inflate appraisals. - Hyperlocal Focus Is Key to Market Domination
A multi-pronged approach including online and offline marketing plans and a six-month budget can help agents boost their share of the business. - Google Invests in Low-Income Housing
The Internet giant is spending $86 million on a tax-credit fund to finance the construction of 480 affordable housing units.
These are the top real estate and mortgage headlines for today, September 1, 2010.
Want to know how these national real estate headlines could impact you right here locally in Crown Point Indiana? Subscribe to this blog, Today’s Real Estate Reality, and let my years of experience in Crown Point Indiana guide you to an informed and successful real estate transaction.
Real Estate Technology
Top Real Estate Headlines for Week Ending: August 27th
August 27, 2010 by Cathy Mattan · Leave a Comment
As we all look forward to the weekend, let’s pause for a moment to review what the top real estate and mortgage headlines were this week according to the National Association of Realtors.
- July Existing-Home Sales Fall, But Prices Rise
Home prices rose in July, though existing-home sales continued their slide following the expiration of the home buyer tax credit. - Is the Housing Slowdown a Sign of a Double-Dip?
As unemployment and mounting foreclosures continue to bind the housing market, analysts fear a slide back into recession. - Foreclosures Down, But Late Payments Up
The inventory of houses in the process of foreclosure are down for the first time since 2006, but the number of loans that are one payment late went back up. - Commercial Conditions Favor Business Growth
Rent discounts and other favorable conditions in commercial real estate markets make it a good time for expansion moves by business, an NAR report suggests. - 4 Business Tips for Social Networking Success
Are you using social networks to garner more business leads? Read tips on how to expand your reach. - Mortgage Rates Continue to Fall
Average interest on long-term mortgages hit a record low for the eighth time in nine weeks, and could go even lower. - 7 Must-Have Apps for Your Smartphone
Get ideas on some of the latest apps that can be used in your real estate business, from faxing on-the-go to creating property “reminder” tours. - Protest Rising Over Resale Charges
Some builders are now including in contracts a clause that requires buyers to pay them a 1 percent transfer fee every time the house is sold over the next 99 years. - New York Housing Bucking Trends
Inventory has dropped in half from a year ago and well-priced apartments are selling in a week. - Fannie Mae to Prohibit ‘Appraisal Cutting’
The secondary mortgage market company doesn’t want lenders to cut valuations anymore on appraisals in dispute. - Military Growth Drives Fastest Rise in Income
Jacksonville, N.C. tops the list of USA Today’s metro areas with the largest per-capita income gains from 2000 to 2009. See what other cities made the list.
These were the top real estate and mortgage headlines for the week ending August 27, 2010.
Want to know how these national headlines could impact you right here in Northwest Indiana? Subscribe to this blog, Today’s Real Estate Reality, and let our resident local market real estate experts guide you to an informed and successful real estate transaction.
Real Estate Technology
How Far Has Google Come to Help Sell Your Home
August 13, 2010 by James K Barath, CMPS · 1 Comment
Ever heard of Google? In case you’ve been living in a cave since 1997, here’s The Google Story in 2 minutes.
Did you recognize any features and/or applications that Google has released over the past 10 years? Better yet, do you use any of them? I know I certainly do. So, how can Google help sell your home faster?
Understanding patterns and trends were just the beginning for Google but it also happens to be the start point for every real estate agent. Not understanding real estate cycles and patterns in your local real estate market can lead to lost dollars and much frustration.
Think about it for a second. Why is every home offered for sale start with a comparative marketing analysis (aka CMA) and end with a valuation of property through a licensed appraiser?
The answer is simple. Home sellers and home buyers want to know which direction home prices are trending. This allows home sellers a solid foundation on how to price their home for today’s real estate market. It will also reaffirm the home buyers confidence that they did get a great deal on the purchase of a home today.
Beyond getting a grasp on real estate market trends, did you know that Google can help sell your home faster through it’s vast brand awareness and marketing prowess. It’s true.
How would anyone know that you actually wanted to sell your home if you never marketed your home for sale. They wouldn’t! Consequently, that’s why every Realtor offers to put a home for sale sign in your yard and broadcast that your home is for sale to other Realtors through the mulitple listing service (MLS).
Is this good enough in today’s real estate market? Absolutley not.
The whole premise of using a yard sign and the MLS is to get your home marketed to the largest eligible pool of home buyers. Where better to market your home for sale than on the number one website in terms of web traffic, unique visitors and page views. That’s right! Google.
If you would like to learn more about Google Tools for Real Estate Professionals, by all means buckle up and go for it. Or, you can work with a local Realtor who already knows how Google can help sell your home faster.
