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Mortgage Rates drop to record lows for those who qualify

November 30th, 2009 3:21 PM

Two weekly reports show Christmas has arrived early for mortgage borrowers, with rates at or near record lows.

In its survey for the week ending today, home-loan buyer Freddie Mac said the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage had dropped to 4.78%, tying a record set last April. The survey assumes borrowers have good credit, a 20% down payment or 20% equity if it’s a refinance, and pay 0.7% of the loan balance in upfront fees and discount points to their lender.

Rates for 15-year fixed-rate loans were the lowest ever in Freddie’s survey, averaging 4.32% with 0.6% in fees and points. Details about the methodology and other types of loans are in the release on the website of the McLean, Va., company.

BankRate.com, the North Palm Beach, Fla., financial information firm, is showing average rates at an even 5%, the lowest ever for its survey of large lenders. The mortgages in the survey had an average of 0.4 origination and discount points.

Details in today’s announcement include the following caveat/observation from BankRate’s Holden Lewis:

“The good news is that mortgage rates are so low. The bad news is that unemployment is high and rising, causing more homeowners to fall behind on their mortgage payments. As a result, it’s harder to get a mortgage because lenders are tightening their underwriting standards — for example, requiring bigger down payments and scrutinizing borrowers’ finances.”

Another bad sign for housing in recent weeks has been dwindling applications for loans to purchase homes, perhaps because buyers thought an $8,000 federal tax credit program for first-time buyers would expire.

But with Congress having extended the tax credit and broadened it to include a $6,500 credit for trade-up buyers, the Mortgage Bankers Assn. said today that purchase applications rose 9.6% last week after accounting for seasonal factors. That reversed six straight weeks of purchase-loan declines in the association’s weekly surveys.

The bankers association said that, overall, the seasonally adjusted volume of loan applications was down 4.5% from the previous week as efforts to refinance homes dropped off.

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:21 PM

Customer Sevice in Todays Real Estate Market

November 30th, 2009 4:22 PM

In a booming economy, you’ll find real estate agents who use the “Vanna White” approach to selling a home; that is, showing off the features of a property and little else. And in a hot market, an agent can get away with that type of sales technique.

When market conditions are like those we’ve experienced recently, however, it’s the true real estate professionals, like Chris Tryon, who really stand out. In today’s market, innovative thinking, innovative attitude, and the highest level of customer service is what a buyer or seller not only expects but absolutely must have in order to complete a transaction efficiently and to every party’s satisfaction.

The necessity – as well as the desirability – of using a professional Realtor who provides exceptional customer service is underscored by a recent survey conducted by J.D. Power and Associates. Their second annual Home Buyer/Seller Study (7/30/09), measured customer satisfaction through the course of the home-buying and home-selling process.

Three criteria were considered in the homebuyer study: agent, office, and availability of additional services. What mattered most to the respondents was the agent (47%),followed by the office (27%), and the package of services (25%).

For home sellers, four factors were examined. Here, the agent and the marketing package were tied for most important(34% each), followed by the office (17%), and extra services (15%).

It is interesting to note that in the year since the firststudy, the importance of extra services increased 12 percent for buyers and 8 percent for sellers.

Jim Howland, Senior Director of the Real Estate and Construction Practice at J.D. Power commented, “In a tight market, every aspect of service offered will be scrutinized very closely.”

Chris Tryon, prides himself on the array of services he can make available to his clients, including home warranties for buyers and sellers, pre-inspections, and home staging. In addition, his marketing package for sellers is one of the best in the industry.

In addition, Chris has a thorough understanding of the many steps in the process of buying or selling a home. Chris has an intimate knowledge of the communities they work in and can offer exceptional guidance about schools, community life, government, and all the other things prospective buyers need to know.

The J.D. Power survey is national in scope and therefore only ranks the largest national real estate companies.

Chris feels that, based on what the study revealed about what is most important to consumers, he stacks up very well. His many satisfied customers reinforce that claim.

To Find out more about ChrisTryon's OutstandingMarketing Package.

Contact him today!

Chris Tryon is a Real Estate Professional Licensed in MA. and NH. Chris has over 9 years Real Estate experience and is known for his solid reputation in the Merrick Valley and Southern NH Real Estate Markets.

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 4:22 PM

Administration Encourages Mortgage Relief

November 30th, 2009 3:56 PM

Administration Encourages Mortgage Relief
The U.S. government is expected to announce a plan Monday that will put increased pressure on mortgage companies to modify loans for troubled borrowers.

Under the current $75 billion Treasury program, companies that lower payments for troubled borrowers collect $1,000 initially from the government for each loan and subsequently get $1,000 annually for up to three years. The new program is expected to withhold payment on those fees until the mortgage companies make the mortgage modifications permanent.

The new plan also has programs that will encourage mortgage companies to expedite the loan modification process, according to Treasury spokeswoman Meg Reilly.

Source: The Associated Press, Martin Crutsinger (11/30/2009)

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:56 PM

Wealthy Investors Are Eyeing Real Estate

November 30th, 2009 3:40 PM

Wealthy Investors Are Eyeing Real Estate
The wealthier the investor, the more money they plan to put in real estate compared to the amount they have earmarked for stocks and bonds, according to Barclays Plc global survey. Investors believe real estate will yield better returns.

Twice as many people with more than $800,000 to invest plan to increase their investment in commercial and residential property compared to those who plan to reduce it, Barclay’s study reported.

Overall, investment in real estate among wealthy individuals is set to rise to 30 percent of the average portfolio from 28 percent now, according to the survey. That excludes properties used as a principal residence.

Source: Bloomberg, Peter Woodifield (11/30/2009)

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:40 PM

Predictions on Future Mortgage Rates

November 30th, 2009 3:30 PM

Predictions on Future Mortgage Rates
What will happen to mortgage rates if the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage-backed securities next March?

If and when that program ends, mortgage rates will rise, but most financial observers say it is very likely they won’t skyrocket.

Keith Gumbinger, a vice president at financial publishers HSH Associates, predicts that the end of Fed intervention will push rates up about three-quarters of a point for a 30-year conforming loan–somewhere in the mid-5 percent range. By late 2010, Gumbinger says the rate will be closer to 6 percent.

Michael Larson, a real estate analyst at Weiss Research, is dubious that the Fed will actually end the program. He contends that the Fed will continue buying mortgage backed-securities as long as the housing recovery is tenuous. And as long as the Fed continues to dominate that market, “we’re not really going to move the needle on rates,” Larson says.

Source: Smart Money, Lisa Scherzer (11/30/2009)

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:30 PM

New Home Sales Rise in October

November 30th, 2009 3:27 PM

New Home Sales Rise in October
New home sales rose 6.2 percent in October compared to September, according to a report released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

This increase was 5.1 percent above the October 2008 level.

"New-home sales are what I am focusing on because they are the ones that are going to drive" gross domestic product, said Cameron Findlay, chief economist at LendingTree.com.

The median sale price of new homes was $212,200 in October with an estimated 239,000 units available at the end of that month, a 6.7-month inventory, according to the government.

Source: The Los Angeles Times, Alejandro Lazo (11/26/2009)

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:27 PM

Existing Home Sales Record Another Big Gain , Inventories Continue to Shrink

November 30th, 2009 3:15 PM

Click the link below to view report

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid52223491001?bctid=52260567001

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 3:15 PM

Selling your Home during the Holidays

November 30th, 2009 2:37 PM

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 30th, 2009 2:37 PM

Just Listed! 128 Shore Drive Salem, NH 03079

November 19th, 2009 5:40 PM

$329,500.00
128 Shore Drive

Salem, NH 03079

Beds: 3	Rooms: 0
Full Baths: 2	Sq. Ft.: 2276
Garage: 0	Built: 1990

This is a new listing that
I thought you might be
interested in. Visit this
listing online to see more
photos of the property,
Google Earth satellite
images, and much more.

If you have any questions
about this property or
require more information,
please feel free to call.

Christopher Tryon
Innovative Realty
18007468448
www.ctryonrealestate.com

Visit this listing here

Posted by Christopher Tryon on November 19th, 2009 5:40 PM