Sunday, December 24, 2006

The Gift that Keeps on Giving!!!

You may have been thinking Holidays and sugar plums, but thousands of homeowners have been thinking refis, rate reductions, cash-outs, and money-saving debt consolidations.


Thirty year fixed rates slipped blow 6 percent two weeks ago, and although they've rebounded slightly, they are still nearly a percentage point below where they wee last summer.
fifteen-year fixed rate loans in the mid-to upper 5-percent range are readily available to applicants with solid credit.
Today 's rates make a lot of sense if:
  • You've got a piggyback" first and second mortgage package that was originally intended to let you purchase your house with a minimal or zero down payment while avoiding mortgage insurance premiums.
  • You've got an adjustable-rate mortgage that's facing a "reset" into higher payments in the six months ahead.
  • You need cash for a home improvement project, a business investment or to buy a vacation home that's now available at a bargain price.

"this (boom) has legs. this is not head fake, it's real" because mortgage money at 6 percent offers such exceptional problem-solving opportunities.

Cash out refis cost money. But your 6.l percent fixed rate -- not far above 40- year records lows -- should still look good years from now.


Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Housing Rebounds!!

Economic News!!!! Construction of new homes and apartments increased by 6.7 % in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.588 million units. Federal Reserve officials last week left interest rates unchanged at their final meeting of the year.

Clark County/SW Washington November number per RMLS show the number of new listings is down 14.9% when comparing November 2006 to November 2005. Closed sales were down 19% in the same period. However, the average sales price climbed 13.6% ($291,400 v. $256,600). Median sales price increased 15.6% ($225,000 v. $220,500)...In November we had inventory of 7.0 Months, with an Average Market Time of 73 days, compared to 47 in November 2005.



In these months, energy prices were falling sharply, a situation that reversed in November....