Category Archives: Real Estate

optimism in the housing market

That’s a good thought as we watch the housing market, once doomed to failure, turn into a more successful enterprise. A national online real estate site surveyed more than 100 professional forecasters — economists, real estate experts, and investment and … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

New mortgage rules: ‘qualified’ gets its close-up moment

New mortgage rules set to be unveiled Thursday by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will spell out how lenders must ensure that borrowers can repay their home loans. The rules, which go into effect next January, were designed to enhance … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Homebuilders, Realtors finally playing from the same page

A recent market study by Builder Homesite Inc. (BHI) concluded that “shoppers are reluctant to navigate the homebuying process on their own and intend to work with a Realtor. The vast majority (84 percent) intend to use a Realtor (when … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Jobs gain through throes of the cliff

Private-sector employment increased by 215,000 from November to December, on a seasonally adjusted basis. (The estimated gain from October to November was revised up from the initial estimate of 118,000, to 148,000). Highlights Small businesses (1-49 employees) +25,000 Medium businesses … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Good News

… If you need some encouragement to follow the advice of the inventor of the automobile starter motor, look to last week’s November New Home Sales, UP 4.4% to a 377,000 annual rate, and now UP 15.3% versus a year ago. … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Mortgage applications rise by 6.2 percent in latest survey, due mostly to refinancing

The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 6.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. The Refinance Index increased 8 percent from the previous week and is at its highest level since … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Industrial production rebounded by 1.1 percent in November as recovery from Hurricane Sandy continues

Industrial production increased 1.1 percent in November after having fallen 0.7 percent in October. The gain in November is estimated to have largely resulted from a recovery in production for industries that had been negatively affected by Hurricane Sandy, which … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Consumer Price Index fell by 0.3 percent in November

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) declined 0.3 percent in November on a seasonally adjusted basis, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 1.8 percent before … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Freddie Mac predicts home prices will continue to rise in 2013

US house prices will continue to strengthen in 2013 with most residential real estate indice rising by 2 to 3 percent, it is claimed. Long term mortgage rates in the US are likely to remain near their record lows for … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment

Housing’s ‘ins and outs’ of 2013

Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko is on record a year ago for saying: “Even the best possible 2012 won’t get us halfway back toward normal.” That turns out to be true, but barely. Kolko outlines what he believes to be … Continue reading

Posted in Home Building, Ping.fm, Real Estate, Warranty Service | Leave a comment