What are prices going to do this Spring?

Here is another great article from KCM crew...m-m-m..makes you think..doesn't it????

"We believe that things are usually as they seem. We are not the type of organization that believes in conspiracies. However, there is something interesting in some of the housing price studies we are seeing in our research. It seems that some of the groups making the predictions are the same ones that have the greatest power to affect the prices they are projecting.
Most housing analysts warn that the heaviest downward pressure on prices will be created by distressed properties and the speed at which they will be released to the market. Research shows that ‘short sales’ sell at a 20% discount and foreclosures sell at a whopping 40% discount. Obviously, when and how much discounted real estate enters the market will have a major impact on prices of surrounding properties.

Back to our research

We are now seeing that a certain segment of those projecting future pricing have two things in common:

1. They believe prices will fall rather dramatically in the first half of 2011
2. They have control of the flow of discounted properties to the market

Predictions for the first half of 2011 by firms that fall in the above category:

• Bank of America projects that prices will fall 3.7%
• Fannie Mae predicts that median prices will drop $12,500
• Wells Fargo reported that they feel home prices will drop 8%

Not a coincidence

"We are beginning to realize this is not a coincidence. The organizations which should best know when the surge of foreclosures will be released are saying house prices will be hit the hardest in the first half of the year. We are not asserting that there is anything devious in what we have found. We are just reporting that those who have control over the flow of distressed properties must think/know that inventory is about to be released. Why else would so many of them be predicting a sharp decline in home values in the next 120 days?

Bottom Line

If you currently have your house on the market and are hoping that you will see a better price after the snow melts or the temperature warms up (aka Spring), BE CAREFUL! Those in the know are warning you the best price might be attained TODAY!"
Call me today! I am here to help you!
Judy 
www.JudyGibbonsProperties.com

The New Foreclosure Mess: What it means to you by KCM Crew

 

Last week, we reported on the beginnings of the mess the banks created by using ‘robo-signers’ to fast track foreclosure filings. We detailed the challenge and said that “the process of foreclosing may grind to a screeching halt”. And, it has. Bank of America has announced that it has halted foreclosures in all fifty states. Other major lenders have ceased foreclosures in 23 states and some politicians are calling for a total industry-wide moratorium.

Wow..important information you need to know about foreclosures..

by The KCM Crew on October 12, 2010 ·

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Today, we want to explain what is actually taking place and what impact the situation may have on you and your family over the next several months.
Currently, many banks have ceased foreclosure procedures in all states which require a judicial process. You can find out whether your state requires such a process by visiting All Foreclosure.com which lists foreclosure procedures by state. It is our belief that all fifty states will eventually be impacted by the controversy.

How will it impact you?

That depends on where you are in the real estate process. We will look at three situations: your home is in foreclosure, you are selling or you’re buying a foreclosure.

You are a homeowner in the foreclosure process

It appears that some banks will be backing away from following through with normal foreclosure processes until they can be assured that their paperwork is in order. Early estimates are calling for a potential 30-90 delay to many foreclosure procedures (notices, repossessions, sales, etc.) However, there is absolutely no way for anyone to be sure whether your particular situation will be delayed.

You are currently selling a house

We have reported often on the affect foreclosures have on home prices in a community. The actual impact is measurable.
According to RealtyTrac, bank-owned properties went for an average of 35% less than non-foreclosure sales. Foreclosures not only absorb buyers but also impact the appraisals of the homes that surround them.
Obviously, if there are less distressed properties coming to the market, there will be less downward pressure on pricing in the short term. The Washington Post, in an article last week, reported:

Stretching out the foreclosure process would reduce the number of houses dumped on the market over the next six months, which could help firm up housing prices in the short term and put some extra support under a sagging economy.

There may be a window of opportunity for a seller to maximize the price they receive for their home if they sell in the next 90 days.

You are currently buying a foreclosure

A portion of the inventory of foreclosed homes on the market has been frozen. Banks and title companies (who insure good title to the property a buyer purchases) want to make sure the bank actually owns the property legally before they sell it.
The Washington Post in an article last week reported:

Nick Chaconas, a Maryland real estate agent, said he was one week from completing a foreclosure deal for one client, who was buying a $470,000 fixer-upper in Potomac, when an e-mail arrived putting the deal on the skids.
The e-mail, from the title insurance company involved in the deal, said the mortgage lender PNC was suspending foreclosure sales for at least 30 days “due to a review being undertaken on all foreclosure files.”

If you are buying a foreclosure, anticipate potential delays. We do not believe there will be large numbers of cancellations. Be patient and realize that you are getting a substantial savings on the purchase.

How long will the challenge persist?

The impact this will have on the housing recovery will be determined by both the depth and width of the challenge. Are there large numbers of homes that were mistakenly foreclosed on? We doubt it. Will the instances where errors (or even fraud) did exist cause mass delays? Maybe.
Peter J. Henning who follows issues involving securities law and white-collar crime for DealBook’s White Collar Watch explained:

The revelation of potential problems stretching across the foreclosure landscape means that civil suits against the parties to the process are inevitable. In individual foreclosure proceedings, homeowners would probably challenge any attempt to take title to the property, which may allow them to remain in their houses a while longer, or even stop the proceeding altogether.
On a larger scale, there are likely to be two potential classes of plaintiffs pursuing civil suits against the banks and others for their roles: first, homeowners who earlier lost their properties to foreclosure in which questionable documents were filed, and second, title insurance companies that may be on the hook for claims by purchasers of foreclosed properties who now have a cloud on the title to their house. Each may claim that the faulty documentation in the foreclosure cases caused them harm.

If class actions suits start to dominate this story, it could be a long time before we normalize the situation.

How will it impact the market overall?

There could be widespread ramifications. The Washington Post in an article last week:

It would not help the recovery of the economy, or the real estate market, if the foreclosure process became so hopelessly tangled that banks and investors effectively lose the ability to recoup the remaining value of their collateral. That would provide some immediate financial relief to households facing foreclosure, but it would encourage many more homeowners to begin shirking their mortgage payments in the belief that they would also be able to avoid the consequences. The long term consequences of that would be that mortgage rates would be higher and mortgage loans would be smaller and harder to get.

Bottom Line

As we said last week, fewer foreclosures coming to the market right now will mean prices will be less impacted. However, these properties will eventually come to market; if not now, than later. That will delay the housing recovery – perhaps for years.

NAR Reports Existing U.S. Home Sales Rise 7.6% in August Posted by Michael Gerrity 09/23/10

Read this uplifting article written by Michael Gerrity

"According to the National Association of Realtors, Existing-home sales rose in August following a big correction in July, according to Existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in August from an upwardly revised 3.84 million in July, but remain 19.0 percent below the 5.10 million-unit pace in August 2009.

Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said home sales still remain subpar. "The housing market is trying to recover on its own power without the home buyer tax credit. Despite very attractive affordability conditions, a housing market recovery will likely be slow and gradual because of lingering economic uncertainty," Yun said.

According to Freddie Mac, the national average commitment rate for a 30-year, conventional, fixed-rate mortgage fell to a record low 4.43 percent in August from 4.56 percent in July; the rate was 5.19 percent in August 2009.

Yun added, "Home values have shown stabilizing trends over the past year, even as the economy shed millions of jobs, because of the home buyer tax credit stimulus. Now that the economy is adding some jobs, the housing market needs to steadily improve and eventually stand on its own."

The national median existing-home price for all housing types was $178,600 in August, up 0.8 percent from a year ago. Distressed homes rose to 34 percent of sales in August from 32 percent in July; they were 31 percent in August 2009.

NAR President Vicki Cox Golder, owner of Vicki L. Cox & Associates in Tucson, Ariz., said consumers have been getting mixed signals about the housing market. "People understand the good affordability conditions with stable home prices in most areas, but they're concerned about the economy and speculation on Wall Street," she said. "We need to stick with the facts about the long-term value of homeownership and avoid unrealistic assessments. Tight credit and slow short sales are ongoing problems - expediting short sales will help the market to recover more quickly."

Total housing inventory at the end of August slipped 0.6 percent to 3.98 million existing homes available for sale, which represents an 11.6-month supply at the current sales pace, down from a 12.5-month supply in July.

A parallel NAR practitioner survey shows first-time buyers purchased 31 percent of homes in August, down from 38 percent in July. Investors rose to a 21 percent market share in August from 19 percent in July; the balance of purchases were by repeat buyers. All-cash sales slipped to 28 percent in August from 30 percent in July.

Single-family home sales rose 7.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.62 million in August from a level of 3.37 million in July, but are 19.2 percent lower than the 4.48 million level in August 2009. The median existing single-family home price was $179,300 in August, up 1.2 percent from a year ago.

Single-family median existing-home prices were higher in 10 out of 19 metropolitan statistical areas reported in August from a year ago (the price in one of 20 tracked markets was not available). Existing single-family home sales were down in all 20 metro areas from August 2009.

Existing condominium and co-op sales increased 8.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 510,000 in August from 470,000 in July, but are 17.1 percent below the 615,000-unit pace in August 2009. The median existing condo price was $174,000 in August, which is 2.8 percent below a year ago.

Regionally, existing-home sales in the Northeast rose 7.9 percent to an annual level of 680,000 in August but are 24.4 percent below August 2009. The median price in the Northeast was $260,300, up 7.6 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the Midwest increased 5.0 percent in August to a pace of 840,000 but are 26.3 percent below a year ago. The median price in the Midwest was $149,600, up 0.4 percent from August 2009.

In the South, existing-home sales rose 5.2 percent to an annual level of 1.62 million in August but are 13.4 percent below August 2009. The median price in the South was $155,000, down 1.5 percent from a year ago.

Existing-home sales in the West jumped 13.8 percent to an annual pace of 990,000 in August but are 16.1 percent lower than August 2009. The median price in the West was $214,700, which is 2.5 percent below a year ago."


Remember I am here to help! Call me with any real estate questions!

Cheers,

"Anything is Possible" by Deana DiIaconi

Believe in Yourself, and Remember that Anything Is Possible Believe in what makes you feel good. Believe in what makes you happy. Believe in the dreams you've always wanted to come true, and give them every chance to. Life holds no promises as to what will come your way. You must search for your own ideals and work towards reaching them. Life makes no guarantees as to what you'll have. It just gives you time to make choices and to take chances and to discover whatever secrets might come your way. If you are willing to take the opportunities you are given and utilize the abilities you have, you will constantly fill your life with special moments and unforgettable times. No one knows the mysteries of life or its ultimate meaning, but for those who are willing to believe in their dreams and in themselves, life is a precious gift in which anything is possible. ~ Dena DiIaconi ~

Keep believing..and enjoy whatever "Season" you are in!
Cheers,

Back Away from your TV and throw the Newspaper out!

Ok..Let's just face it..Sometimes, maybe most of the time..The news wants to shock us! So..I say "Don't Listen"...I have uploaded the latest figures from Barrington..sorry it's a little tough to read but take a minute and look at the numbers... Since July 2008 to July 2010 109 more homes sold! That's a 10.7% increase. Homes Under Contract is up 2.5% and Sold is up 24.4%. Are we back to the "good ole days"??? NO...will we ever be??? M-m-m not so sure..but one of the lessons we can all learn is your home is not and should not be considered your piggy bank!

The 5 dumbest Reasons Given for Not Buying a Home

This is such a great article written by Steve Harney..I just had to share it!

"It is so easy to kick someone who is down. It doesn’t take much effort and there is little fear of retaliation. Many people are jumping on the band wagon riding against homeownership in this country. People are pontificating on every aspect. Whether it is pricing or the more intrinsic values of owning a home doesn’t seem to matter. Some believe that homeownership is bad for you and maybe even bad for the country. Are these people crazy? A few years of a down market does not wipe out over 200 years of American real estate history.

Owning your own home is as much a part of the American dream today as it was when my great grandparents entered this country. There are people flocking to America every day with the hope that they too will be able to someday purchase their own home: a place where they can raise their families and invite their friends; a place where they can build the memories that become the family stories that will be passed down from generation to generation. Each Wednesday for the next five weeks I am going to take one of the five dumbest reasons people use to explain why you shouldn’t buy a home today. We will start today with:

Dumb Reason #1: Real Estate is no longer a good investment

There is no doubt that houses in this country have lost substantial value over the last five years. We could make the argument that the purchase of a home should not be looked at as a financial decision. However, that would just embolden those who make this argument. We will, instead, take this subject on directly. The naysayers love to shout: If you think real estate is a good investment, ask someone who bought in 2006. They are 100% correct. People who bought a home in 2006 and need to sell it today could lose as much as 25-30% of its value.

However, a person who placed money in the Dow in 2007 and sold it in January 2009 would have lost 49.3%. Even if they sold today they would still be at a 26.7% loss. Does that mean that we should never again invest in stocks? If someone bought gold at the end of 1987 and sold it in 2000 they would have lost approximately 50% of their investment. I am sure there were people in 2000 who decried gold as an investment when it dropped to almost $250 an ounce. I hope people didn’t listen as gold is now trading for over $1,200 an ounce.

It bothers me when people look at just the monetary price of a home. Its value is so much more than that. Your house provides shelter and a place to spend time with friends and family. Yet, your home also is expected to provide a return on investment. What other big ticket item that we buy do we expect that from? We don’t expect cars to appreciate. We don’t expect a boat to appreciate. But, if a return is what you are looking for, let’s compare housing to the stock market. Not in short term intervals but over the long run. Here is the percentage return you would have on May 31, 2010 if you invested money in each of these instruments on January 1, 2000:

Real Estate was the best investment even throughout one of the most difficult decades in American homeownership."
 When you see these numbers..it speaks loud and clear. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR???
Please call me with any questions you may have about Real Estate..I am here to help!
Cheers,

Home Sale information for Barrington...still ahead of last year!

Great information...Sometimes when you are  watching the news..you are not really getting the correct information for our "neck of the woods" For instance...sales in our Multiple Listing Service are actually up!!

"Annualized Existing Home Sales for June dropped 5.1% from May, but were still 9.8% above the pace a year ago, according to a report released by NAR today.  “June home sales still reflect a tax credit impact with some sales not closed due to delays, which will show up in the next two months.  Only when jobs are created at a sufficient pace will home sales return to sustainable, healthy levels,”  said Lawrence Yun, NAR Chief Economist.

“Despite market swings, total annual home sales are rising above 2009,” said NAR President Vicki Cox Golder.

Note:  The RE/MAX National Housing Report on 54 metro areas, which is not annualized, showed a 5.6% increase over June 2009 sales.

June Annualized Existing Home Sales

	June 2010	May 2010	1 Mo Change	June 2009	1 Year Change
National	5.37mil	5.66mil	-5.1%	4.89mil	+9.8%
Northeast	.960mil	.890mil	+7.9%	.820mil	+17.1%
Midwest	1.23mil	1.33mil	-7.5%	1.10mil	+11.8%
South	2.01mil	2.15mil	-6.5%	1.81mil	+11.0%
West	1.17mil	1.29mil	-9.3%	1.16mil	+0.9%

June Inventory Levels

1.       Total residential inventory = + 2.5% to 3.99 million homes

2.       Months Supply = 8.9 months up from 8.3 in May

June Median Sales Price

1.       National All Residential = $183,700, which is 1.0% higher than June 2009

June Survey

1.       Distressed homes were 32% of all sales up from 31% in May

2.       First Time Buyers purchased 43% of all homes, down from 46% in May

3.       Investors accounted for 13% of all sales down from 14% in May

4.       All-Cash deals were 24% down from 25% in May

5.       30 yr fixed average = 4.74% down from 4.89% in May and 5.42% a year ago.

(National average commitment rate from Freddie Mac)


So folks...if you want to know what is happening in "our neck of the woods" call Judy!
cheers!