Yearly Archives 2009

Mixed News as Bonds and Mortgage Rates Flip Flop

Jobs Report indicates improvement ___________________________________________ Last Friday’s Jobs Report indicated surprising results.  Instead of 125,000 job losses that were expected, the Labor Department reported only 11,000 jobs lost in November.  And if that were not enough, the Unemployment Rate improved to 10% – down from 10.2%.  It was also reported that the previous two months were revised to 159,000 fewer job losses than previously reported…strange, how the initial reports can be so skewed. Stocks were up sharply on the news, but have recently fallen back from comments from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke.  The Fed Chief commented that inflation will remain
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University of Houston does Foreclosure Study

A new study at the University of Houston Center for Public Policy (CPP) researched foreclosures in Houston and pin-pointed those areas, giving us a map of any troubled areas within the city. The National Science Foundation  awarded nearly $200K or the “Houston Region Foreclosure Study: A Panel Survey” to study segments of the Houston housing market and foreclosures. A panel survey examines a population place-or both-over a period of time. This survey design is useful for uncovering emerging patterns that inform basic research and policymakers. The purpose of the study is not necessarily to pin-point areas that have the most
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Increase Your Website Search Rankings!

OK – This has nothing to do with Real Estate or the markets in Houston, Friendswood, League City, Kemah, Clear Lake, The Heights, The Woodlands, etc., but…. if you want your website to increase its SEO,    place a link from your website to this one  (either at www.SellThisPlaceNow.com or to www.SellThisPlaceNow.com/blog.html Then, comment on this page below with your details and the page on which your link to this site is found, and you will receive a link from this site’s blog to your site! Note:  Your site cannot contain inappropriate material or reciprocal link will not be generated.
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Friendswood Texas Real Estate is Strong

Friendswood, Texas continues to be “The Place to Live”.  Named several years in the top 100 places to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine (2009 rank: 32), Folks continue to demand Friendswood because of the extraordinary school district, trees, lot sizes, location, amenities, proximity to infrastructure & overall enjoyability of lifestyle. Also,  I had previously predicted, the Houston Metro real estate market would have a decent 4th quarter = and Friendswood in particular. Friendswood, Texas (SE – between Houston & Galveston) currently has 191 listings for sale in the F.I.S.D.    Of those, 17.3% are pending sale (32 pending).  Whereas
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Investment Opportunities Come with Problems

Houston’s real estate market today presents some very unique opportunities……and some problems, but if you were able to read the market you’re probably doing just fine. Foreclosures, short sales and high inventories are just some of the investor’s delights.  High inventory usually means lower prices.  Couple that with the foreclosures and short sales and there is an assortment of homes from which an investor can choose. That is – If that investor gets there first before the swarm of new “would-be” investors that have sprung up on the market and those “…buy decrepit homes” companies.  For every foreclosure home on
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Helping Homeowners avoid Foreclosure

“Housing Counselors” received more than $400,000,000.00 in federal funds to help against the mortgage crisis. Those counselors help troubled homeowners avoid foreclosure and lower their monthly payments. Borrowers facing foreclosure are 62% more likely to avoid the disaster if they receive counseling. Borrowers who  received some sort of  loan modifications were able to reduce their monthly payments approximately $400 lower than those who did not receive counseling. So far more than three quarters of a millon homeowners have received counseling  which is administered by NeighborWorks America.  The counselors reviewed borrowers’ income and expenses to determine whether they could  afford to
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