listings

spring has sprung and so has the inventory - some great listings on the market, looks like prices have finally bottomed out we are seeing some actual appreciation in the market, appraisals are coming in at higher prices, interest rates have gone back down to the lows they had gone up a little but have settled back in. A great time to buy or sell

Change

The Sold Team has officially become the Sold Team of Prudential Bob Yost Home Sale Services. After a really long time under the Century 21 Banner we decided looking at available tools, direction of the company, market share etc. it was the place to be!! Same great people, location, services, contact information, experience, but with a lot more tools, and staff to do what we do better than anyone else. We look forward to the rewards of this change and the enhanced services we will be able to offer.

Warm up

Well the weather is set to warm up, even though right now the weatherman is calling for 3-9 inches of snow, but with the warmth comes the market.  we are seeing properties that have been on the market for a while going under agreement, and short sales and foreclosures are starting to become less prevalent, Rates are still holding and despite all of the experts rates are going up somewhat but they are still unbelievably low, while I don't think we will see the craziness again homes are selling, and the market is improving, if Washington will stay out of the way.  Quality is back in style, optimistically looking forward.

what are you still waiting for?

OK the super bowl is over, excuse 1 gone, weather pretty good, excuse 2 gone, Rates lowest our lifetime, excuse 3 gone. Not sure whats going on? Well there is a lot of misinformation out there - there are some rules to getting a mortgage but it is not the root canal people think it is. Got a job? saved any money, not a lot but some? paid your bills on time? guess what you probably can get a mortgage and at the rates out there for way less than rent and you can lock it in for a long time- cheap money.... and there are still programs to help people buy and prices have stabilized so don't think they will go much lower if at all - excuse 4 gone........

thats it for 12

well 2012 draws to an end, we'll see what 13 holds? fiscal cliff? recovery? rates? inflation? right now rates are at almost historical lows, inventory has started to reduce, prices are starting to stabilize even more and actually go up some- banks still have not gotten the short sale down, banks also don't have the incentive to move properties as some are still getting incentives to hold the properties but all in all there appears to be light- lets hope its not a train!!! come on 13.....

What are you waiting for?

well we now have the fiscal cliff looming but rates have still held- not sure how long the federal government can continue to buy bonds and keep the rates low - we keep hearing rates cant go up cant afford it - but there will be a time when the lenders will want their money and as things improve whether slow or quicker rates will go up fast. if you buy now and lock in at unbelievable 15 and 30 yr fixed rates you got CHEAP money. yes you may not get for your house what you would have several years back but your not going to pay what you would have for that move up house that you would have years ago. if you sit on the fence too long you may just end up with a fence post in the wrong spot!!!!

The Morning After

It's over the no more phone calls, TV ads, radio ads, mailers, talking heads etc. - now what? time to watch. without getting on a soap box some issues that may affect you: homeowner interest deduction- talk of getting rid of this, one of the incentives to own your own home - build equity save on taxes.  capital gains talk of increasing the rate on gains this also affects the housing market - if investors have to pay over 50% on the gain it takes away the incentive of buying - so more houses on the market more vacant- more distressed lower housing values. Regulations - one of my favorite - first we had to increase the number of people who could buy houses, now new guidelines, regulations, laws every day - have a client who wants to get a $40,000 mortgage wants to put a good chunk down bank cant do the loan because it now falls under high cost loan and the bank can't do it on regular terms, another client has a line of credit on his house wants to take a out a long term mortgage with 50% equity has to pay a higher rate because that is now a cash out refiance to pay the bank back and take a mortgage out. VA talking about seller not being able to pay as much closing costs - want the banks to do it but they can't pick up that amount goes against the guidelines, veterans who deserve a break especially when they all come home may be punished even more than the sacrifice they have already made? almost every economist says the real estate industry and housing is the cornerstone of our economy... ????