Monthly Archives: March 2010

A surprisingly strong rebound in California’s real estate market helped lift a key home price index for the eighth month in a row. That’s good news for people who plan to sell their homes this spring. Prices are now up … Continue reading →

Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index Wednesday. The report shows that, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, between December and January, home prices rose in more than half of the index’s tracked markets. The strength of this month’s Case-Shiller report, however, … Continue reading →

Starting Monday, April 5, 2010, getting an FHA mortgage will be more expensive for borrowers. In new guidelines set forth earlier this year, the FHA announced plans to raise additional revenue and reduce the overall risk of its mortgage portfolio. … Continue reading →

Short Sales are Rapidly Becoming Both Easier and Faster NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Short sales are the hottest thing going in the distressed-property market, and the trend is expected to get even hotter in coming weeks, when the government starts … Continue reading →

Mortgage markets tanked last week, raising rates to their highest levels in a month. Most of the losses occurred Wednesday in what was the worst 1-day mortgage market performance in more than 6 months. Even Friday’s rally could barely dent … Continue reading →

Economists at IHS Global Insight and PNC Financial conclude that Orange County homes were priced 5.6% too low in 2009's fourth quarter. Comparing local house-sale prices to historical real estate and economic trends, IHS-PNC estimates that Orange County homes were … Continue reading →

The Administration’s Making Home Affordable Program has put a couple of great tools on their website that can help answer your questions about a possible Loan Modification. ( Part of HAMP – the Home Affordable Modification Program.) There is an … Continue reading →

There is an interesting wrinkle with the new bill just signed by Governor Schwarzenegger, regarding tax credits for California home buyers – state bill AB 183. Here is some language from that bill: “Requires buyers to close escrow between May … Continue reading →

For the 22 business days ending March 8 - DataQuick's latest homebuying report - Orange County saw For the 22 business days ending March 8 Slice Price Yr. ago Sales Yr. ago Houses $500,000 +13.6% 1,559 -4.1% Condos $288,750 +11.5% … Continue reading →

Home values fell again in January, according to the Federal Home Finance Agency’s Home Price Index. Values were reported down 0.6 percent, on average. We say “on average” because the Home Price Index is a national report. It doesn’t capture … Continue reading →