30 year fixed conventional 6.25%
30 year fixed VA 6.375%
30 year fixed FHA 6.375%
30 year Jumbo 6.750%
Contact me for more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market www.tucsonhouses4you.com
Monday, October 29, 2007
Thursday, October 18, 2007
September 2007 Tucson Market Report
Once again, according to the Tucson Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service September 2007 housing report, we see an increase in new contracts opening escrow (989 units) compared to the same month in 2006. This is the fourth month this has occurred-thus supporting the belief the local Tucson real estate market has stabilized.
There is still a surplus of listing inventory (9,190) especially in specific areas of the community, which may require particular attention of the Sellers and the Listing Agents to the "up to the minute" values and the condition of the property.
The average sales price continues to climb, with September average being $279,025. However, as we see with seasonality, the median sales price showed a decline to $215,000, which should not impact the 2007 year to date median average of $220,290.
It's impossible to time any market. Right now, interest rates are very favorable, buyers have lots of options, and there are many mortgage programs available to meet the needs of today's buyers.
There is still a surplus of listing inventory (9,190) especially in specific areas of the community, which may require particular attention of the Sellers and the Listing Agents to the "up to the minute" values and the condition of the property.
The average sales price continues to climb, with September average being $279,025. However, as we see with seasonality, the median sales price showed a decline to $215,000, which should not impact the 2007 year to date median average of $220,290.
It's impossible to time any market. Right now, interest rates are very favorable, buyers have lots of options, and there are many mortgage programs available to meet the needs of today's buyers.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Tucson Real Estate Market Activity for October 10,2007
New Listings 158
Price Reductions 122
Contingent Sales 46
Pending Sales 24
Closed Sales 28
Expired Listings 26
Visit my website for more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market www.tucsonhouses4you.com
Price Reductions 122
Contingent Sales 46
Pending Sales 24
Closed Sales 28
Expired Listings 26
Visit my website for more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market www.tucsonhouses4you.com
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tucson Market Activity for October 9, 2007
New Listings 197
Price Reductions 125
Contingent Sales 44
Pending Sales 49
Closed Sales 44
Expired Listings 33
Price Reductions 125
Contingent Sales 44
Pending Sales 49
Closed Sales 44
Expired Listings 33
Friday, October 5, 2007
Tucson Market Activity for October 4, 2007
New Listings 212
Price Reductions 124
Contingent Sales 33
Pending Sales 32
Closed Sales 34
Expired Listings 30
For more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market visit my website at www.tucsonhouses4you.com or contact me nellisja@aol.com
Price Reductions 124
Contingent Sales 33
Pending Sales 32
Closed Sales 34
Expired Listings 30
For more information on the Tucson Real Estate Market visit my website at www.tucsonhouses4you.com or contact me nellisja@aol.com
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Tucson Market Activity for October 3, 2007
New Listings 151
Price Reductions 130
Contingent Sales 35
Pending Sales 14
Closed Sales 36
Expired Listings 37
Contact me for more information on Tucson Real Estate. www.tucsonhouses4you.com
Price Reductions 130
Contingent Sales 35
Pending Sales 14
Closed Sales 36
Expired Listings 37
Contact me for more information on Tucson Real Estate. www.tucsonhouses4you.com
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tucson Market Activity for October 2, 2007
New Listings 167
Price Reductions 119
Contingent Sales 36
Pending Sales 32
Closed Sales 36
Expired Listings 24
Contact me for more information on Tucson's Real Estate Market.
Price Reductions 119
Contingent Sales 36
Pending Sales 32
Closed Sales 36
Expired Listings 24
Contact me for more information on Tucson's Real Estate Market.
TIPS ON AVOIDING FORECLOSURE
The following advice is from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
If you are unable to make your mortgage payment:
1. Don't ignore the problem.The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and the more likely that you will lose your house.
2. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem.Lenders do not want your house. They have options to help borrowers through difficult financial times.
3. Open and respond to all mail from your lender.The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure prevention options that can help you weather financial problems. Later mail may include important notice of pending legal action. Your failure to open the mail will not be an excuse in foreclosure court.
4. Know your mortgage rights.Find your loan documents and read them so you know what your lender may do if you can't make your payments. Learn about the foreclosure laws and timeframes in your state (as every state is different) by contacting the State Government Housing Office.
5. Understand foreclosure prevention options.Valuable information about foreclosure prevention (also called loss mitigation) options can be found on the internet at www.fha.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm.
6. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds free or very low cost housing counseling nationwide. Housing counselors can help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance. Find a HUD-approved housing counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287 or TTY (800) 877-8339.
7. Prioritize your spending.After healthcare, keeping your house should be your first priority. Review your finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage payment. Look for optional expenses-cable TV, memberships, entertainment-that you can eliminate. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt until you have paid your mortgage.
8. Use your assets. Do you have assets-a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that you can sell for cash to help reinstate your loan? Can anyone in your household get an extra job to bring in additional income? Even if these efforts don't significantly increase your available cash or your income, they demonstrate to your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home.
9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies. You don't need to pay fees for foreclosure prevention help-use that money to pay the mortgage instead. Many for-profit companies will contact you promising to negotiate with your lender. While these may be legitimate businesses, they will charge you a hefty fee (often two or three month's mortgage payment) for information and services your lender or a HUD approved housing counselor will provide free if you contact them.10. Don't lose your house to foreclosure recovery scams!If any firm claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may well be signing over the title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home! Never sign a legal document without reading and understanding all the terms and getting professional advice from an attorney, a trusted real estate professional, or a HUD approved housing counselor.
If you are unable to make your mortgage payment:
1. Don't ignore the problem.The further behind you become, the harder it will be to reinstate your loan and the more likely that you will lose your house.
2. Contact your lender as soon as you realize that you have a problem.Lenders do not want your house. They have options to help borrowers through difficult financial times.
3. Open and respond to all mail from your lender.The first notices you receive will offer good information about foreclosure prevention options that can help you weather financial problems. Later mail may include important notice of pending legal action. Your failure to open the mail will not be an excuse in foreclosure court.
4. Know your mortgage rights.Find your loan documents and read them so you know what your lender may do if you can't make your payments. Learn about the foreclosure laws and timeframes in your state (as every state is different) by contacting the State Government Housing Office.
5. Understand foreclosure prevention options.Valuable information about foreclosure prevention (also called loss mitigation) options can be found on the internet at www.fha.gov/foreclosure/index.cfm.
6. Contact a HUD-approved housing counselor.The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds free or very low cost housing counseling nationwide. Housing counselors can help you understand the law and your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender if you need this assistance. Find a HUD-approved housing counselor near you or call (800) 569-4287 or TTY (800) 877-8339.
7. Prioritize your spending.After healthcare, keeping your house should be your first priority. Review your finances and see where you can cut spending in order to make your mortgage payment. Look for optional expenses-cable TV, memberships, entertainment-that you can eliminate. Delay payments on credit cards and other "unsecured" debt until you have paid your mortgage.
8. Use your assets. Do you have assets-a second car, jewelry, a whole life insurance policy-that you can sell for cash to help reinstate your loan? Can anyone in your household get an extra job to bring in additional income? Even if these efforts don't significantly increase your available cash or your income, they demonstrate to your lender that you are willing to make sacrifices to keep your home.
9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies. You don't need to pay fees for foreclosure prevention help-use that money to pay the mortgage instead. Many for-profit companies will contact you promising to negotiate with your lender. While these may be legitimate businesses, they will charge you a hefty fee (often two or three month's mortgage payment) for information and services your lender or a HUD approved housing counselor will provide free if you contact them.10. Don't lose your house to foreclosure recovery scams!If any firm claims they can stop your foreclosure immediately if you sign a document appointing them to act on your behalf, you may well be signing over the title to your property and becoming a renter in your own home! Never sign a legal document without reading and understanding all the terms and getting professional advice from an attorney, a trusted real estate professional, or a HUD approved housing counselor.
SHORT SALES
The following was written by Michelle Lind-counsel for the Arizona Association of Realtors-July 2007
Unfortunately, some homeowners today owe more on their home than what the property is worth. Some programs that were intended to make it easier to obtain financing and increase homeownership resulted in loans that required small or no down payment, interest-only loans that do not build equity, and other loan programs that require such small payments that the loan amount actually increases rather than decreases. As a result, some homeowners have negative equity in their homes. Stagnant or decreasing property values add to the problem. Homeowners who financed their homes with loan programs with low initial rates of one percent to two percent will experience dramatic increases in their monthly payments when the loan resets to the market rate. These and other factors have contributed to a striking increase in home loan defaults and foreclosures.
Short Sales A homeowner in default who owes for example, $300,000 on a property that is worth $250,000, may be able to convince the lender to allow the home to be sold for less than the loan amount, or even accept less than the amount owed as payment in full. This is known as a short sale. A lender may agree to a short sale to save the costs associated with a trustee’s sale, such as attorney’s and trustee’s fees, eviction, and resale costs. Additionally, a lender may agree to a short sale because if the property is foreclosed upon, the loan becomes a "non-performing" loan on the accounting books, which may affect the funds that the lender can obtain from the Federal Reserve for other loans.
Seller Considerations When considering a short sale, the seller must first determine how much is owed on the property. For example, in addition to the delinquent loan, there may be a home equity loan, past due homeowner’s association fees or unpaid property taxes. Then, the seller must add the costs of a sale, such as closing costs, escrow fees and brokerage commissions. All of the seller’s debt and costs must be factored in before determining whether a short sale is feasible.The seller should also be aware of some of the downsides to a short sale. A short sale could affect the seller’s credit score. Further, even if a lender agrees to a short sale, the lender, the VA, or the FHA may require the seller to pay the difference as a personal obligation. The outstanding debt could result in a subsequent collection action. Therefore, the seller should be certain of the terms of any short sale before making a decision and obtain any debt forgiveness agreement in writing. Also, a short sale is a relief of and may be treated as income for tax purposes. A lender who forgives a debt must submit a 1099 form to the IRS indicating the amount the borrower has been forgiven. (Note: The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® supports proposed legislation that would change this tax law.) Different lenders have different short sale department names, so contacting the person who has the authority to authorize a short sale on behalf of the lender may require some tenacity. The appropriate department may be called the loss mitigation, work-out, foreclosure, loan modification or loan reinstatement department. To accomplish a short sale, the seller must convince the lender that it will fare better by agreeing to a sale for less than the outstanding loan amount. A short sale may involve more documentation than the original loan application since the seller must “reverse qualify” and prove that the seller is financially incapable of paying the loan.
Contact me for all your Tucson area real estate needs!
Unfortunately, some homeowners today owe more on their home than what the property is worth. Some programs that were intended to make it easier to obtain financing and increase homeownership resulted in loans that required small or no down payment, interest-only loans that do not build equity, and other loan programs that require such small payments that the loan amount actually increases rather than decreases. As a result, some homeowners have negative equity in their homes. Stagnant or decreasing property values add to the problem. Homeowners who financed their homes with loan programs with low initial rates of one percent to two percent will experience dramatic increases in their monthly payments when the loan resets to the market rate. These and other factors have contributed to a striking increase in home loan defaults and foreclosures.
Short Sales A homeowner in default who owes for example, $300,000 on a property that is worth $250,000, may be able to convince the lender to allow the home to be sold for less than the loan amount, or even accept less than the amount owed as payment in full. This is known as a short sale. A lender may agree to a short sale to save the costs associated with a trustee’s sale, such as attorney’s and trustee’s fees, eviction, and resale costs. Additionally, a lender may agree to a short sale because if the property is foreclosed upon, the loan becomes a "non-performing" loan on the accounting books, which may affect the funds that the lender can obtain from the Federal Reserve for other loans.
Seller Considerations When considering a short sale, the seller must first determine how much is owed on the property. For example, in addition to the delinquent loan, there may be a home equity loan, past due homeowner’s association fees or unpaid property taxes. Then, the seller must add the costs of a sale, such as closing costs, escrow fees and brokerage commissions. All of the seller’s debt and costs must be factored in before determining whether a short sale is feasible.The seller should also be aware of some of the downsides to a short sale. A short sale could affect the seller’s credit score. Further, even if a lender agrees to a short sale, the lender, the VA, or the FHA may require the seller to pay the difference as a personal obligation. The outstanding debt could result in a subsequent collection action. Therefore, the seller should be certain of the terms of any short sale before making a decision and obtain any debt forgiveness agreement in writing. Also, a short sale is a relief of and may be treated as income for tax purposes. A lender who forgives a debt must submit a 1099 form to the IRS indicating the amount the borrower has been forgiven. (Note: The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® supports proposed legislation that would change this tax law.) Different lenders have different short sale department names, so contacting the person who has the authority to authorize a short sale on behalf of the lender may require some tenacity. The appropriate department may be called the loss mitigation, work-out, foreclosure, loan modification or loan reinstatement department. To accomplish a short sale, the seller must convince the lender that it will fare better by agreeing to a sale for less than the outstanding loan amount. A short sale may involve more documentation than the original loan application since the seller must “reverse qualify” and prove that the seller is financially incapable of paying the loan.
Contact me for all your Tucson area real estate needs!
TRAPPED BY THE MORTGAGE MELTDOWN
"Tighter lending standards have put many home sellers, owners and buyers in a bind. Here's how to escape it." Click here to read the rest of this great article:
http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/13/real_estate/mortgage_meltdown.moneymag/index.htm
http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/13/real_estate/mortgage_meltdown.moneymag/index.htm
Monday, October 1, 2007
Tucson Market Activity for September 30, 2007
New Listings 51
Price Reductions 21
Contingent Sales 6
Pending Sales 8
Closed Sales 10
Expired Listings 250
Contact me to learn more about the current Tucson Market.
Price Reductions 21
Contingent Sales 6
Pending Sales 8
Closed Sales 10
Expired Listings 250
Contact me to learn more about the current Tucson Market.
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