College Station Real Estate
« Previous Entries Next Entries »B-CS economy down in March, says Ingham
Tuesday, May 20th, 2008B-CS economy down in March, says Ingham
May 18, 2008
The local economy slipped in March, falling to an index rating of 123.7 from February’s rating of 124, according to Amarillo economist Karr Ingham. Inflation-adjusted retail sales, as indicated by sales tax rebates to the area, were up 7.6 percent for the first quarter, compared with the […]
Home Sales, Prices to Pick Up In Second Half of 2008, Says NAR Chief Economist
Monday, May 19th, 2008RISMEDIA, May 19, 2008-Home sales and prices throughout most of the country are poised for improvement in the second half of 2008, and the recovery will vary by market, Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors® said during NAR’s Midyear Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. More than 9,000 Realtors and guests attended […]
The Power of Pricing
Monday, May 19th, 2008Op-ed by Howard Brinton
RISMEDIA, May 19, 2008-The other day, a young, female Realtor shared a story with me about one of her previous listings. An “empty nest” couple decided to downsize and were putting their beloved family home on the market.
Despite the advice and admonishment of the Realtor, they insisted on following their beliefs about […]
4 Must-Know Mortgage Guideline Changes
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008RISMEDIA, May 13, 2008-Fannie Mae recently announced four key initiatives that will have a huge positive impact for home owners and buyers. “When Fannie Mae changes their policies and procedures, it has a wide-spread impact on homeowners,” said Gibran Nicholas, Chairman of the CMPS Institute, an organization that certifies mortgage bankers and brokers. “This is […]
More than a Matter of Convenience - The Importance of Home Warranties
Tuesday, May 13th, 2008By Kayla O’Brien
RISMEDIA, May 13, 2008-What is it that today’s home buyers and sellers want most? Is it convenience? A smooth transaction? A home that fits their budget? With all the talk about today’s market, it’s no wonder that smart Realtors have concluded the obvious-consumers want it all. And why shouldn’t they have it? These […]
Growth opportunities in Bryan-College Station
Monday, May 12th, 2008April 3, 2008
College Station Economic Development Director David Gwin said Harvey Road, the University Drive corridor, Rock Prairie Road, William D. Fitch Parkway and Texas Avenue are the city’s choice spots for commercial development. A culmination of high traffic counts on Harvey Road, University Drive and Texas Avenue, and demographics on the south end of […]
B-CS economy fine now, slowdown likely, according to Ingham
Monday, May 12th, 2008April 3, 2008
The Bryan-College Station economy started 2008 on a high note, but locals should be prepared for an eventual slowdown, economist Karr Ingham said. Ingham assigned the Bryan-College Station area an index of 123.5 for January. The index marks a 3 percent increase from the economist’s revised figure for December of 123.4. He revised […]
B-CS housing in good shape
Monday, May 12th, 2008April 20, 2008
The local housing market saw mixed results in February, but economist Karr Ingham says home prices - the sector’s most important indicator - remain strong. The average home sales price for February jumped 4.8 percent to $169,261, compared with the price in the same period in 2007. Year-over-year, the market has improved 3.5 […]
Balking at the Thought of Overpriced Homes
Friday, May 9th, 2008By Kathleen Lynn
RISMEDIA, May 9, 2008-(MCT)-Business people hate to turn away clients. But in the current housing cycle, some real estate agents say that’s exactly what they have to do when a home seller won’t get real about the asking price.
Margrit Vogler of Margrit Vogler Properties in Oradell, N.J., said she turned down three or […]
NAR - Soft Existing-Home Sales Expected Near-Term But to Rise Midsummer
Thursday, May 8th, 2008RISMEDIA, May 8, 2008-A flat pattern in home sales activity should continue for the next couple months before improving over the summer, according to the latest forecast by the National Association of Realtors®.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the extent of an expected recovery hinges on better access to affordable loans. “Things are beginning to […]
Zillow - U.S. Home Values in Q1 Fall Back to 2005 Levels
Wednesday, May 7th, 2008RISMEDIA, May 7, 2008-Home values in the first quarter of 2008 fell 1.6% from the fourth quarter and 7.7% from the year-ago quarter, marking the most significant year-over-year decline in the past 12 years, to a U.S. Zindex® home value indicator of $213,000, according to the Zillow.com Q1 Home Value Report released this week. The […]
10 Red Flags for Home Buyers
Monday, May 5th, 2008RISMEDIA, May 5, 2008-The average home buyer views at least 10 homes over an eight week search so it isn’t practical to get a professional inspection of every house they tour. FrontDoor.com, a new real estate website powered by HGTV, comes to the rescue pointing out things to look for in your own pre-inspection that […]
Bankrate: Mortgage Rates Nudge Higher
Friday, May 2nd, 2008RISMEDIA, May 2, 2008-Fixed mortgage rates inched upward for the third week in a row, with the average conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate rising to 6.16%. According to Bankrate.com’s weekly national survey of large lenders, the average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.36 discount and origination points.
The average 15-year fixed rate mortgage popular […]
How to Reunite with Your Garage this Weekend
Friday, May 2nd, 2008By Tom Skevin
RISMEDIA, May 2, 2008-(MCT)-When finding a parking spot in the garage is like finding one in Manhattan, it’s time to get organized. Nicole Alashaian of Emerson, N.J., is facing up to this reality.
“My name is Nicole, and I have a messy garage,” says Alashaian, who has a two-car garage.
“It’s as simple as this: […]
1 in 4 Homeowners Consider Spending Their Tax Rebate Checks on Home Improvement Projects
Thursday, May 1st, 2008RISMEDIA, May 1, 2008-Resilient American homeowners intend to shake off concerns about the slumping real estate market and plant the money they receive as part of the federal economic stimulus package into what for many is their most important financial asset: their homes.
A national consumer opinion survey released today found that 24% of U.S. homeowners […]
FTC Testifies on Efforts to Protect Consumers in Subprime Mortgage Market
Thursday, May 1st, 2008RISMEDIA, April 30, 2008-The Federal Trade Commission testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism, about the Commission’s continuing efforts to protect subprime mortgage borrowers.
The testimony described the agency’s priorities, including deceptive mortgage advertising, deceptive or unfair servicing practices, discrimination in lending, and foreclosure rescue […]
The 4 Fundamental Principles of the Real Estate Buying Process
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008Your First Home is an inspirational, how-to guide to homeownership-showing buyers the path from renting to homeownership. And for agents, it can serve as a business-building tool for reaching out to this large segment of the residential market. The authors adapted the following tips from the book to help remind agents to educate their first-time […]
What to Do with All Those Tax Records?
Thursday, April 24th, 2008By Marshall Loeb
RISMEDIA, April 24, 2008-(MCT)-When it comes to tax paperwork, many people are adamant about keeping every scrap of paper, often believing those documents will save them
Steps to Save Energy on Earth Day, Minimize Footprint
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008RISMEDIA, April 22, 2008-In recognition of Earth Day, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) encourages home owners everywhere to take simple steps to reduce energy use - and to think green when they buy a new home.
“We are all proud of the significant steps our members have taken to make new homes more energy […]
Affordable Home Warranties Affordable for Every Family
Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 RISMEDIA, April 21, 2008-This week, Home Warranty of America, Inc., announced the national availability of a comprehensive home warranty for just $24.95 a month.
HWA(TM) senior management stated they wanted to develop a home warranty every homeowner could afford, but one that offered great, basic coverage too. With American families worrying about their budgets and jobs, […]