Pending home sales continue uptrend

Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" http://www.rickswift.com/  239-357-1844
Pending home sales continue uptrend


WASHINGTON – Jan. 27, 2011 – Pending home sales improved further in December, marking the fifth gain in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator, increased 2 percent to 93.7 based on contracts signed in December from a downwardly revised 91.9 in November. The index is 4.2 percent below the 97.8 mark in December 2009. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=253537&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29


“Modest gains in the labor market and the improving economy are creating a more favorable backdrop for buyers, allowing them to take advantage of excellent housing affordability conditions,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist. “Mortgage rates should rise only modestly in the months ahead, so we’ll continue to see a favorable environment for buyers with good credit.

A home buyer or builder can obtain financing (a loan) either to purchase or secure against the property from a financial institution, such as a bank, either directly or indirectly through intermediaries. Features of mortgage loans such as the size of the loan, maturity of the loan, interest rate, method of paying off the loan, and other characteristics can vary considerably.
In many jurisdictions, though not all (Bali, Indonesia being one exception, it is normal for home purchases to be funded by a mortgage loan. Few individuals have enough savings or liquid funds to enable them to purchase property outright. In countries where the demand for home ownership is highest, strong domestic markets have developed.
The origin of the word mortgage is from the Latin word mori (via old french mort) for death and -gage is from the sense of that word meaning a pledge to forfeit something of value if a debt is not repaid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortgage_loan

FlORIDA. economist: ‘We’re in recovery’

Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" http://www.rickswift.com/  239-357-1844



Fla. economist: ‘We’re in recovery’


MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. – Jan. 21, 2011 – Economist Hank Fishkind told about 400 Manatee County leaders that Florida’s recovery is in its early stages even if it doesn’t seem like it to some people.
Calling it the “worst recession, probably, since the Great Depression, and at least the worst since 1975,” Fishkind said, “This is the recovery – right now,” Fishkind said. “The momentum is growing.”
Fishkind spoke at an “Economic Forecast Breakfast” sponsored by Whitney Bank and the Manatee Economic Development Council. As evidence of the ongoing recovery, Fishkind pointed to recent improvements, including:
• Job growth in the tourism and convention industries

• Job growth in education

• Strong retails sales at the close of 2010

• Consumer belief that it’s safe to spend money

• $500 billion boost from a 2 percent cut in payroll taxes
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=253240&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29

Floridians grow suddenly optimistic about economy

Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins"
 http://www.rickswift.com/
 239-357-1844

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jan. 25, 2011 – Consumer confidence among Floridians soared an unexpected seven points to 77 in January from the revised December index score of 70, according to a new University of Florida survey.
The increase is the largest since the index rose seven points from March to April 2010, and the score of 77 is the highest since the April 2010 mark of 78.
“The size of this increase in confidence among Floridians was not expected,” said Chris McCarty, director of UF’s Survey Research Center in the Bureau of Economic and Business Research. “Confidence among Floridians had been mired in the low 70s for the past few months, consistent with other economic indicators that characterize the Florida economy.”
Each of the five components that make up the index registered gains, with the largest increase coming in the perceptions of U.S. economic conditions over the next year category, which climbed 12 points to 78. Confidence in that category had been mired in the 60s for eight months.
http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=253428&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29

2011 prediction: Slow real estate recovery

Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" http://www.rickswift.com/  239-357-1844

2011 prediction: Slow real estate recovery


WASHINGTON – Jan. 3, 2011 – Pending home sales rose again in November, according to the National Association of Realtors®, which says a gradual improvement has been the trend for past five months, indicating a gradual recovery into 2011.
The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator, rose 3.5 percent to 92.2 based on contracts signed in November from a downwardly revised 89.1 in October. The index is 5.0 percent below a reading of 97.0 in November 2009. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said historically high housing affordability is boosting sales activity. “In addition to exceptional affordability conditions, steady improvements in the economy are helping bring buyers into the market,” he said. “But further gains are needed to reach normal levels of sales activity.”

http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=251948&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29

Consumers don’t comparison shop mortgages

 

Century 21 Birchwood Realty Rick Swift Realtor "Where your new home begins" http://www.rickswift.com/  239-357-1844

Consumers don’t comparison shop mortgages


CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Dec. 17, 2010 – Consumers today are expert comparison shoppers, always on the hunt for the best deal, but when it comes to their mortgage, borrowers often lock in their first home loan offer.
According to a new LendingTree survey of 1,317 homeowners conducted online by Harris Interactive in September, 96 percent of American consumers compare prices when shopping for anything, but nearly 40 percent obtain just one home loan quote. By comparison, when shopping for a home computer, consumers research an average of 3.1 models before making a purchase. As a result, only 28 percent of borrowers are very confident they received the best possible deal on their current mortgage.
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http://www.floridarealtors.org/NewsAndEvents/article.cfm?id=251690&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+floridarealtors+%28Florida+Realtors%29