The Home Buyer Tax Credit Extension Has Not Been Passed Into Law (Yet)

Contrary to what you may have read (or heard), the federal home buyer tax credit has not been extended past June 30, 2010. At least not [...]

March Pending Home Sales Point To Stronger Spring Market

Today’s home buyers should consider making offer sooner rather than later. Looking at the data, it appears the best time to have found a “deal” on a home may have been in [...]

New Homes Sales Strong in March, But News Can't Get it Straight

The sales of newly-built homes soared in March. Even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling [...]

Housing Starts Data Hints That Housing Will Expand Even After The Tax Credit Expires

A Housing Start is a new home on which construction has started and, over the last 6 months, home builders are averaging one half-million starts per month. This marks the highest 6-month average since 2008 and a reading one-fifth percent better from 12 months ago. Revisions to prior data have all been higher, [...]

Why You Shouldn't Schedule Your Closing For May 28, 2010

If you’re under contract for a home and plan to close in May, consider a closing date other than Friday May 28, 2010. [...]

It's Time To Re-Approve Your Pre-Approval

If your pre-qualification and/or pre-approval letter is more than 8 weeks old, it would be prudent to have your lender “re-pre-approve” you. Mortgage guidelines have been in flux and your original lender letter may now be [...]

The Federal Home Buyer Tax Credit Enters Its Home Stretch -- 30 Days Left

There’s just 30 days remaining to use the federal home buyer tax credit. The credit ranges up to $8,000 for first-time homebuyers, and up to $6,500 for existing homeworkers who have lived in their main home for 5 of the last 8 [...]

The Average Household Will Get $2,800 In Tax Refunds. Will You?

April 15 is Tax Day and the IRS estimates that the average U.S. household will receive a $2,800 tax refund this year.  If you’re among the Americans expecting a refund, this 4-minute piece from NBC’s The Today Show may be helpful. It’s a talk about how to receive a refund and what to do with [...]

Existing Home Sales Flatten And Point To A Much Better Spring

As expected, Existing Home Sales fell in February, slipping 30,000 units versus January’s numbers. It’s the 4th straight month in which Existing Home Sales were lower, month-over-month.

In case you didn’t know, an “existing” home is one that is previously owned and lived-in (i.e. not new construction).

In November 2009, Existing Home Sales [...]

Single-Family Housing Starts Hold Steady For Last 8 Months

Single-family Housing Starts idled last month, dropping just 3,000 units from the month prior, or 0.2%.

According to the Commerce Department’s report, February marked the 8th straight month in which Housing Starts straddled the half-million marker, dating back to June 2009.

This is a different slant on the Housing Starts story as told by [...]