Another good week for the housing market. The S&P/Case Shiller home price index was up for the third month in a row and the rate of annual decline fell for the sixth month in a row! Price increases were reported in 18 of 20 metro areas measured. Many now feel this data indicates the worst of the price declines are behind us. D avid M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at Standard & Poor's, said: "These figures continue to support an indication of stabilization in national real estate values."
Later in the week, Pending Home Sales came in UP 6.4% for August, their seventh straight monthly gain, UP 12.4% from a year ago and at their highest level since March 2007. Many see this boost in sales coming from first-time homebuyers rushing to make the deadline for their $8,000 tax credit which expires at the end of next month!
On the mortgage front, Freddie Mac's weekly survey showed the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage below 5% for the first time since May. The average rate was 4.94% with an average 0.7 point (including the origination fee) for 80% loan-to-value ratio loans to borrowers with good credit. Finally, residential construction spending also rose in August, UP 4.7%!
~ Courtesy of Chuck Chrobak, Golf Savings Bank, 425.330.9657, CChrobak@GolfSavingsBank.com
- Jeanette Eide
- Bellevue, Washington
- I’m a full-time professional Realtor specializing in residential resale and new construction in Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, Issaquah, Newcastle, Sammamish, Bothell, Mill Creek, Snohomish, Everett, Woodinville, Kent, and Renton. Together with my husband Erik, we have over 17 years experience. We take the time to listen – getting to know you and establishing your exact needs. From there, our sole focus is getting you where you want to be, on time, in the smoothest manner possible. Together with our team of professionals, the closing of your transaction will be handled knowledgeably with the attention to detail you expect and deserve.
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