Realities of Real Estate: Is the house you’re looking to buy a death trap? 
BY: Bob and Donna McWilliams
POSTED: March 23, 2012
Tags: bob and donna mcwilliams, EPA, housing, market, realities of real estate
With computers and other giant leaps forward in technology, our ability to measure things has grown exponentially. Atomic clocks keep track of time down to the last millisecond. Want to know how far away the moon is from your backyard? A brief Internet search can probably tell you that with an error rate of no [...]
Real Estate Weekly – 3/23/12: BDC spells out qualifications for its next president
BY: Daily Record Staff
POSTED: March 23, 2012
Tags: Baltimore, baltimore development corp., BDC, Clark Construction Group, jay brodie, ken ulman, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, maryland, real estate weekly, Robinson Nature Center
Robinson Nature Center in Columbia recognized by U.S. Green Building Council Howard County Executive Ken Ulman announced that the Robinson Nature Center in Columbia has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council for achieving LEED Platinum certification. LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, provides building owners and operators with a framework [...]
New-home sales fell in February for second month
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 23, 2012
Tags: commerce department, Foreclosures, housing market, job growth, mortgage, new homes, ownership, sales, sales price
WASHINGTON — Sales of U.S. new homes fell in February for the second straight month, a reminder that the depressed housing market remains weak despite some improvement. The Commerce Department said Friday that new-home sales dropped 1.6 percent last month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 313,000 homes. Sales have fallen nearly 7 percent [...]
Bank of America to offer rentals as foreclosure alternative
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 23, 2012
Tags: Bank of America, Foreclosures, homeownership, loan, mortgage, mortgage to lease, owners, RealtyTrac, rentals, renters, title
NEW YORK — Bank of America says it has begun a pilot program offering some of its mortgage customers who are facing foreclosure a chance to stay in their homes by becoming renters instead of owners. The “Mortgage to Lease” program, which was launched this week, will be available to fewer than 1,000 BofA customers [...]
Rates on 30-year mortgages exceed 4%
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 22, 2012
Tags: fannie mae, freddie mac, housing, loans, market, mortgage, rates, Real Estate, united states
WASHINGTON — The average U.S. rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose above 4 percent for the first time in five months. The sharp increase suggests the window to buy or refinance a home at historically low rates is closing. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan jumped to [...]
Rate on 30-year mortgages jumps above 4 percent
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 22, 2012
Tags: borrowers, builders, freddie mac, homes, housing crisis, lenders, loan, mortgage rate, mortgage rates, rate, refinance
WASHINGTON — The average U.S. rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose above 4 percent for the first time in five months. The sharp increase suggests the window to buy or refinance a home at historically low rates is closing. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the rate on the 30-year loan jumped to [...]
U.S. home re-sales complete best winter in 5 years
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 21, 2012
Tags: credit, foreclosure, homebuilders, homes, housing market, interest rates, median price, mortgage, National Association of Realtors, prices, re-sales, sales, spring, winter
WASHINGTON — U.S. home sales are gradually coming back. A mild winter and a stronger job market have helped boost sales ahead of the crucial spring buying season. The past two months made up the best winter for sales of previously occupied homes in five years, when the housing crisis began. And the sales pace [...]
Builders start fewer homes but permits jump
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 20, 2012
Tags: builders, building permits, commerce department, construction, housing market, ian shepherdson, jobs, mortgage rates, new homes, Recession, turnaround
WASHINGTON — U.S. builders are betting that the housing market is finally on the path back to health. They requested 5 percent more permits in February to build single-family homes and apartments in the coming months. That increased the annual rate to a seasonally adjusted 717,000 permits, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. While that’s still [...]
Home builders optimistic about future
BY: Associated Press
POSTED: March 19, 2012
Tags: appraisals, builder sentiment index, Foreclosures, home prices, homebuilders, mortgage rates, National Association of Home Builders, previously occupied homes, sales
WASHINGTON — Homebuilders’ feelings about the current housing market haven’t changed from February. But many are growing more optimistic that sales could pick up in the coming months. The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo said Monday that its builder sentiment index stayed at 28, the highest level since June 2007. The flat reading followed [...]
Realities of Real Estate: The Reality of Real Estate Taxes
BY: Bob and Donna McWilliams
POSTED: March 16, 2012
Tags: Baltimore, bob and donna mcwilliams, finance, home ownership, loan, market, maryland, mortgage, real estate taxes, realities of real estate
This time of year, state, county and city governments are working on their budgets, looking to determine if taxes will go up, go down or stay the same. Real estate taxes are a major source of government revenues, and given what’s being proposed at the state and local levels, homeowners could be in store for [...]
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