The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, November 14, 2013 MLS: HX-910147 Offerd for $249k   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla.'s foreclosure rate again No. 1, but that's OK RealtyTrac: Buyer demand has sparked more lenders to schedule foreclosure auctions. That should clear Fla.'s backlog quicker and add REO listings to MLSs. Read more.   Jumbo mortgages cheaper than other mortgages Lenders now offer jumbo mortgages at lower rates - more than a quarter of a percentage point - than conforming loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Read more.   Cities had higher home price drops in recession Census Bureau: The recession and rebound had little impact on home prices in smaller counties, but larger counties with major cities saw a bigger hit. Read more.   U.S. ... 11/14/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Tuesday, November 5, 2013    MLS: RX-9975827 Offered for $479k   TODAY'S TOP STORIES U.S. home prices rise at slower pace in Sept. CoreLogic: U.S. home prices rose only slightly in Sept. compared to Aug., a sign that prices are leveling off after big gains earlier this year. Read more.   Delinquent borrowers more optimistic about ownership Fannie Mae study: Many homeowners facing foreclosure still value owning over renting. Many even still consider real estate a relatively safe investment. Read more.   How to sell a local home to overseas buyers It's hard to show potential buyers how a new home and community feel, but successful Realtors with international clients find a way to do it. Read more.   Housing affordability st... 11/05/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News October 29, 2013     MLS: RX-9977964 Offered for $169,900 TODAY'S TOP STORIES House-Senate plan could delay flood ins. increases Fla. Sen. Nelson announced a bipartisan deal to delay flood insurance rate hikes. It's a ray of hope for buyers and sellers, but passage isn't a sure thing. Read more.   Study: Higher home prices lead to more sales It sounds counterproductive, but two Federal Reserve economists say higher prices would entice more owners to become sellers and ease inventory shortages. Read more.   October consumer confidence takes a dip The federal shutdown hurt U.S. consumers' outlook, and the confidence index fell 9 points this month. Expect volatility over the short term. Read more.   Blackstone offers new typ... 10/29/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, October 4, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Average 30-year mortgage rate down to 4.22% It's the lowest rate in three months. Only 16% of mortgage experts predict a short-term increase as the federal shutdown and debt-ceiling debate continue. Read more.   Your website: Identifying hot buying behavior Some visitors just want to see their neighbor's for-sale house, while others are actively seeking a new home. Track clicks to identify the hot prospects. Read more.   3 out of 10 Americans don’t qualify for a mortgage Online mortgage applicants with credit scores of 620 or less failed to get even one offer - and almost one-third of Americans have a credit score in that range. Read more.   Fla. senator to Congress: Let us over... 10/04/2013

  If you are in the neighborhood of Palm Beach County Florida here is an event that you don’t want to miss.     Every year the American German Club of the Palm Beaches hosts its traditional Oktoberfest on the second and third weekend of October. Held on ten acres of ground, under our pavilion and massive tent, our "Original "Oktoberfest" is one of the largest in the country! We offer authentic German cooking such as Bratwurst, Potato Salad, Leberkäse, Sauerkraut, Original Hofbräu Bier, imported from Munich/Germany or domestic beer, liqueurs, wine or non-alcoholic beverages, and for dessert some German pastry. Enjoy traditional folk dancing, choral singing, and sing-along's with two Bands coming straight from Germany. Folk dancing performances will be featured, vendor & craft booths, Car... 09/22/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, September 12, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. foreclosure starts down 65% year-to-year RealtyTrac Aug. report: Overall, Fla. foreclosures down 43%. Nationally, foreclosure starts - a first notice sent to homeowners - were down 54% year-to-year. Read more.   Rising interest rates could impact Fla. real estate UF 2Q survey: Fla. experts remain optimistic, but their rosy outlook waned a bit over fear that higher interest rates will slow construction, rentals and sales. Read more.   Sadowski Coalition honors best in workforce housing A doc stamp tax on real estate sales promotes workforce housing in Fla., and an award ceremony yesterday focused on the state's success stories. Read more.   Citizens insures thousand... 09/12/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, September 11, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES NAR real estate firm study: Optimism and challenges In U.S., 84% of companies are independent; 69% of firms expect higher profits over the next year - but almost the same expect more competition from startups. Read more.   Investor demand starts to wane Investors made up 23% of homebuyers in Feb., but only about 20% in June - the lowest level since Sept. 2012. About 48% say they'll cut back over the next year. Read more.   HUD plans to probe neighborhood discrimination A great idea or gov't intrusion? Proposed "discrimination database" would track a city's housing diversity to promote a better economic, racial and ethnic mix. Read more.   HUD chief presses for home loa... 09/11/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, August 28, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fear QRM rules no more – proposal won’t slow rebound Industry concerned that expected QRM rule would require up to 30% home down payments. But terms announced today should have minimal impact. Read more.   Floridians’ confidence in economy unchanged in Aug. UF: State consumers think their personal finances have taken a slight hit over the past year, but they expect a much better outlook 12 months from now. Read more.   July pending home sales slip a bit NAR's Pending Home Sales Index declined 1.3% to 109.5 in July from 110.9 in June. However, pending sales were 6.7% higher year-to-year. Read more.   Program lets you control PC from iPad Parallels launched a subscription servi... 08/28/2013

  TOP 10 Housing Markets Where Cash is King If you want to buy a house in ??? you better bring cash. In June, 58% of the sales in the state were made in all-cash, according to a report by RealtyTrac. But it's not just Nevada. All-cash deals in Florida comprised 57% of home sales during the month; in the state of New York, it was 51%, and in Vermont, a whopping 80%. In markets like these, lingering foreclosures and depressed home prices are attracting private equity firms and other investors looking to buy before home prices go much higher, RealtyTrac said. In other markets, where there are fewer distressed properties, the all-cash deals are a lot less prevalent. Nationwide, cash deals comprised 30% of home sales in June, down from 31% a year earlier, RealtyTrac reported. But in states l... 08/25/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, August 22, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES A better world: Fla. ranks high for business climate In 2013 Business Facilities Rankings Report, Fla. finished No. 2 after Texas as having the best overall business climate in the U.S., and No. 5 for tax burden. Read more.   FHFA: House prices rose 7.7% in year through June One of the more accurate gauges of home price changes that tracks same-home sales found a U.S. increase of 7.7% so far in 2013. But gains expected to slow. Read more.   'Checkbook IRAs' invest retirement funds in real estate Pre-retirees who follow the rules can buy real estate as part of their retirement savings. It has same tax penalties as an IRA, but an investor controls the deals. Read more.   Fed see... 08/22/2013

  “Top 10” First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid   Buying your first home is an exciting time in life.  But too often I see first-time homebuyers make simple mistakes that leave them stuck with a “problem house,” or they don’t know how to negotiate with sellers and it ends up costing them thousands.  Here are 10 common mistakes and how to avoid them: Mistake #1:  Not Understanding What You NEED And What You WANT. Prioritize your basic needs before you even start looking so you don’t buy the wrong home. Also know that you may have to compromise. This is your first home, not the dream home you’ll live in for the rest of your life.  The home you can afford may need a little work (fresh paint, new carpeting).  Over time, you may be able to hire a contractor or do some more substantial upgr... 08/11/2013

  Demand for homes in Palm Beach County Remains Strong       West Palm Beach, July 24, 2013 – “The strong demand for homes in Palm Beach County is swaying home owners to put their property on the market. Year-over-year the number of new listings of single family homes increased 16.0 percent,” said Tim Harris, 2013 President of the Realtors® Association of the Palm Beaches. “Demand is extremely strong and inventory is very low in the $50,000 to $200,000 price range and it’s not uncommon for sellers to receive multiple offers for their property listing within days. However, there is still a good selection of homes available, especially in the $250,000 to $600,000 price range that are a very good value,” according to Harris.   Closed sales continue to trend upward. In June 1494 single fami... 08/04/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, August 1, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Home prices to stabilize in 6 Fla. cities CoreLogic Case-Shiller: In 1Q, home prices in six Fla. cities rose 9.5% to 14.6%. Study predicts stability by 2014, with a slight price decline in three cities. Read more.   New group being formed to advocate for homeowners America's Homeowner Alliance will officially debut soon. Organization plans to copy AARP's structural style to "protect and promote" homeownership. Read more.   Firms consider bond backed by home-rental payments It could be a new and untested way to invest in real estate. Income from the bond investment would come from rent paid by single-family homes in its portfolio. Read   Mobile devices under assault It's not... 08/01/2013

  Lantana of Palm Beach County, FL Market Stats for June 2013   Stats and facts about Lantana, Florida, are out for the month of June 2013.  The report is packed with information about the county and the local city mentioned above. In a nut shell the inventory of single family homes available for sale are at a 6.2 month selling point which is down nearly 58.7%from a year ago. That’s a good sign things are loosening up and people are buying. Click on this LINK, for more graphs and stats. Whether you are buying or selling in this hot market of the County of Palm Beach, FL, choosing the right company will save you money, time and many sleepless nights. I not only have 29 years experience as a Realtor, construction was a passion of mine as well. This alone is worth so much more than the ave... 07/28/2013

  8 Tips That Guarantee Curb Appeal to your Home       Tip #1: Wash your house’s face Before you scrape any paint or plant more azaleas, wash the dirt, mildew, and general grunge off the outside of your house. REALTORS® say washing a house can add $10,000 to $15,000 to the sale prices of some houses. A bucket of soapy water and a long-handled, soft-bristled brush can remove the dust and dirt that have splashed onto your wood, vinyl, metal, stucco, brick, and fiber cement siding. Power washers (rental: $75 per day) can reveal the true color of your flagstone walkways. Wash your windows inside and out, swipe cobwebs from eaves, and hose down downspouts. Don’t forget your garage door, which was once bright white. If you can’t spray off the dirt, scrub it off with a solution of 1/2 cup tris... 07/21/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, July 17, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Builders start work on fewer homes in June But the number of single-family permit applications rose to its highest level in five years. New home start drop stems mainly from a decline in apartments. Read more.   Real estate appraisers optimistic about future Appraisal Institute survey: 84% of residential appraisers say their local residential real estate market is strong; 46% of commercial appraisers say the same. Read more.   Boomerang buyers are staging a comeback They're back after going through a short sale, foreclosure or bankruptcy in recent years, and could make up 10% of U.S. homebuyers in 2013. Read more.   Want to succeed in sales? Get used to hearing 'no' Research ... 07/17/2013

''This is a One of Kind'' 2 story Townhome with 2 Bedroom, 2.5 Baths, 1 Car Garage, Boat Dock, Gated. Features Breathtaking Water Views from Living Room & Large Deck, Master Suite also has a Balcony with wide Intracoastal Views of Manalapan Palm Beach Features Hurricane Impact Windows, New Tile, Updated Kitchen, New Bathrooms, New Roof, Newer A/C, Crown Molding, High Hats. Perfect for year Round Residence or Tropical Seasonal Retreat! Walking Distance to Tropical Beaches, Restaurants, Shopping. Call Susan Horne (Re/Max Services) 561-312-4388 Visit www.SusanHorne.com 07/15/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News   Wednesday, July 3, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Flood insurance changes run into resistance Rate hikes have hurt some homeowners. Critics of the flood law say FEMA botched implementation and should consider non-federal mitigation measures. Read more.   Housing shortage a concern for real estate economist Q&A: NAR's Lawrence Yun says current recovery is "genuine," but he worries about the market's limited inventory and a drop in the number of first-time buyers. Read more.   Divorce doesn't wipe out joint mortgage Real estate Q&A: Divorce separates couples but has no impact on a mortgage. Some divorcees don't discover a problem until they want to buy another home. Read more.   Online privacy is tough to achieve Recent sto... 07/03/2013

  Lantana of Palm Beach County, FL Market Stats for May 2013   Stats and facts about Lantana, Florida, are out for the month of May 2013.  The report is packed with information about the county and the local city mentioned above. In a nut shell the inventory of single family homes available for sale are at a 3.5 month selling point which is down nearly 57.0%from a year ago. That’s a good sign things are loosening up and people are buying. Click on this LINK, for more graphs and stats. Whether you are buying or selling in this hot market of the County of Palm Beach, FL, choosing the right company will save you money, time and many sleepless nights. I not only have 29 years experience as a Realtor, construction was a passion of mine as well. This alone is worth so much more than the avera... 06/23/2013

The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, June 19, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES BofA, Wells Fargo fail mortgage servicing tests Report: Both lenders failed to ensure banks followed national mortgage servicing settlement rules. Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase also failed certain tests. Read more.   HUD conducts study of same-sex discrimination The first-ever national study examines rental housing discrimination against same-sex couples. However, it's not banned nationwide under Fair Housing Act. Read more.   Florida Realtors part of biz mission to France Gov. Scott praises Florida Realtors' leaders, members for "exceptional job promoting Fla. at home and abroad." Pres. Asher meets with French real estate pros. Read more.   HUD closing 16 field offices - two in... 06/19/2013