Consumers keep spending, the economy keeps growing. Mortgage rates are easing lower this morning on just-released, slightly worse-than-expected Retail Sales data from December 2010. Excluding motor vehicles and auto parts, December's sales receipts were $1.5 billion higher from November. Analysts had expected a number north of $2 billion. Despite falling short of estimates, however, December's reading is the highest in Retail Sales history, surpassing the previous record set in July 2008, set during the recession. In addition, December's strong numbers helped 2010′s year-over-year numbers go positive for the first time in 3 years. Although the data is a mixed bag for Wall Street, home affordability in Plymouth is improving today. The link between Retail Sales and home affordability may ... 01/18/2011

For some homeowners, electing to take an adjustable rate mortgage over a fixed rate one can be matter of budgeting. ARMs tend to carry lower mortgage rates and, therefore, lower monthly mortgage payment as compared to a comparable fixed rate loan. Relative to fixed rate mortgages, current ARM pricing is excellent. Freddie Mac's weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey puts the 5-year ARM mortgage rate lower than the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate by 1.02 percent. On a $250,000 home loan, a 1.02 differential yields a payment savings of $149 per month. ARMs are not for everyone, of course. Over time their rates can change and that can frighten people. An ARM can finish its respective 30-year lifespan with a mortgage rate as much as 6 percentage points higher from where it started. Some ho... 01/18/2011

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Credit card debt, left unchecked, can pile up quickly. Especially for debtors making minimum payments.   According to the Federal Reserve, a credit card balance of $5,000 at 23.99 percent APR won't pay off for 16,127 years. That's one reason why it's important to manage your credit card rates, and renegotiate them whenever possible. In this 4-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn the tested tactics that can cut a credit card rate, and get monthly payments to a more manageable range. And it's do-it-yourself - no debt management firms required. Some of the tips in the video include: Compare your current rate to the rate offered to new customers. Ask the lender for "new customer rate" if it's lower. I... 01/18/2011

Here is a list of actual reasons buyers have told me they needed to move into their own home. Please enjoy and if you are in an apartment or at Mom and Dads still and need a change, call or email me!   1) Sick of Mom and Dad making out in front of you.  Your 30.. get out of their house! 2) Tired of hearing the thundering heard about your head. 3) You could do without the stench of Pot smoke wafting into your apartment windows. 4) Your allergic to curry!  5) Your dog is 26lbs. 6) You can't Play your drums after 10pm. or ever for that matter without neighbors pounding on your door. 7) Your tired of that pounding noise on your wall every night. 8)  Your tired of all your FedEx packages from QVC disappearing. 9) You don't like an aucience when singing in the shower. 10) Need room for the ba... 01/14/2011

Plymouth MN is a desirable city located approx 15 minutes Northwest of Minneapolis MN. Voted Money Magazine #1 places to Live in 2008. Also Known for Wayzata school district #284. Click the link to view year end 2010 Market stats in Plymouth MN http://www.mplsrealtor.com/downloads/lmu/Plymouth.pdf   For more details on your city or Neighborhood please contact me via email Aaron@ListWithLowe.com Aaron Lowe | Re/Max Results www.ListWithLowe.com www.vipMNhomes.com t (952) 475-8009 c (952) 200-4481 f (866) 691-5069 e Aaron@ListWithLowe.com *information courtesy og the minneapolis association of realtors*     01/13/2011

Mortgage markets gained last week as a combination of safe-haven buying and an improving economic outlook attracted new buyers. Demand for mortgage-backed bonds outweighed supply and conforming and FHA mortgage rates edged lower. Last week marked the second straight week that mortgage rates fell in and around Minnesota. Rates had risen over the previous 7 weeks. According to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage rate survey, the national average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 4.77 percent with an accompanying 0.8 points required. This week, with no new data due for release, look for last week's two biggest stories - jobs and debt - to carry forward. The first such story relates to jobs. Friday, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly Non-Farm Payrolls report. Consensus es... 01/10/2011

On the first Friday of each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report. More commonly called "the jobs report", the government's data include raw employment figures and the Unemployment Rate. The jobs report hit the wires at 8:30 AM ET today. It's making big waves in the mortgage market and may help home affordability for buyers in Minneapolis this weekend, and would-be refinancers across Minnesota. For this month, and for the rest of 2011, employment data will figure big in mortgage markets. 7 million jobs were lost in 2008 and 2009. Fewer than one million jobs were recovered in 2010. For the economy to fully recover, analysts believe that jobs growth is paramount. Consider how job creation influences the economy: More jobs means more income and more sp... 01/10/2011

Starting April 1, 2011, loan-level pricing adjustments are increasing. Most conforming mortgage applicants will face higher loan costs. Loan-level pricing adjustments are mandatory closing costs. They're assigned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and based on a loan's specific risk to Wall Street investors. First constructed in April 2009, loan-level pricing adjustment are a means to help Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac compensate for "riskier loans" by bolstering their respective balance sheets. Since the initial roll-out, Fannie and Freddie have amended adjustments five times. The pending April adjustment will be the 6th revision in two years. No class of conforming borrower is exempt from LLPAs. Each loan delivered to Fannie Mae is subject to a quarter-percent "Adverse Market Delivery Charge... 01/10/2011

The Federal Reserve released its December 14 meeting minutes Tuesday afternoon. There wasn't much there to disturb mortgage markets, thankfully. The "Fed Minutes" is an official recap of the most recent meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. It's published 8 times annually, 3 weeks after the FOMC adjourns. The Fed Minutes is similar to the meeting minutes released after a corporate conference or condo association gathering in that they provide additional details about the conversation and debate that occurred between meeting attendees. The Fed Minutes are a lengthy companion to the Federal Reserve's brief, more well-known, post-meeting press release. But, whereas the press release is measured in paragraphs, the minutes are measured in pages. Here is some of what the Fed discussed... 01/05/2011

The housing market continues to expand, and surprise. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, November's Pending Home Sales Index gained 3 percent from October. A "pending home sale" is a home under contract but not yet closed.  The index is now at its highest point since April 2010′s federal tax credit contract expiration deadline. If the tax credit really did "borrow" sales from the summer months, as has been theorized, housing has rebuilt its foundation.  We know this because, of all the housing data available to Plymouth  homeowners and home buyers, the Pending Home Sales Index stands apart as a forward-looking report - its designed purpose as described in its methodology. Because 80% of all homes under contract close within 60 days, and a statistically significant share... 01/04/2011

Mortgage markets improved last week during a snow- and holiday-thinned series of sessions on Wall Street. Mortgage bonds improved on year-end profit-taking, mostly, leading conforming mortgage rates in Wisconsin lower. Last week marked the first calendar week in which mortgage rates dropped since early-November, a pleasing development for rate shoppers and home buyers. Falling rates means lower monthly mortgage payments. But don't expect for rates to improve again this week, however. Last week's gains were the result of extremely low trading volume and a close-out of 2010 mortgage bond positions. With markets re-opened for 2011, and Wall Street back at full volume, mortgage rates may resume rising. There will be a lot of data and information on which for mortgage bonds to trade, too. Th... 01/04/2011

The Case-Shiller Index posted awful numbers in its most recent reading. Each of the index's 20 tracked markets showed home price deterioration between September's and October's respective report. Some markets fell as much as 2.9 percent. The drop in values is nothing about which to panic, however. The Case-Shiller Index is just re-reporting what we already knew. It's a common theme with the Case-Shiller Index, actually; a trait traced to the report's methodology. The Case-Shiller Index is an imperfect housing indicator with 3 inherent flaws. The first flaw is that the index makes use of a limited data set, tracking values in just 20 cities nationwide. That data set is then projected across the more than 3,100 other municipalities in the United States. The "national figures", therefore,... 01/04/2011

With 2010 coming to a close, the "experts" are out in full force, making predictions for next year's housing and mortgage markets on business television and in the papers. Predictions for 2011 are wide-ranging: Some say home prices will rise in 2011 Some say home prices will fall in 2011 Some say mortgage rates will rise in 2011 Some say mortgage rates will fall in 2011 The problem with housing and mortgage predictions is that - like all predictions - they're just educated guesses about the future. Nobody knows what will really happen with the housing and mortgage markets in 2011. All anyone can do is theorize. As laypersons, though, it can be hard to separate theory from fact. Television can make that task even more difficult at times. As an example, when a well-dressed economist goes ... 01/04/2011

Like most housing data in November, the most recent New Home Sales report showed sales volume increasing last month, and home supplies falling. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, sales of new, single-family homes increased to 290,000 in November on an annual basis, a figure equal to the New Home Sales 6-month rolling average, and a 6 percent improvement from October. At the current pace of sales, the national supply of new homes for sale will be exhausted in 8.2 months - a strong 0.6-month improvement from October. This data is consistent with the most recent Existing Home Sales report. It showed sales volume rising 6 percent, too, and a similarly-strong inventory drop. For the housing market in Minneapolis , it's another step in the right direction. Since May's post-tax cred... 01/04/2011

Mortgage markets worsened again last week as the holiday-shortened sessions did little to buck recent momentum. Although Freddie Mac reported mortgage rates dropping 0.02% from the week prior, loan officers on the street will report the opposite. Rates did not fall last week. Conforming mortgage rates in Minnesota moved higher for 7th straight week. For rate shoppers and home buyers, it's been a harrowing two months.   Since the Federal Reserve announced its QE2 program November 3, 2010, mortgage rates have moved from all-time lows to 7-month highs. Mortgage payments now cost $38 more per month per $100,000 borrowed as compared to the day before the stimulus was announced. Mortgage rates look poised to increase again. Here's why. A major reason why mortgage rates were so low, for so lon... 01/04/2011

 Seven Greens neighborhood is a Luxury home community located at the corner of Vicksburg & Schmidt lake road in Plymouth, MN. Voted "Best Places to live" in by Money Magazine 2009. Plymouth is home to the Wayzata school district www.wayzata.k12.mn.us/ There are 70 single family and 50 luxury townhomes in Seven Greens. As most developments built in 2004+ the market has been in decline. Despite the depreciation the builder/developer is still building in the community.  In 2009 There were 9 single family homes that Sold & only 1 townhome sale. Prices range from $500,000 to $900,00 for single familysolds in 2009. The average sale price being $631,000 (single family).  The townhome sold was $507,000.  6 of 9 sales were either Bank Owned LeGran builtsingle family homes or short sales in the n... 01/02/2011

Seven Greens Neighborhood Plymouth MN    This past year I have had the privilege to work with great people that own beautiful homes like the above property in the Seven Greens neighborhood. My clients were in tune with the market and experienced in real estate. We priced the home well and had lots of showings. The consistent feedback was "Beautiful home! but busy street.." This sound familiar? because Seven Greens is located at the corner of schmidt lake road & vicksburg homes can back up to one of the busy Plymouth roads.  Our strategy was simple yet effective. We were aware of the negatives (busy street) so lets emphasize the positives of this beautiful custom home. We know the competitors can offer a more private setting with less road noise but lets showcase the finishes and high de... 12/12/2010

Recently I was on a listing appointment for an expired listing. The potential seller asked me if I would be taking pictures myself? ABSOLUTELY NOT  My response was quick knowing what a great job a professional photographer can do to enhance the marketability of a property. I don't get why agents still take photos themselves? I am not a photographer. I sell homes. Knowing that 90% of homebuyers in the Twin Cities Real Estate Market search photos online using multiple different sites such as Results.net, vipMNhomes.com, ListWithLowe.com, Realtor.com. All of which showcase up to 30 pictures and virtual tour. Hiring a professional maybe the most powerful marketing decision in listing a property. Certainly a Upper Bracket home requires every detail to showcase the amenities. The expired list... 12/08/2010

In a holiday-shortened week on Wall Street, mortgage markets improved on 3 of 4 days, but still posted its fourth consecutive losing week. Unfortunately for rate shoppers and home buyers in Wisconsin , last week's 3 days of gains were mild improvements; the one day of deterioration was among the Top 10 worst days for mortgage bonds this year. Mortgage rates in Plymouth are at their highest levels since mid-July. The Refi Boom is unwinding quickly. Last week underscores the importance of the global community to the future of the U.S. mortgage market. Two of the main reasons why mortgage rates increased were non-domestic. Concerns for a full-blown North Korea/South Korea conflict lessened quickly. The likelihood of a speedy, $85 billion bailout Ireland increased. The two events stemmed th... 11/30/2010

Plymouth MN Homes $100,000 - $500,000 Instant Updates! Walk Score + Search Like An Agent! MLS IDX Plymouth Homes, Foreclosures, and Real Estate Property Search! Click Plymouth MLS Homes and Properties Instant Updates Incredible Historic Interest Rates Click Freddie Mac 30 Yr & 15 Yr Fixed Mortgage Rate Weekly Survey Results FHA 3.5% Down Financing Click FHA FAQ Click FHA 203k Streamline Rehab Loan MLS Instant Updates No Sign-up Schools Walk Score Go Green Remodeling Cost vs Value Market Data CD, REO, Short Sale Comfort Level High 25 Yrs Local Industry Expereince Contact Information RES RealtyBob Elliot 12280 Nicollet AveBurnsville MN 55337612 578 6162More Listing InformationPlymouth HomesEmail Me Information on this flyer is for informational purposes only. 07/17/2010