NAR Warns on Pending Sales; Rates Dent Mortgage Apps; Robots and Underwriting; Fed Announcement

Pending home sales finished off the year in a more upbeat tune. Although the December gain in sales, reported on Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) was a slim one, it made three consecutive monthly gains for the leading indicator. NAR warned however that it expects existing home sales and price growth to moderate , primarily because of the expected impact of the new tax laws in high cost housing markets. NAR's Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) rose 0.5 percent to 110.1 in December, from an upwardly revised (from 109.5) 109.6 in November. The index is now 0.5 percent higher than in December 2016. It was the highest level for the PHSI since it hit 111.3 last March. Analysts nailed the number with their forecasts. Those polled by Econoday predicted increases in the range

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/31/3203

Guess Who's Pushing Homeownership Higher; Home Price Deja Vu; Rates Still on Scary Ride

The national homeownership rate ticked up slightly in the fourth quarter of 2017, but the U.S. Census Bureau said the change, from 63.9 percent in the third quarter to 64.2 percent in the fourth was not statistically different. The rate in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 63.7 percent. The rate has improved only slightly since reaching a historic low of 62.9 percent in the second quarter of 2016. Homeownership in the U.S. peaked at 69.2 percent in 2004. The rate was, as usual, highest among the oldest groups of Americans. Those 55 to 64 years old had a rate of 75.3 percent, up 0.5 point from a year earlier while 79.2 percent of those over age 65 were homeowners, a fraction lower than in the previous fourth quarter. The year-over-year increase was greatest among the much-watched Millennials ,

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/30/3201

Mortgage Rates Surge to Highest Levels in More Than 3 Years; 67-Month Winning Streak For Home Prices

Mortgage rates are in trouble . This will come as no surprise to regular readers. For the past few weeks, rates made several successive runs up to the highest levels in more than 9 months. It was really only the spring of 2017 that stood in the way of rates being the highest since early 2014. After Friday marked another "highest in 9 months" day, it would only have taken a moderate movement to break into the "3+ year" territory. The move ended up being even bigger. From a week and a half ago, most borrowers are now looking at another eighth of a percentage point higher in rate. In total, rates are up the better part of half a point since December 15th. This marks the only time rates have risen this much without having been at long term lows in the past year. For example, late 2010, mid-2013

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/29/3199

Stagers Who Stand Ready to Transform Properties

By Audra Slinkey, Home Staging Resource

A lot of people don’t realize just how much home stagers do for their clients. Certified professional home stagers are true artists and will go to great lengths to get that “right look,” as well as help seller’s maximize the return impact on the sale of their home.

Here are two, behind-the-scenes staging stories that show you how far your home stager will go to GET IT DONE RIGHT…

You may have seen this unique residence in your news stream a while back, but did you consider how it got staged?  It is on an island just off the Connecticut coast and the residence spans the entire three-acre island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were five houses to be staged (a main house, guest house, tea house, game house, and pool house.)  The real kicker is that the caretaker’s boat had weight restrictions and could not hold couches, beds, or larger pieces–so the stager had to be creative!

HSR Certified home stager Leia Ward of LTW Designs in Fairfield County is the brave home stager who took on this property, and using only accessories, staged it beautifully!  Here is a photo of her loading up the boat with all her gorgeous furnishings.

Imagine how hard it must have been to crate all of those items over two docks, open sea, and yard space using just the wheel barrel you see here!

Leia and her team staged all day and into the evening but the outcome and sale of the home is what drives dedicated stagers like her.

Since staging outdoor spaces has become much more critical to buyers, Leia makes sure no stone is unturned using what the client had and adding many more accessories to update the look.

View photos of Leia and her team’s staging of the property.

My second story entails a home that most people had given up on…

Looking more like an Amityville Horror Movie, this home had been neglected and abused for years and unfortunately the inside was not much better…

When RESA Stager of the Year, HSR Grad Brad Fletcher of the Home Staging Pros in Orlando, Fla. got a hold of this property … everything changed!

The transformation is unbelievable, and it’s hard to envision this is the same house! Updated flooring, paint, fixtures, A LOT of clean up, and staging makes this a home that buyers will pay A LOT more for!

Professional home stagers make this kind of magic happen every day for their clients.  They are tireless, they are dedicated, and they are worth every penny.

Buyers beware … not all home stagers are equal. Is Walmart equal to Restoration Hardware in quality and design? It’s not about getting the best price for your sellers; it’s about getting the best return on their investment. Brad and Leia are stagers who do just that.

 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Audra Slinkey is president of the Home Staging Resource, a RESA Accredited home staging training and certification company. Slinkey has personally trained over 3,000 stagers worldwide and is a bestselling author and international speaker. She also serves as president of the American Society of Home Stagers and Redesigners. Connect with her on Facebook!

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/01/29/some-stagers-move-mountains-for-their-clients/

Bids for East 16th Street site propose range of residential options

Five bidders have different visions for how to develop the site that Indianapolis Public Schools wants to sell along the suddenly hot corridor.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67242-residential-options-vary-among-bids-for-ips-east-16th-street-site

Update: Urban Eats, Nook opening in early February; governor to visit Tim Hortons

Gov. Eric Holcomb will drop in at Tim Hortons for Wednesday's grand opening of the Canadian-based coffee and doughnut chain's first Indianapolis-area location.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67207-update-urban-eats-nook-opening-in-early-february-governor-to-visit-tim-hortons

Bids for East 16th Street site propose range of residential options

Five bidders have different visions for how to develop the site that Indianapolis Public Schools wants to sell along the suddenly hot corridor.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67242-residential-options-vary-among-bids-for-ips-east-16th-street-site

U.S. Housing Market Has Gained Back All $9 Trillion in Value Lost During Recession, but Uneven Recovery Means Some Markets Still Lag

Home values in both Las Vegas and San Jose have doubled since the lowest point of the housing crisis, but Las Vegas has still not regained all of its lost value

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-25-U-S-Housing-Market-Has-Gained-Back-All-9-Trillion-in-Value-Lost-During-Recession-but-Uneven-Recovery-Means-Some-Markets-Still-Lag

Update: Urban Eats, Nook opening in early February; governor to visit Tim Hortons

Gov. Eric Holcomb will drop in at Tim Hortons for Wednesday's grand opening of the Canadian-based coffee and doughnut chain's first Indianapolis-area location.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67207-update-urban-eats-nook-opening-in-early-february-governor-to-visit-tim-hortons

Cautionary Tale For Mortgage Rates; More Loans, More Delinquencies for Freddie; FHA/VA Updates

Mortgage rates moved higher today, bringing them up to yet another 9-month high. Underlying bond markets ended the week in roughly the same shape as last week, but the mortgage bond market has been volatile over the past 3 days. That volatility makes it more expensive for lenders to guarantee any given rate, thus accounting for the new highs this week. It's very important to note that there were two examples of reasonably positive movement in rates this week (Tue/Thu) and that both of them were quickly eclipsed and replaced with new long-term highs on the following day. It's for this reason that I've continued to advocate a defensive stance despite periodic victories. Such victories are bound to occur in any interest rate environment. We need to see bigger victories and more of them if it's

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/26/3197

How to Invest in Real Estate - Show 468

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 468

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "How to Invest in Real Estate."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Move Out and Rent It!
- Rent it Right!
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Bids for East 16th Street site propose range of residential options

Five bidders have different visions for how to develop the site that Indianapolis Public Schools wants to sell along the suddenly hot corridor.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67242-residential-options-vary-among-bids-for-ips-east-16th-street-site

U.S. Housing Market Has Gained Back All $9 Trillion in Value Lost During Recession, but Uneven Recovery Means Some Markets Still Lag

Home values in both Las Vegas and San Jose have doubled since the lowest point of the housing crisis, but Las Vegas has still not regained all of its lost value

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-25-U-S-Housing-Market-Has-Gained-Back-All-9-Trillion-in-Value-Lost-During-Recession-but-Uneven-Recovery-Means-Some-Markets-Still-Lag

Update: Urban Eats, Nook opening in early February; governor to visit Tim Hortons

Gov. Eric Holcomb will drop in at Tim Hortons for Wednesday's grand opening of the Canadian-based coffee and doughnut chain's first Indianapolis-area location.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67207-update-urban-eats-nook-opening-in-early-february-governor-to-visit-tim-hortons

Hot Home Trend: Black Is Back

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Black is getting popular in home design. Black fixtures, appliances, and even black furniture are emerging as one of the hottest trends in the new year.

Black fixtures are replacing brass or rubbed bronze as a trendy home hardware in 2018.

Black makes a great finish because it goes with anything. In matted finishes, it can also be easier to clean than your lighter, polished metals–so that’s definitely an added perk for homeowners too.

Photo by Office of Architecture – Browse bathroom ideas

Photo by – Look for bathroom design inspiration

Black cabinets in the kitchen are getting trendy too. To offset the darkness, some homeowners are mixing the black cabinets with lighter cabinets. Check out this one from Weston Lodge…

Photo by Woodale – Look for kitchen design inspiration

Black stainless appliances are also gradually gaining more momentum in the kitchen. Black stainless was once again being showed in the newest appliance models at CES 2018, the consumer electronics show this year. As  more smudge proof, black stainless is proving itself as a trendy alternative to traditional stainless.

Photo credit: Samsung

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/mZ2s4vFm-to/

Building In 2018 - Show 467

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 467

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Building In 2018."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Vows to Add to Your Marriage Before Building
- Keeping Your Expectations in Line
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Rough Finish to a Strong Year for New Home Sales; Downpayment Study; Decent Day For Rates

After three solid months of new home sales, some give-back could only be expected ; exactly what happened in December. The Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development report that sales of newly constructed homes fell 9.3 percent in December. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of 625,000 was down 9.3 percent from the November revised estimate. That still left the December sales up a healthy 14.1 percent higher than sales in December 2016. What probably hurt more than the slowing sales in December was the November revision . The original estimate, 733,000, was not only unexpected, but represented what would have been the highest rate of sales since the housing crash. The month's sales are now estimated at 689,000. Analysts had been looking for a rollback but had expected

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/25/3195

Bids for East 16th Street site propose range of residential options

Five bidders have different visions for how to develop the site that Indianapolis Public Schools wants to sell along the suddenly hot corridor.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67242-residential-options-vary-among-bids-for-ips-east-16th-street-site

U.S. Housing Market Has Gained Back All $9 Trillion in Value Lost During Recession, but Uneven Recovery Means Some Markets Still Lag

Home values in both Las Vegas and San Jose have doubled since the lowest point of the housing crisis, but Las Vegas has still not regained all of its lost value

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-25-U-S-Housing-Market-Has-Gained-Back-All-9-Trillion-in-Value-Lost-During-Recession-but-Uneven-Recovery-Means-Some-Markets-Still-Lag

Home Sales Log Best Year Since '06; Price Gains Cool; Rates Can't Catch Break; Purchase Apps at 8yr High

Despite a poor showing in December , existing home sales in 2017 were the best levels in 11 years. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said the finished with 5.51 million sales of existing single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and cooperative apartments. This edged out, by 1.1 percent, the 5.45 million sales in 2016 to have the highest number of transaction since 6.48 million were sold in 2006. In December, however home sales declined by 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.57 million and were 1.1 percent higher on an annual basis. November sales were revised down from 5.81 million to 5.78 million. Many analysts had expected a decline in December, although not one so large. Estimates from those polled by Econoday ranged from 5.50 million to 5.90 million units

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/24/3193

Update: Urban Eats, Nook opening in early February; governor to visit Tim Hortons

Gov. Eric Holcomb will drop in at Tim Hortons for Wednesday's grand opening of the Canadian-based coffee and doughnut chain's first Indianapolis-area location.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67207-update-urban-eats-nook-opening-in-early-february-governor-to-visit-tim-hortons

Multifamily 2018 Outlook

Performance in the multifamily market remained healthy in 2017. Strength in the multifamily market is expected to continue into 2018, but with slight moderation. More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20180124_multifamily_2018_outlook.html?attr=rssCB

Tax Bill Winners/Losers Per Fannie; Hurricane States Seriously Delinquent; Reprieve For Rates

Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group (ESR) focused on the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed late last year, in its January Economic Developments report. Like most other economists, Fannie Mae's are upgrading their growth forecasts based on the impact of the bill. Between October 2017 and this month, the average forecast for 2018 real gross domestic product, some based on speculation about what the bill would ultimately contain, moved 0.3 percent higher, to 2.7 percent. The rationale for the forecasts is that cuts in individual tax rates should help push consumer spending , while reductions in corporate tax rates and allowing equipment investment to be fully expensed for five years are expected to boost that spending. The new law " will create winners and losers in the housing

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/23/3191

HUD Provides Shutdown Info; Mortgage Rates In Trouble; Housing Derailed by Headwinds?

Mortgage rates pushed up to yet another 9-month high today--something that's become all too common in the past few weeks. Just as troubling is the fact that 10yr Treasury yields--the bigger, more important neighbor that shares the street with mortgage rates--are operating at their highest levels since early 2014. Mortgage rates aren't directly tied to Treasury yields, but big momentum in Treasuries tends to spill over. Incidentally, both Treasuries and MBS (the mortgage-backed-securities that underlie mortgage rates) were roughly unchanged today. The problem is they were much weaker on Friday afternoon and mortgage lenders didn't fully adjust for that fact with Friday's rate sheets. That left them with a bit of catching up to do this morning. In other words, lenders needed to push their rates

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/22/3189

Rates' Worst Week Since June; Rent vs Own; Auction Fever; Watt Weighs In

Mortgage rates remained at 9-month highs today, with most lenders in worse shape than yesterday. In the morning, the sky hadn't yet fallen, the average lender was right in line with yesterday's 9-month highs, but at least we weren't any worse off than yesterday. Things changed in the afternoon as bond markets weakened abruptly. Many lenders issued negative reprices, thus leaving the average lender noticeably higher than yesterday. Today's weakness makes this the worst week for rates since late June and one of only 3 weeks with as much of a rate spike since 2016. For the third day in a row, I'm repeating the same mantra: any time we're pushing long-term highs, it's a good idea to remain defensive in terms of locking vs floating. The saving grace is that long-term highs typically precede extended

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/19/3185

Careful What You Read About Rates Today; Credit Requirement Update; Construction Retreats; Is "It" Over?

It's Thursday, which means Freddie Mac released its weekly update on mortgage rates . This is typically not that big of a deal because mortgage rates don't tend to move enough in the short term to expose the shortfalls of Freddie's methodology. To be perfectly fair to Freddie, their methodology is fine for those who want a once-a-week look at rates and who aren't currently in the process of shopping for a mortgage or home. Unfortunately , much of the consumer-level interest in mortgage rate news comes from those who are in the process of shopping from a mortgage or home! Granted, they're not seeking out Freddie's rate survey, but they do tend to come across internet news that cites Freddie's data as a source. Enter the pitfalls. Freddie's survey deadline is Wednesday for any given week and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/18/3183

Rates Highest in 9 Months; HECM Draining FHA Resources; Applications Improve Despite Rate Spike

Mortgage rates were only moderately higher today, but the move was enough to officially bring them to the highest levels since the Spring of 2017. In other words, most lenders' rate quotes are fairly similar to recently bad days (like last Wednesday), but in terms of outright costs, you'd have to go back 9 months to see anything worse. There was precious little by way of overt motivations for today's move. Whereas rates have a longstanding history of responding to economic data and other events that speak to the economy/inflation/etc., many of the recent movements have had more to do with arcane considerations among bond traders than the aforementioned history. The timing of today's weakness is unfortunate as rates were just starting to look like they might be reinforcing recent ceilings. To

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/17/3181

Tax Bill Winners/Losers Per Fannie; Hurricane States Seriously Delinquent; Reprieve For Rates

Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group (ESR) focused on the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed late last year, in its January Economic Developments report. Like most other economists, Fannie Mae's are upgrading their growth forecasts based on the impact of the bill. Between October 2017 and this month, the average forecast for 2018 real gross domestic product, some based on speculation about what the bill would ultimately contain, moved 0.3 percent higher, to 2.7 percent. The rationale for the forecasts is that cuts in individual tax rates should help push consumer spending , while reductions in corporate tax rates and allowing equipment investment to be fully expensed for five years are expected to boost that spending. The new law " will create winners and losers in the housing

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/23/3191

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

Maintaining Momentum: 2018 and Beyond

Starting off the year, things are looking pretty good for the U.S. economy and housing markets. Mortgage rates are low, economic growth has accelerated in recent... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20180118_maintaining_momentum.html?attr=rssCB

Hot Home Trend: Black Is Back

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Black is getting popular in home design. Black fixtures, appliances, and even black furniture are emerging as one of the hottest trends in the new year.

Black fixtures are replacing brass or rubbed bronze as a trendy home hardware in 2018.

Black makes a great finish because it goes with anything. In matted finishes, it can also be easier to clean than your lighter, polished metals–so that’s definitely an added perk for homeowners too.

Photo by Office of Architecture – Browse bathroom ideas

Photo by – Look for bathroom design inspiration

Black cabinets in the kitchen are getting trendy too. To offset the darkness, some homeowners are mixing the black cabinets with lighter cabinets. Check out this one from Weston Lodge…

Photo by Woodale – Look for kitchen design inspiration

Black stainless appliances are also gradually gaining more momentum in the kitchen. Black stainless was once again being showed in the newest appliance models at CES 2018, the consumer electronics show this year. As  more smudge proof, black stainless is proving itself as a trendy alternative to traditional stainless.

Photo credit: Samsung

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/mZ2s4vFm-to/

Building In 2018 - Show 467

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 467

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Building In 2018."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Vows to Add to Your Marriage Before Building
- Keeping Your Expectations in Line
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

HUD Provides Shutdown Info; Mortgage Rates In Trouble; Housing Derailed by Headwinds?

Mortgage rates pushed up to yet another 9-month high today--something that's become all too common in the past few weeks. Just as troubling is the fact that 10yr Treasury yields--the bigger, more important neighbor that shares the street with mortgage rates--are operating at their highest levels since early 2014. Mortgage rates aren't directly tied to Treasury yields, but big momentum in Treasuries tends to spill over. Incidentally, both Treasuries and MBS (the mortgage-backed-securities that underlie mortgage rates) were roughly unchanged today. The problem is they were much weaker on Friday afternoon and mortgage lenders didn't fully adjust for that fact with Friday's rate sheets. That left them with a bit of catching up to do this morning. In other words, lenders needed to push their rates

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/22/3189

Rates' Worst Week Since June; Rent vs Own; Auction Fever; Watt Weighs In

Mortgage rates remained at 9-month highs today, with most lenders in worse shape than yesterday. In the morning, the sky hadn't yet fallen, the average lender was right in line with yesterday's 9-month highs, but at least we weren't any worse off than yesterday. Things changed in the afternoon as bond markets weakened abruptly. Many lenders issued negative reprices, thus leaving the average lender noticeably higher than yesterday. Today's weakness makes this the worst week for rates since late June and one of only 3 weeks with as much of a rate spike since 2016. For the third day in a row, I'm repeating the same mantra: any time we're pushing long-term highs, it's a good idea to remain defensive in terms of locking vs floating. The saving grace is that long-term highs typically precede extended

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/19/3185

Careful What You Read About Rates Today; Credit Requirement Update; Construction Retreats; Is "It" Over?

It's Thursday, which means Freddie Mac released its weekly update on mortgage rates . This is typically not that big of a deal because mortgage rates don't tend to move enough in the short term to expose the shortfalls of Freddie's methodology. To be perfectly fair to Freddie, their methodology is fine for those who want a once-a-week look at rates and who aren't currently in the process of shopping for a mortgage or home. Unfortunately , much of the consumer-level interest in mortgage rate news comes from those who are in the process of shopping from a mortgage or home! Granted, they're not seeking out Freddie's rate survey, but they do tend to come across internet news that cites Freddie's data as a source. Enter the pitfalls. Freddie's survey deadline is Wednesday for any given week and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/18/3183

Rates Highest in 9 Months; HECM Draining FHA Resources; Applications Improve Despite Rate Spike

Mortgage rates were only moderately higher today, but the move was enough to officially bring them to the highest levels since the Spring of 2017. In other words, most lenders' rate quotes are fairly similar to recently bad days (like last Wednesday), but in terms of outright costs, you'd have to go back 9 months to see anything worse. There was precious little by way of overt motivations for today's move. Whereas rates have a longstanding history of responding to economic data and other events that speak to the economy/inflation/etc., many of the recent movements have had more to do with arcane considerations among bond traders than the aforementioned history. The timing of today's weakness is unfortunate as rates were just starting to look like they might be reinforcing recent ceilings. To

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/17/3181

Mortgage Rates Still Working on That Ceiling; Housing Demands Changing, Builders Slow to Follow

Mortgage rates didn't move much today. Most lenders were just slightly lower/better this morning, but mid-day market weakness prompted several of them to reissue higher rates. In the bigger picture, however, the past several days represent a welcome stint of relative calm. The general trend had been toward higher rates beginning in mid-December. Granted, that general trend could continue and the past few business days could merely be a pause. But the point is, whether it's a pause or the beginning of a reversal, either would begin the same way. The important development in underlying bond markets has been resilience at the weaker (read: higher rate) levels. Using 10yr Treasury yields as a benchmark for rate in general, we'd want 2.60% to continue to act as a ceiling. The ingredient we're still

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/16/3179

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

HUD Provides Shutdown Info; Mortgage Rates In Trouble; Housing Derailed by Headwinds?

Mortgage rates pushed up to yet another 9-month high today--something that's become all too common in the past few weeks. Just as troubling is the fact that 10yr Treasury yields--the bigger, more important neighbor that shares the street with mortgage rates--are operating at their highest levels since early 2014. Mortgage rates aren't directly tied to Treasury yields, but big momentum in Treasuries tends to spill over. Incidentally, both Treasuries and MBS (the mortgage-backed-securities that underlie mortgage rates) were roughly unchanged today. The problem is they were much weaker on Friday afternoon and mortgage lenders didn't fully adjust for that fact with Friday's rate sheets. That left them with a bit of catching up to do this morning. In other words, lenders needed to push their rates

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/22/3189

Hot Home Trend: Black Is Back

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Black is getting popular in home design. Black fixtures, appliances, and even black furniture are emerging as one of the hottest trends in the new year.

Black fixtures are replacing brass or rubbed bronze as a trendy home hardware in 2018.

Black makes a great finish because it goes with anything. In matted finishes, it can also be easier to clean than your lighter, polished metals–so that’s definitely an added perk for homeowners too.

Photo by Office of Architecture – Browse bathroom ideas

Photo by – Look for bathroom design inspiration

Black cabinets in the kitchen are getting trendy too. To offset the darkness, some homeowners are mixing the black cabinets with lighter cabinets. Check out this one from Weston Lodge…

Photo by Woodale – Look for kitchen design inspiration

Black stainless appliances are also gradually gaining more momentum in the kitchen. Black stainless was once again being showed in the newest appliance models at CES 2018, the consumer electronics show this year. As  more smudge proof, black stainless is proving itself as a trendy alternative to traditional stainless.

Photo credit: Samsung

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/01/22/hot-home-trend-black-is-back/

Building In 2018 - Show 467

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 467

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Building In 2018."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Vows to Add to Your Marriage Before Building
- Keeping Your Expectations in Line
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

Hot Home Trend: Black Is Back

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

Black is getting popular in home design. Black fixtures, appliances, and even black furniture are emerging as one of the hottest trends in the new year.

Black fixtures are replacing brass or rubbed bronze as a trendy home hardware in 2018.

Black makes a great finish because it goes with anything. In matted finishes, it can also be easier to clean than your lighter, polished metals–so that’s definitely an added perk for homeowners too.

Photo by Office of Architecture – Browse bathroom ideas

Photo by – Look for bathroom design inspiration

Black cabinets in the kitchen are getting trendy too. To offset the darkness, some homeowners are mixing the black cabinets with lighter cabinets. Check out this one from Weston Lodge…

Photo by Woodale – Look for kitchen design inspiration

Black stainless appliances are also gradually gaining more momentum in the kitchen. Black stainless was once again being showed in the newest appliance models at CES 2018, the consumer electronics show this year. As  more smudge proof, black stainless is proving itself as a trendy alternative to traditional stainless.

Photo credit: Samsung

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2018/01/22/hot-home-trend-black-is-back/

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Table

Three new restaurants are opening on the Mile Square's south side, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities and a Mexican eatery taking the former site of El Rodeo.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

Rates' Worst Week Since June; Rent vs Own; Auction Fever; Watt Weighs In

Mortgage rates remained at 9-month highs today, with most lenders in worse shape than yesterday. In the morning, the sky hadn't yet fallen, the average lender was right in line with yesterday's 9-month highs, but at least we weren't any worse off than yesterday. Things changed in the afternoon as bond markets weakened abruptly. Many lenders issued negative reprices, thus leaving the average lender noticeably higher than yesterday. Today's weakness makes this the worst week for rates since late June and one of only 3 weeks with as much of a rate spike since 2016. For the third day in a row, I'm repeating the same mantra: any time we're pushing long-term highs, it's a good idea to remain defensive in terms of locking vs floating. The saving grace is that long-term highs typically precede extended

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/19/3185

Building In 2018 - Show 467

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 467

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "Building In 2018."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Vows to Add to Your Marriage Before Building
- Keeping Your Expectations in Line
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

A Great Time To Sell - Show 466

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 466

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "A Great Time To Sell."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Buying and Selling Simultaneously
- The Old-Fashioned Open House
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Careful What You Read About Rates Today; Credit Requirement Update; Construction Retreats; Is "It" Over?

It's Thursday, which means Freddie Mac released its weekly update on mortgage rates . This is typically not that big of a deal because mortgage rates don't tend to move enough in the short term to expose the shortfalls of Freddie's methodology. To be perfectly fair to Freddie, their methodology is fine for those who want a once-a-week look at rates and who aren't currently in the process of shopping for a mortgage or home. Unfortunately , much of the consumer-level interest in mortgage rate news comes from those who are in the process of shopping from a mortgage or home! Granted, they're not seeking out Freddie's rate survey, but they do tend to come across internet news that cites Freddie's data as a source. Enter the pitfalls. Freddie's survey deadline is Wednesday for any given week and

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/18/3183

Maintaining Momentum: 2018 and Beyond

Starting off the year, things are looking pretty good for the U.S. economy and housing markets. Mortgage rates are low, economic growth has accelerated in recent... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20180118_maintaining_momentum.html?attr=rssCB

Last remaining buildings on east-side RCA site set to come down

The structures should be demolished by summer, clearing the way for redevelopment of the massive site now known as Sherman Park.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67133-last-remaining-buildings-on-east-side-rca-site-set-to-come-down-soon

Inventory Shortage at Crisis Levels in Nation's Hottest Housing Markets

There are 10 percent fewer homes on the market to choose from than a year ago, and up to 40 percent fewer in housing markets where home values are appreciating fastest

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Inventory-Shortage-at-Crisis-Levels-in-Nations-Hottest-Housing-Markets

Zillow Launches 3D Homes in Phoenix

Phoenix home shoppers and sellers are the first to get this new technology from Zillow

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-18-Zillow-Launches-3D-Homes-in-Phoenix

Rates Highest in 9 Months; HECM Draining FHA Resources; Applications Improve Despite Rate Spike

Mortgage rates were only moderately higher today, but the move was enough to officially bring them to the highest levels since the Spring of 2017. In other words, most lenders' rate quotes are fairly similar to recently bad days (like last Wednesday), but in terms of outright costs, you'd have to go back 9 months to see anything worse. There was precious little by way of overt motivations for today's move. Whereas rates have a longstanding history of responding to economic data and other events that speak to the economy/inflation/etc., many of the recent movements have had more to do with arcane considerations among bond traders than the aforementioned history. The timing of today's weakness is unfortunate as rates were just starting to look like they might be reinforcing recent ceilings. To

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/17/3181

Mortgage Rates Still Working on That Ceiling; Housing Demands Changing, Builders Slow to Follow

Mortgage rates didn't move much today. Most lenders were just slightly lower/better this morning, but mid-day market weakness prompted several of them to reissue higher rates. In the bigger picture, however, the past several days represent a welcome stint of relative calm. The general trend had been toward higher rates beginning in mid-December. Granted, that general trend could continue and the past few business days could merely be a pause. But the point is, whether it's a pause or the beginning of a reversal, either would begin the same way. The important development in underlying bond markets has been resilience at the weaker (read: higher rate) levels. Using 10yr Treasury yields as a benchmark for rate in general, we'd want 2.60% to continue to act as a ceiling. The ingredient we're still

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/16/3179

Rates Avoid More Dire Outcomes; Must be China; CPI is the new NFP (Sometimes)

Mortgage rates caught a break yesterday by moving lower for the first time this week. They arguably caught a break again today by not moving any higher than they did. Underlying bond markets (which drive mortgage rate changes) were rocked this morning by stronger inflation data. The important Consumer Price Index (CPI) was expected to hold steady at the same low levels that have persisted since the middle of 2017. The modest uptick in inflation sent bond yields higher and resulted in most mortgage lenders putting out noticeably higher rates this morning. Lenders don't like to put out more than one rate sheet per day if they can help it, but if markets move enough, they will "reprice." After the initial trauma, bond markets began a trend of improvement that ultimately resulted in widespread

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/12/3176

Mortgage Rates Catch a Break; Growing Concerns Over VA Churning; New Home Sales Defy Holiday Lull

Mortgage rates caught a break today, moving lower for the first time this week and pushing back from the highest levels since early July 2017. Like yesterday, strong demand at a Treasury auction helped US bond markets, but notably, only the longer-term maturities (10yr and 30yr bonds were the big winners). Fortunately, the bonds that underlie mortgage rates tend to correlate well with longer-term Treasuries. Economic data also played a role with a weaker reading on inflation at the producer level. Tomorrow brings the much more important reading on consumer-level inflation (via the Consumer Price Index or CPI). If CPI is similarly weak, it could steel the resolve on the part of rates to hold to recent ceilings--potentially providing a base of operations for borrowers to consider a strategy other

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/11/3173

Rates Stay at 6-Mo High; Builders Face Digital Reality; Mortgage Apps Heat Up

Mortgage rates were much higher this morning, bringing them to new 6-month highs (a dubious distinction also accomplished yesterday). Unlike yesterday, there were good and bad moments today. Bond markets (which underlie rate movement) were already starting to show signs of support this morning. Early this afternoon, a scheduled auction of 10yr Treasury Notes was met with strong demand. When demand for a bond rises relative to supply, rates fall. Mortgage rates aren't based directly on 10yr Treasuries, but there is a strong correlation between the two. The 10yr serves as an important benchmark for any longer-term interest rate in the US, so the strong auction suggested rates may attempt to find a ceiling here after a rocky start to the year. The staying power of any such ceiling remains to be

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/10/3171

Mortgage Rates Still Working on That Ceiling; Housing Demands Changing, Builders Slow to Follow

Mortgage rates didn't move much today. Most lenders were just slightly lower/better this morning, but mid-day market weakness prompted several of them to reissue higher rates. In the bigger picture, however, the past several days represent a welcome stint of relative calm. The general trend had been toward higher rates beginning in mid-December. Granted, that general trend could continue and the past few business days could merely be a pause. But the point is, whether it's a pause or the beginning of a reversal, either would begin the same way. The important development in underlying bond markets has been resilience at the weaker (read: higher rate) levels. Using 10yr Treasury yields as a benchmark for rate in general, we'd want 2.60% to continue to act as a ceiling. The ingredient we're still

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/16/3179

Roundup: Downtown debuts include Urban Eats, Chef JJ's Luncheonette, Nature's Way

The Mile Square's south side soon will have three new restaurants, including a couple of nontraditional locations piggybacking on established facilities.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67078-roundup-downtown-debuts-include-urban-eats-chef-jjs-luncheonette-natures-way

Rates Avoid More Dire Outcomes; Must be China; CPI is the new NFP (Sometimes)

Mortgage rates caught a break yesterday by moving lower for the first time this week. They arguably caught a break again today by not moving any higher than they did. Underlying bond markets (which drive mortgage rate changes) were rocked this morning by stronger inflation data. The important Consumer Price Index (CPI) was expected to hold steady at the same low levels that have persisted since the middle of 2017. The modest uptick in inflation sent bond yields higher and resulted in most mortgage lenders putting out noticeably higher rates this morning. Lenders don't like to put out more than one rate sheet per day if they can help it, but if markets move enough, they will "reprice." After the initial trauma, bond markets began a trend of improvement that ultimately resulted in widespread

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/12/3176

Mortgage Rates Catch a Break; Growing Concerns Over VA Churning; New Home Sales Defy Holiday Lull

Mortgage rates caught a break today, moving lower for the first time this week and pushing back from the highest levels since early July 2017. Like yesterday, strong demand at a Treasury auction helped US bond markets, but notably, only the longer-term maturities (10yr and 30yr bonds were the big winners). Fortunately, the bonds that underlie mortgage rates tend to correlate well with longer-term Treasuries. Economic data also played a role with a weaker reading on inflation at the producer level. Tomorrow brings the much more important reading on consumer-level inflation (via the Consumer Price Index or CPI). If CPI is similarly weak, it could steel the resolve on the part of rates to hold to recent ceilings--potentially providing a base of operations for borrowers to consider a strategy other

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/11/3173

Rates Stay at 6-Mo High; Builders Face Digital Reality; Mortgage Apps Heat Up

Mortgage rates were much higher this morning, bringing them to new 6-month highs (a dubious distinction also accomplished yesterday). Unlike yesterday, there were good and bad moments today. Bond markets (which underlie rate movement) were already starting to show signs of support this morning. Early this afternoon, a scheduled auction of 10yr Treasury Notes was met with strong demand. When demand for a bond rises relative to supply, rates fall. Mortgage rates aren't based directly on 10yr Treasuries, but there is a strong correlation between the two. The 10yr serves as an important benchmark for any longer-term interest rate in the US, so the strong auction suggested rates may attempt to find a ceiling here after a rocky start to the year. The staying power of any such ceiling remains to be

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/10/3171

Government Lending Standards Tighter; Hurricanes Skewing Delinquency; Rates Highest in 6 Months

A decline in each of its four component indices, especially the one measuring the availability of government-backed loans, drove overall mortgage credit availability lower in December according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The group's Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) dropped by 1.8 percent to a reading of 179.2. A decline in the MCAI indicates tightening lending standards while an increase is indicative of loosening credit. The component measuring credit available in the government sector was down 2.6 percent in December. The Government MCAI has been trending down for most of 2017 after peaking at about 450. The index now appears, (MBA provides only percentages and graphs for the components, not numbers) to be around 430. The Conventional MCAI was also down, by 0.7 percent

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/9/3169

#CES2018: Tech Up Your Style

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

The mega consumer electronic showcase, CES, lands in Las Vegas this week. It may not be the place you typically go to for décor trends, but technology is having an undeniable influence in home design, like see-through refrigerators and smart lighting.

Consumers look to you for expertise too. Forty-two percent of Americans say they would look to their sales agent to provide suggestions about how staging their home with smart home products could impact the sale of their home, according to a newly released Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey of more than 3,000 Americans.

So what do we see that has potential this year to spice up some designs? Here are a few picks from CES 2018.

Accent Wall Light Show

 

Photo credit: Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf’s color-changing Aurora light panels would make for an attention-getting accent wall in small or big doses. Connect them in any configuration you like. They just stick to the walls. The panels change colors, and you can sync the lights to music and also with one of your AI’s, Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. The panels are touch-sensitive so with a tap you can turn them on and off, dim them, or change the color.

Statement Refrigerators

Refrigerators just keep getting smarter. LG’s new InstaView ThinQ smart refrigerator features a 29-inch touchscreen that becomes transparent if you knock on it twice. You can also use the touchscreen to manage your food and get automatic reminders when items are running low.

Photo credit: LG

Samsung has a similar model in appearance with its 2018 version of its Family Hub smart refrigerator. This year’s model offers support for Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant to handle voice commands. It can connect to other third-party devices for the smart home too. So you can actually view what’s happening outside your front door from your refrigerator door.

Photo credit: Samsung

Notice both the Samsung and LG models are both featured in black stainless, which we still believe will be a growing competitor to traditional stainless steel.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall … 

Photo credit: Kohler

Check out this smart mirror. Kohler is introducing a new Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror, which is a bathroom mirror that has Amazon’s Alexa built-in. It features a dual-microphone solution for accuracy in voice-control and speakers are housed in the casings. There is also a motion-activated wayfinding nightlight for safety, and LED lights for makeup application or other grooming needs. It can also communicate with other connected products in your Wi-Fi network.

Is that an AI in your ceiling? 

Photo credit: GE

Talk with your ceiling lights. You’ll be able to with GE’s Smart Ceiling Fixture. It is a large disk that boasts a speaker in the middle. You can give it voice-driven tasks on anything, like adding an item to your grocery list or telling it to play music. You can also tell it to adjust the warmness or coolness of the lights. It responds to your commands. Flush mount or recessed can lighting options will be available.

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/h3XWImarxCs/

Rates Avoid More Dire Outcomes; Must be China; CPI is the new NFP (Sometimes)

Mortgage rates caught a break yesterday by moving lower for the first time this week. They arguably caught a break again today by not moving any higher than they did. Underlying bond markets (which drive mortgage rate changes) were rocked this morning by stronger inflation data. The important Consumer Price Index (CPI) was expected to hold steady at the same low levels that have persisted since the middle of 2017. The modest uptick in inflation sent bond yields higher and resulted in most mortgage lenders putting out noticeably higher rates this morning. Lenders don't like to put out more than one rate sheet per day if they can help it, but if markets move enough, they will "reprice." After the initial trauma, bond markets began a trend of improvement that ultimately resulted in widespread

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/12/3176

A Great Time To Sell - Show 466

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 466

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "A Great Time To Sell."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Buying and Selling Simultaneously
- The Old-Fashioned Open House
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Mortgage Rates Catch a Break; Growing Concerns Over VA Churning; New Home Sales Defy Holiday Lull

Mortgage rates caught a break today, moving lower for the first time this week and pushing back from the highest levels since early July 2017. Like yesterday, strong demand at a Treasury auction helped US bond markets, but notably, only the longer-term maturities (10yr and 30yr bonds were the big winners). Fortunately, the bonds that underlie mortgage rates tend to correlate well with longer-term Treasuries. Economic data also played a role with a weaker reading on inflation at the producer level. Tomorrow brings the much more important reading on consumer-level inflation (via the Consumer Price Index or CPI). If CPI is similarly weak, it could steel the resolve on the part of rates to hold to recent ceilings--potentially providing a base of operations for borrowers to consider a strategy other

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/11/3173

Nearly One Quarter of 2017 U.S. Home Sales Were Above the Asking Price

On average, homes that sold above their list price went for $7,000 over the asking price

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-11-Nearly-One-Quarter-of-2017-U-S-Home-Sales-Were-Above-the-Asking-Price

Rates Stay at 6-Mo High; Builders Face Digital Reality; Mortgage Apps Heat Up

Mortgage rates were much higher this morning, bringing them to new 6-month highs (a dubious distinction also accomplished yesterday). Unlike yesterday, there were good and bad moments today. Bond markets (which underlie rate movement) were already starting to show signs of support this morning. Early this afternoon, a scheduled auction of 10yr Treasury Notes was met with strong demand. When demand for a bond rises relative to supply, rates fall. Mortgage rates aren't based directly on 10yr Treasuries, but there is a strong correlation between the two. The 10yr serves as an important benchmark for any longer-term interest rate in the US, so the strong auction suggested rates may attempt to find a ceiling here after a rocky start to the year. The staying power of any such ceiling remains to be

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/10/3171

Government Lending Standards Tighter; Hurricanes Skewing Delinquency; Rates Highest in 6 Months

A decline in each of its four component indices, especially the one measuring the availability of government-backed loans, drove overall mortgage credit availability lower in December according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The group's Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) dropped by 1.8 percent to a reading of 179.2. A decline in the MCAI indicates tightening lending standards while an increase is indicative of loosening credit. The component measuring credit available in the government sector was down 2.6 percent in December. The Government MCAI has been trending down for most of 2017 after peaking at about 450. The index now appears, (MBA provides only percentages and graphs for the components, not numbers) to be around 430. The Conventional MCAI was also down, by 0.7 percent

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/9/3169

San Jose and Raleigh are Zillow's Hottest Housing Markets for 2018

Tech-towns Seattle and San Francisco also make top rankings along with several Sun Belt markets

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-09-San-Jose-and-Raleigh-are-Zillows-Hottest-Housing-Markets-for-2018

#CES2018: Tech Up Your Style

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

The mega consumer electronic showcase, CES, lands in Las Vegas this week. It may not be the place you typically go to for décor trends, but technology is having an undeniable influence in home design, like see-through refrigerators and smart lighting.

Consumers look to you for expertise too. Forty-two percent of Americans say they would look to their sales agent to provide suggestions about how staging their home with smart home products could impact the sale of their home, according to a newly released Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey of more than 3,000 Americans.

So what do we see that has potential this year to spice up some designs? Here are a few picks from CES 2018.

Accent Wall Light Show

 

Photo credit: Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf’s color-changing Aurora light panels would make for an attention-getting accent wall in small or big doses. Connect them in any configuration you like. They just stick to the walls. The panels change colors, and you can sync the lights to music and also with one of your AI’s, Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. The panels are touch-sensitive so with a tap you can turn them on and off, dim them, or change the color.

Statement Refrigerators

Refrigerators just keep getting smarter. LG’s new InstaView ThinQ smart refrigerator features a 29-inch touchscreen that becomes transparent if you knock on it twice. You can also use the touchscreen to manage your food and get automatic reminders when items are running low.

Photo credit: LG

Samsung has a similar model in appearance with its 2018 version of its Family Hub smart refrigerator. This year’s model offers support for Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant to handle voice commands. It can connect to other third-party devices for the smart home too. So you can actually view what’s happening outside your front door from your refrigerator door.

Photo credit: Samsung

Notice both the Samsung and LG models are both featured in black stainless, which we still believe will be a growing competitor to traditional stainless steel.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall … 

Photo credit: Kohler

Check out this smart mirror. Kohler is introducing a new Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror, which is a bathroom mirror that has Amazon’s Alexa built-in. It features a dual-microphone solution for accuracy in voice-control and speakers are housed in the casings. There is also a motion-activated wayfinding nightlight for safety, and LED lights for makeup application or other grooming needs. It can also communicate with other connected products in your Wi-Fi network.

Is that an AI in your ceiling? 

Photo credit: GE

Talk with your ceiling lights. You’ll be able to with GE’s Smart Ceiling Fixture. It is a large disk that boasts a speaker in the middle. You can give it voice-driven tasks on anything, like adding an item to your grocery list or telling it to play music. You can also tell it to adjust the warmness or coolness of the lights. It responds to your commands. Flush mount or recessed can lighting options will be available.

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/h3XWImarxCs/

Tax Law HELOC and Sentiment Impact; Rates Back Near Recent Highs

Black Knight's Mortgage Monitor for November notes that the equation for tapping the growing pool of homeowner equity could shift because of the new rules governing the mortgage interest deduction (MID) in the newly passed tax law. That equity continues to grow as home prices rise, with Black Knight's Home Price Index posting another increase , 0.29 percent increase in November, the strongest appreciation for any November since 2005, and an annual increase of 6.48 percent, the largest since early 2014. Black Knight's reported gain, incidentally, was the smallest of the four reported by indexes tracked by MortgageNewsDaily. The other three posted monthly gains for November ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 percent. Black Knight said the growth rate in its annual index increased by more than 30 basis points

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/8/3167

A Great Time To Sell - Show 466

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 466

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "A Great Time To Sell."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Buying and Selling Simultaneously
- The Old-Fashioned Open House
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Couple's 'passion project': new downtown event center on Delaware Street

Dan and Julie Johnston bought a historic office building near the foot of Mass Ave and are renovating it into state-of-the-art meeting and event space with high-tech bells and whistles.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67022-couples-passion-project-is-new-downtown-event-center-on-delaware-street

Roundup: Updates on Giordano's, Weekends Only on south side

The Chicago-based pizza chain has started construction on its third Indianapolis restaurant, a former Max & Erma's, while Weekends Only prepares to open its second local store, in a former Kroger supermarket.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/66976-roundup-from-the-south-side-updates-on-giordanos-weekends-only

A Great Time To Sell - Show 466

Real Estate Today Radio - SHOW 466

On this week's Real Estate Today, it's our special show "A Great Time To Sell."

This Week's Show Includes:
- Top News Of The Week
- Buying and Selling Simultaneously
- The Old-Fashioned Open House
- Ask The Millennial
- Smart Home Technology
- Get REALTOR(R)

Become a part of the community at http://retradio.com!

from
http://retradio.com

Nearly One Quarter of 2017 U.S. Home Sales Were Above the Asking Price

On average, homes that sold above their list price went for $7,000 over the asking price

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-11-Nearly-One-Quarter-of-2017-U-S-Home-Sales-Were-Above-the-Asking-Price

San Jose and Raleigh are Zillow's Hottest Housing Markets for 2018

Tech-towns Seattle and San Francisco also make top rankings along with several Sun Belt markets

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-09-San-Jose-and-Raleigh-are-Zillows-Hottest-Housing-Markets-for-2018

Rates Avoid More Dire Outcomes; Must be China; CPI is the new NFP (Sometimes)

Mortgage rates caught a break yesterday by moving lower for the first time this week. They arguably caught a break again today by not moving any higher than they did. Underlying bond markets (which drive mortgage rate changes) were rocked this morning by stronger inflation data. The important Consumer Price Index (CPI) was expected to hold steady at the same low levels that have persisted since the middle of 2017. The modest uptick in inflation sent bond yields higher and resulted in most mortgage lenders putting out noticeably higher rates this morning. Lenders don't like to put out more than one rate sheet per day if they can help it, but if markets move enough, they will "reprice." After the initial trauma, bond markets began a trend of improvement that ultimately resulted in widespread

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/12/3176

Mortgage Rates Catch a Break; Growing Concerns Over VA Churning; New Home Sales Defy Holiday Lull

Mortgage rates caught a break today, moving lower for the first time this week and pushing back from the highest levels since early July 2017. Like yesterday, strong demand at a Treasury auction helped US bond markets, but notably, only the longer-term maturities (10yr and 30yr bonds were the big winners). Fortunately, the bonds that underlie mortgage rates tend to correlate well with longer-term Treasuries. Economic data also played a role with a weaker reading on inflation at the producer level. Tomorrow brings the much more important reading on consumer-level inflation (via the Consumer Price Index or CPI). If CPI is similarly weak, it could steel the resolve on the part of rates to hold to recent ceilings--potentially providing a base of operations for borrowers to consider a strategy other

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/11/3173

Rates Stay at 6-Mo High; Builders Face Digital Reality; Mortgage Apps Heat Up

Mortgage rates were much higher this morning, bringing them to new 6-month highs (a dubious distinction also accomplished yesterday). Unlike yesterday, there were good and bad moments today. Bond markets (which underlie rate movement) were already starting to show signs of support this morning. Early this afternoon, a scheduled auction of 10yr Treasury Notes was met with strong demand. When demand for a bond rises relative to supply, rates fall. Mortgage rates aren't based directly on 10yr Treasuries, but there is a strong correlation between the two. The 10yr serves as an important benchmark for any longer-term interest rate in the US, so the strong auction suggested rates may attempt to find a ceiling here after a rocky start to the year. The staying power of any such ceiling remains to be

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/10/3171

Government Lending Standards Tighter; Hurricanes Skewing Delinquency; Rates Highest in 6 Months

A decline in each of its four component indices, especially the one measuring the availability of government-backed loans, drove overall mortgage credit availability lower in December according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). The group's Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) dropped by 1.8 percent to a reading of 179.2. A decline in the MCAI indicates tightening lending standards while an increase is indicative of loosening credit. The component measuring credit available in the government sector was down 2.6 percent in December. The Government MCAI has been trending down for most of 2017 after peaking at about 450. The index now appears, (MBA provides only percentages and graphs for the components, not numbers) to be around 430. The Conventional MCAI was also down, by 0.7 percent

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/9/3169

Tax Law HELOC and Sentiment Impact; Rates Back Near Recent Highs

Black Knight's Mortgage Monitor for November notes that the equation for tapping the growing pool of homeowner equity could shift because of the new rules governing the mortgage interest deduction (MID) in the newly passed tax law. That equity continues to grow as home prices rise, with Black Knight's Home Price Index posting another increase , 0.29 percent increase in November, the strongest appreciation for any November since 2005, and an annual increase of 6.48 percent, the largest since early 2014. Black Knight's reported gain, incidentally, was the smallest of the four reported by indexes tracked by MortgageNewsDaily. The other three posted monthly gains for November ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 percent. Black Knight said the growth rate in its annual index increased by more than 30 basis points

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2018/1/8/3167

Couple's 'passion project': new downtown event center on Delaware Street

Dan and Julie Johnston bought a historic office building near the foot of Mass Ave and are renovating it into state-of-the-art meeting and event space with high-tech bells and whistles.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/67022-couples-passion-project-is-new-downtown-event-center-on-delaware-street

Nearly One Quarter of 2017 U.S. Home Sales Were Above the Asking Price

On average, homes that sold above their list price went for $7,000 over the asking price

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-11-Nearly-One-Quarter-of-2017-U-S-Home-Sales-Were-Above-the-Asking-Price

Roundup: Updates on Giordano's, Weekends Only on south side

The Chicago-based pizza chain has started construction on its third Indianapolis restaurant, a former Max & Erma's, while Weekends Only prepares to open its second local store, in a former Kroger supermarket.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/66976-roundup-from-the-south-side-updates-on-giordanos-weekends-only

San Jose and Raleigh are Zillow's Hottest Housing Markets for 2018

Tech-towns Seattle and San Francisco also make top rankings along with several Sun Belt markets

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2018-01-09-San-Jose-and-Raleigh-are-Zillows-Hottest-Housing-Markets-for-2018

#CES2018: Tech Up Your Style

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine

The mega consumer electronic showcase, CES, lands in Las Vegas this week. It may not be the place you typically go to for décor trends, but technology is having an undeniable influence in home design, like see-through refrigerators and smart lighting.

Consumers look to you for expertise too. Forty-two percent of Americans say they would look to their sales agent to provide suggestions about how staging their home with smart home products could impact the sale of their home, according to a newly released Coldwell Banker Real Estate survey of more than 3,000 Americans.

So what do we see that has potential this year to spice up some designs? Here are a few picks from CES 2018.

Accent Wall Light Show

 

Photo credit: Nanoleaf

Nanoleaf’s color-changing Aurora light panels would make for an attention-getting accent wall in small or big doses. Connect them in any configuration you like. They just stick to the walls. The panels change colors, and you can sync the lights to music and also with one of your AI’s, Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant. The panels are touch-sensitive so with a tap you can turn them on and off, dim them, or change the color.

Statement Refrigerators

Refrigerators just keep getting smarter. LG’s new InstaView ThinQ smart refrigerator features a 29-inch touchscreen that becomes transparent if you knock on it twice. You can also use the touchscreen to manage your food and get automatic reminders when items are running low.

Photo credit: LG

Samsung has a similar model in appearance with its 2018 version of its Family Hub smart refrigerator. This year’s model offers support for Samsung’s Bixby voice assistant to handle voice commands. It can connect to other third-party devices for the smart home too. So you can actually view what’s happening outside your front door from your refrigerator door.

Photo credit: Samsung

Notice both the Samsung and LG models are both featured in black stainless, which we still believe will be a growing competitor to traditional stainless steel.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall … 

Photo credit: Kohler

Check out this smart mirror. Kohler is introducing a new Verdera Voice Lighted Mirror, which is a bathroom mirror that has Amazon’s Alexa built-in. It features a dual-microphone solution for accuracy in voice-control and speakers are housed in the casings. There is also a motion-activated wayfinding nightlight for safety, and LED lights for makeup application or other grooming needs. It can also communicate with other connected products in your Wi-Fi network.

Is that an AI in your ceiling? 

Photo credit: GE

Talk with your ceiling lights. You’ll be able to with GE’s Smart Ceiling Fixture. It is a large disk that boasts a speaker in the middle. You can give it voice-driven tasks on anything, like adding an item to your grocery list or telling it to play music. You can also tell it to adjust the warmness or coolness of the lights. It responds to your commands. Flush mount or recessed can lighting options will be available.

from
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/StyledStagedSold/~3/h3XWImarxCs/