$40M apartment project intended to help transform Brownsburg's downtown

The development is part of the town's larger plans to transform its nondescript downtown into a more vibrant anchor for the community.

from
https://www.ibj.com/blogs/3-property-lines/post/65106-40m-apartment-project-intended-to-help-transform-brownsburgs-downtown

Homes with Over 30 Favorites Sell in Under Two Weeks and for More Money

Over 40 percent of listings that get 30 or more favorites in their first week typically end up selling for over list price, according to data available through Zillow's new Builder Inform tool

from
http://zillow.mediaroom.com/2017-08-22-Homes-with-Over-30-Favorites-Sell-in-Under-Two-Weeks-and-for-More-Money

How Cash Sales Affect Mortgage Originations

The macroeconomic outlook remains remarkably stable. Real GDP grew 2.6 percent (SAAR) in the second quarter, but that jump in growth just compensated for the... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20170817_mortgage_orientations.html?attr=rssCB

Mortgage Rates Steady at 2017 Lows; Residential Investment Was a Drag on Q2 GDP

Mortgage rates held steady to start the new week. This keeps them in line with the best levels since November 2016. There were no interesting developments in financial markets or in terms of economic data today. Most news coverage was focused on the solar eclipse. It's a good thing the eclipse happened, because it's not entirely clear what financial media outlets could have possibly discussed otherwise. But again, with rates at the lowest levels of the year, "boring" and "sideways" are only terms that inconvenience someone trying to write about market movements whereas they're a relative boon to consumers who are buying a new home or refinancing an existing mortgage. 3.875% remains the most prevalently-quoted conventional 30yr fixed rate for top tier scenarios, although quite a few lenders

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2017/8/21/2951

See Inside a Listing Styled by a Former White House Decorator

Submitted by TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

Photos Contributed by TopTenRealEstateDeals.com

As President Obama’s time in office neared its last months in 2016, their future home outside the White House was a frequent guessing game in celebrity real estate media. Most of the rumors were that the Obamas were buying a new family home in Hawaii, Palm Springs, New York City, Washington, D.C., or would be going back to their former home in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. They ended up buying for $8.1 million the home they had been renting – an 8,200-square-foot home in Washington, D.C.’s Kalorama neighborhood.

Whether the Obamas stay in Washington after their youngest daughter, Sasha, graduates from high school is uncertain but one thing is likely. The former First Family’s favorite interior decorator has portable skills and will most likely follow them from home to home well into the future. With Michelle’s penchant for taupes and beiges, it’s likely the Kalorama home will be next on the list for Michael S. Smith, decorator to the stars.

Now close friends, in 2008 Smith was called upon to redecorate the new President’s private quarters in the White House, and after he and Smith’s partner James Costos raised millions for Barack Obama’s re-election, Costos was named the Ambassador to Spain. The Obamas visited the couple in Spain and also stayed with them at their home in Rancho Mirage’s Thunderbird Heights. It was this visit that sparked baseless rumors that the Obamas were house shopping in Palm Springs.

Presidents aren’t the only celebrity clients in Michael S. Smith’s client inventory. He has also designed for Steven Spielberg, George Clooney, Cindy Crawford, Dustin Hoffman and Harrison Ford. Smith is known for his talent at blending historic elements with contemporary and has met with much praise for his work at the White House.

Recently a marvelous beach house came on the market in Newport Beach, California, also decorated by Smith. Opening directly onto the dunes with the Pacific Ocean lapping on the sand and exposed to some of the world’s most striking sunsets, the house was built in 1988 by Marmol Radziner in collaboration with Michael Smith Interiors. The 2,814-square-foot, two-story house optimizes the sweeping views of dunes, sand and ocean. Consisting of four bedrooms and four baths split between the two floors, the upper master suite also has a large private sun deck with panoramic views of the coastline to Catalina Island. Ideal for entertaining and stay-over guests, the open floor plan invites conversation and the oceanside glass doors that vanish into the walls give seamless access to the terrace and well-outfitted outdoor kitchen. The indoor kitchen, which includes Viking and SubZero, has a large island overlooking the living room with its high ceilings and fireplace with the dining room and another fireplace to the right including a wine and coffee bar. The two downstairs bedrooms can also be closed off and turned into a private suite for extended guest stays. Priced at $6.35 million, Tim Carr of Villa Real Estate in Newport Beach, California is the listing agent.

 

Visit TopTenRealEstateDeals.com for more historic, celebrity and spectacular homes and real estate news.

from
http://styledstagedsold.blogs.realtor.org/2017/08/21/a-listing-styled-by-a-former-white-house-decorator/

How Cash Sales Affect Mortgage Originations

The macroeconomic outlook remains remarkably stable. Real GDP grew 2.6 percent (SAAR) in the second quarter, but that jump in growth just compensated for the... More

from
http://www.freddiemac.com/research/outlook/20170817_mortgage_orientations.html?attr=rssCB

More 2017 Lows for Rates; More Trump Drama; Freddie to Automate Some Appraisals

Mortgage rates moved lower again. Drama surrounding the Trump administration was also present. But this time around, the political theater wasn't responsible for the move lower in rates. In fact, it resulted in multiple lenders adjusting rate sheets higher in the middle of the day. Fortunately, rates fell enough in the morning that the net result was still positive. The average lender is at new lows for 2017 (lowest since just after the November 2016 election, in fact). 3.875% is now the most prevalently-quoted conventional 30yr fixed rate for top tier scenarios, although quite a few lenders remain at 4.00%. Next week brings the normally-hotly-anticipated Jackson Hole symposium, but with monetary policy for both the Fed and the European Central Bank essentially an open book of late, market

from
http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/reports/newsletter/2017/8/18/2947