Real Estate Markets
I know that the real estate market is not exactly booming in the U.S., but I was reading an article the other day about the market in the U.K. that really shocked me. Apparently, mortgage loans dropped 95% between July 2008, and August 2008. That’s not a misprint, they dropped 95% in a single month. [...]
Continue reading about So You Think the Real Estate Market is Bad in the U.S.
The Salt Lake Board of Realtors has questioned a recent report by RealtyTrac, which reported the home foreclosure rate in Utah increasing 294% in July 2008 (compared to July 2007). The report ranked Utah as the 9th largest foreclosure rate in the U.S. However, it is believed that the methodology used to calculate the figures [...]
We recently had an appraisal done on an existing home in a subdivision that still has new homes being constructed. When speaking to the appraiser, I mentioned that the builder had a recent sale of exactly the same model of home in the same subdivision that was not on the MLS. In the past, appraisers [...]
Continue reading about Appraisers No Longer Using HUD-1 Settlement Statements?
At the start of this month, Fannie Mae changed its policy regarding declining markets. Previously if you were in a declining market you had to put 10% down in order to obtain a loan. Now the policy has changed so that regardless of the state of the local real estate market buyers only need to [...]
Continue reading about Fannie Mae Changes Declining Market Policy
The number of single family homes sold in Salt Lake County increased for the fourth-straight month. There were 835 homes sold in May, which was an increase of 4.11% over April’s numbers. While the numbers are still way down on last years numbers (in fact year to date they are 37% lower), at least the [...]
Continue reading about Salt Lake County Homes Sold Increase for the Fourth Straight Month
If you are looking for a place to rent, Salt Lake is an expensive place. Rents went up 8.8% from 2006 to 2007, with a further 6 to 8% rise expected this year. This coupled with a vacancy rate of just 4.5% means tough times for those looking for a rental property.
These are not my words, they are from a recent article in Forbes Magazine. According to the magazine article, Salt Lake is the sixth most recession proof city in the U.S. This is based on the fact that the city’s unemployment rate is low, that we are still creating jobs and that the housing market [...]
While places like California and Florida saw their home prices decline over the last year, Utah was a different story. Home prices for the fourth quarter 2007 went up 9.27% compared to the same quarter in 2006, which was the largest increase in all 50 states. What’s more, that was the fifth consecutive quarter Utah [...]
Continue reading about Utah Leads Nation In House Price Appreciation
The Salt Lake high-end housing market recently received a boost, when conforming loan limit went up from $417,000 to $729,750 in Salt Lake County, Tooele County, and Summit County. This increase means that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can now provide loans up to $729,750, which should result in a much-needed boost to the Utah [...]
Continue reading about New Lending Requirements for Jumbo Loans
The median annual home price information for 2007 is now available at Salt Lake County Home Prices , Utah County Home Prices , and Davis County Home Prices. Home prices went up in the vast majority of zip codes in all 3 counties, but not at the same pace as 2006.
