Last Week in Review, by Lou Barnes, RateWatch Economic optimists remain firmly in charge of markets and the media, and the search for data to support their view.      --- Wait! A Not-News flash! The administration has at last released its Fannie-Freddie study, which contains three plans that will not be enacted. Nor will any until housing and the financial system recover, which they may or may not given current underwriting. Home mortgages total more than the national debt, and we don't know what to do with that, either. Bi-partisan criticism of the GSEs will continue, as Fannie and Freddie are no longer sources of campaign cash. Back to actual news ---     The optimists found some supporting evidence, but too close to the broad baseline of wobbles to confirm a self-sustaining recovery.... 02/14/2011

Evergreen CO real estate is located in Jefferson County, Colorado, about 28 miles west southwest of downtown Denver CO homes. Pictures will be added so check back soon! Evergreen CO homes is a great place to call home. Check it out! Denver CO Home Search Evergreen CO Home Search Nearby cities and towns: Conifer CO Homes 9 miles Golden CO Homes 20 miles Lakewood CO Homes 21 miles Morrison CO Homes 10 miles Looking to buy or sell a home in Evergreen CO? Let me know how I can help! 12/14/2010

Colorado Mortgage Rates Spike Up Sharply by RJ Baxter It's been awhile since I have blogged, it's been so busy in the office with rates at the lowest levels in the history of the country.  However, the past two weeks have seen a dramatic upward spike in Colorado Mortgage Rates. I never thought I would say this, but the average 30 year fixed mortgage rate of 4.5% seems high compared to where Colorado Mortgage Rates were just a few short weeks ago. Why has this occurred?  Despite the announcement of an additional $600B in purchase of treasuries by the Fed, rates have done nothing but climb since the announcement Nov 3rd.  Normally Colorado Mortgage Rates fall on such news. The reason for the spike is two-fold. For one, most of the improvement in Colorado Mortgage Rates was already priced ... 12/06/2010

A Screaming Deal - was 3.4 Million --- sold at Auction for 1.5 million   This great home with history of filming "Sleeper" with Woody Allen, was in foreclosure, and I posted this back late October.    My previous blog had details. What a deal --- Michael Dunahay paid 3.43 million and was in foreclosure.    Yesterday, a Denver investor John Dilday, a regular on the auction circuit was the winner at the auction for $1 over the minimum bid.    Dilday picked up this home for $1.5 million.   This investor had made it very public, he would be flipping the home to other investors.    The previous owner was present for this auction. This investor picked up a home with history, and the most unique home in the Denver area --- just west, in Genesee.       11/11/2010

Despite tougher mortgage guidelines and better loan disclosures for consumers, mortgage fraud is on the rise, according to the FBI. Mortgage fraud has many varieties and it's estimated cost to the nation is between $4-6 billion annually.  Today, common mortgage fraud scams target homeowners behind in their mortgage payments and/or facing foreclosure. And, despite the hordes of legitimate organizations that dedicate themselves to helping consumers, mortgage fraudsters proliferate. In this 3-minute piece from NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn to spot common frauds, and to avoid them. Some of the mortgage fraud scams highlighted include: The Rent-to-Buy arrangement The Bait-and-Switch The "Phantom fees" With respect to mortgage paperwork, it's always wise to read what you're signing, and ... 10/15/2010

Experienced Mortgage Processor Wanted in busy Evergreen, Colorado mortgage office. Excellent compensation package with base + bonus and health insurance after 6 months employed. The ideal mortgage processor candidate will have the follows skills and experience: 1.  Minimum 2 years mortgage processor experience 2.  Knowledge of 2010 RESPA laws 3.  Wholesale lending mortgage processor experience 4.  FHA and VA experience 5.  AUS 6.  Fast typing skills are necessary 7.  Computer literacy including Microsoft Office products.  Calyx Point experience a plus We are paperless! Mortgage Processor must be able to handle a pipeline of up to 40 loans from initial borrower documentation to post-closing and must be comfortable with some borrower and Realtor contact. First Mortgage Corp is a Wholly Ow... 10/08/2010

On the first Friday of each month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report from the month prior.  This month, though, because the first Friday of the month was also the first day of the month, the report was delayed one week. The report hit the wires at 8:30 AM ET this morning. More commonly called "the jobs report", the government's non-farm payrolls data influences stock and bond markets, and, in the process, swings a big stick with home affordability figures in Evergreen and nationwide. Especially in today's economic climate. Although the recession has been deemed over, Wall Street remains unconvinced. Data fails to show the economy moving strongly in one direction or the other and, absent job creation, economists believe growth to be illusionary. Conside... 10/08/2010

The Federal Open Market Committee adjourns from its 6th scheduled meeting of the year today, and 7th overall. Upon adjournment, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will release a formal statement to the market. In it, the Fed is expected to announce "no change" to the Fed Funds Rate. Currently, the Fed Funds Rate is within a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.  It's been at this same level since December 2008. Note that the Fed Funds Rate is not "a mortgage rate" -- nor is it a a consumer rate of any kind. The Fed Funds Rate is a rate that defines the cost of an overnight loan between banks. And, although the Fed Funds Rate has little direct consequence to everyday Colorado homeowners, it is the basis for Prime Rate, the interest rate on which most consumer cards are based, plus many... 09/21/2010

Want a lower mortgage rate on your upcoming Colorado Home Purchase? Think about moving up the closing date. The reason is rooted in "rate locks", a bank's guarantee to honor a specific mortgage rate for a specific, finite period of time. Rate locks allow home buyers to reserve mortgage rates today even though their respective closings may be scheduled as far as a year into the future. A rate lock is a contract. No matter what the "current market rate" is at the time of closing, the bank will honor the terms of the original rate lock. It would be like making an agreement to buy Microsoft stock at a specific price 60 days from now. No matter what the price, you already know what you're paying for it. In this sense, rate locks are predictions about the future and, meanwhile, as we all know... 09/16/2010

Comfortable Community With Breathtaking Views If you’re looking for comfortable country living with access to the bustling metro Denver area, you should be looking at the community of Evergreen. This town isn’t far from Denver, at just a half hour to downtown, a 50 minute drive from the Denver Tech Center and about 60 minutes to the Denver International Airport. Yet, at an elevation of over 7,200 feet, this is one of the highest cities you’ll find in the region, and provides a breathtaking view of both the Rocky Mountains and the Denver skyline. The community in Evergreen is named for Evergreen Lake. This lake is well-known in the region for its recreational opportunities that last all year round. You can find ice skating and ice fishing in the winter, boating and waterskiing in the sum... 09/11/2010

Last week was a roller-coaster ride for Colorado Mortgage Rates.  After opening the week by making new, all-time lows, markets reversed sharply on better-than-expected data in manufacturing and housing, and data from overseas. Rates rose through Wednesday and Thursday, then Friday's jobs report sent mortgage rates jumping. Last week marked the first time that mortgage rates worsened 3 days in a row since late-April. The combination of the jobs report not posting as poorly as predicted, and light volume because of Labor Day, pushed rates higher by as much as a quarter-percent in some markets. On the week, Colorado mortgage rates were unchanged but, depending on when you locked, there was great disparity.  Tuesday's rates were much better than Friday's. Meanwhile, this week, with little d... 09/08/2010

Sometimes, you need to look deeper than the headlines to get the news that matters. This basic truth's latest example comes from the July Housing Starts data, as published by the U.S. Census Bureau. According to the newspapers, Housing Starts improved last month: US Housing Starts Make Modest Rebound (FT) Housing Starts Rise Slightly (MoneyWatch) Housing Starts Tick Higher In July (MarketWatch) However, these stories are speaking in terms of all housing starts -- not just the single-family ones. This is a major point of difference for home buyers in Evergreen because the most people don't buy the multi-unit homes and apartment buildings that's also a part of the Housing Starts data.  The overwhelming majority of buyers buy single-family homes and in July, as in the previous 3 months, th... 08/18/2010

Mortgage markets improved again last week on softer-than-expected economic data, punctuated by Friday morning's weak jobs report. Conforming mortgage rates in Colorado dropped on the news, making new, all-time lows. Colorado Mortgage rates have been on an extended rally dating back to mid-April. This week, there's a lot of data and news due for release, the most influential to markets of which is the Federal Open Market Committee's scheduled policy meeting. 8 times annually, the FOMC meets to discuss the nation's monetary policy with respect to the current and projected U.S. economic conditions. Sometimes the FOMC takes action on the economy. Other times, it does not. Either way, Fed meetings are market movers and it's a gamble to float Colorado Mortgage Rates ahead of an FOMC get-toget... 08/09/2010

Colorado Mortgage Rates have been falling since April but that momentum could reverse tomorrow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the July jobs report at 8:30 A.M. ET Friday. With a stronger-than-expected reading, colorado mortgage rates should rise, harming home affordability in Colorado. Jobs are a keystone in economic growth and growth is tied to rates. Earlier this year, job growth went positive and reached as far north as 431,000 jobs created in May. That figure slipped negative last month, however, as the temporary, decennial census workers left the workforce. Jobs matter to the U.S. economy. Among other concerns, unemployed Americans spend less on everyday goods and services, and are more likely to stop payments on a mortgage. These effects retard the economy, spur foreclos... 08/05/2010

The fiscal responsibility of a homeowner -- in Colorado and everywhere else -- extends beyond the mortgage's basic principal and interest repayments. Homeowners are also responsible for the real estate taxes on the home and its insurance premiums, too. Failure to pay taxes can lead to foreclosure, and failure to insure is breach of your mortgage contract. As a homeowner, you have a choice about how you manage your real estate tax and insurance bills.  You can choose to pay them from your own bank account when the bills come due, or you can choose to pay 1/12 of the annual bill to your mortgage servicer each month, and then let your servicer pay the bills on your behalf when they come due. Not surprisingly, servicers prefer the latter method -- it reduces two major lender risks: That the... 08/03/2010

However, there is a Hint At Support For Higher Price Tiers.... Consistent with most post-home buyer tax credit housing news, the National Association of Realtors® says Existing Home Sales eased lower last month, including Colorado Home Sales. An "existing home" is a home that cannot be considered new construction. The 5 percent drop in sales from May to June was expected, but a closer look at the month's data reveals some interesting trends. First, repeat buyers accounted for 44 percent of home resales in June, up from 40 percent in May. That's a healthy increase for just 4 weeks' time and the tax credit is a likely catalyst. First-timer buyers bought starter homes owned by former first-timers, who were then free to "move up" to larger, more expensive property.  FHA Home Loans remain a ... 07/23/2010

I am excited to announce that da Vinci Realty, a local family-owned independent real estate brokerage, is the most successful among 45 independent full service companies in Evergreen & Conifer Colorado.  When I examined all the companies in this area that focused on helping individuals buy and sell real estate, the results were overwhelming.  My volume of sales were a minimum 5 times higher than the next closest company.  Is my boutique firm as big as the national brands like Re/Max, Coldwell Banker, or Sotheby's...NO but my success not only makes my firm #1 among independents but also ranks me in the top 10% among individual agents in the Mountain Metro Association of Realtors.  I've been hired by folks specifically because I own my company and they know the buck stops with me. My mark... 06/01/2010

Fabulously Updated Mountain Contemporary  Home In Gated North Evergreen Community. Backs To Hiwan Golf Course For Convenience And Privacy! This Lovely Home Is In Walking Distance To Elementary School, Shopping And Hiking Trails! Minutes To Downtown Evergreen & Major Highways. Everything You Need Is At Your Fingertips! Let Bob Help You Get Your Own Little Piece Of Paradise! Whether You Love A Mountain Home Or A Denver Neighborhood, Bob Will Help You Find It And Bob Will Help To Make It Yours. Call Today To Get Started! What About Bob? For All Your Real Estate Needs!!! Keller Williams Foothills Realty Conifer, Colorado 80439 303 902 4948 - Cell                                     303 838 3000 - Office www.whataboutbobre.com bob@whataboutbobre.com       05/21/2010

I am excited to announce that Cindy Gordon has joined da Vinci Realty as a Broker Associate.  This is my first hire so I am enthusiastic as to what the future will bring.  Cindy has an extensive background in the mortgage lending industry so I am confident that she will offer her clients exceptional service and represent da Vinci Realty well.  In today's economy, I am proud of the direction we have taken da Vinci Realty in Evergreen, CO and look forward to many more Realtors joining our team.  For information about Cindy and the services we offer, please visit www.CoMountainLiving.com. 05/21/2010

Mortgage Companies in Evergreen, Colorado - How to Find the Best One Look out!  Don't get stuck with a crummy Mortgage Company.  If you are planning to buy a home or refinance your mortgage, you are probably shopping for Mortgage Companies.  Finding the right one for you can be a difficult and frustrating process.  So how can you muddle through the many choices and decide on the best one? There are several key factors that you should consider when choosing Mortgage Companies.  Here is a checklist to help you with your search. 1.  Who has the lowest rates and closing costs?  I listed this #1 for your search for Mortgage Companies because, although rates and fees should be a factor, they should not be your primary or only deciding factor.  There are two major problems with placing rates a... 05/10/2010