The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, August 21, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES NAR: Existing-home sales spike in July NAR: Total existing sales up 6.5% month-to-month and 17.2% year-to-year, with a 13.7% price increase. Fla. housing data delayed due to technical issues. Read more.   Fannie Mae report: Economy picks up steam Housing, consumer spending and manufacturing pave the way, with even better times ahead. One wildcard, however: Any Fed changes that impact interest rates. Read more.   Why it might be cheaper to get a jumbo loan The spread between average rates for jumbo loans and government-backed conforming loans is narrowest in five years - even with the recent interest-rate rise. Read more.   Fla. seems to have increasing number of sinkholes One... 08/21/2013

  Foreclosures Rise in June, But See Big Drop for Year   Daily Real Estate News Completed foreclosures rose 2.5 percent in June from May, CoreLogic reported Tuesday. Its report follows another recent one from Lending Processing Services that showed nearly a 10 percent rise in the national delinquency rate in June compared to May. About 1 million homes are in the foreclosure inventory as of June, CoreLogic reports. That does mark a 28 percent decrease in the foreclosure inventory compared to last year. Forty-nine states reported a year-over-year decline in foreclosure rates in June. "The housing market is clearly on the mend, but we expect the ultimate conclusion of the present housing down cycle to be another several years away,” says Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic. C... 08/18/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Wednesday, August 14, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES With rates higher, ARMs are back ARMs aren't quite back with a vengeance, but they're creeping in from the shadows. They remain a good option for buyers who plan to sell in maybe five years. Read more.   HUD: Unclear if FHA will back loans issued after seizure HUD spokesperson suggested that cities using eminent domain powers to help at-risk homeowners may possibly lose access to FHA loans. Read more.   Slowdown in home prices? No reason to panic Economists expect price appreciation to slow as homes return to "fair value." Prices will still move higher, but at a pace that eases fears of another bubble. Read more.   Form Simplicity offers discount on Ultimate Edition The u... 08/14/2013

  4 Tips to Spruce Up Your Marketing Image   Sunshine, lazy days spent at the ballpark and ice cream, lots of ice cream. All things I think of when summertime rolls around. While much of summer might be spent outdoors, taking the time to spruce up your marketing image both offline and online can be a simple way to infuse new life into your personal brand! 1. Clean Up Your Email Marketing Freshen up your email marketing by asking yourself a few questions: Does the design match your personal brand look, feel and overall style? Have you added all of your contact information, including social networks to each email? Is your email permission-based?  Make sure you have a preexisting business relationship and/or affirmative consent before ever hitting send. Is your email personalized with the ... 08/11/2013

  Asian Investors Are Thinking Small w/ Real Estate Purchases  After years of splurging on pricey condos and mansions in the West, Asia's rich now are buying small office buildings, retail shops and branded hotels in Europe and North America, searching for stable returns and diversifying away from home markets they view as increasingly risky and volatile. Bloomberg News A stake in New York's General Motors Building was bought by a Chinese developer last month. But Asian buyers are increasingly being drawn to smaller deals. In the first six months of this year, Asian private investors poured $1.9 billion into U.S. commercial properties, according to data from Real Capital Analytics. That total already dwarfs the $551.4 million worth of U.S. commercial real estate purchased by Asian priva... 07/21/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, July 18, 2013       TODAY'S TOP STORIES More home loan options now available Lenders are starting to ease restrictive standards for borrowers with solid incomes and strong track records. Rising rates could spur renewed competition, too. Read more.   Bernanke: Economy faces headwinds When the Fed said it might halt the program to keep mortgage rates low, rates moved higher. But Fed backpedaled yesterday - policy will continue for now. Read more.   Flood insurance changes hit resistance, face delay A bill seems to be working its way through Congress to help some owners facing higher flood insurance premiums. But it only extends discounts for one year. Read more.   Buyer must collect tax from foreign seller Real es... 07/18/2013

  JUST LISTED IN GREENACRES, FLORIDA 4243 Oak Terrace Drive 2/2 Condo w/waterviews Offered at $65,000 MLS: RX-9961472   Affordable starter apartment or good investment property in strong rental market. Great condition and ready to rent or make your own. Property is occupied by owner and is not a short-sale or REO. Owner offers quick settlement in well managed community.      07/14/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, June 27, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES 30-year mortgage rate at 2-year high: 4.46% The weekly 30-year FRM rate increase was the highest in 26 years and makes home buying more expensive. Experts aren't sure what to expect next week. Read more.   NAR: Pending home sales surge to six-year high Signed contracts in May increased 6.7% for the month and 12.1% year-to-year. The rise in mortgage rates may have nudged more buyers off the fence. Read more.   Citizens' board OKs rate hikes for 2014 The average policyholder staying with the state-owned insurer will see a 7.5% rate hike. But Citizens also plans to stop insuring thousands of properties. Read more.   Business boost: Accessorize your tech gear What would make life ... 06/27/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, May 30, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES Gov. signs property insurance bill into law The 75-page law includes a Florida Realtors priority: a clearinghouse to confirm that an applicant qualifies for the state-owned insurer, Citizens Property Ins. Read more.   Pending home sales edge up in April NAR: Pending home sales rose slightly, 0.3%, month-to-month and 10.3% year-to-year, marking the highest level of home contract activity in three years. Read more.   What's new on Facebook for small businesses? More small businesses use Facebook as an integral part of their social media marketing. New products like Graph Search and Check-in can help attract clients. Read more.   Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac extend loan programs H... 05/30/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, May 10, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Fla. court OKs using non-judges on foreclosures The state's backlog of foreclosures could make it to market faster after Fla. Supreme Court approves move that allows lawyers to handle them rather than judges. Read more.   Many buyers confused about mortgage process Survey: One in four thinks a preapproval commits them to that lender, and 34% think lenders must, by law, charge the same fee for credit reports and appraisals. Read more.   Unmarried homeowners should prepare in advance Real estate Q&A: How does a short sale work if one name is on the mortgage but two names are on the deed? Are both credit scores at risk? Read more.   Average on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.42% Rates r... 05/10/2013

PINE RIDGE NORTH VILLAGE VILLA SOLD!823 Sky Pine Way #D, Greenacres, Florida 33415 JUST SOLD! This fabulous waterfront villa featured 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and almost 1,300 square feet of living. It was listed on March 10th, 2013, went under contract roughly a month later and sold on May 1st, 2013 for $125,000 to a cash buyer. Pine Ridge North Village is an active adult 55+ community located in Greenacres on the south side of Cresthaven Boulevard just east of Jog Road. Community amenities in Pine Ridge North Village include a clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, tennis court and shuffle board. Shopping, dining and entertainment are just minutes away along with beaches and the Palm Beach International Airport.823 Sky Pine Way #D in Greenacres was listed and closed by Michelle Gibson, REALTOR... 05/02/2013

  Protect Yourself When Buying a Home in Ten Easy Steps   There are few things in life as exciting as buying a home. However, since homes are one of the largest purchases most of us will ever make, buyers should take reasonable steps to protect themselves in the home buying process.   Below are 10 general suggestions on how buyers can do this:   Keep a copy of any signed contract after reading it. Have the home inspected by a licensed home inspector. Inspect the neighborhood, by driving after work and weekends Have the home inspected for termites and other wood destroying organisms  Thoroughly look over the property. Get a survey Make sure any undeveloped land can be developed. Buy an Owner’s Title Insurance Policy. Consider Purchasing a Home Warranty or appliance warranty. Choose a REA... 04/14/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet Of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, April 12, 2013     TODAY'S TOP STORIES   Fla.’s $1B homeowner aid program faces fed audit Sen. Nelson concerned about state's Hardest Hit Program. He wonders why certain recipients qualified and why only $230 million has been spent so far. Read more.   Time for low interest rates to rise? Some say yes Opinion: If today's record-low mortgage rates rise a bit, lenders might demand less paperwork and approve more buyers with less-than-stellar credit. Read more.   NAR’s Open House Weekend: 8 days away NAR study finds that repeat, mid-income and older buyers favor open houses. Learn more about April 20-21 event, get collateral materials and prepare now. Read more.   Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to 3.43% Rate fell sha... 04/12/2013

  What is the best way to search for a home?         When you search ask yourself any of the following 21 questions?   Driving the neighborhoods? Checking your commute time? Is the shopping adequate for your needs? Would you be happy with the schools? Is the home going to be large enough in that neighborhood? Do you want to live in a gated community? How is that area going to affect your Home Insurance costs? Do you want a newer home, older home or new construction? How do you like living down town or in the city? Would you consider a high-rise? What about the beach area? What is more important location or size? What style of home do you prefer? Does your home need a pool? Does your home need a garage? Do you need to live by a bus line? What is most important about the area you will cho... 03/21/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Thursday, March 21, 2013   TODAY'S TOP STORIES Florida’s housing market remains upbeat in Feb. Existing home sales up 10.3% year-to-year, price up 12.8%; condo sales up 7%, price up 21.1%. NAR: Sales up 10.2% year-to-year, single-family price up 11.3%. Read more.   Fed won’t stop goosing economy Despite economic improvements, the Federal Reserve says it plans to continue its easy-money policy that helps keep mortgage rates near historic lows. Read more.   Language key for non-short-sale listings If a listing says "not a short sale," it sells 8 weeks sooner for 2% to 5% more money, per a study of 5K Boca Raton homes by Florida International University. Read more.   Freddie accuses big banks of rigging lending rate Lawsuit ... 03/21/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate &  FL Realtor News Thursday, March 14, 2013       TODAY'S TOP STORIES IDX listing sparks fair housing complaint A Fair Housing Act tester complained about an IDX listing on a Tampa agent's website - content he did not create. While dropped, it creates new legal questions. Read more.   Fla. has top foreclosure rate for sixth month Fla. foreclosure filings rose 6% in Feb. for month and 20% year-to-year for a 16-month high. Of the top 10 metro-areas nationally, Fla. cities hold seven spots. Read more.   Court upholds Fla. position on sinkhole coverage An insurer wanted to cover sinkholes at 25% of full coverage, but Fla. regulators turned down that request - a decision an Appeal Court agreed with yesterday. Read more.   Can real estate invest... 03/14/2013

Rare Waterfront Villa for Sale in Pine Ridge North Village Overview Maps Photos Description Neighborhood $135,000 Townhouse Main Features 2 Bedrooms2 BathroomsInterior: 1,370 sqft Location 823 Sky Pine Way #DGreenacres, FL 33415USA To get updates on open home dates and other property events, please click the "Like" button below: Michelle Gibson, REALTOR Hansen Real Estate Group Inc.(561) 333-0446contact@wellingtonhometeam.comhttp://wellingtonhometeam.com         Listed by: Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Michelle Gibson Our recent listings Rare Waterfront Villa for Sale in Pine Ridge North VillageSouth Shore Waterfront Home for Sale in Wellington FL: 950 Hickory TrailSmithbrooke Townhome for Sale in Lake Worth: 6936 Crooked Fence DrWellington Florida Short Sale: 1304 Stratford St (R327... 03/12/2013

The Landings At River Bridge, West Palm Beach, FL - Rental Opportunity This very nice 2 bedroom, 2 bath townhouse with 1 car garage and extra large patio overlooking a beautiful lake! Cathedral ceilings in the living areas and both bedrooms.  Spacious eat-in kitchen with pantry and lots of cabinets  for storage.  Excellent gated community and centrally located in West Palm Beach, FL.  The townhouse also features: screened patio, washer/dryer, freshly painted, and courtyard entry. The West Palm Beach townhouse is within a short walk to both community pools, fitness center, spa, basketball courts, child playground, lighted tennis courts, and community center.  River Bridge is a wonderful gated 24-hour man gated security entrance.   The quarterly HOA fees in River Bridge include all exteri... 03/10/2013

Pine Ridge North Village Villa for Sale: Coming Soon! Rare waterfront villa for sale in Pine Ridge North Village Coming Soon! Featuring 2 bedrooms + sunroom, 2 bathrooms and almost 1,400 square feet of living. This one story villa has a lot to offer both inside and out. Interior features include tile throughout, volume ceilings along with a washer and dryer while exterior features include accordion shutters, fenced patio and a beautiful lake lot. Pine Ridge North Village IV is an active adult 55+ community located in Greenacres Florida on the south side of Cresthaven Boulevard just east of Jog Road. Community amenities include a clubhouse, swimming pool, spa, tennis court and shuffleboard. 03/10/2013

  The Daily Hot Sheet of Palm Beach Real Estate & FL Realtor News Friday, March 1, 2013 TODAY'S TOP STORIES Short sale approvals pre-default are on the rise Not long ago, a homeowner had to default on mortgage payments before his bank considered a short sale. Today, 33% of Fla. owners don't default first. Read more. Class-action suit takes aim at Citizens Ins. A proposed class-action lawsuit claims 2007 inspections were good for five years, making Citizens' reinspections and resulting premium increases unlawful. Read more. U.S. rate on 30-year mortgage declines to 3.51% Rates continue to flirt with all-time record lows. Because of financial fears in Europe, 46% of experts polled this week expect more mortgage rate declines. Read more.   Report rethinks housing support Bipartisan Policy ... 03/01/2013