The answer is, yes. Now is a good time to buy a home in Bend AND it is also a good time to sell a home in Bend. In April I wrote that it was a good time to sell your Bend, Oregon home. Home prices were higher than they had been since November 2008. […]
Ending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: What it Could Mean
In a speech last week President Obama endorsed reducing the role that the United States government plays in the housing sector. One way he proposed to do that is by closing the doors of Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association, FNMA) and Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, FHLMC). “They’re not really government but […]
Should You Wait for Interest Rates to Fall Before Buying a House?
Don’t Wait Too Long To Sell Your House
20% Minimum Down Payment?
New mortgage lending rules announced two weeks ago by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) have now gone before federal regulators for review. Regulators say that the final version of the so-called Qualified Mortgage Rule should be complete in a few months and the rule would then take effect January 2014. Mortgage lenders, bankers, real estate agents and […]
New Mortgage Lending Rules
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau(CFPB) announced new mortgage lending rules this morning that will go into effect one year from now (January 2014). These rules aim to protect borrowers from themselves and lenders from litigation. We saw in the housing boom that led up to the Great Recession borrowers who had a pulse were able […]
Mortgage Rates Predicted to Rise in 2013
After reaching record lows in 2012 mortgage rates are expected to rise next year according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The good news is that rates are expected to rised slowly. After reviewing the MBA forecast for 2013, Market Watch reported, “Rates on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage are expected to average 3.8% in the […]
Mortgage Rates Below 4%
Home Ownership Declining
I mentioned in a previous post that now is a great time to own a rental. The demand for rental homes has been rising because so many people have lost their homes to foreclosure, lost their jobs, and/or are having a tough time qualifying for a mortgage because of the more strict underwriting standards. On July 29th […]