Is it a Good Time to Buy or Sell in Bend?

Last updated: August 16, 2013 at 10:36 am




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. […]




Filed Under: Home Buying, Real Estate Tagged With: Bend Oregon Homes for Sale, Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, Good Time to Buy, Good Time to Sell, Mortgage Interest Rates

Ending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac: What it Could Mean

Last updated: August 13, 2013 at 12:33 pm




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 […]




Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Tagged With: 30 Year Fixed Mortgage, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Housing Finance Reform, Mortgage Interest Rates, President Obama

Should You Wait for Interest Rates to Fall Before Buying a House?

Last updated: August 12, 2013 at 20:35 pm




Over the last month and a half mortgage interest rates have risen 3/4 of a percentage point from 3.5% to 4.25%.  That is a big move over a short period of time prompting prospective home buyers to ask,  “Will interest rates continue to go up?”  And, “Should I buy a house now or wait for […]




Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Tagged With: Ben Bernanke, Bend Oregon Real Estate, Central Oregon Real Estate, Federal Reserve, Mortgage Interest Rates

Don’t Wait Too Long To Sell Your House

Last updated: August 12, 2013 at 21:39 pm




Knowing when to sell your current home and buy a better one is an inexact science at best.  There are so many variables that go into a decision like this that it can seem overwhelming.  Depending on when you bought your current home and how much you paid for it, now may be the right […]




Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: Bend MLS, Bend Oregon Real Estate, Central Oregon Real Estate, Mortgage Interest Rates, NE Bend Oregon, NorthWest Crossing, NWX

20% Minimum Down Payment?

Last updated: August 12, 2013 at 21:58 pm




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 […]




Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Tagged With: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB), first, Mortgage Interest Rates, Qualified Mortgage Rule

New Mortgage Lending Rules

Last updated: March 2, 2013 at 15:42 pm




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 […]




Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Tagged With: Bend Oregon Homes for Sale, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB), Mortgage Interest Rates, Qualified Mortgage Rule

Mortgage Rates Predicted to Rise in 2013

Last updated: November 2, 2013 at 11:27 am




  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 […]




Filed Under: Financing, Real Estate Tagged With: Market Watch, Mortgage Bankers Association, Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage Rates Below 4%

Last updated: March 27, 2013 at 13:34 pm




   Bloomberg is reporting the average rate for a 30 year mortgage has dropped below 4%. That is the lowest rate ever recorded by Freddie Mac whose records date back to 1971. I can remember thinking back in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when I was a loan officer that anything below 6% was amazing. […]




Filed Under: Foreclosures, Real Estate, Rentals Tagged With: Bend Oregon Real Estate, Bloomberg, Central Oregon Real Estate, Freddie Mac, Mortgage Interest Rates

Home Ownership Declining

Last updated: March 26, 2013 at 14:41 pm




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 […]




Filed Under: Foreclosures, Real Estate, Rentals Tagged With: Bank Owned Homes in Bend Oregon, Bend Real Estate Investment, Census Department, Central Oregon Real Estate Investment, Mortgage Interest Rates

Will the Debt Debate Affect Your Ability to Buy a Home?

Last updated: March 26, 2013 at 14:33 pm




Will Congress and the President be able to resolve the debate over the debt ceiling?  Probably.  If, for some reason, they are unable to agree on a plan and the United States is no longer able to pay it’s debt obligations there could be some bad news for home buyers in the form of higher […]




Filed Under: Real Estate Tagged With: Bend Oregon Real Estate, Central Oregon Real Estate, Debt Ceiling, Mortgage Interest Rates