Friday, February 01, 2008

FINISHING JANUARY 2008

Welcome aboard to Chris Frank and Shannon Schipull that was left off of the earlier posting.

Thank you Mario for bring this to my attention ... My Opps ...

We finished January with 20+ new residential sales and from the activity I believe there are 4 to 5 already working for February ... Keep talking up the REO and Short Sale opportunities to your potential buyers ... the values available are real ... Engle Homes announced their Chapter 11 Bankrutpcy ... big companies with large overheads will be reorganizing over the next couple of years ... you will see more of these headlines ... stay on top of the market, look for value opportunities caused by the market conditions, protect your clients and call if you need assistance ...

HAPPY FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS TO:

02-02 Bruce Johanson
02-06 Daryl Pilcher
02-08 John Jeffrey
02-10 Anita Taylor
02-11 Gustavo Cardenas
02-12 Jorge Flores

Here is a link to my "February Real Estate Update":

http://realtytimes.com/111/BillSlaughter

This Newsletter is full of interesting and useful information that I think you will enjoy.

This month's issue includes topics such as:

"Home Selling Tips For Spring Buyer's Market";
"Are You Leaving a Tax Deduction on the Table?";
"Five Reasons Houses Beat Stocks";
"Provide An Honest, Complete Mortgage Application";
"Six Signs It's Time For Home Buyers To Buy";

Plus a roundup of January real estate activity as well as much more advice and information.

Historic Fed Move Cuts Both Ways for Borrowers

Hot on the heels of its surprise inter-session rate cut of 75 basis points last week, the Federal Reserve cut key interest rates again, the fifth straight cut since September 2007. In its statement last week, the Fed said it had decided to cut the federal funds rate "in view of a weakening of the economic outlook and increasing downside risks to growth." In other words, economic data suggests the US is on the brink of recession, and the Fed is acting accordingly.

Who benefits from this cut?

If you have a loan that is directly tied to the Prime Rate, you will see an immediate benefit. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and variable rate charge cards are the types of loans that will have an interest rate reduction on their next statement.

What does this mean for long-term rates?

Long-term mortgage rates, the lowest we've experienced in years, could actually increase after this cut, based on historical performance and recent trends.

So if you're waiting for long-term rates to fall further, don't count on it. Your best chance to lock in the lowest rates since 2005 is now. Getting your application in process now will allow you to capture a great rate before it's too late.

What REALLY moves mortgage rates?

Fixed-rate mortgage rates aren't directly tied to Fed interest rate moves. Instead, they tend to follow in the direction of other long-term government bond yields, such as the 10-year Treasury, which historically moves in accordance with the economic outlook and in advance of Fed actions.

The performance of Mortgage Backed Securities, issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is what really determines long-term mortgage rates.

How does the economic stimulus package fit into the picture?

The economic stimulus package from Congress and the White House could be a double-edged sword for borrowers. Combined with recent Fed actions, the package could create inflation and bring about higher long-term interest rates.

On the positive side, conforming loan limits are likely to be raised from the current $417,000 to upwards of $625,000. This means great potential savings for purchase and refinance candidates who live in 20 high-cost areas across the country.

What should you do next?

If you're unsure how the rate-cut or the proposed legislation affects your mortgage, don't worry, you're not alone. There's no one-size-fits-all answer. (This article contributed by "The Cox Mortgage Group")

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