Miami-Dade Pending Home Sales Increase 40.5 Percent from a Year Ago

Total pending home sales in the Miami-Dade County increased 40.5 percent in July 2010, when compared to the July 2009 numbers. This real estate  includes single-family style homes and condominiums. Even though the tax credit, which helped boost the South Florida real estate market, expired, Miamia-Dade Couny has shown impressive signs as it continues to strengthen.

NAR Supports the Growth of Small Businesses

“As the leading advocate for private property rights, NAR believes it is critical for Congress to act soon and to get capital flowing to small businesses and to the commercial real estate market,” Jim Helsel, treasurer of the National Association of Realtors, told the House Committee on Financial Services. He explained that raising the SBA loan limits and allowing the SBA 504 loans to be used to refinance property can help ease the liquidity crisis in the commercial sector. He went on to articulate that the NAR strongly supports the H.R. 3380 because it is projected to raise the credit union member business lending cap from 12.25 percent to 25 percent of total assets. Small regional and community banks make up for close to half of the small business loans issued in the United States. Needless to say, available credit unions increase the credit accessible by small businesses.
Source: NAR

Great Numbers Give Great Message

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped to 4.54 percent, almost a full percent lower than the 5.25 percent of last year. Other positive signs prevail in the 15-year fixed rate which also hit a record low of 4 percent, smaller than the 4.69 percent from last year. Also, the five-year adjustable rate mortgage averaged 3.76 percent, better than the 4.75 percent from last year. To add, the one-year ARMs average 3.64 percent compared to 4.8 percent of last year.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Nathan Becker (07/30/10)

June Shows Strong Signs

New homes have risen 24 percent during the month of June compared to that of May. “The future is going to be dependent on job growth.” says Eric Green, chief market economist at TD Securities Inc. in New York.

Source: Bloomberg, Courtney Schlisserman (07/26/2010)

Breckenridge and Summit County Co Real Estate Shows Recovery

From January through May 2010, the number of sales in Summit County real estate increased 20 percent, compared to the first five months of 2009. A Breckenridge ski-in, ski-out home sold in 2009 for a record $8.29 million. The most expensive residential Breckenridge land sold for $3.3 million in January 2010.

DJSP Enterprises Acquires Timios, Inc.

DJSP Enterprises completed its acquisition of Timios, Inc. DJSP Enterprises is one of the largest providers of processing services for the mortgage and real estate industries. It now plans to leverage Timios’ best in class technology and paperless processes across the existing operations in Florida. “Completion of this acquisition represents a significant step forward in our quest to become the leading cyclical provider of products and services to the mortgage and real estate industries,” said David Stern, Chief Executive Officer for DJSP.

Portland Ranks 6th in Impressive Index

Portland, Oregon ranks 6^th of the 20 cities tracked by Case Shiller. The index reveals that a dollar invested in the Portland real estate market would be worth $1.47. That is a 47% return on each dollar invested. DC, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, and Boston place among the top five with Washington DC’s impressive 82% return.

Strong Gains in Home Sales in all Counties of The Metro Chicago Real Estate Market

The first half of 2010 yielded substantial gains in home sales activity in nearly every portion of the seven-county metropolitan Chicago real estate market, with Kane County leading the way, according to an analysis of sales data by RE/MAX. Sales of detached and attached homes in the metro area rose to a combined total of 38,053 units, a 35 percent increase over the 27,757 sales recorded in first half of 2009. Home sales in Kane County increased 61 percent, with 2,523 homes changing hands, compared to 1,564 sales during the first six months last year. Sales of detached homes in Kane rose 62 percent to 2,058 units and sales of attached homes climbed 59 percent to 465 units from the same period in 2009.

California Leads the Way

Berkeley, California homes lead the country in homes sold above the asking price, about 108% above the asking price. Seven of the top ten zip codes with homes sold above the asking price where in California.

Pending Home Sales Spike

Pending Home Sales Index is an important measurement. This is because a “pending home” is a property that is under contract to sell, but not yet closed. Pending home sales in Feb was higher and may indicate great sales data is coming as they close escrow and settle.

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