We would adore the chance to demonstrate to you why our customers are so ecstatic about our service.
Americans Expect Home Prices and Mortgage Rates to Increase
This is a reprint of a News Release from Fannie Mae. Click here to read the full release on the Fannie Mae website. Consumer attitudes toward the economy and housing continue to diverge this winter, according to Fannie Mae’s February 2013 National Housing Survey results. On the one hand, consumers continue to express strong positive... Continue reading→
Pocket Listings Heat Up: Good or Bad?
Pocket listings -- off-market listings that are marketed directly by the seller’s real estate agent or broker -- are growing in number, according to news reports. Sellers must agree to "pocket listings"; otherwise they aren’t permitted. Some sellers agree to such arrangements to “test the waters” first with selling or to avoid a large number of... Continue reading→
HUD Plans 7-Day Shutdown Amid Sequester Cuts
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced this week that it plans to shut down for seven days sometime between May and September due to the forced government budget cuts to reduce spending known as sequestration. During that seven-day shutdown, HUD says it will furlough more than 9,000 of its employees. It will... Continue reading→
Foreclosure Filings Fall 25% in February
RealtyTrac counted a total of 154,281 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions, or bank repossessions — last month. The number is up 2 percent from January, but is down a full 25 percent from February 2012. The number of American homes entering the foreclosure pipeline also declined 25 percent from a... Continue reading→
Economists Revise Housing Figures Amid Optimism
Several economists have recently revised their predictions on housing values to reflect a stronger-than-expected real estate rebound, and some have even doubled their original forecasts over the rise in home prices. For example, economists at Bank of America revised their home price forecast from 4.7 percent this year to 8 percent. Capital Economics’ Economist Paul... Continue reading→
Pepaw and the $3.50 mortgage
Our small town of Front Royal was dominated by a rayon plant that was one of the world's largest producers of Rayon. Pepaw, known to his contemporaries and colleagues as Frank Nesbitt, was a hard-working Irish Catholic who spent forty years at that viscose factory making rayon. Pepaw was my grandfather. Legend tells me that... Continue reading→
Top-10 Wealthiest Counties in the U.S.
3 of Top 10 Wealthiest Counties Are In Northern VA The nation’s wealthiest counties are all suburban retreats outside of large cities, according to an analysis by Forbes magazine. The data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, which examines the average incomes in 1,889 counties. Of the top 25, 19 of these counties are on... Continue reading→
Take the Stress Out of Homebuying
Buying a home should be fun, not stressful. As you look for your dream home, keep in mind these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible. 1. Find a real estate agent who you connect with. Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that... Continue reading→
About Ral Partha
This is pulled from a letter from me to Bob Olley, a sculptor in England: Since you never visited Partha, let me paint a quick picture. Let's start with the fact that Cincinnati is not the most beautiful city in America. It's not Detroit, but it is a failing/failed industrial town. This city was a... Continue reading→