Howard Sobel's (howardsf) Blog

30-year fixed-rate mortgage:  averaged 4.86 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending March 31, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.81 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.08 percent.  The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage:  this week averaged 4.09 percent with...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of 3/30/2010   Market Composite Index: (loan application volume) a measure of mortgage loan application volume,decreased 7.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier Refinance Index: decreased 10.1 percent from the previous week.  The...

just a short FYI.. They are among the largest FHA approved lenders. Both lenders announced that they would overlay more stringent requirements than the FHA demanded. They have recently announced that they would once again lend to applicants with 580 FICOs and 3.5 percent down payments. Their rev...

  Multi FamilyA Recovering Market   We all know whats happening to the single family home markets. Over supply and shadow inventory and the subsequent price declines will continue until fear is overcome and inventory is soaked up.  The kinds of issues that led to a boom bust in housing did not ta...

Getting Tenants to Go Green. As property managers, we can't insist on behavioral changes. Going green can be a  tough sell to a renter. After all, a building is only as green as the people who manage and live in it. Managers are key players and can encourage  activities that reduce consumption a...

  The White House has a strategy to close shop. Fannie and Freddie will go away quietly and permanently. They are hoping to phase out the two GSE's within about seevn years. The Obama admiministration proposed three approaches to wind down the two agencies. This is a  delicate decision because t...

  WIKI: San Francisco Transbay Terminal served long distance and transbay buses from SFrancisco north to Marin County, East Bay, and south to San Mateo County. It was located roughly by Mission Street and Howard Street, and east–west by Beale Street and 2nd Street. This is one area that needed s...

Real Estate PornThe search bunny keeps on goingIts interesting that online search for real estate is as strong as ever. Sales are miserable, people are afraid to buy. They no longer know what value and they have no job security. So, why is search so strong. Realtor.com President, Errol Samuelson...

  30-year fixed-rate mortgage:  A veraged 4.95 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending February 24, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 5.0 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.05 percent. .The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: A verage 0.7 point, down from ...

Real Estate PornThe search bunny keeps on goingIts interesting that online search for real estate is as strong as ever. Sales are miserable, people are afraid to buy. They no longer know what value and they have no job security. So, why is search so strong. Realtor.com President, Errol Samuelson...