Howard Sobel's (howardsf) Blog

Twitter, a San Francisco startup is looking to expand its workforce and save some money while doing it. San Francisco may lose Twitter to Brisbane. Twitter needs to grow its employee base and the payroll tax here in the city is 1.5%. Brisbane city has no tax and the internet company is thinking ...

Costs Will Increase For Buyers Regardless Of Credit WorthynessBeginning April 1, 2011 Fannie Mae will implement a higher interest rate to borrowers even if they have a perfect credit score for all loans term over 15 years. Freddie Mac will change its fee structure changes on of March 1st.Loan Lev...

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.81 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending February 4, 2011, up  from last week when it averaged 4.80 percent.; Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.01 percent.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: A veraged 4.08 percent with an avera...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  0 2/02/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)     A  measure of mortgage loan application volume,  increased 11.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 13.2 percent ...

San Francisco is often touted as the number one rental market in the US. Rents here are certainly high and due to a strong Tech and Bio Tech industry, Im sure thats true. But the rent board offers us some perspective. This great rental market is not for everyone...San Franciscos rental housing st...

Case Shiller report shows a deceleration in the annual growth rates in 17 of the 20 MSAs. Housing generally leads the economy out of a recession. This time its not, housing is simply suffering. Not only is money tight but job creation is still a big hurt. In some cities, the decline over the last...

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.80 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending January 27, 2011, up from last week when it averaged 4.74 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.98 percent.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: A veraged 4.09 percent with an averag...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/26/2010 Market Composite Index:(loan application volume)     A  measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 12.0 percent com...

  People remodel because of immediate needs for the owner. Either its time for more space or just a desire to upgrade and modernize. Curb appeal and adding value is an important consideration, But resale value is hard to pin down. Home evaluation is hostage to market forces and individual taste. ...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  01/19/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)   increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week. Refinance Index: incr...