Howard Sobel's (howardsf) Blog

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  11/24/2010 Market Composite Index: (loan application volume)     increased 2.1 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 1.1 percent compared with the previous week. Refinance Index: de...

30-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 4.40 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending November 24, 2010, up slightly from last week when it averaged 4.39 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.78 percent.The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 3.77 percent with a...

                  The Optimists Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Ally Financials GMAC mortgage division and PNC Financial, have all suspended home seizures in all 23 states where courts oversee foreclosures. Bank of America is halting foreclosures in all 50 states to examine its process. Past s...

By some authorities, An estimated 5.5 million homeowners facing imminent foreclosure. The Obama Administration has provided some immediate relief with the HEMA program. HEMA will use up to $3 billion TARP to make funds available for unemployed homeowners and those suffering financial distress. El...

A Recent Survey National Real Estate Investor and Marcus & Millichap 55% of all respondents to the survey believe that now is the time to buy apartments. Owners are beginning to see improvements in vacancy rates and rent rates are rising. We are coming off a low low bottom, but there is improvem...

30-year fixed-rate mortgage:Averaged 4.21 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending October 21, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.19 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.00 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage: Averaged 3.64 percent with an average ...

Mortgage Bankers Association for the week of  10/27/2010 Market Composite Index:(loan application volume)    increased 3.2 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 3.1 percent compared with the previous week. Refinance Index: incr...

National vacancy rates have dropped sharply and rent rates have increased. The national vacancy rate fell to  7.2% from 7.8%. Renters are still price sensitive and shunned higher rents, but were optimistic enough to sign one year leases. San Fracisco vacancy rates coming in around 5%. However, e...

San Franisco sales volume is up in the second half, partly due to lower interest rates. The multi family sector is generall divided into 5-9 units and 10+. Here are some basic stats from Jay Greenburg (Alain Pinel) and the San Francisco Apartment Association. Following is a look at average costs ...

  NARPM Green Landlording Survey Property Managers actively work on finding new ways to differentiate their services from the competition, we were interested to learn how many residential property managers see going green as a benefit. see chart Going Green A small but growing demand from renters...