Charting the course of interest rates

December 8th, 2011

This is a great time to be a homebuyer as mortgage rates are near historically low levels.  Take a look at this chart showing the path of interest rates on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage over the past nearly four decades.

A few words about Joint accounts and durable Power of Attorney.

December 5th, 2011

This is what an attorney wrote from Colorado, it also applies to lots of states. Please talk to your attorney. We have some very good attorneys in the Tri-Cities including Pasco, Richland, Kennewick &  W-Richland, WA you can get help with this very important legal issue. Hopefully this helps you from making a mistake.

http://www.frascona.com/resource/kgh604dpoa.htm

Understanding Closing Costs ….

November 29th, 2011

Closing costs can be costly so it’s important to understand them.  Lenders are required by RESPA (Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act) to disclose information to their borrowers throughout the mortgage process; information such as closing costs, lender servicing, escrow account procedures, and more.

RESPA requires a lender to give you a good faith estimate stating all the fees to be paid at or before closing.  These fees can include recording fees, title charges, loan origination fee, escrow items, and mortgage interest, to name a few.

Another thing to be aware of is that anytime real estate is sold, certain records that are a part of the closing process, (which generally takes 3 to 8 weeks) are entered into public record.  You should receive a copy of the public record at closing and can request additional copies, usually for a fee.

For more information on RESPA, visit the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website.

Being grateful this Thanksgiving …

November 23rd, 2011

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Funny For Food!

November 22nd, 2011

November 23, 2011 – 8:30 pm

Joker’s Comedy Club, Richland $5 admission

Tri-City Market … Still Competitive

November 17th, 2011

Despite the Tri-City market slowing a little, some areas are competing more for buyers, due to the increase in listings, causing the prices to soften.  We are still growing and prospering.  We are selling between 285 to 300 homes a month.  Inventory has increased the pressure on current prices.

The following is a computation from Tridec showing how well we are doing.  With rates this low and prices competitive, this is a great time to buy.  It is an ok time to sell; you just have to be realistic and look at your competition.  If you do not have the desire to sell or the move is not worth the realistic price, if you are moving outside of this market area, then you should not sell.  If you move up as a seller, within our market area, you will make up any difference and more in the move.  Look at the silver lining this move will gain for you.  Give Distinctive Properties a call and we can explain it to you so you do not miss an opportunity in this market.

Source:  US Census and Washington Office of Financial Management Forecasting Division 2011

Tridec published the following information:

POPULATION                        

Kennewick-Pasco-Richland

2000 Census 191,822

2010 Census  253,340

2011 Estimate 258,400

Benton County

2000 Census 142,475

2010 Census 175,177

2011 Estimate 177,900

Kennewick

2000 Census  54,751

2010 Census  73,917

2011 Estimate  74,665

Richland

2000 Census 38,708

2010 Census  48,058

2011 Estimate  49,090

West Richland 

2000 Census  8,385

2010 Census  11,811

2011 Estimate 12,200

Franklin County

2000 Census  49,347

2010 Census  78,163

2011 Estimate  80,500

Pasco

2000 Census  32,066

2010 Census  59,781

2011 Estimate  61,000

**** Attached is the link the Wa Economic Revenue Forecast with a clip of their September Council Meeting.  With Dr. Arun Raha  giving the forecast for WA State. Interesting, long, but with a lot of good information.  We here in the Tri-Cities are fortunate that our Numbers are not nearly as bad, they are acually good compared to the Nation and the State. We just expected even more, is that not just how it works.  With Thanksgiving around the corner we need to be greatfull for our numbers.

 http://www.erfc.wa.gov/forecast/rervenueForecast.shtml