First Quarter Update of the New Decade
April Real Estate Update
Mortgage Rates Inch Up
In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.99 percent for the week ending March 25, 2010 - up from the previous week when it averaged 4.96 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.85 percent.
"Mortgage rates inched up slightly this week as bond yields rose even further," said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief
Mortgage Rates
Source: Realty Times
U.S. averages as of March 25, 2010:
30 yr. fixed: 4.99%
15 yr. fixed: 4.34%
1 yr. adj: 4.20%
economist. "Interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages, however, were still below 5 percent for the fourth consecutive week."
The Extended Home
Buyer Tax Credit
You've decided to purchase a home and take advantage of the Extended Home Buyer Tax Credit. Here's what you have to do to get your benefit:
Close on your home purchase between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, or have a binding written contract in place by April 30, 2010 with a closing date no later than June 30, 2010.
Decide whether to: apply the credit to your 2009 tax return, filed on or before April 15, 2010; file an amended 2009 return; or, apply the credit on your 2010 return, filed on or before April 15, 2011.
Homeowners filing for the home buyer tax credit are not allowed to use electronic filing and must file hard copies due to special documentation requirements.
Mortgage Rates Inch Up
In Freddie Mac\'s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.99 percent for the week ending March 25, 2010 - up from the previous week when it averaged 4.96 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.85 percent.
\"Mortgage rates inched up slightly this week as bond yields rose even further,\" said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief.
Real Estate Outlook:
Steady Growth Expected
Harsh weather conditions held back home sales in February -- leading to some renewed gloominess by Wall Street analysts.
But several new economic reports, including on employment, suggest that during the coming several months we're likely to see steady but unspectacular national economic growth, and some pretty good housing rebound numbers.
Even the February home sales numbers were nowhere near as negative as you might expect under the circumstances.
Existing home sales were down slightly for the month – by six tenths of a percent – but were still clicking along at more than 5 million on an annualized basis.
New home sales were harder hit – down by 2.2 percent for the month. But median prices on new homes sold for the month jumped by six percent over January and were up five percent year over year, according to the Commerce Department.
A new study by economists at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (or FDIC) also provides a positive take on where we're headed.
The United States housing market, according to the FDIC, is showing "tangible signs of improvement".
Affordability – which is obviously a crucial factor in whether households can buy or not – is at "historic high levels," says the report.
Equal Housing
Opportunity
Bonnie Fagoh
813-390-7606
bonniefagoh@gmail.com
http://www.TampaCoastalHomes.com
Century 21 Beggins Enterprises
813-658-1344
6542 U. S. Hwy. 41 N.
Apollo Beach, FL 33572
Bonnie Fagoh
Tampa Coastal Homes
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