http://localhouseblog.com Smart News About Local Real Estate Sat, 13 Sep 2008 08:57:28 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en  Monday, I showed property to Clients in Newark, CA. I showed a three bedroom, 2 bath house in a great neighborhood for bout $349,000. Can you believe this? I showed homes in this area years ago for roughly $549k to $600k; this was amazing for “Buyers”!  Also, Rates for borrowers ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/09/13/mortgage-brokers-real-estate-agents-say-interest-rate-drop-is-spurring-activity/ Today, Nehemiah Corporation of America announced the launch of www.DPAGroundSwell.org, a web-based community established to mobilize the growing industry opposition to the October 1 ban on seller-funded downpayment assistance (SF-DPA). The ban on these programs was written into law by President Bush when he signed ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/08/14/nehemiah-launches-web-community-to-amass-surge-in-support-for-downpayment-assistance/ Taking a tour of West Oakland in the last few weeks leaves one to believe two things: "Prices have definitely changed" and "There are great deals out there for Investors". The way I see is a little different, being that I live in Oakland and most of these properties would ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/08/12/price-report-no-housing-floor-yet/ By Matt Carter, Wednesday, July 30, 2008. President signs housing bill. President Bush signed historic legislation today that props up mortgage financers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and authorizes a $300 billion expansion of Federal Housing Administration loan guarantee programs. But the sweeping housing ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/07/30/fha-changes-make-housing-bill-a-mixed-bag/ Market Conditions: Las Vegas, Nevada by Realty Times Staff Robert Hughes, our market expert in Las Vegas, says buyers in his area are frothing at the mouth. Las Vegas is now the fastest selling community in the United States, Hughes says, and it's no wonder why this is, with all the great ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/07/14/market-conditions-las-vegas-nevada/ Good News for the Contra Costa County Real Estate Market! Pending Sales Higher Year-Over-Year   Trends at a Glance (Single-family Homes)   Apr 08 Mar 08 Apr 07 Average Price: $843,060 $812,670 $933,940 Home Sales: 267 217 349 Pending Sales: 339 295 326 Inventory: 1,817 1,659 1,596 Days of Inventory: 211 237 142 Pending sales were up 4% over last April. This is the first time since March 2007 that pending sales have been higher year-over-year. Pending sales rose ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/07/08/good-news-for-the-contra-costa-county-real-estate-market/ The dire headlines coming fast and furious in the financial and popular press suggest that the housing crisis is intensifying. Yet it is very likely that April 2008 will mark the bottom of the U.S. housing market. Yes, the housing market is bottoming right now. How can this be? For ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/05/19/the-housing-crisis-is-over-by-cyril-moulle-berteaux-wall-street-journal/ New environmentally sustainable hotel, residential project selling fast Wednesday, January 30, 2008 By Tom Kelly Inman News LAS VEGAS -- Where do you start with City Center, the 18.6 million-square-foot, $7.4 billion hotel, casino, retail and residential complex on 76 prime acres of this city's legendary Strip? It is the largest privately financed construction project ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/03/15/second-home-buyers-flocking-to-las-vegas/ by Danielle Babb Thursday, January 24, 2008 Whether you're looking for an investment property or a place to live, here's a look at the cities you should seek out and avoid in 2008. The housing crunch and the excessive inventory -- exceeding 10 months on resale homes -- continues to ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/03/15/best-and-worst-places-to-buy-a-house/ FHA Releases New Mortgage Limits for California Counties FHA Max Limits Include 14 CA Counties Mortgage maximums as of Friday March 07, 2008 ALAMEDA and CONTRA COSTA COUNTY County Name State One-Family Two-Family Three-Family Four-Family Last Revised ALAMEDA & CONTRA COSTA CA FHA Loan Limits Calculator: https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/hicost1.cfm Rusty, this site is so ... http://localhouseblog.com/2008/03/10/fha-releases-new-mortgage-limits-for-california-counties/