April 2011 Blog Posts (17)

I'd like to hear your thoughts: Is now a good time to buy a vacation home?  Let me know in the comments below or on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/h13cWz

Today's news that may be of interest to you:

Fannie, Freddie Align Servicing…

Are you seeing the rental market in your area tighten up?  Are good rentals more difficult to find and are prices/rents increasing?  I’d like to hear from you at the Stewart Spokane Facebook page below.  (:-) 

http://on.fb.me/h13cWz

Today’s news that may be…

Zillow For Builders

A Standing room only crowd attended last Thursday’s  networking event  “Zillow for Builders” to hear Zillow CEO  Spencer Rascoff   present information on Zillow and explain how  Zillow Zestimates are derived.

The early evening event…

I can’t say I’ve heard much about banks wanting to lend while there is little demand (see the article below).  What’s been your experience?  Do banks seem eager to lend?  Bankers and lenders, are you finding there is little demand for loans?

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

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Check out the article below on real estate websites and tell me:  What is the best real estate focused website you’ve used (aside from www.stewartspokane.com)?…

Today's question: Both the Dems and the GOP have talked up the huge budget cuts they made in passing the budget bill last week.  In your opinion, did they do enough?

Today's news that may be of interest to you:

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Today’s question: The article below tells us that by survey, 81% of Americans are saying that buying a house is still the best investment that any of us can make.  What do you think?  Tell me your thoughts on my blog or on Facebook (…

Today’s question: Obviously a 20% down payment rule would have a dramatic effect on the market if it were implemented across the board (see the first article).  What percentage of buyers would be impacted if this were implemented?  What would this do to the American economy?

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

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Tell me, in your market area, what positive signs of recovery are you seeing?  What market segment do you see doing well in 2011 and beyond?  (Feel free to tout your market area!)  I posted this as a QUESTION on our FB page at http://bit.ly/dPAzh8 , please post your comments and…

Yesterday the responses I received from you overwhelmingly said that foreclosure flippers are doing us all a favor and are good for our economy.  Today’s question:  See the NAR Article below and anser this:  If a borrower is upside down in his/her home (not delinquent and still employed), is it OK to walk away from the home and let it go back to the bank?  Feel…

Read the foreclosure flipping article below and then answer this question today.  Are foreclosure flippers doing a service to the market and to the community and do they fill a need?  You can email me your thoughts at acarollo@stewart.com or post them on my blog below.

Today’s news that may be of interest to you:

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Many of you emailed me and others posted comments on my blog from Friday’s news to tell me your thoughts on this question:  If there were ONE thing you could change about our current real estate environment/economy, what would it be?

If you’d like to go look at the posted responses, or offer your own thoughts, the blog is here: …

I just read in Scotsman Guide that Jeff Bell in 2010 is #3 top loan originator in the state of WA  with 156 loans for $58.7 M.

Bravo Jeff

I’m really curious to hear what you think:  If there were ONE thing you could change about our current real estate environment/economy, what would it be?  Job creation?  Regulations?  Underwriting criteria?  Consumer confidence?  The list of hurdles we face is daunting, I know, but I’d love to hear your perspective either by email at acarollo@stewart.com or on my blog.

Today’s news that may…