Jenn Klarman, SRES®, REALTOR®

All facets of real estate, from beginning to end and beyond! So, let's get started ~ text or call, 240-832-2486; or, email, JKLARMAN@LNF.COM

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THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! > I realize your time is valuable; so, I'll do my best to provide you with useful information. I keep my site current; so, please feel free to visit often! If you see an area you feel could use some improvement (or, you particularly like), I'd love to hear from you! All the best! Jenn, 240-832-2486 / JKLARMAN@LNF.COM

 

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 LONG & FOSTER SALUTES ITS TOP AGENTS!

Jenn Klarman receives accolades for...

> Chairman's Club ($5 to $10M in Settled Sales Volume)

> Outstanding Service Award

 

> SOURCE: The Capital, Saturday, March 5, 2011

 


JANUARY 23, 2012
 
 

 

Real Estate Outlook: Housing at Forefront of Concerns 

By Carla Hill

As the race for the 2012 Presidential Election gets rolling, a new survey from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows what is on voters' minds.

Topping the list of concerns for voters is the importance of homeownership and the ease of obtaining it. The survey showed that American voters "strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal role to help qualified home buyers obtain affordable 30-year mortgages."

Neil Newhouse, a partner and co-founder of Public Opinion Strategies, reports, "The American electorate is sending a clear message that owning a home remains a cornerstone of the American Dream and preserving a federal commitment to homeownership is essential to maintain a thriving middle class and get housing and the economy back on track."

Recent studies have backed this statement showing the ripple effect the housing market can have on other economic sectors. Housing invigorates the construction industry, remodelers, and even retail sales of home decor. More spending means more jobs, which in turn means more home buyers.

The survey found:

> 75 percent of voters see federal tax incentives for homeownership as appropriate.

> Two-thirds say that the federal government should help home buyers to afford a long-term or 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage.

> 73 percent of voters oppose eliminating the mortgage interest deduction.

> 96 percent of home owners are happy with their decision to own.

Celinda Lake, president of Lake Research Partners, said, "With the 2012 election season in full swing, candidates running for the White House and Congress would be wise to heed the will of the American voters, who have expressed broad support for government policies that encourage homeownership and oppose efforts to make it more difficult to get a home loan and to tamper with the mortgage interest deduction."

There have been some changing tides in real estate this month. Builder confidence continued to gain speed, rising four points to the highest level seen since 2007. This is the fourth consecutive month of gains.

Greater interest in home buying has begun to get builders geared up. Bob Nielsen, chairman of the NAHB, reports, "This good news comes on the heels of several months of gains in single-family housing starts and sales, and is yet another indication of the gradual but steady improvement that is beginning to take hold in an increasing number of housing markets nationwide -- and that has been shown by our Improving Markets Index."

There remains a strong concern among builders, however, of the ability of potential buyers to secure mortgages. For now mortgage applications have experienced a second consecutive week of increases, a possible indication that buyers are coming out of hiding and are returning to the market.

Michael Fratantoni, Mortgage Bankers Association's Vice President of Research and Economics, said, "Interest rates dropped last week due to continuing anxieties regarding the fragile economic situation in Europe. With mortgage rates reaching new lows, refinance volume jumped and MBA's refinance index reached its highest level in the last six months. Purchase activity also increased as buyers returned to the market after the holiday season." 

> MORE INFO: RealtyTimes

   


 
JANUARY 20, 2012 
  

Mortgage Moments

 

30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Averages 3.88 Percent 

 

McLean, VA – In Freddie Mac's results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), the average mortgage rates changing little amid mixed economic data. Regardless, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged down slightly to 3.88 percent to a new all-time record low marking the seventh consecutive week below 4.00 percent.

 

> 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.88 percent with an average 0.8 point for the week ending January 19, 2012, down from last week when it averaged 3.89 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.74 percent.

> 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.17 percent with an average 0.8 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.16 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.05 percent.

> 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 2.82 percent this week, with an average 0.7 point, matching last week when it averaged 2.82 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.69 percent.

> 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.74 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 2.76 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 3.25 percent.

According to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac:

"Mortgage rates were nearly unchanged this holiday week in lieu of a mixed bag of economic data reports. On the consumer front, retail sales edged up only 0.1 percent in December, but the Reuters/University of Michigan sentiment index continued to climb in January to the highest reading since February 2011. On the business side, industrial production rose 0.4 percent in December, slightly below the market consensus forecast, and the core producer price index rose faster than market expectations. Finally, on the home construction front, builder confidence rose for the fourth consecutive month in January to the highest level since June 2007."

 

> MORE INFO: RealtyTimes

 


When is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?
 
A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate®, the world's largest professional association. The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and abides by its strict Code of Ethics.
 
 


Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Annapolis Sales
102 Old Solomons Island Road
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-266-5505 office
410-224-0875 office fax
 410-867-1101 home office fax


Jenn Klarman, SRES®, e-PRO®, REALTOR®

240-832-2486 cell