Bob's Properties

Closing costs deductions – The discount points and origination fees paid to your mortgage lender at closing are usually deductible. Mortgage interest deduction – If the home is your personal residence, all of the mortgage interest you owe and paid before the end of the year is deductible on … [Read more...]

We have reported that almost six million adults between the ages of 25 to 34 are currently living with their parents. That number reflects an almost 50% increase since 2003. These young adults are now being advised to jump into homeownership. Who are the people selling them on the American Dream? … [Read more...]

Very Low interest mortgages will be available at the very least until mid 2012, according to Frank Nothaft of Freddie Mac.   These low rates can convert into big savings for today’s home buyers. Over five years ago, a home buyer would have seen around a 5% rate on a 15 year loan term. For … [Read more...]

Too many folks these days believe that very few homes are selling and that hardly anyone can get a mortgage, but it’s just not true. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) Existing Homes Sales Report shows different. In the report an average of 12,000 homes sell every day. That means around12, … [Read more...]

There is a growing belief among many experts that 2012 will be the year housing turns the corner and starts heading in a more positive direction. Whenever we write a post like this, we unleash the hordes of critics who say we are again wearing rose colored glasses or are puppets being controlled by … [Read more...]

With increasing costs of energy, it makes sense to review areas where you can cut energy consumption around your home. Look after your heating and cooling systems. The energy used to heat or air condition a home can account for more than half of a home’s energy bill. Have your heating and … [Read more...]

A welcoming housing recovery is beginning to bud according to industry experts looking at existing-home sales. But while acknowledging home sales are still low, chief economist Paul Dales of Capital Economics says “it is clear that housing recovery is now well underway.” The support is … [Read more...]

There is no shortage of opinions as to where home prices are headed in 2012. From Clear Capital’s expectation that prices will show a ‘slight uptick’ this year to Fitch’s projection that prices ‘will fall another 13 percent’, there seems to be no consensus as to where real estate values … [Read more...]

In today’s complicated real estate market, it is easy to get confused. There seems to be a flood of conflicting information.  For example, headlines have both indicated that National Delinquency Rates are Falling and Increased First Mortgage Default Rates Although these headlines seem to be … [Read more...]

What is the definition of a healthy housing market?  Is it a housing market in which home prices are decreasing?  Few would agree with this.  Is it a market in which home prices are increasing?  At first glance, many would agree with this definition.  However, increasing prices cannot be used … [Read more...]