http://www.bobsproperties.com A Real Estate Blog Fri, 09 May 2008 13:34:58 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 1. Remove clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too. 2. Wash your windows and ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/05/02/simple-tips-for-better-home-showings/ Freddie Mac reported a jump in the 30-year fixed mortgage rate to 6.03 percent during the week ending April 24; It went up from 5.88 percent the prior week, marking the first time in six weeks that mortgage rates rose above the 6 percent level. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate climbed ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/04/25/30-year-rates-jump-to-603/ Looking back 10 years 10 years ago we were all younger and more energetic. You could have never imagined today you would be so different from the person that you thought yourself to be a decade's ago. Plans change, chance events materialized, and instinctual decisions interestingly turned out to be right ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/04/19/the-difference-in-a-decade/ Under the Economic Stimulas Act of 2008, FHA and conforming loan limits are set at 125% of area median home prices as determined by HUD.  Higher loans limits should draw many "move-up" buyers into the market since they will be able to get better loan terms. If you have been looking to ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/04/08/new-fha-conforming-loan-limits/ The housing slowdown isn’t being felt in some areas around the country. For example, in some California areas the housing supply limited. Other metropolitan areas continued to post gains in home prices nearly every month are Seattle, Portland, OR, and Charlotte, NC. In Charlotte, home price growth has averaged around 7 percent ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/04/04/home-sales-still-strong-in-many-areas/ There is a good reason to buy now instead of waiting for prices to come down. Consider a typical home that sells for around $219,000. For example, you put down 20% and get a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at today’s rate of 5.5%. With that, monthly principal and ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/03/27/ignore-the-doom-and-gloom-headlines-about-buying/ The Federal Reserve’s recent rate cutting moves are not lowering mortgage rates for new buyers, as much as they helping those who hold existing adjustable rate mortgages. In addition, rates on home equity lines, credit cards, and many auto loans have all dropped significantly. Many homeowners now will not face higher ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/03/21/new-cuts-in-interest-rates-helping-adjustable-rate-mortgage-arm-holders/ Preparing your home for sale will make a big difference in the amount of time it takes to sell. By following a few simple pre-marketing tips, you can eliminate any buyer objections before they arise by doing needed repairs, maintenance and improvements. Outdoors: Spruce up gardens and lawn, trim shrubs and ... http://www.bobsproperties.com/2008/03/12/home-premarketing-checklist/