8 Home Renovations That Will Pay You Back

While no home renovation project will give you 100% back when you sell your home, these are your very best bets for getting most of your money back!

See the renovations here

Smart People Rejected from Harvard

So what happens to all the smart guys when they are rejected by a smart school?  Do they have to dumb-down their approach to a "lesser" school?   Read about the rejects here.

Cops with Smart Technology?

Australian state police enter today's world with Samsung Galaxy Note 4

http://mashable.com/2015/02/23/police-samsung-galaxy-note-4/

Credit still not loosening up, but look at the credit scores that were turned down!

Nearly two months into the year, there is still no sign of a loosening of lender requirements. 

Examining the Ellie Mae Origination Insight Report for January 2015, we see the following:

The average FICO scores for CLOSED applications were:

• 
  overall - 731


• 
  FHA refi - 674


• 
  FHA purchase - 682


• 
  Conventional refi - 741


• 
  Conventional purchase - 752


• 
  VA refi - 715


• 
  VA purchase - 704

The average FICO scores for DENIED applications were:

• 
  overall - 681


• 
  FHA refi - 615


• 
  FHA purchase - 657


• 
  Conventional refi - 698


• 
  Conventional purchase - 721


• 
  VA refi - 670


• 
  VA purchase - 666

Clearly it remains much easier to qualify for FHA loans while conventional loans remain beyond the reach of those with average to merely good credit score.

ARMLS Statistical Report - February 2015

 

 

Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau is On A Roll

The CFPB is agressively pursuing any wrongdoing in the Real Estate industry.  Here is one example of what it is doing:

Click Here for Full Story

Mid-Month Market Stats for Greater Phoenix Area

This month the market stats show that we are still ahead of last year as far as sales are concened, we have a rising inventory that is still smaller than it was last year, the Price per Square Foot is continuing to rise, and homes are continuing to appreciate at about 4%. 

Housing values have appreciated considerably since June of 2011.  Remember that a 4% increase in value in a $200,000 house is $8,000, not something to sneeze at!