What mortgage rate can I get today?

An update from First Financial Trust Mortgage

Valparaiso Mortgage Rates

I had a customer ask me to post an update on where the mortgage rates are priced right now, so here is that post:

Going into last week mortgage interest rates were rocking up and down between 5% and 5.25% for 30 year fixed rate mortgages, best to state in Indiana since some companies price higher in Illinois and Michigan. Indiana property values have leveled off and we get better pricing than surrounding states. That's good news!

In the middle of last week mortgage rates began a climb upwards toward and over 5.5% for 30 years fixed. Some experts are even suggesting rates will go higher tomorrow after the Federal Reserve stops buying mortgage bonds in support of pricing as they have done for the last 16 months.

When should I cut my yard this year?

If you have this kind of question, and so do I, I've been checking out Life and Lawn tips.

We will be putting in the yard at our model in Keystone Commons in Valparaiso in about a month, unless Allyn tells me to hold off until May ... we'd love to show you through the model if you're interested in building.

Give me a call anytime 219-465-8352.

We pay real estate agents

For years home builders and real estate agents have had a love/hate relationship, perhaps even more hate than love. Here's our written policy on paying real estate agents:

• You must be licensed in the State of Indiana
• You must register your client with us, email or fax or even tweet, but let us know who you are working with to eliminate confusion
• We will pay you 3% for introducing us to a customer that buys a home within one year of the introduction. You introduce, and are welcome to join as many meetings as you want during the process, but are not required to do any more than register.

For active real estate professionals and online marketers we also have the Green Pointe VIP Program:

• Increased commissions for licensed agents who introduce us to multiple clients
• Cross marketing opportunities using our online resources in collaboration with yours
• Training and coaching opportunities for social media, new media synergies
• For those with real estate licenses in escrow, we have a legal referral program as well
• For licensed mortgage bankers, brokers, insurance agents, financial planners we also build custom referral programs that work for your clients and meet requirement of the State of Indiana.
  

Call Steve Dalton, 219-465-8352 or feel free to Email Steve

How to choose a listing agent

Northwest Indiana Mortgages - FHA VA and Conventional loans: Real Estate Pros in NW Indiana

Daltonsbriefs northwest indiana homes update

Northwest Indiana Mortgages today

Let's shoot straight today, here's what rates are doing:

Update: watching bonds slide - oops that means rates will be higher on rate sheets this morning. Have you talked to your real estate professional lately? Time to jump!

The bond market looks to open slightly higher, meaning lower rates, but mortgage companies will probably hold at or near Friday rates. That means that for 10 weeks straight we've been at or below 5.25% this year. You all know, those that read regularly, that I don't believe rates can possibly stay this low due to inflationary pressures. The key question is when do they push upward to 5.5% and above?

Go to link for the full article and predictions on market swings this year.

Buying a home in 2010

Homeownership is the best Stimulus

The writers over at the Times blog push forward one negative theory that is rolling around, namely that more families should be renting, well of course we believe this is hogwash. First the Times article:

Knocking the home buyer tax credit

Category: NWI in the News

The economics blog Calculated Risk takes on the notion of expanding and extending the home buyer tax credit, claiming it will cost taxpayers more than $100,000 for each additional house sold.

The thinking is that the $8,000 tax credit primarily goes to people who were going to buy a house anyway, and so doesn’t have much stimulative effect on the home market.

There’s another effect, evidenced by something I overheard at our Editorial Advisory Board meeting, where one of the members talked about not being able to get tenants for rental property he owns.

On this very subject, the article from the Las Vegas Sun, which the blog post cites goes into detail.

The reasons we find this so frustrating:

• Calculated Risk is merely a negative talking anti-economy bunch. They don't like homeownership, they wanted the bubble and aren't too happy to see the economy already bouncing back.
• Who cares if landlords now have some competition, that's good for the market. Perhaps take the opportunity to fix up your property while it's empty.
  
• Homeowners make the best community citizens, they stay, the keep maintained, they are part of the neighborhood.

If you are renting now, your rent is going to go up this year. Time to talk about buying a home. Let's talk today!