An estimated 5.7 million U.S. families live in substandard housing, with one in every three houses in U.S. metropolitan areas plagued by health hazards, according to a study released Thursday.
The National Center for Health Housing, which culled the information from U.S. Census data, said the most common problems are water leaks from the outside (11 percent) and inside (8 percent), roofing problems (6 percent), damaged interior walls (5 percent), and signs of mice (5 percent).
Charlotte, N.C., Anaheim-Santa Ana, Calif., and Atlanta, Ga., rank at the top of the list for having the healthiest housing. The metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, and New York ranked as having the least healthy housing.
Source: National Center for Healthy Housing (09/24/2009)
© Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted from REALTOR.org with permission.”
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A study estimates that 357,000 buyers have been motivated so far by the $8,000 First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit.
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Butterfield Overland Stage Days Poster
Click on the thumbnail to down load a poster with the schedule of events for the Benson, Arizona annual celebration. The historic Butterfield Overland Express Route ran from St. Louis to San Francisco carrying mail and passengers. A part of the Benson celebration is the transfer of mail from Benson to Dragoon by the Pony Express.
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Yesterday I posted an article about minimizing stress when applying for a loan. The closing can be another stress filled time.
You should have a closing statement (called the "HUD-1") before you go to close. If you don’t have it call your agent or escrow officer and get a copy. The HUD-1 shows you all of the charges and what you need to bring to the close in the way of a cashier’s check.
And take your time. You will have a lot of documents to sign and if you have any questions ask the escrow officer or your agent. And if this is your first time to buy a house, make certain your agent is with you at the close.
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I don’t know about you but I hate to apply for a loan. The paperwork seems to be endless and I feel a sense of urgency (and maybe a little panic) every time my mortgage broker calls for more info. One way to help take the pressure off is to get all your documentation gathered before you even talk to a broker or lender.
Not all lenders require the same documentation but this is a good place to start. And if you have any doubts or really want to be on the safe side, where the list below suggests two years, get three.
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Legal entanglements and well-intentioned home-owner-assistance efforts have slowed the pace of foreclosures, but eventually many of these distressed homes will hit the market anyway.
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Falling interest rates pushed mortgage applications up 12.8 percent last week [ending 9/19] on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly survey.
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In an announcement that should bolster the housing industry, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday that it intended to keep key lending rates near zero “for an extended period” and continue to buy mortgage-backed securities and debt through March 2010.
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U.S. home prices rose 0.3 percent in July compared to June, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Tuesday.
The index is 4.2 percent below what it was in 2008 and 10.5 percent off its peak in April 2007.
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