Category Archives: Pound Ridge

Gallup: Most investors see real estate as best long-term bet | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Real estate is considered by most investors one of the best long-term bets, with stocks trailing slightly as the market enters a sixth bull year and many have been nervous about how long the run will go.

Indeed, Gallup said recent volatility in the stock market may have tarnished stocks’ image as the best long-term investment option, according to the survey, conducted April 3-6, which published April 17.

Gallup said rising house prices are just one reason why Americans are putting their bucks back into houses. In 2002, during the real estate boom that came ahead of the mortgage crisis and before gold was offered as an option, half of Americans polled gave real estate the best-investment nod. Sales trends for new homes are at historically low levels, while prices have run up more than 13% over the past year.

 

 

read more…

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29741-gallup-most-investors-see-real-estate-as-best-long-term-bet

Fixed Mortgage Rates at Six Week Low | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates easing further for the second consecutive week helping to increase home buyer affordability at the onset of the spring home buying season.

News Facts

  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.27 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 17, 2014, down from last week when it averaged 4.34 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.41 percent.
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.33 percent with an average 0.6 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.38 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 2.64 percent.
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.03 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.09 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 2.60 percent.
  • 1-year Treasury-indexed ARM averaged 2.44 percent this week with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 2.41 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 2.63 percent.

Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total upfront cost of obtaining the mortgage. Visit the following links for the Regional and National Mortgage Rate Details and Definitions. Borrowers may still pay closing costs which are not included in the survey.

Quotes Attributed to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist, Freddie Mac.

“Mortgage rates continued to ease this week as housing starts rose 2.8 percent in March but not as much as expected. Also, permits fell 2.4 percent in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 990,000, which followed a slight downward revision of 4,000 permits in February.”

Freddie Mac was established by Congress in 1970 to provide liquidity, stability and affordability to the nation’s residential mortgage markets. Freddie Mac supports communities across the nation by providing mortgage capital to lenders. Today Freddie Mac is making home possible for one in four home borrowers and is one of the largest sources of financing for multifamily housing. Additional information is available at FreddieMac.com, Twitter @FreddieMac and Freddie Mac’s blog FreddieMac.com/blog.

Skyrocketing real estate prices trigger backlash against foreign buyers | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Leading overseas real estate expert Andrew Batt has told Singapore TV there is a lot of money being invested in foreign property and it will go to those countries that make it easy for investors.

Batt, international group editor of the Singapore-based PropertyGuru website, was interviewed on the Real Deal slot on Channel NewsAsia about global regulation and managing foreign investment.

He talked about property regulations for overseas buyers in Singapore and Malaysia and how changes in the U.K. market would affect Asian investors.

Batt, who is a regular guest, told presenter Annalisa Burgos, “There is a lot of money out there right now looking for investments in property, so the countries where it becomes easier to invest, where there are less tax regulations, the money is going to go to those kinds of places.”Looking at Singapore, he pointed out that the government had raised the buyer’s stamp duty by an extra 15 percent to try to deter overseas investors.

“I know there are suggestions that foreign property buyers had driven up prices, so it makes sense if you want to curb that particular sector of the buying community then you need to target it specifically.

 

 

– See more at: http://www.inman.com/2014/04/16/skyrocketing-real-estate-prices-trigger-backlash-against-foreign-buyers/?utm_source=20140416&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dailyheadlinespm#sthash.qKKGskFt.dpuf

Top 13 cities for freshly minted millennials | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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As a millennial myself and proud resident of the No. 8 city, I’m aware of the numbers of millennials topping off the final days of their college educations and entering the beginning stages of their career.

So where are they choosing to live, or better yet, where should they live?

Niche Ink has published a list of the best cities and neighborhoods for millennials. Factors involved in the study include: data from the U.S. American Community Survey, crime rates from the FBO and types of top entertainment attractions.

While the cities’ unemployment rate might be a key factor, I personally still cherish the added variables of the best shopping locations and best cultural attractions. After all, you need to look good at your first job and have someplace to go to keep life exciting.

The list covers the top 25 in all, but here are the top 13…

 

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29677-top-13-cities-for-freshly-minted-millennials

Captain Courageous Style in Massachusetts | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Karen Swanson’s historic Manchester, Massachusetts, home was built in 1850 by a prosperous local sea captain named John Carter, and although most of the house has the architectural detail of that period, the kitchen was a relic of the 1950s (or thereabouts). Swanson, owner of New England Design Works and an award-winning kitchen designer whose personal tastes are more modern, made a kitchen that straddles the line between traditional and contemporary, with a small nod to the home’s original owner.
Kitchen at a Glance Location: Manchester, Massachusetts Size: 280 square feet (26 square meters) Photography by Evan White

The old kitchen had fixtures and finishes that had given up the ghost. The room stood in front of a large utility room.
AFTER: Swanson took over the utility room, gaining workspace and allowing more natural light to enter the kitchen through two exterior windows. A no-longer-working brick chimney lies behind the oil painting. The bricks could not be removed, so Swanson stuccoed over them and tucked a small laundry room behind the old structure.

Down to Earth Farmers Markets | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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Hudson River Apiaries + Potted Flowering Plants in Ossining;                           Indian Chutneys, Olive Oil, Pasta in Mamaroneck + MORE April 10-16th, 2014 Down to Earth Markets
Earlyspring-lettuce
What’s New and On Special This Week
Frozen Kofta, Rajma,                                     Roti Roll, Saag, & Samosa Bombay Emerald Chutney Co.
Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread                                     New recipe! Meredith’s Bread
Gluten Free Reverse                                     Chocolate Chip Cookies Meredith’s Bread
Green Leaf Lettuce Gajeski Produce 		Loose Leaf Spinach John D. Madura Farms
Hot Cross Buns Bread Alone
Micro Arugula Gajeski Produce
Parisian Baguette – On Sale! Reg. $3.25; now $2.75                                     Orwasher’s Bakery		 Passover Orders Order by 11 am on Friday; pick up Saturday at Mamaroneck Market! See details below Flourish Baking Company
Potted Flowering Plants John D. Madura Farms
Potted Herbs & Lettuces Gajeski Produce
Romaine Lettuce Gajeski Produce Spring Cookies and Cupcakes Meredith’s Breads
Click on a Market to see all vendor and event details…

    Westchester County
Mamaroneck Winter                                     Saturdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm St. Thomas Episcopal Church                                     168 West Boston Post Road (at Mount Pleasant Ave) Ossining Winter
Saturdays, 9:00 am-1:00 pm At the corner of Spring & Main                                     in downtown Ossining		Headed to the city soon? Visit a Down to Earth                                     Farmers Market in NYC!
Announcements
Mamaroneck – Now OUTDOORS – Music & More
This Saturday help us welcome Brian Vegh with his Celtic fiddle tunes.                         He’ll add music to the market’s lively outdoor atmosphere from 10 am to noon!                         Also, April is Fair Housing Month, and in its honor, we’re happy to host Westchester Housing Opportunities. They will distribute information about local fair housing laws, answer community questions, and more.
Hosting for Passover?                         Flourish Baking Company has you covered. Place your Passover order with them by tomorrow (4/11) at 11am, and then pick it up from 9 am to 1 pm at the Mamaroneck Farmers Market on Saturday. Find their full menu here. [Warning: You WILL get hungry upon reading it.] Give them a call at 914-725-1026 or email info@flourishbakingcompany.com to order. ENJOY!
                         Stay tuned to all market happenings via our Down to Earth Markets Facebook page                           and follow us on Twitter @DowntoEarthMarkets

 

 

 

 

 

Mortgage apps drop for 4th consecutive week | Pound Ridge NY Homes

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Mortgage applications dropped 1.6% from one week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s survey of mortgages for the week ending April 4, 2014.

The MBA’s measure of mortgage loan application volume fell 1.6% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, the fourth decline in four weeks after a spike of almost 10% at the start of March.

The refinance index decreased 5% from the previous week and is at its lowest level since the end of 2013.

The seasonally adjusted purchase index increased 3% from one week earlier.\

“Despite a drop in overall applications from the week before, purchase activity is still climbing as rates remain low and spring selling season is starting to ramp up. With home values back at healthy levels, look for inventory to increase in the coming weeks, which will continue to drive this trend of rising purchase activity,” said Quicken Loans vice president Bill Banfield.

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 51% of total applications from 53% the previous week and is at its lowest level since July 2009.

The adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity remained unchanged at 8% of total applications.

 

 

http://www.housingwire.com/articles/29608-mortgage-apps-drop-for-4th-consecutive-week

 

Man Achieves Perfect Credit Score, Issues Press Release | Pound Ridge Real Estate

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It must be like bowling a perfect game, pitching a no-hitter or scoring a hole-in-one. You want to tell everyone, take pictures and put your name in lights. Achieving a perfect FICO credit score of 850 was such a big deal to one man, he issued a press release.

SubscriberWise announced today that company founder David Howe has obtained a perfect credit score of 850. The FICO score, the most commonly accepted credit measurement among U.S. lenders, ranges from a low of 300 to a high of 850 – the higher the better.

 

 

http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/credit/debt/man-achieves-perfect-credit-score-issues-press-release?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO