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Brent Sainsbury

Madison, WI Weekly Report April 13, 2009

Week Ending 13-Apr
Inventory 2009 2008 %Change
Downtown Houses 29 32 -10%
Downtown Condos 209 203 3%
West Houses 748 794 -6%
West Condos 899 941 -5%
East Houses 489 545 -11%
East Condos 428 456 -7%
Total Houses 1266 1371 -8%
Total Condos 1536 1600 -4%
Grand Total 2802 2971 -6%
Market Indicators
UWCU 30 Mortgage Rate 5.00% 5.75% -15%
Keller Williams Listings* 252 490 -94%
# of showings on KW Listings 140 154 -10%
3 week trend 136 153 -12%
6 week trend 123 133 -8%
% of listings with showings 55.56% 31.43% 43%
Av DOM for KW ACT Listings 120 182 -52%
*KW Listings in Dane County for 09 and WI for 08

Madison, WI Weekly Report March 30, 2009

Week Ending 30-Mar
Inventory 2009 2008 %Change
Downtown Houses 29 26 10%
Downtown Condos 213 200 6%
West Houses 747 766 -3%
West Condos 914 906 1%
East Houses 475 536 -13%
East Condos 420 417 1%
Total Houses 1251 1328 -6%
Total Condos 1547 1523 2%
Grand Total 2798 2851 -2%
Market Indicators
UWCU 30 Mortgage Rate 5.00% 5.88% -18%
Keller Williams Listings* 243 467 -92%
# of showings on KW Listings 121 157 -30%
3 week trend 116 122 -5%
6 week trend 105 129 -23%
% of listings with showings 49.79% 33.62% 32%
Av DOM for KW ACT Listings 232 184 21%
*KW Listings in Dane County for 09 and WI for 08

Madison, WI Weekly Report March 23, 2009

Week Ending 23-Mar
Inventory 2009 2008 %Change
Downtown Houses 26 21 19%
Downtown Condos 213 200 6%
West Houses 731 766 -5%
West Condos 887 922 -4%
East Houses 473 544 -15%
East Condos 425 415 2%
Total Houses 1230 1331 -8%
Total Condos 1525 1537 -1%
Grand Total 2755 2868 -4%
Market Indicators
UWCU 30 Mortgage Rate 4.88% 6.00% -23%
Keller Williams Listings* 242 480 -98%
# of showings on KW Listings 123 99 20%
3 week trend 109 112 -3%
6 week trend 103 123 -19%
% of listings with showings 50.83% 20.63% 59%
Av DOM for KW ACT Listings 228 185 19%
*KW Listings in Dane County for 09 and WI for 08

Madison, WI Weekly Report March 16, 2009

Week Ending 16-Mar
Inventory 2009 2008 %Change
Downtown Houses 25 21 16%
Downtown Condos 206 199 3%
West Houses 723 734 -2%
West Condos 881 926 -5%
East Houses 465 533 -15%
East Condos 414 413 0%
Total Houses 1213 1288 -6%
Total Condos 1501 1538 -2%
Grand Total 2714 2826 -4%
Market Indicators
UWCU 30 Mortgage Rate 5.00% 6.13% -23%
Keller Williams Listings* 238 453 -90%
# of showings on KW Listings 105 110 -5%
3 week trend 98 122 -24%
6 week trend 98 128 -31%
% of listings with showings 44.12% 24.28% 45%
Av DOM for KW ACT Listings 225 185 18%
*KW Listings in Dane County for 09 and WI for 08

Buying a first home in today's changing lending market

I attended a mortgage seminar last week and here are some of the highlights as they pertain to first time homebuyers and the changing lending market

1. Loan Level Price Adjustments for conventional loans. Unit recently most borrowers would qualify for a Lender's best rate with a FICO credit score of 680. Today a multi-teared system is employed. For example today a borrower with a 740 credit score might get 4.875% while a 700 credit score will get 5.375% and a 660 score will get a 7.25%.

Also, keep in mind that FHA, VA, WHEDA and other portfolio loans (not resold by lender to secondary market) do not have these price adjustments.

When we look at properties it is even more important to get pre qualified with credit taken before looking at any houses. Also, since every time you have your credit pulled it could ‘ding' your credit report it might be useful to only use one trusted Lender throughout the transaction. Keep in mind many free credit report services do not provide consumers with actual FICO scores. Call me if you want my recommendations.

2. Many of the conventional 100% LTV (loan to value) programs are gone. Rural Development program (available in Dane County but not Madison and immediate suburbs) is the only 100% LTV program around.

3. $8,000 tax credit for first-time homebuyers (or buyers that have not owned for 3 years) can be claimed on 2008 or 09 tax returns. Home must be purchased between now and November 30 2009. The credit doesn't have to be returned if buyer occupies home for more then 3 years, for those who do not there is a recapture provision. For a $200,000 30 year Mortgage at 5.25% $8,000 would equate to more then 7 months of payments.

4. Condo's have a risk premium associated with them, in the range of a ¼ of a point.

5. More transactions then previous years will ask the seller to buy down points on the mortgage. This will reduce mortgage interest rate, but lender will have to be brought into discussion before writing the offer.

6. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) products are seeing dramatic changes.

7. Home affordably index is at it's all time high. It has never been a better time for credit worthy buyers to buy there first home.