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Anna Matsunaga

Hot off the Presses- November RE newsletter w/ national statitics

This Month in Real Estate
November 2009

Commentary

Budding signs of recovery continued last month. The encouraging news arrived in a number of closely followed economic indicators. On Thursday, October 29, the U.S. Commerce Department stated the country's recession has officially ended, at least as leading data indicates.

U.S. GDP expanded 3.5 percent in the third quarter, the first period of quarterly growth in more than a year. A strong bounce in housing sales activity in September, mainly due to first-time buyers' efforts to claim the tax credit before it expires for November 30, pointed to stabilization in the housing sector. And more good news this week as an extension and expansion to the Home Buyer Tax Credit made its way through a congressional vote and has officially been signed into law by the President.

The recovery will continue to develop in small steps. The Recent Nobel Prize winner in economics, Paul Krugman, praised the progress, stating the most severe part of the crisis has now subsided and "the end of the world has been postponed." Moving forward, trade imbalances and mounting levels of government debt, as well as high levels of unemployment, will need to be addressed. For now, governments including the United States will continue to provide stimulus support until the major economies are firmly on solid ground.

The Housing Market

Existing Home Sales - Up over 9%

  • Existing home sales bounced back strongly in September with much of the increase being attributed to the rush of first-time buyers trying to claim the tax credit before the end of this month. Sales jumped 9.4 percent to 5.57 million units over August sales of 5.09 million, marking five gains in the past six months and is 9.2 percent above levels seen last year. Sales activity is at the highest level since July 2007 when sales hit 5.73 million.

Median Home Price

  • Existing-home price was $174,900 in September, 6 percent higher from its low in January but still 8.5 percent below September 2008. Distressed properties, which accounted for 29 percent of all transactions in September, continue to hold down the median price, as they typically sell for 15-20 percent less than traditional homes.

Inventory - Lowest in 2.5 years

  • The current housing supply is the lowest seen in two and a half years. Total housing inventory at the end of September fell 7.5 percent to 3.63 million existing homes available for sale, representing an 7.8-month supply at the current sales pace, down 16.1 percent from August's 9.3-month supply. Compared to a year ago, there are now 15 percent fewer homes on the market. According to Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, "If we could continue to absorb inventory at this pace, home prices would return to normal, modest appreciation patterns next year."

Mortgage Rates - Close to 5%

  • Rates for 30-year fixed loans continue to hover around 5 percent. While having risen above the ultra-low 4.78 percent reached in the spring, rates remain at attractive levels for people looking to buy a home or refinance. As an economic recovery is underway and concerns over inflation come back, experts expect mortgage rates will likely go up.

Affordability - Very favorable

  • Historically high affordability conditions coupled with the first-time buyer tax credit are boosting home sales. Home buyers continue to benefit from low home prices as well as unprecedented mortgage rates. "Potential first-time buyers can take heart in that affordability conditions this year are the highest on record dating back to 1970," according to NAR President Charles McMillan. So far this year, the home price-to-income ratio has fallen well below the historical average of 25 percent. The ratio now stands at 15 percent.

Sources: National Association of Realtors, Freddie Mac

For more information on any specific areas in Pierce county contact our team.

***Government Action***

First-Time Home Buyer Tax Extended and Expanded

  • As the deadline for the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit crept closer, it became a clear priority on the Hill. An extended and expanded home buyer tax credit is a part of a larger bill that also extends unemployment benefits. This bill was signed by President Obama on Friday, November 6. All new provisions became effective on November 7.

The bill essentially remains intact but has a handful of important changes:

  1. Existing homeowners who lived in their previous home for 5 out of the last 8 years will be eligible for up to a $6,500 credit.
  2. The income limits have been bumped up $50,000 to $125,000 for individuals and up $75,000 to $225,000 for couples.
  3. Those who qualify will have until the end of April, 2010 to find their new home and have a signed contract on it. They will have until the end of June to close.
  4. Military, foreign services and intelligence employees with extended active service may qualify for a few special provisions, including an extra year to take advantage and they may not need to repay the credit if they move during the first three years.
  5. The home purcahsed must be less than $800,000
  6. Must be over the age of 18 and not classified as a dependant for tax purposes to qualify.

**To find out more about this program and or down payment assistance programs that may be able to be used right along with the tax credit, contact Team Momentum, 253 353 2662 or www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Sources: Bloomberg News, The Washington Post, U.S. Government Printing Office

Higher Loan Limits Extended

  • With the onset of the financial crisis, credit markets that were not backed or insured by the government froze. Mortgages that are backed by the government and purchased by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae are called "conforming loans". One type of non-conforming loan is the "jumbo loan". Traditionally, jumbo loans are mortgages that are greater than $417,000.
  • Since the crisis began, tightened lending practices have made this type of loan harder to secure. Jumbo loans currently come with substantially higher costs from larger down payments and higher interest rates. This has led to a 70% decrease in jumbo loan origination since 2007 and a greater inventory of homes in jumbo territory.
  • As part of the stimulus bill earlier this year, the conforming loan limits were raised to 125% of median home prices to a limit of $729,750 for 2009 and were set to expire at the end of the year. On October 29, the increased loan limits were extended through 2010. This means it will be easier for sellers whose homes fall in this category and cheaper for buyers to secure financing next year, compared to if the government let the limits expire.

Sources: Inman News, National Association of Realtors

Topics For Buyers & Sellers

Peace of Mind Home Buyers Worried about High Unemployment

The average duration that unemployed workers are out of a job is currently more than six months, near the highest level since the bureau started tracking the figure in 1948. The total number of unemployed people stands at 15.1 million. 5.4 million of those have been looking for work for more than 27 weeks.

With incentives in the housing market, including very low interest rates, a large selection of homes for sale in many markets, and highly affordable home prices, concerns about the job market and possible unemployment have held back many potential buyers.

Here are a few suggestions for potential buyers and current homeowners:

  1. Buy well within your means. Although home buyers often want to buy a home they can see themselves growing into, stay within a conservative percentage of what you currently make. If you had to take a part-time instead of a full-time job, if your salary or hours were cut, or if you become a one-income household instead of two, make sure your monthly payment would still be attainable.
  2. Put down a large down payment. Not only will your monthly payments be less, but the equity from the down payment creates a buffer zone. If you put 20% down when you purchase your home and home prices in the area drop 5%, you still have at least 15% equity in your home. For sellers, this built-up equity provides flexibility-should you need to sell in a hurry.
  3. Have an emergency fund. Experts advise everyone, not just homeowners, to have an emergency fund of at least six months' worth of expenses. This fund should be saved in a liquid account, like a money market or savings account, for easy access if needed quickly. With the average time to find a new job currently above six months, seven or more months of savings is a good goal.
  4. Pay down other debts. Lowering or eliminating debt service is always a good move and is particularly wise in the current job climate. If you were without a job and income, lower fixed monthly expenses help ease your financial burden and stretch the money in your emergency fund.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNNMoney.com, etc.

253-353-2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.comPersonal Photo

Contact Anna Matsunaga

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your greater Tacomal real estate expert,

253-353-2662

for information about what's going on in the Greater Tacoma Area, or....to find a great Realtor with information about your area.

www.teammomentumrealty.com

Newsletter Contents

1. General Commentary

2. The Housing Market

3. Government Action

4. Topics for Buyers
and Sellers

Personal Photo

When your team members make you proud!

Team momentum logo

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Tacoma 253 353 2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

I have been blessed to be at a company that has a true go give spirit. At Keller Williams I have help when I need it, information at my fingertips and am very proud of who I work with.

However....this goes a step further when I apply it to my team mates. I am blessed and privileged to be part of a team that includes Sue Redkey. I met Sue 5 years ago when she was hired part time to do admin work on the team I belonged to at the time. ( not a job I felt was her strength, but one she did a good job at) I loved working with her from the start.

When I went out on my own and began my own team I was blessed to have Sue join me, first as admin and later as a full fledged buyer's representative. This is Sue's real strength and I must say she is one of the best buyer's agents out there, especially when she is dealing in her specialities of first time home buyers and downsizers. I am so very proud to work with her.

Because I know how well she cares for her clients and her integrity and commitment to doing a good job I was not at all surprized to get a forwarded email from our broker that he received from one of Sue's clients today, I do not have the client's permission to print their name yet, so I am just going to share the body of the letter.

Dear Mr Bozich

I would just like to convey how pleased I am with the support and help I received from one of your finest real estate agents, Sue Redkey. She is so nice and helpful, while being highly competent and professional. She went above and beyond to help me as I've considered the different real estate markets of interest to me. I've since received a job offer elsewhere and will be moving there. Sue kindly took the extra initiative to help me find a qualified and nice agent in that area. Furthermore, the Home Buyers product, which Sue provided to me has been a tremendous asset in determining the value of different properties in the area. I just want to say thank you again.

Sincerely,

M

I am so grateful to be affiliated with some one who cares like she does. If you would like to have a free subscription to the home buyer's product she speaks about, would like a referal to an agent in your area if you are out of our team's area, or if you are in our area and would like to work with a superior buyer's agent who really cares, please contact me so I can put you in touch with Sue Redkey!

Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty. www.teammomentumrealestate.com

253 353 2662

Team Momentum Real estate logo

Tacoma Treasures, Restaurant Review, The Adriatic Grill (near Tacoma Mall)

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253-353-Anna www.teammomentumrealestate.com

This is a restaurant review written by our team's intern/assistant Lani Panama, she was there last week and LOVED it. I am impressed with the restaurant as well, not just because of their food and service, but because they have supported our Keller Williams office with our fund raising efforts for Relay for Life!

It's got plenty of parking and is close to the Tacoma Mall so easy to get to from most everywhere. I love how close it is to our Keller Wiliams office!

Adriatic Grill Restaurant- By Lani Panama- Photos by Anna Matsunaga

Front Doors To Adriatic Grills in Tacoma,WA

I enjoy dining at the Adriatic Grill Restaurant near Tacoma Mall. The atmosphere is very warm and inviting. There is great customer service and the staff is very welcoming. The food is fabulous!

If you like Italian food like I do, then this is the place to go! I would highly recommend this restaurant. The prices are comparable to nearby restaurants, but the food is far more excellent! This restaurant is also kid friendly, with a goody bag to keep kids busy, as well as dough to play with while waiting for the food to arrive.

It doesn't take long to wait on the food, as the food always arrives quickly. The bread, balsamic, and olive oil they offer upon arrival is TO DIE FOR! And my personal favorite, their Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is delicious, as well as there iced beverages. I can't wait to go back!!!

--Lani Panama

Adriatic Grill Restaurant in Tacoma,WA

For more information, go to: www.adriaticgrill.com or call for reservations: 253)475-6000

Adriatic Grill is located at: 4201 South Steele Street, Tacoma, WA 98409

--Anna Matsunaga: www.teammomentumrealestate.com

Fall colors in Tacoma

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

253 353 2662 www.teammomentumrealestate.com

fall colors behind Bryant Montessori

Fall colors behind Bryant Montessori on Ainsworth.

Fall colors across from Peck field

Fall colors

Fall colors in New Tacoma

Fall colors, Tacoma WA 98405

Enjoy I'll post more soon! It's so great when the trees show their true colors!

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Tacoma, 253 353 2662

Benefits of Townhome lifestyle- more exercize and maybe weight loss!

From Anna Matsunaga, Team Momentum, Keller Williams Realty Tacoma 253-353-2662

www.teammomentumrealestate.com

In Pierce county and around the nation town homes are fast becoming a popular urban way to live.

Among the many benefits of Townhome living (easy to care for home, not having yard work, safety from close proximity to neighbors and so on) is one that likely you have not thought of.

Weight loss, and better fitness may be a side effect of your new town home? How so?

lady running with her dogwalking the stairs

Well, having 3 stories in your home means you do more stairs than if you lived in a Ranch style home. So not only do you get more squarefootage for your money, you also get more exercize for your time spent in your home. Walking around your ranch home doing your day to day chores and so on will burn about 6 calories a minute, however doing the same when taking the stairs in your 3 story townhome will burn more than double the calories, this of course adds up in the end cumulatively to weightloss.

walking down the stairs at home

Not only that but the muscle built from doing stairs will continue to burn more calories per hour even if you are doing nothing than if you had not built the muscle.

To get an idea of the impact take a look at the 2 links that follow regarding stairs and impact on calories burned.

http://www.dhhs.state.nh.us/NR/rdonlyres/erodpfuan72mqvpk55qngdskrs3uwpbwb6bj57gmw3tgtoewct6tm7jrtu6gvltq3pmk4um4676nan4cbfscmfr7tsc/calories.pdf

http://espn.go.com/trainingroom/s/1999/0924/75442.html

healthy lady eatinghealthy man

This 3rd link also in addition to having information about stairs has some good basic information on how to cut calories in other painless ways as well.

http://exercise.about.com/cs/weightloss/a/howtoloseweight.htm

healthy eating

So not only will you likely get more house for your money with your new town home, but you may also get less of you from the resulting weightloss you get using the stairs in your home!

Anna Matsunaga Team Momentum Keller Williams Realty Tacoma

www.teammomentumrealestate.com 253-353-2662

Relocating to the area? Our team has what you need to make your move, information, resources and more.