Smart Solutions- Dec 2006 - Dawn Craig, ABR ,e-Pro

You have received this letter because you either subscribed to it or expressed interest in buying a home. If you feel you have received this in error or would like to unsubscribe click on the link at the bottom of the page. Thank you.

Mortgage Rate Decreases Spurring a Mini-Boom in Refinancing

Written by Kenneth R. Harney
It doesn’t qualify as a boom quite yet, but it’s shaping up to be at least a mini-boom: American homeowners applied to refinance their existing mortgages last month at a pace faster than at any time since February of 2005.

A key reason is that fixed rates on 30-year loans dipped to an average 6.15 percent, the lowest they’ve been in 10 months. Rates could drop even further over the coming months, say some economic analysts. One top Wall Street economist, James Glassman of JPMorgan Chase, says he would not be surprised to see 30-year rates slip as low as 5.75 percent in the near future — especially if crude oil prices continue to decline and the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index remains low.

Last week crude oil prices dropped and the CPI registered a 0.5 percent decrease — both of which helped trigger lower interest rates in the global bond markets.

If you would like to read more on this article click here .

Its a Good Time to Decide

Written by Broderick Perkins
It sounds tired, trite, hackneyed, even a little specious, especially when it’s become little more than a marketing slogan used to describe just about any housing market, no matter how bleak or bright. However, right now, the popular refrain, “It’s a good time to buy,” resonates with a more resolute ring of truth. Remember that a “good time to buy” for you may not be the same “good time to buy” for someone else. Personal considerations trump the generalities. Instead of making the home-buying decision based solely on market conditions, consider it in a more holistic context.

It’s only a good time for you to buy a home, typically, when owning is cheaper than renting and a home purchase is a natural fit for your financial needs, goals, obligations and lifestyle. Consider market conditions — it’s wise to buy low and sell high — but also examine your complete financial picture, other goals in life and plans for your family. It’s not easy. The current market offers a big carrot.

Click here to read more.

The Blind Man

One day there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign that read:
"I am blind, please help."
A creative publicist was walking by and stopped to observe. He saw that the blind man had only a few coins in his hat. He dropped in more coins and, without asking for permission, took the sign and rewrote it.
He returned the sign to the blind man and left. That afternoon the publicist returned to the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills instead of coins.
The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was he who had rewritten his sign and wanted to know what he had written on it.
The publicist responded: "Nothing that was not true. I just wrote the message a little differently." He smiled and went on his way. The new sign read:

"Today is Spring and I cannot see it."

Sometimes we need to change our strategy. If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten.
And remember too, sometimes it's not WHAT we say, but rather, HOW we say it!