housing (77)

Russia Took Aim at US Housing and Fired Warning Shot.

The claims may be inflammatory however, Hank Paulson, former US Treasury Secretary during the 2008 financial crisis that saw the bursting of the American housing bubble says he was approached by Chinese senior leadership who claimed that during our 2008 financial crisis, they wanted to partner with China to sell Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securities in hopes of further crippling the US financial markets.

Hank Paulson, “Here I’m not going to name the senior person but, I was meeting with someone…. This person told me that Chinese had received a message from the Russians which was, “Hey Let’s join together and sell Fannie and Freddie securities on the market” The Chinese weren’t going to do that but again, it just, it just drove home to me how vulnerable I felt until we had put Fannie and Freddie into conservatorship.”

For many years now, I have been writing blogs on just how terrible our debt crisis is. I have been land blasted by the progressive liberal left that argue we don’t have a debt crisis and my fears are unfounded….or even worse, the stuff of conspiracy theories. I have stayed true to my believe that having so much of our debt controlled or in the hands of foreign countries that aren’t allies of America is dangerous and one day, may come back to haunt us. The quote from former Secretary of the Treasury further strengthens my position that wars in the future will expand to more than just ground forces taking over a sovereign nation however, digital warfare and economic warfare will become more common in this new century.

If you don’t see the urgency of our debt crisis and how our uncontrolled spending could be a fatal shot to our economic health as a country….just ask Russia what their opinion is. Based on this communication Hank had with China, our enemies see our debt crisis as an opportunity to bring us down. The fact that Hank would come out and say this now should be eye opening, it should shake this country to it’s very foundation. Lady Liberty will be crushed under the mighty weight of debt….a burden she isn’t naturally strong to carry.

My point, is that our Liberty, our Freedom, our America can only survive, thrive, prosper when we as a country are not vulnerable to outside economic warfare. Our problem is, economic warfare is preventable, it’s easily remedied by controlling our spending however, like a meth addict, what is it going to take for us to hit our preverbal bottom….what do we have to go through before those dependent on the system wake up and ask themselves not what your country can do for you but, what can you do for your country?

By then, it may be too late.

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Welcome-to-Wisconsin-300x225.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for January of 2014. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

The harsh winter took a toll on January home sales in Wisconsin, according to the most recent analysis of housing market activity released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales were down 6.8 percent relative to January 2013, but median prices rose 3.2 percent to $126,900 over that same time frame.

Home sales cooled along with the weather in January,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “REALTORS® know that buyers and sellers don’t like closing on homes during winter months, preferring instead to move when the weather improves,” Lane said. “This winter has been anything but typical, with brutally cold weather and plenty of snow contributing to the decline in January sales,” Lane said.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. This month however home sales number decreased, but take a look at the price increase! The price rebound in our region is certainly still under way. Rock County was up 11% year over year in January!

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further?! I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Rock County, WI Home Listings to search for current properties listed in Rock County or visit Dane County, WI Home Listings for homes in Dane County.

Now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our page on Wisconsin Short Sales for more information.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

January 2014
Home Sales: 3,325
Median Home Price: $126,000

January 2013
Home Sales: 3,520
Median Home Price: $123,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

January 2014
Home Sales: 282
Median Home Price: $200,000

January 2013
Home Sales: 320
Median Home Price: $194,750

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

January 2014
Home Sales: 99
Median Home Price: $99,900

January 2013
Home Sales: 111
Median Home Price: $90,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin December 2013 Housing Statistics

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Are any of you watching what is happening to housing right now? As reported by Forbes.com’s Eric Carlyle Existing Home Sales Fall 5.1% In January 2014, To Lowest Level Since July 2012 and yet, our S&P still gains ground…..hhhmmm…..

As reported by Lucia Mutikani with Reuters, Housing Starts, Permits Tumble; Mortgage Applications Fall and yet, our S&P still gains ground….hhmm….

As reported by Greg Robb of MarketWatch.com, Philly Fed Manufacturing Weakens in February, index dropped sharply….to a negative 6.3 from a positive 9.4 in January and, yet our S&P still gains ground…hhmm…

As reported by Emily Fox at CNN Money, even consumers are holding back as her article headline reads, Wal-Mart Wars of Soft Start to Year and, yet our S&P still gains ground…hhmm…

Some anaylsis say the weather and cold temps are to blame however, sure, the cold weather may not have made things better but, if our country is so weak, it can’t even take a colder than “normal” (Whatever that is) winter…then I am left to ask, just where are we fiscally…really? Better yet, how is it the S&P can make modest gains in this atmosphere of negative reports?

Oh…I almost forgot, let’s not forget about the last two job reports…..can we say ouch! At some point, the market can’t sustain, especially now with the fed pulling back on Quantitative Easing this year. I am sounding the alarm once again and I really do believe I am correct, this is the year of the “double dip” recession. I say “double dip” in quotes because, I never believed we ever came out of a recession in the first place but, let’s go with the popular misconception we did, hence the quotations around the word, “double dip”.

More now than ever before, since 2007, if we stumble, we will take a much larger hit than any of us that didn’t live through the Great Depression will experience. Why do I say that well, it’s simple, our economy isn’t starting off from a place of strength, as I outlined above. Back in 2006, when the real estate bubble burst, our economy was booming so, the hit we took was bad, even worse than the Great Depression but, most Americans in the Middle and Upper class didn’t make many significant changes to their daily lives whereas the lower class was obliterated. This time around, our economy is not in a position to take another hit like that and if it does, you will see middle class America take the brunt and once again, the lower class will receive the equivalent to a economic nuke being dropped on their heads.

Now, let’s add in expected increases in health care cost due to our Presidents fundamental transformation of our country, increased taxes as we don’t have an in power opposition party to the liberal / progressive agenda being pushed in Washington DC and well, 2014 will be a year we won’t forget, that is for sure.

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Welcome-to-Wisconsin

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for December of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

2013 was a robust year for Wisconsin’s housing market, with both sales and prices increasing by solid margins, according to the year-end housing report released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Existing home sales were up 10.8 percent compared to 2012, and median prices increased 7.2 percent to $143,000 over that same time frame.

Strong sales dominated 2013, which is remarkable given that this is compared to 2012, which was also a very good year for the housing market,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. According to Lane, existing home sales were up in every region of the state in 2013 relative to the previous year.

Lane noted housing sales were strong despite raising interest rates and prices. “Mortgage rates have increased a full percentage point since January, and median prices have grown consistently throughout the year,” Lane said. “Yet the entire state posted genuine gains in 2013, a trend we hope and believe will continue into the new year,” Lane said.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Take a look at Dane & Rock County! Marked improvements in price and sales volume, a great sign.

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further?! I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Janesville, WI MLS Listings to search for current properties listed in the Janesville area or visit Madison, WI MLS Listings for MLS Listings in the Madison area.

Now might be the right time to sell your Wisconsin home! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our page on Wisconsin Short Sales for more information.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

December 2013
Home Sales: 4,620
Median Home Price: $143,250

December 2012
Home Sales: 4,343
Median Home Price: $133,900

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

December 2013
Home Sales: 440
Median Home Price: $210,671

December 2012
Home Sales: 411
Median Home Price: $200,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

December 2013
Home Sales: 139
Median Home Price: $108,000

December 2012
Home Sales: 113
Median Home Price: $95,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin November 2013 Housing Statistics

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Low home loan rates

What Kind of Mortgage Fits Your Needs?

No matter the state of the economy, each year the number of new mortgages underwritten reaches millions of homeowners.  Some are buying for the first time while others are downsizing or upsizing.  When rates drop, like they did over the past 2 years, many people seize the opportunity to refinance their home loan.  However, how do people decide on which mortgage to use for their specific need?  An online survey conducted by HSH.com points to some of the factors that influence consumer decisions.

Most Important Factor

It should come as no shock that the most important factor is the interest rate.  Regardless of the type of loan, the size of the loan or the customers home state, everybody is trying to get the best rate for their home loan.  In the survey mentioned above over 45% stated that the rate was the top factor for choosing a loan.

Other items, such as the length of the term and the fees also ranked high in the survey, but none was as vital as the rate.

Deciding How Much to Use for Down Payment

The ability to make a down payment equal to 10%-20% of the home’s price will give the borrower a range of products to choose from.  A large down payment and a solid credit score will usually allow a borrower to qualify for a conventional loan which has the best interest rates.

For borrowers that have a smaller down payment, their options will be limited to FHA, USDA or VA for qualifying veterans.

Choosing the Right Term

With rates at an all-time low many borrowers are actually paying more attention to the term of the mortgage loan as part of the decision process.  While the traditional fixed rate of a 30 year loan remains quite dominant more and more people are looking at different adjustable rate products.  Those borrowers that have refinanced in the past 2 years have often chosen to go down to a 15 or 10 year term in order to drastically cut down on their total interest pay back while also paying off the home sooner.

Brokers Still the Top Choice

When looking for the right mortgage loan a number of people still prefer to use the services of a mortgage broker over a local bank or credit union.  In the survey mentioned earlier over 30% of respondents claimed that they sought the services of a broker rather than another type of lender.  Since brokers typically have access to multiple lenders they can offer any type of mortgage loan and get the best rate too.

Obviously, none of these factors discussed the two biggest items facing a borrower; are they happy with the home and can they afford the mortgage payment?  Beyond those two items, the guidelines mentioned above should help any new borrower pick a loan that is right for their situation.

Additional Mortgage Info:
Home Mortgage Loans

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Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for November of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin home sales fell 6 percent in November 2013 when compared to November 2012, although total sales for the year remain ahead of 2012. Comparing the first 11 months, home sales were up 11.1 percent in 2013 over 2012. Prices were also higher in November, rising 4.7 percent above the same month last year, to a statewide median of $136,000.

Over the last two months, the housing market has definitely cooled from the red-hot pace that characterized the first three quarters of 2013.” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “This was bound to happen since the base of comparison is 2012, and that was a very strong year for home sales.” he said.

Lane pointed to markedly higher mortgage rates, steady upward movement in prices over the last year and a half, and heightened uncertainty of federal fiscal and health care policies as potential factors for the cool down..

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. Although the numbers cooled in November statewide, Dane and Rock County have been outperforming!

Thinking of purchasing a home before prices or rates rise any further?! I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Janesville, WI Homes for Sale to search for current properties listed in the Janesville area or visit Madison, WI Home Listings for Sale for MLS Listings in the Madison area.

Now might be the right time to sell your home! If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit our page on Wisconsin Short Sales for more information.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

November 2013
Home Sales: 4,770
Median Home Price: $136,000

November 2012
Home Sales: 5,020
Median Home Price: $129,950

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

November 2013
Home Sales: 419
Median Home Price: $208,500

November 2012
Home Sales: 415
Median Home Price: $198,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

November 2013
Home Sales: 144
Median Home Price: $108,750

November 2012
Home Sales: 141
Median Home Price: $87,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin October 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

2014 Housing Changes and Predictions

2014 Housing Changes and Predictions:

New lending rules will limit the number of working class buyers. By now, you have likely heard of the new mortgage rules that are going into effect January 1, 2014. As you know, the people who put these rules in place (Congress via HUD) believe these new guidelines provide greater consumer protections and will prevent a similar collapse we had in 2007.

The truth of the matter is, when a lender originates a mortgage that they are going to resell to Fannie or Freddie, the lender will have to raise their lending standards before they can approve the loan. As you can imagine, advocates for “affordable housing” are looking at these higher standards and having a fit. They don’t like these new standards because essentially, it begins limiting loans to high risk buyers with standards they aren’t going to be able to meet.

Regardless of what side you fall on in the Realolitical discussion (Realolitical = Realestate + Political) of affordable housing vs. stricter lending, the end result is fewer working class buyers in 2014 than we have had any time after the 2007 collapse.  

Unemployment is predicted to remain at about 8% for 2014. The CBO (Congressional Budget Office) is a bit pessimistic for 2014 when it comes to unemployment. They are expecting unemployment to remain around 8% which means employment conditions will likely remain the same. This means that if we take a look at the hard number, we should be seeing about 300,000+ jobless claims weekly for all of 2014. This number will change according to seasonal work requirements but, essentially, 300K jobless claims weekly.

Long terms jobless benefits have not be renewed for 2014. Approximately 1 million people this week will NOT get their jobless benefits. These people will be forced to get creative with making ends meet. For many, the risk of foreclosure just became more real than it ever has been in the past. Right now, Congress is in heated debate about extending long term jobless benefits and it might get passed however, it may not happen in time to save many from foreclosure as Congress debates.

Approximately 52% of the American public are on the Government roll. In other words, the majority of Americans are surviving by taking the tax payments of the working public. This begins a paradigm shift in our country that will be very hard to stop. In fact, it makes our country more like Europe than we have ever been before. NOTE: France’s President this week won a legal victory which will see both individuals and companies that make more than 1 million dollars, pay 75% tax rate on that income for the next 2 years. So, in essence, if you make 1 million dollars, you will pay $750,000.00 of that to the government to pay your fair share in taxes. The really sad part is, even with this tax rate, it doesn’t even put a dent in France’s debt….they are still at serious risk of insolvency.  

The bullish stock market will come to a grinding halt. In 2013, the Federal Reserve announced it will begin tapering off it’s Quantitative Easing bond purchasing program in 2014. Now, this is a very complicated monetary policy to explain but, essentially, it means that the Federal Reserve is going to stop printing money in order to stem off inflation concerns. Essentially, the Federal Reserve believes that too many dollars are in the system and in order to prevent out of control inflation, they need to pull back. Many analysis agree that the Quantitative Easing program is the lynch pin in the stock markets bull market for the past 2-3 years. Some are concerned that, without the Federal Reserve pumping money into the market….the market will collapse because our economy isn’t as strong as they thing it is. In other words, the Federal Reserve seems to be drinking the White House’s political kool-aid. The scary part of all of this, foreign countries are beginning to sell off their dollars. By doing so, our dollar weakens and inflation begins to get serious.

Finally Obamacare destroys the insurance industry and millions find out they are going to pay more for insurance than they ever had before. Sure, Obamacare advocates like to tell people that 2 million people signed up however, what they fail to tell you is that more than half of those are either 100% tax payer subsidized or a percentage thereof. They also forget to tell you that nearly 6 million lost their insurance in November and December of 2013 due to the new minimum insurance standards and that 30-40 million are at risk of losing their insurance once the employer mandate goes into effect. Everyone knows Obamacare isn’t financially solvent and the fact the law is raising premium for both individuals and employers, it’s believed that many will simply lose coverage or end up paying inflated prices they can’t afford.

So….add it all up and I do believe that in 2014, we will see absolutely no positive change for the real estate industry. If anything, we will see our industry grow stagnant and in some areas of the country, see increased inventories, lower prices and increases in short sales and REOs. I do believe high demand micro markets that aren’t over developed will be little safe havens but, unfortunately not enough of those exist to prop up the real estate market as a whole.

Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for October of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin’s red-hot real estate market cooled in October, with sales of existing homes nearly identical to October of last year, according to the most recent housing report issued by the Wisconsin Realtors® Association. October sales were just 0.1 percent lower than last October, representing the first time since July of 2011 that monthly sales did not increase over the previous year. The median sales price however continued to rise, increasing 5.6 percent to $142,500 in October relative to October 2012. On a year-to-date basis, median prices increased 7.5 percent compared to the first 10 months of 2012.

While somewhat surprising, these numbers are not totally unexpected,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “We are comparing sales between two very strong years and two very healthy markets,” he said.

Sales softened in all regions of the state. The strongest regional growth was in the South central region, where sales were up 3.9 percent.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. As you can see, Rock County was exceptionally strong in October for both the number of homes sold as well as the price at which they sold.

I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Janesville, WI Home Listings for Sale to search for current properties listed in the Janesville area or visit Madison, WI Homes for Sale for MLS Listings in the Madison area.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

October 2013
Home Sales: 5,711
Median Home Price: $142,000

October 2012
Home Sales: 5,652
Median Home Price: $135,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

October 2013
Home Sales: 513
Median Home Price: $218,000

October 2012
Home Sales: 493
Median Home Price: $198,878

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

October 2013
Home Sales: 168
Median Home Price: $109,000

October 2012
Home Sales: 147
Median Home Price: $85,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin September 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for September of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin home sales were very strong in September, continuing the robust pace that has characterized the year. Sales of existing homes were up 15.8 percent in September compared to that same month in 2012 — representing a 13.6 percent increase through the first nine months of the year. Median prices posted similar gains, increasing a very solid 6.7 percent in September relative to September 2012 — an increase of 7.8 percent year to date compared to the first nine months of 2012. Home sales have now been up for 27 straight months and median prices have consistently grown in all but one of the past 19 months.

As we move out of the summer selling season, this growth in home sales is remarkably strong and shows signs of growing even stronger,” said Steve Lane, chairman of the WRA board of directors. “We need to remember that this growth in home sales is occurring even as mortgage rates are up by almost a full percent compared to where they were this time last year, and state job growth has been modest at best,” he said.

All regions saw their existing home sales grow by double-digit margins in September, compared to September 2012, with three regions increasing more than 19 percent, and the remaining three in the range of 11 to 15 percent. The areas with the strongest growth in September were the Central region, which was up 21.7 percent relative to last September, followed closely by the North and South central regions, which grew just over 19 percent for the period. The West region increased 14.9 percent; the Southeast grew at 14 percent, and the Northeast region increased 11.5 percent over the period.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. September was no exception.

I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Janesville, WI Home Listings for Sale to search for current properties listed in the Janesville area or visit Madison, WI Homes for Sale for MLS Listings in the Madison area.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

September 2013
Home Sales: 6,026
Median Home Price: $144,000

September 2012
Home Sales: 5,202
Median Home Price: $135,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

September 2013
Home Sales: 562
Median Home Price: $215,000

September 2012
Home Sales: 450
Median Home Price: $203,600

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

September 2013
Home Sales: 174
Median Home Price: $114,500

September 2012
Home Sales: 166
Median Home Price: $101,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin August 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Counties of WIThe Wisconsin housing statistics are in for August of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Home sales and median prices both grew at a healthy pace in August, continuing the hot real estate market in Wisconsin. Existing home sales were up 13.7 percent in August compared to last August, closing out a very strong summer for home sales and 26 straight months of sales growth. Home prices showed similar strength with the median price rising 6.3 percent to $152,000 in August. Median prices have been up 17 of the last 18 months.

This has been a very strong summer for home sales, which is important for a state like Wisconsin where there are strong seasonal sales patterns,” said Steve Lane, broker with First Weber Group REALTORS® in Stevens Point and the new Chairman of the WRA board of directors. "We started the year strong, and we’ve carried that momentum through the summer, which bodes well for the remainder of the year,” Lane said.

Existing home sales were up in every region of the state, with five of the six regions growing by 9.9 percent in August compared to August 2012. The area with the fastest growth over August 2012 was the Central region, which was up 23.2 percent. Also up by substantial margins were the South Central, increasing 18.4 percent, and the Southeast, growing 14.5 percent compared to August last year. The West was up 11.1 percent, and the Northeast grew 9.9 percent over the period. Finally, home sales in the North were up 5.6 percent compared to last year.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. This summer and fall has been really hot for the properties that are priced right!

I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit Janesville, WI Homes for Sale to search for current properties listed in the Janesville area or visit Madison, WI Homes for Sale for MLS Listings in the Madison area.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Click below:

What's My Wisconsin Home Worth?

Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

August 2013
Home Sales: 7,608
Median Home Price: $152,000

August 2012
Home Sales: 6,643
Median Home Price: $143,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

August 2013
Home Sales: 900
Median Home Price: $219,900

August 2012
Home Sales: 690
Median Home Price: $212,700

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

August 2013
Home Sales: 199
Median Home Price: $107,500

August 2012
Home Sales: 191
Median Home Price: $105,500

View my report from last month. Wisconsin July 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for July of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin home sales and prices both grew in July, outpacing the solid rate established for the first half of 2013. Sales of existing homes for July increased 17.3 percent over July of 2012, which is stronger than the 11.4 percent rate of growth established in the first six months of this year over the first half of last year. Home prices also continued their strong rate of appreciation, increasing 9.0 percent in July over last July, to a statewide median of $155,299. Prices for the first six months of the year were up 7.7 percent.

It’s clear that 2013 is shaping up to be a very strong year for Wisconsin housing and the indications are that these trends will continue,” said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. "We’re at the peak of the Wisconsin home selling season, with nearly 43 percent of all sales taking place between May and August in a typical year,” Diedrich said.

This is very strong median price appreciation and it’s consistent with national trends,” said WRA President and CEO Michael Theo. Theo said statistics from the National Association of REALTORS® show that the median sales price of single-family homes nationally increased 12.2 percent in the second quarter compared to the second quarter of 2012, which represents the strongest year-over-year increase since the fourth quarter of 2005.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. This summer has been really hot for the properties that are priced right! There's been a large increase in sale prices, as you can see below.

I'd be happy to show you any homes currently listed for sale. Feel free to visit: WISCONSIN HOMES FOR SALE to search for current properties listed on the MLS.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

July 2013
Home Sales: 7,320
Median Home Price: $155,000

July 2012
Home Sales: 6,196
Median Home Price: $142,250

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

July 2013
Home Sales: 940
Median Home Price: $214,950

July 2012
Home Sales: 731
Median Home Price: $195,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

July 2013
Home Sales: 172
Median Home Price: $108,000

July 2012
Home Sales: 165
Median Home Price: $107,500

View my report from last month. Wisconsin June 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for June of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin home sales rose an impressive 11.4 percent in the first six months of 2013 compared to last year, according to recent statistics compiled by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). In June alone, Wisconsin home sales were up 3.1 percent relative to last June, posting the 24th straight month of positive sales growth in the state. Median prices also continued to increase year-to-date, rising 7.7 percent to $140,000 compared to the first half of 2012. In June, prices were up 12.3 percent to $159,500 compared to June 2012.

The pace of sales in the first half of this year is well ahead of last year,” said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. "which is especially noteworthy since 2012 was an exceptional post-recession year for housing sales.” Diedrich said.

Adding to the good news was a significant drop in foreclosures during the first half of 2013. Unique foreclosures in the state are down 37.2 in the first half of 2013 compared to that same period in 2012, and down 44.5 in the second quarter this year compared to quarter two of 2012. “All in all, this paints a very healthy picture of the Wisconsin residential home market at the midyear point,” Diedrich said.

We’ve seen very strong growth in housing prices since they started improving 16 months ago,” said WRA President and CEO Michael Theo. And while higher prices impact housing affordability, homes in Wisconsin remain a good value.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. This summer has been really hot for the properties that are priced right! There's been a large increase in sale prices, as you can see below.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

June 2013
Home Sales: 7,265
Median Home Price: $159,000

June 2012
Home Sales: 7,012
Median Home Price: $142,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

June 2013
Home Sales: 963
Median Home Price: $222,500

June 2012
Home Sales: 852
Median Home Price: $207,500

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

June 2013
Home Sales: 181
Median Home Price: $120,000

June 2012
Home Sales: 202
Median Home Price: $110,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin May 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Welcome-to-Wisconsin.jpg?width=300The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for May of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:

Strong home sales in Wisconsin for May helped boost prices up, according to the most recent statistical report released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). The sale of existing homes in May increased 18.2 percent over last May, now the 23rd straight month of positive sales growth in Wisconsin, which helped push the median price up 4.3 percent to a statewide median of $144,000.

These are very positive signals and represent an uptick from the pace of sales established in the first four months of the year,” said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. Existing home sales rose 10.3 percent from January through April this year compared to that same four-month period in 2012. “There’s no doubt consumer demand has been strong over the last couple of years, but now we’re also seeing sellers jump back in the market as well,” Diedrich said.

Prices showed solid but sustainable growth,” said Michael Theo, WRA President and CEO. "We saw some large increases in median prices in March and April, so it’s good to see more modest increases in May."

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past few years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. This spring has been really hot for the properties that are priced right! There's been a large increase in the number of home sold, as you can see below.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

May 2013
Home Sales: 7,403
Median Home Price: $144,000

May 2012
Home Sales: 6,181
Median Home Price: $138,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

May 2013
Home Sales: 925
Median Home Price: $207,000

May 2012
Home Sales: 623
Median Home Price: $211,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

May 2013
Home Sales: 205
Median Home Price: $114,000

May 2012
Home Sales: 173
Median Home Price: $100,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin April 2013 Housing Statistics

Read more…

Counties of WI

The Wisconsin housing statistics are in for March of 2013. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors® Association (WRA) had to say:
March marked the 20th straight month of double-digit growth in sales of existing homes in Wisconsin, with sales up 11.7 percent compared to March 2012. Median home prices also grew to $122,000 in March, which represents a solid 6.1 percent rate of growth compared to March last year.
This is the highest sales volume we’ve seen in March since 2007, before the Great Recession began,”  said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. Noting that sales moderated somewhat from the double-digit growth rates of the past year and a half. “It’s inevitable that the torrid pace of sales will moderate since the base we’re comparing to is a much improved market. Our markets remain strong and growing.
“Very low mortgage rates have certainly stimulated sales activity, and this combined with a decline in new listings has brought our unsold inventory levels down to just nine months of supply,” said WRA President and CEO, Michael Theo.  Inventory levels are down from 12.1 months a year ago, and from approximately 18 months of unsold homes in July 2011.
Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales & prices have been increasing over the past couple of years. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold and the price at which they are being sold at. Dane County really showed an improvement in both home sales numbers and median home price this month over last year.
If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.
Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:
March 2013
Home Sales: 4,910
Median Home Price: $123,000
March 2012
Home Sales: 5,102
Median Home Price: $134,900
Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:
March 2013
Home Sales: 466
Median Home Price: $186,500
March 2012
Home Sales: 533
Median Home Price: $193,900
Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:
March 2013
Home Sales: 155
Median Home Price: $86,000
March 2012
Home Sales: 132
Median Home Price: $103,500
View my report from last month. Wisconsin February 2013 Housing Statistics
Read more…

 

Counties of WIThe Wisconsin housing statistics are now in for December of 2012. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin’s housing market rebounded in 2012, with sales of existing home sales up substantially and median prices up modestly, according to the latest figures released by the Wisconsin REALTORS® Association (WRA). Sales of existing homes for 2012 were 20.7 percent above the levels of 2011, and the statewide median price increased 1.1 percent to $133,500 over that same period. “We’ve seen very strong growth in home sales for the last year and a half, which is an indication that buyers perceive the value of investing in housing again,”  said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. She noted that robust growth in home sales was seen throughout the state, with every region growing by double digits.
“Median prices have increased in eight of the last nine months, ending the year up 1.1 percent, which is a welcomed sign,” said WRA President and CEO, Michael Theo.
Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales have been increasing substantially all year. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold. Prices have bounced in Rock County, while in Dane County WI they appear to now be slowly stabilizing.
If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.
Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:
December 2012
Home Sales: 4,291
Median Home Price: $132,500
December 2011
Home Sales: 3,850
Median Home Price: $120,000
Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:
December 2012
Home Sales: 404
Median Home Price: $200,000
December 2011
Home Sales: 318
Median Home Price: $206,000
Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:
December 2012
Home Sales: 116
Median Home Price: $95,000
December 2011
Home Sales: 119
Median Home Price: $90,000
View my report from last month. Wisconsin November Housing Statistics
Read more…

Counties of WIThe Wisconsin housing statistics are now in for August of 2012. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) had to say:

The home sale recovery began last summer, and sales have grown 20.7 percent year-to-date. “It’s great to see these sales so strong during the peak sales period in the state.”  said Renny Diedrich, chairman of the WRA board of directors. He noted that in a typical year, about a third of Wisconsin closings take place between June and August.

The median price rose at an annual pace of 2.9 percent in August 2012, and this continues the pattern of modest price appreciation statewide for each of the last six months. “It’s clear that in spite of slight upticks in the state unemployment rate over the last two months, the housing market continues to grow, and it’s growing at a brisk pace” said WRA President and CEO, Michael Theo.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales have been increasing substantially all year. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold. Prices have bounced in Rock County, while in Dane County WI they appear to now be stabilizing.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

August 2012
Home Sales: 6,496
Median Home Price: $143,000

August 2011
Home Sales: 5,335
Median Home Price: $140,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

August 2012
Home Sales: 669
Median Home Price: $212,500

August 2011
Home Sales: 523
Median Home Price: $214,000

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

August 2012
Home Sales: 186
Median Home Price: $109,750

August 2011
Home Sales: 159
Median Home Price: $97,000

View my report from last month. Wisconsin July Housing Statistics

Read more…

Unemployment Rises and Hopes of a Wide Spread Housing Recovery Begin Falling.

Many of you have been hearing that in some areas of the country, home prices are rising and sales are starting to recover however, it has been my argument that with an unemployment rate above 8%, this recovery is a false recovery brought on by REOs being held off the market for political gain.

A 8.3% unemployment puts us back in the unemployment numbers of February of 2009, per the Bureau or Labor Statistics (see graph below) and if my memory serves me correctly, REO Listings Agents were slamming and jamming. That is, it wasn't uncommon for mega REO agents to be closing a REO a day. Yet, here we are with the same, if not worse unemployment number and REO has dried up much like the unprecedented drought in the Mid-West.

                                        
  

Year

  
  

Jan

  
  

Feb

  
  

Mar

  
  

Apr

  
  

May

  
  

Jun

  
  

Jul

  
  

Aug

  
  

Sep

  
  

Oct

  
  

Nov

  
  

Dec

  
  

Annual

  

2002

5.7

5.7

5.7

5.9

5.8

5.8

5.8

5.7

5.7

5.7

5.9

6.0

2003

5.8

5.9

5.9

6.0

6.1

6.3

6.2

6.1

6.1

6.0

5.8

5.7

2004

5.7

5.6

5.8

5.6

5.6

5.6

5.5

5.4

5.4

5.5

5.4

5.4

2005

5.3

5.4

5.2

5.2

5.1

5.0

5.0

4.9

5.0

5.0

5.0

4.9

2006

4.7

4.8

4.7

4.7

4.6

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.5

4.4

4.5

4.4

2007

4.6

4.5

4.4

4.5

4.4

4.6

4.7

4.6

4.7

4.7

4.7

5.0

2008

5.0

4.9

5.1

5.0

5.4

5.6

5.8

6.1

6.1

6.5

6.8

7.3

2009

7.8

8.3

8.7

8.9

9.4

9.5

9.5

9.6

9.8

10.0

9.9

9.9

2010

9.7

9.8

9.8

9.9

9.6

9.4

9.5

9.6

9.5

9.5

9.8

9.4

2011

9.1

9.0

8.9

9.0

9.0

9.1

9.1

9.1

9.0

8.9

8.7

8.5

2012

8.3

8.3

8.2

8.1

8.2

8.2

8.3

Granted, a 8% (+) unemployment rate isn't good however, it's not the "real" unemployment rate. Keep in mind, that number is only reflective of the people claiming unemployment for the first time and those getting a government paycheck from unemployment insurance. The reality is, many more people have fallen off the unemployment radar because they have exhausted their benefits and are no longer counted however, they do count. The Government does release this "real" unemployment number and it's called the U-6 which as described provides a more complete tally of how many people are really out of work. As of today, this number is 14.9%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

At a 14.9% U-6 number (Real Unemployment Rate), I have one question....... Where are all the REOs?

It's no secret, the Federal Government is doing all it can to keep people in their homes and as noble a cause that is, it doesn't change the fact, you can't pay a mortgage without income. Many of us in this industry have known for years, the banks, Fannie Mae, HUD, etc.... are holding massive amounts of REO inventory off the market. I understand why, if it was dumped on the market, we would collapse the US economy in a way never before seen but, to not release the inventory in hopes of artificially inflating the market you do more damage in the long run.

So, what damage is done by holding on to these REOs and not letting them hit the market?

Well, I am no economist and I don't play one on television however, I have a working man's knowledge of my industry and can tell you what I have observed. I will focus on one major negative that I see because I don't want this blog to become a book.

1. Paradigm Shift: Back in 2006 / 2007, when you weren't able to make your house payment, you knew that in about 3 months or so, you were going to be evicted and your house was going to be sold at auction. This is no longer the case. The last relocation assistance package I negotiated the man had been living in the home for 52 months without making a payment. This seems to be happening more and more. That is, I am seeing more people living in the home for 15+ months or longer before I am even called out to offer relocation assistance. This increase time that people have to free load causes an incredible shift in how people view foreclosure....or better yet, just paying their mortgage. It causes people to become entitled, lazy and even belligerent or combative about the relocation assistance or ultimately the eviction. They start feeling, thinking and fighting for their "right" to keep their home. They start acting and believing they are owed the home even though they can't pay the debt.

With all of this, where do we go as a country? Who do we look to? As America has done and I believe as we will do, we will look inward. We will realize our mistakes and we will recover, just when that happens, I don't know.

Read more…

May 2012 Could Signal a Turn Around for Housing Market

There is some hope for the real estate market. According to a report published by the Commerce Department the number of homes purchased in May of 2012 was the highest number in over two years. The number of purchases increased from April to May by 7.6%. That number is the best increase since April of 2010 when the tax credit for purchasing a home was still in effect.

Rising-Rents-599e30.jpg?width=347Areas of Highest Growth

The places that saw the largest increases were the South and Northeast. The number of homes purchased in the South grew by 12.7% while the growth in the Northeast was 36.7%

Although the total number of sales across the country seems to be off pace from the 700,000 transactions favored by economists, the market is showing other signs of improvement.

Strong Signals from the Market

First and foremost, builders have begun to increase production. More construction is always a positive sign, no matter how small the increase. Second, interest rates for mortgages are still at historically low levels making it easy to afford a home. Third, and this is important too, is the stabilization of home values. Most regions around the country have noticed home values finally holding steady. All of these factors have lead to people buying up existing homes, paving the way to build more properties.

More than Just Statistics

The main reason why economists and financial analysts pay so much attention to new construction comes from their overall economic impact. Building a new home normally produces about three new year-long jobs. It also leads to an increase in taxable revenue by an average of $90,000. Although new homes are only 20% of the entire housing market, the numbers above show how constructions helps the economy thrive.

Supply is Down

At the end of May it was reported that a total of 145,000 new homes were on the market throughout the entire country. Based on current sales numbers the market should go through the existing inventory of new homes in about 4.5 months. Economic experts feel that a 6 month supply of new homes keeps the economy healthy. With a lower than average supply it is possible that home prices could go up simply because demand will be higher.

Prices Already Higher

Speaking in general averages, the price of a home bought in May of 2012 was down ever so slightly from the average price in April. However, when looking at sales from one year ago shows that average prices have gone up by 5.6%.

Read more…

Counties of WIThe Wisconsin housing statistics are now in for June of 2012. Here is an excerpt from what the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA) had to say:

Wisconsin home sales continued to grow at a robust pace with sales of existing homes up 19.3 percent in June over June of last year... June median home prices increased 1.4 percent to $142,000 relative to the same month last year which is the fourth straight month of increasing median prices."

In a national economy that has not yet seen the kind of growth rates that typify most economic recoveries, it’s encouraging to see such strong growth in home sales over the last 12 months,” said Rob Keefe, Chairman of the WRA Board of Directors.

Below are the number of Home Sales and Median House Prices for the state of Wisconsin, Rock County, and Dane County. These stats include Janesville and Madison. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions pertaining to these figures. As you probably have heard, home sales have been increasing substantially all year. Both Dane and Rock counties are showing marked improvements in the number of homes sold.

If you would like some insight into how much your home is currently worth, I would be happy to provide you with a free comparative market analysis. This is a report that gives a close estimate to what your home might sell for in your current local Wisconsin real estate market. Has your home value fallen below what you currently owe? A short sale may be right for your situation. Visit the following page on Wisconsin Short Sales.

Housing Statistics for the State of Wisconsin:

June 2012
Home Sales: 6,829
Median Home Price: $142,000

June 2011
Home Sales: 5,705
Median Home Price: $140,000

Housing Statistics for Dane County, WI:

June 2012
Home Sales: 822
Median Home Price: $205,500

June 2011
Home Sales: 651
Median Home Price: $211,100

Housing Statistics for Rock County, WI:

June 2012
Home Sales: 190
Median Home Price: $113,500

June 2011
Home Sales: 170
Median Home Price: $94,500

View my report from last month. Wisconsin May Housing Statistics

Read more…