Realty Times - Real Estate News and Advice

Realty Times - Real Estate News and Advice: "Long-Term Mortgage Rates Ease Slightly McLEAN, VA -- Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.24 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending November 8, 2007, down from last week when it averaged 6.26 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.33 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been this low since the week ending May 17, 2007, when it averaged 6.21 percent."

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Could Mortgage Rates Drop to 5 Percent?

REALTOR® Magazine-Daily News-Could Mortgage Rates Drop to 5 Percent?: "Daily Real Estate News | November 6, 2007 Could Mortgage Rates Drop to 5 Percent? The manager of the world’s largest bond fund predicted Monday that the Federal Reserve “cannot afford” to let U.S. housing prices fall and will have to cut interest rates aggressively to prevent it from happening. 'A Fed cannot afford to let homes go down by 10 to 15 percent like we saw in Japan,' Bill Gross, chief investment officer of Pacific Investment Management Co., said on CNBC Television. 'We've only begun to see the pain from the standpoint of the home owner in terms of those monthly payments. Defaults and delinquencies will increase as we extend throughout 2007 and then into 2008.' Gross expects the Fed to cut the federal funds short-term rate to 3.5 percent, which implies that the 30-year mortgage rates will come down to 5 percent to 5.5 percent. Source: Reuters News (11/05/07)"

Realty Times - Real Estate News and Advice

Kitchen Trend Report Inspires Kitchen Lovers
by PJ Wade

In residential real estate, it's kitchens and bathrooms that count -- in more ways than one -- but too often the full significance of their contribution is overlooked and, therefore, full investment potential may not be realized. Consequently, property owners may settle for substandard, even unsafe, living conditions or may concentrate on short-term fads instead of long-term gains when renovating.

Kitchens and bathrooms are value elements that can be responsible for the greatest return on renovation investment. The state of one or both of these rooms may be the deal maker or deal breaker in a real estate sale. The design of this necessary duo can also make a home more liveable, particularly for those facing physical or mobility limitations. Representing the true comfort and luxury centres of a home, do these two multi-function essentials receive the respect they deserve? Read more here:

Realty Times - Real Estate News and Advice