Are Mortgage Rates on the Rise?

In my business, everyone wants to know where the rates are? The bigger story that packs more punch, is where are the mortgage rates going? Experts will point to charts that show rates up or down. To the average citizen my best advice is to look back to get an idea of where the rates might be headed.

In the month of August, rates rose for three weeks straight. In a report published by the latimes, reported by E. Scott Reckard on August 16th, 2012, Freddie Mac found that "the typical 30-year rate increased from 3.59% to 3.62%."

In September, a 30 year fixed rate is now around 3.75%. The rates have been at historic lows for some time and the chart below shows this to be true.

What does all this mean to people who own a loan or to people who want to buy a house? According to E. Scott Reckard "Rising rates could throttle the latest in a long series of refinancing booms" and will result in less purchasing power for those who wait to buy a house.

The bottom line - mortgage rates are on the rise. The rates remain low historically, which is reinforcing the fact that it is a good time to buy a house! If you have done your homework and are prepared to make a home purchase, you can be one of the fortunate buyers to take advantage of the low mortgage rates.

For further information on the home buying or selling process, contact Todd Adams at 503-332-5227 or visit Home Search

Healthy, Quick, Meals, For A Family on the Move

 

We are a society that is on the move in our daily lives. It is common to up-size our homes, down-size our homes, or move closer to the kids schools. We are on the move! 
 

As a Real Estate Broker in Portland, I have been asked more than a few times - what are some good quick meals for a family that is fully engulfed in the moving process? You won't find the five healthy recipes below on the "Cooking Channel," but you will find that they meet the requirements of quick and easy.
 

Taco Salad (The Mexican) 

Toss the following ingredients in a large bowl:

  Romaine lettuce

  Cheddar or Mexican cheese, shredded

  Tortilla chips, crushed

  Black beans, canned, drained

  Lighthouse Jalapeno Ranch dressing

  Avocado, chopped

Tomatoes, chopped

Olives, chopped

 

If desired:

·Top with your favorite salsa

·Add taco-seasoned ground beef or turkey

·Layer over warm re-fried beans

 

Tuna Melt Wrap (The Tastefully Simple) 
 

1 can white albacore tuna
2 tablespoons honey mustard
2 tablespoons fat free vanilla yogurt
2 leafs of romaine lettuce
Handful of thinly chopped celery
Pepper to taste 

Directions: Spread the cheese over the tortilla, and heat in the microwave for

30seconds. Spread romaine on tortilla. Mix remaining ingredients, top on tortilla,

And fold.

   

Sloppy Joe's (The Super Simple) 

 

Ground beef or turkey

Spaghetti sauce

Whole wheat bread/buns

 

 

Royal Rueben (The Royal) 

Make coleslaw (combine shredded cabbage/carrot mix and fat-free mayo)

Place slaw on whole-grain bread

Top with lean roast beef and reduced-fat Swiss cheese

 

Pizza (The Greek)

Courtesy of Health Magazine


 

  2 teaspoons olive oil

  1 (6-ounce) bag pre-washed baby spinach

  1 (10-ounce) Italian cheese-flavored thin pizza crust (such as Boboli)

  3/4 cup tomato sauce

  1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

  1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1 (2 1/4-ounce) can sliced ripe black olives, drained

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach; sauté 3 minutes or until lightly wilted. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread sauce over pizza crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border; top with baby spinach, feta cheese, pepper, and olives. Bake at 425° for 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
 

Moving can be stressful and a lot of hard work. My hope is that your family loves your new home and finds these recipes to not only fast and healthy, but delicious. 

 

For further information on the home buying or selling process, contact Todd Adams at 503-332-5227 or visit Home Search

 

Nationally, Home Prices Are Up

Yes, summer has come and gone. As we head into fall, we are continuing to enjoy nice weather and sunny skies. Like the weather, the national housing market is experiencing its fifth straight month  in a row of gains.



A recent Reuters article (September 4th, 2012) noted that home prices in June "rose more than expected". In fact, in the  survey of 20 cities taken nationally, there was a 0.5% increase over 2011 prices.





David Blitzer, the chairman of the index committee at Standard & Poor's, went so far as to say "We seem to be witnessing exactly what we needed for a sustained recovery; monthly increases coupled with improving annual rates of change."

Traditionally, the summer buying season is strong. The June numbers benefitted from this phenonina. Blitzer went on to say that "the gains on both a monthly and yearly basis boded well for the housing market."

The financial markets reaction to the data has been cautious as investors turn their attention to Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to see what, if any, action he plans to take.

The bottom line: The housing market continues to rebound from one of the worst economic downturns in our nations history. The pace of the housing recovery is slow, but steady. Minus any unforseen national or international event, we should see continued improvement.

For further information on the home buying process or selling process, contact Todd Adams at 503-332-5227 or visit Home Search

The Importance of Saying No

No is one of the shortest words, yet one of the toughest to say. While no one has found a way to buy time, we can take more measured steps to protect our time and live out happier lives.

In an article published in Better Homes and Gardens in April, 2012 by Karen Haywood Queen, four steps are suggested that could lead you across the pond of endless obligations to the hammock of personal bliss.

Are you the person who everyone thinks to call when volunteer work is needed? You know, the person who ends up organizing the reunion instead of enjoying it. It might be time to learn how to say "no" and mean it without alienating yourself. It's OK to say no and feel good doing it.

Decline Delicately - a great place to start you on your path to freedom. Example: if you are asked to head up a big-time fund-raiser, Karen suggests saying something like, "Wow, I'm honored that you thought of me for this important event, but my schedule is so hectic right now that I couldn't give it the attention that it deserves." It's not a hard hit, but more of a soft landing - no feelings hurt.

Be Honest But Vague - The less said the better. No need to feel guilty by lying, people can tell when someone is not being truthful. "Simply say you are booked and leave it at that," says Karen.

Negotiate Terms - "Many people agree to requests without knowing the logistics, which can be a trap," says psychologist Susan Newman, Ph.D., author of The Book of No (McGraw-Hill). The next time you are asked to volunteer, ask more questions. Are you expected to take everyone's jacket before the event or are you preparing all the food for the event? You will get a clear understanding of the expected time commitment and whether or not you want to make the time.

Put You On Your Schedule - Use the calendar on your iPad or smart phone to schedule your personal time for working out, enjoying coffee with a friend, or to read that book that you've been wanting to read. "Saying yes to someone can mean saying no to something you'd rather do, says Nancy Austin, coauthor of The Assertive Woman (Impact Publishers).

Remember, it is your time to schedule. If you don't schedule your personal time, everyone else will schedule it for you. Here's to taking back your time and happiness in 2012, it's not too late!


For further information on the home buying process or selling process, contact Todd Adams at 503-332-5227 or visit Home Search