Real Estate Information

AUGUST MARKET STATS ARE IN!!

Friday, September 16, 2011

by Ken Harrison

The market has been a challenge, for sure. However, I have closed a few of my higher end homes recently. Buyers still seem to have the edge, as motivated sellers have been taking low ofers due to the uncertainty of the market's future. Check out our AUGUST STATS.

Add Comment

Here are some stats for ya . . .

Sunday, July 31, 2011

by Ken Harrison

Here are some CRAZY stats for ya . . .

By 2014 - 2015 there will be 59% home ownership - good news

Rents are currently UP 15% and rising. Good news for investors.

Get this one - by the end of this year 50% of Americans will own a smart phone. Up from 38% NOW!

By the end of 2013 - over 50% of all web searches will be from a MOBILE device. Go get your iPad NOW!

81% of folks under 40 years old ALREADY own a smart phone.

So - do you think technology is running at the speed of light, or what??

Add Comment

bellingham Real estate Ken Harrison real estate stats technology stats

Ken's video of our Ski To Sea 2011

Monday, July 04, 2011

by Ken Harrison

I finally finished my video tour of our Ski To Sea event. And it's under 5 minutes! Enjoy!

Add Comment

Ken Harrison presents Ski To Sea in Bell

UPDATED REAL ESTATE MINUTE!!

Saturday, June 25, 2011

by Ken Harrison

Here is my new REAL ESTATE MINUTE - 6/24/11

http://www.bellinghamwow.com/Your-Real-Estate-Minute

ENJOY!

Add Comment

Your New Real Estate Minute!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

by Ken Harrison

Check out this Real Estate Minute. Again - keeping you "In The Know" with Bellingham Real Estate

Add Comment

bellingham Real estate Ken Harrison homes in bellingham WA

Hold On To Your Hats! Good News!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

by Ken Harrison

WOW! FINALLY! GOOD NEWS!!

Wall St Journal Online predictions for the top ten housing markets that will rise the most this year - and Bellingham is NUMBER 5!!

Check out the entire article:

http://247wallst.com/2011/05/11/housing-markets-that-will-rise-most-this-year/3/

Add Comment

bellingham Real estate Ken Harrison

Talk ABout Competitive Rates!!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

by Ken Harrison

WOW! Wells Fargo just announced some CRAZY low rates. Conventional at 4.5% with 1 pt - FHA at 4.25% with half a point with a $375k loan limit. Now is the time to snag some of that LOW inventory!

Add Comment

mortgage rates Bellingham

Things Are Starting to POP!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

by Ken Harrison

WOW! FINALLY - things are starting to POP here in Bellingham. Rates are staying low, inventory is SLOWLY improving and the PENDINGS are running wild. 3 homes in Edgemoor just this week. I just PENDED a beautiful home on the South Hill!! Nice to see some activity out there. Now all we need is some SUN!!

Add Comment

bellingham Real estate Ken Harrison

There's No Such Thing as a Free...Home?

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

by Ken Harrison

"There's no such thing as a free lunch!" How many times have you heard that phrase over the years? Myself?...plenty!

And, although, housing prices are trending downward, and foreclosures are rising faster than a Tsunami...there's no such thing as a free home, either. Buyers seem to be paused waiting for the "bottom" before they buy...sellers similarly appear to be waiting for housing prices to rise before selling. Meanwhile, foreclosures are flooding the market further pushing down the "tide" of home prices.

Of serious concern, however, are the sellers who just can't [shouldn't?] wait any longer to sell their home! These are the potential home-sellers who NEED to get out from under the burden of their mortgage payment.

Often distressed homeowners struggle until they are many months past due in their payments. Of course, they are just hard working Americans trying to keep up with the contract they have entered into - still fighting hard to hold onto the "American Dream!" I admire these people. Many of them are my friends and neighbors; Yours too.

Now, you may say, "What?...no one in my neighborhood is struggling!" Well, the statistics say otherwise! And, certainly, no one walks outside to their mailbox and announces to their neighbor "Hey Larry. I'm headed to talk to my banker about foreclosure today. ...how about you?" No, they put on their suit and a brave face and struggle along in silence.

What I'd like my fellow neighbors to know is this: You don't have to struggle alone. You are NOT alone. Over 4 million people have been helped by a United States Federal Program called Making Home Affordable. This program, implemented in 2009, is designed to help Americans stay in their home, or exit gracefully, if that is the right option for them. The key word here is "option" - there are many of them. Everything from reducing the interest rate and/or monthly payment, to assistance if you are unemployed, to reductions in principal if your home value is "upside-down".

The other key words here are - Don't Wait. Act Now.

And while there's no such thing as a Free Home...there are ways to make your home more affordable.

Please...go to www.MakingHomeAffordable.gov and get started on learning how you can again Make Your Home Affordable.

- - - - - - - -

Please contact me if you believe I can be of assistance in any way.

Add Comment

buyers distressed homeowners making home affordable foreclosure sellers mortgage payment

Obama Releases Housing Scorecard

Friday, March 04, 2011

by Ken Harrison

Obama Administration Releases February Housing Scorecard

3/2/2011

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the February edition of the Obama Administration's Housing Scorecard. The latest housing figures show increased existing home sales as home affordability remains high, but officials caution that the market remains fragile, as prices are unsettled.

“In the face of the deepest economic recession and housing crisis in decades, the Obama Administration has taken unprecedented action to promote stability in the market – keeping millions of families in their homes and helping millions more to save money by refinancing. But the data clearly show that the market remains extremely fragile,” said HUD Assistant Secretary Raphael Bostic. “While we cannot stop every foreclosure, we know that many responsible homeowners are still fighting to make ends meet. Through the broad range of programs this Administration has put in place, we can put help in reach to those homeowners as early as possible.”

"Our housing market remains fragile. We know this from data, but homeowners across the country can feel it too. That's why this Administration remains committed to helping eligible homeowners avoid foreclosure where it makes economic sense to do so," said acting Assistant Secretary for Financial Stability Tim Massad. "Every month, HAMP continues to help tens of thousands of additional families in a cost-effective manner. And by setting affordability standards and developing a framework for how mortgage servicers provide assistance to struggling families, HAMP has established critical protections for homeowners and has catalyzed improvements in modifications industry-wide.”

Available online at www.hud.gov/scorecard, the February Housing Scorecard features key data on the health of the housing market including:

Housing market remains fragile as data through January paint a mixed picture of recovery. Existing home sales ticked upward in January, but remained below levels seen in the first half of 2010. Mortgage delinquencies continued a downward trend compared to early 2010 and foreclosure starts and completions remain below peak. However, as lenders review internal procedures related to foreclosure processing, many foreclosure actions have been delayed. The decline is likely to be temporary as lenders eventually revise and resubmit foreclosure paperwork in the coming months.
Administration efforts have been effective in blunting the effects of the deepest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Since April of 2009, record low mortgage rates have helped more than 9.5 million homeowners to refinance, resulting in $18.1 billion in total borrower savings. However, home prices remain unsettled at this fragile stage of the recovery. More than 4.2 million modification arrangements were started between April 2009 and the end of January 2011 - including nearly 1.5 million HAMP trial modification starts, more than 730,000 FHA loss mitigation and early delinquency interventions, and more than 2 million proprietary modifications under HOPE Now. While some homeowners may have received help from more than one program, the number of agreements offered was more than double the number of foreclosure completions for the same period (1.8 million). View the January HAMP Servicer Performance Report.

Given the current fragility and recognizing that recovery will take place over time, the Administration remains committed to its efforts to prevent avoidable foreclosures and stabilize the housing market.

Each month, the Housing Scorecard incorporates key housing market indicators and highlights the impact of the Administration's unprecedented housing recovery efforts, including assistance to homeowners through the FHA and HAMP. The Obama Administration’s complete Housing Scorecard is available at: www.hud.gov/scorecard.

Add Comment

obama housing scorecard hud economic recession help families keep their homes distressed home owners housing crisis