Marketing & Statistics

HOUSTON, TX - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, a jury sitting in United States District Judge Sim Lake’s Courtroom found Vincent Wallace Aldridge, former fee attorney for First Southwestern Title Company and attorney for Aldridge and Associates, along with Tori Elyse Aldridge, a former employee of First Southwestern Title Company and Gilbert Barry Isgar, a co-owner of Waterford Homes, guilty of charges of wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme to defraud residential mortgage lenders of more than $3.7 million in loans in connection with home purchases in the Houston area, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today along with FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard C. Powers and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI) Special Agent in Charge Rodney E. Clarke.

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.58 percent based on loans closed in November. This is an increase of 0.16 percent from the previous month.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Monday January 24th, South Carolina REALTORS® (SCR) released its Year-End Market Report and video. There was a mistake in the numbers for Hilton Head within the report. A new report has been posted here for download. SCR apologizes for any confusion this might cause.

McLean, VA - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.97 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The latest National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) edged up to 41.5 in the fourth quarter of 2010, compared to 40.8 in the third quarter. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers say market activity is lower compared to the prior quarter than report it is higher. The RMI has been running below 50 since the final quarter of 2005.The overall RMI combines ratings of current remodeling activity with indicators of future activity like calls for bids. In the fourth quarter, the RMI component measuring current market conditions stayed flat at 43.3 from 43.4 in the previous quarter. The RMI component measuring future indicators of remodeling business increased, to 39.7 from 38.1 in the previous quarter.

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Pending home sales improved further in December, marking the fifth gain in the past six months, according to the National Association of Realtor

Los Angeles, CA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) has announced that Chris Ludeman will join Brian Stoffers as co-president of the firm’s Capital Markets businesses. In his expanded role, Mr. Ludeman will provide client-facing leadership for the company’s office, industrial and retail Investment Properties efforts along with its Institutional Group, Global Property Advisors and Private Client Group activities. Mr. Stoffers will continue to lead CBRE’s Debt and Equity Finance, agency and loan servicing businesses, as well as oversee the multi-housing, hotel/lodging and investment banking practices. Mr. Ludeman will continue as President, Americas Brokerage, overseeing CBRE’s tenant rep and agency leasing business lines

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 21, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 12.0 percent compared with the previous week. The results do not include an adjustment for the Martin Luther King holiday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 17.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 329,000 units in December, according to newly released figures from the U.S. Commerce Department. The big gain, though largely tied to an unexpectedly strong showing in the West, was a welcome boost at the end of a year that had the lowest total number of new-home sales on record (321,000) since the government began keeping track in 1963."After six very tough months, the housing market ended the year on an upbeat, with signs of stabilization beginning to take hold in many markets," said Bob Nielsen, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and a home builder from Reno, Nev. "That said, the nationwide inventory of new homes for sale is now at its thinnest level in more than 40 years. This is a sign that many builders still cannot obtain the credit they need to meet anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011."

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new survey conducted by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International shows that BOMA 360 designees are able to document operational savings, develop new policies and procedures, and attract new tenants because of their designation. The BOMA 360 Performance Program is a groundbreaking program designed to recognize commercial properties that demonstrate best practices in building operations and management. Since the program’s inception in Spring 2009, 180 buildings have been designated. The survey was sent to BOMA 360 designees who have had the designation for a year or more.

CLIFTON, N.J. - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Some of the nation’s most recognizable and respected apartment owners joined together during National Breast Cancer Awareness month last October to raise more than $25,000 for the Cure Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF), a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization which supports breast cancer research efforts of Dr. Larry Norton Deputy Physician-in-Chief for Breast Cancer Programs and the Medical Director of the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices were unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in October was revised downward to a 0.2 percent increase. For the 12 months ending in November, U.S. prices fell 4.3 percent. The U.S. index is 14.9 percent below its April 2007 peak and roughly the same as the August 2004 index level.

LOS ANGELES, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California home sales rose in December, posting their highest level since May, according to data from the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.). The statewide median price increased from November, but was down from a year ago

SACRAMENTO, CA - January 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- California homebuilders put up the second-lowest number of homes for a single year in 2010, posting a modest improvement over the record-low that was set in 2009, the California Building Industry Association announced today

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.95 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.4 discount and origination points.

ORLANDO, FL - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Sales of existing homes and condominiums in Florida rose in December, a positive trend also reported at the close of 2010 as statewide sales activity posted gains over the previous year, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtor

SPRINGFIELD, IL - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Illinois winds down 2010 with a significant boost in December home sales compared to the prior two months while post-recession price and sales declines have moderated in Illinois yet remain constrained from tighter lending, slow economic recovery and distressed properties. According to the Illinois Association of REALTORS® latest report, statewide total home sales (single family and condominiums) in December totaled 7,682 sales, up 11.1 percent from 6,915 sales in the previous month of November; year-over-year sales were down 7.3 percent from 8,288 sales in December 2009.

McLean, VA - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®). The survey results showed mixed results for both long- and short-term rates, with the 30-year rising slightly and the 15-year falling just as slightly.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $1.41 billion in funding to keep nearly 7,000 local homeless assistance programs operating in the coming year (see attached chart).

Washington, DC - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Existing-home sales rose sharply in December, when sales increased for the fifth time in the past six months, according to the National Association of REALTORS

STAMFORD, CT - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that the recovery of the Fairfield County, Conn., commercial office market picked up steam in the final quarter of 2010. Meanwhile, job growth continued to fuel improving fundamentals in Westchester County, N.Y. Strong leasing activity in both office markets helped stabilize overall average asking rental rates and fuel overall vacancy rate decreases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nationwide housing starts declined 4.3 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 529,000 units in the final month of 2010, according to newly released figures by the U.S. Commerce Department. While this was the slowest pace of starts activity since October 2009, the year-end data indicate that production of new homes improved 6.1 percent in 2010 from the previous year. On another positive note, permit issuance for construction of new homes and apartments rose 16.7 percent in December to a rate of 635,000 units, the strongest pace since March of 2010

SPRINGFIELD, IL - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- First-time buyers continued to be a driving force in the Illinois housing market as they took advantage of the first-time homebuyer tax credit and the most affordable housing market in years, according to the 2010 Profile of Illinois Home Buyers and Sellers. The survey results released by the Illinois Association of REALTORS® (IAR) found 53% of buyers were first-time buyers, compared to 50% nationwide (a figure which has averaged closer to 40% nationwide since 2001).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 14, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.0 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 6.4 percent compared with the previous week

Denver, CO - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Defying the seasonal trend, December home sales rose by 13.2% from November in a survey of 54 metropolitan areas. Home sales dropped 5.0% from December 2009, but this is the lowest year-over-year drop the survey has seen in five months.

NEW YORK, NY - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle reported in its winter 2010 Skyline Review that Midtown’s trophy office buildings posted the first increase in average asking rental rates since spring 2008. In the second half of 2010, the submarket’s high-end buildings saw rents grow by 6.8 percent compared with a 1.2 percent drop in rents in the first half of the year. Rates for Midtown’s highest-quality spaces increased to $77.65 per square foot in winter 2010 from $72.71 per square foot six months earlier

McLean, VA - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its 27th Annual Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Survey of prime loan offerings, which was conducted January 3 to January 5 of this year

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes held unchanged at a relatively low level of 16 for a third consecutive month in January, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today."As we emerge from the traditionally slow holiday season, builders continue to look for signs of improvement in the economy, home buyer demand and builder and consumer credit conditions," said 2011 NAHB Chairman Bob Nielsen, a home builder from Reno, Nev. "Unfortunately, a severe lack of construction financing, and widespread difficulties in obtaining accurate appraisal values, continue to limit builders' ability to prepare for anticipated improvements in buyer demand in 2011."

ARLINGTON, VA - January 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Arlington’s 2011 real estate assessments are up 6.3% overall, nearly erasing last year’s decline of 7.2%. The commercial sector, including office and apartment properties, showed particular strength, gaining 12% and nearly recouping last year’s decline of almost 13%