Interest Rates Continue to Rise!

From Freddie Mac 04/17/2024 Mortgage Rates Exceed 7 Percent for the First Time this Year MCLEAN, Va., April 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 7.10 percent. “The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage surpassed 7 percent for the first time this year, jumping from 6.88 percent to 7.10 percent this week,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “As rates trend higher, potential homebuyers are deciding whether to buy before rates rise even more or hold off in hopes of decreases later in the year. Last week, purchase applications rose modestly, but it remains unclear how many homebuyers can withstand increasing rates in the future.” News Facts The 30-year FRM averaged 7.10 percent as of April 18, 2024, up from last week when it averaged 6.88 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.39 percent. The 15-year FRM averaged 6.39 percent, up from last week when it averaged 6.16 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.76 percent. The PMMS® is focused on conventional, conforming, fully amortizing home purchase loans for borrowers who put 20 percent down and have excellent credit. For more information, view our Frequently Asked Questions. Freddie Mac’s mission is to make home possible for families across the nation. We promote liquidity, stability, affordability and equity in the housing market throughout all economic cycles. Since 1970, we have helped tens of millions of families buy, rent or keep their home.

Home Prices Expected to Rise in 2024

According to Real Estate gurus at KCM (Keeping Current Matters): Prices aren’t likely to depreciate in 2024 because inventory is still tight and lower mortgage rates are leading to strong buyer demand. Those two factors will keep pushing prices up as the year goes on. As Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains: “With mortgage rates dropping, demand for homes in early 2024 is likely to be strong and will again put pressure on prices, similar to trends observed in early 2023 . . . Most markets will continue to reach new home price highs over the course of 2024.” What Does This Mean for You? Experts are saying home prices will go up this year, and that’s good news if you’re thinking about buying a home. When you become a homeowner, you want the value of your house to go up. That appreciation is what builds equity and makes homeownership such a good investment over time. Beyond that, expected home price appreciation also means if you’re ready, willing, and able to buy, waiting just means it will cost more later.

Jacksonville Jaguars to have one of a kind stadium 2014

Jacksonville will soon become the home of the largest video screen in the world! Our beloved Jacksonville Jaguars received approval from the city council to proceed with their amazing stadium enhancements.  For a mere 63 million dollars, the Jaguars will now have the most exciting fan experience in the entire NFL!

The North end zone of beautiful EverBank field will become a warm Sunday afternoon oasis. Complete with several swimming pools and the best bar and food service in Northeast Florida; our fans will be the coolest fans in the country! The pool(s) will keep those hot Jaguar fans as cool as cucumbers.

Now for the amazing details. Are you ready for some football?  You better be at the Stadium and not at home stretched out on the couch! The LED scoreboards in each end zone, each measuring 55 by 301 feet, make them the largest of their kind in the world. If that isn’t enough of a view for you, there will be two sideline boards, each measuring 3.6 by 579 feet.  If that isn’t enough, there will also be two displays in the Bud Light Party Deck and above the Terrace Suites in the South End Zone, each measuring 3.6 by 106 feet! And for good measure, there will be two displays over the tunnels, each measuring 6 by 22 feet and one display in the North End Zone measuring 10 by 400 feet.

The families in Jacksonville Florida not only have the Jaguars to watch during football season, there is also the Gator Bowl, the World Cup Qualifier MLS Soccer game, and of course, the amazing Monster Truck show to enjoy. With the completion of the stadium upgrades, even more events will be scheduled.

Our EverBank field is in the heart of Jacksonville Florida and now it’s going to be the home of the very best fan experience in the world.

Just another reason to make Jacksonville YOUR home. Hurry up and get here! We’ll save you a seat at the Stadium.

Time to Sell Your Home in Jacksonville Beach??

The time to sell is a waiting game for some

 

By Megan Hopkins • March 21, 2013 •

 

Real estate is always a game of knowing when to make your move. With that in mind, industry experts suggest move-up buyers remain mindful of how quickly home prices appreciate while riding the current market recovery. For move-up buyers wanting to wait out rising home prices to ensure they can sell their current home at a maximum price, analysts say the value of such a move depends on when the homeowner purchased their current residence.

 



Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac, says homeowners who purchased during the down market of the last two or three years would be wise to move up in 2013. "Because they bought near the bottom, these homeowners should have built up some good equity that can go toward the purchase of a new home, and waiting longer to build more equity likely won’t provide much advantage given that other homes that they might want to move up to will also be appreciating at roughly the same pace," said Blomquist. He added, "In addition, the low interest rates of 2013 are certainly not guaranteed to last forever."

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage rates are expected to reach 4.4% in the next 12 months and the 20-year average could possibly hit as high as 6.5%. Real estate broker Redfin says this is precisely the reason why some homeowners wanting to sell their current home in lieu of finding a nicer one should not wait. While waiting a few years will most likely mean the selling price of the current home will be higher, it also means the price of the new home will rise as well. "If you're selling one house just to move up to another, it does you no good to wait for prices to rise — the price of the move-up home will increase faster than the price of the place you're leaving behind," said Redfin CEO Glenn Kelman. With that being said, Blomquist warns potential homebuyers against rushing to buy a home once they have sold their current home. According to RealtyTrac data, more foreclosure inventory will become available in the next six to 12 months in markets with rebounding foreclosure activity in 2012. Markets such as Florida, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersy will see the strongest growth in foreclosure inventory, according to RealtyTrac. "Particularly in these markets it might be good for the move-up buyers to sell in the spring when inventories are still tight, rent or stay with family for a few months, and then buy in the fall when that additional foreclosure inventory is listed for sale," said Blomquist.

 

However, for homeowners who purchased near the peak of the housing market — in the past five to seven years — it’s probably better to wait for home prices to rise further before they sell and move up, Blomquist advises. "If these folks need to move because of a job or other reason, it is worth considering renting out the property in the short term to take advantage of the strong rental market," said Blomquist.