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A recent article in The Wall Street Journal described how some retiree home buyers are looking only at properties where short-term vacation rentals are prohibited. For these buyers, having a sense of community, without constantly-changing neighbors, is critical. The same probably applies to non-retiree buyers, too. Vacation rental platforms such as AirBnb and vrbo provide…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for January 2021
The year got off to a fast start, with January increases in sales of single-family homes, condos and land. This year looks to be another strong year.
A Wall Street Journal article on January 22, 2021 reported that for the year 2020, sales of single-family homes in the U.S. surged to their highest level in 14 years, fueled by ultralow interest rates and a pandemic that sent buyers scrambling for more spacious homes to accommodate remote work. This has caused prices to…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Full Year 2020
2020 finished strongly, as buying of single-family homes surged. An acute Inventory shortage coupled with a backlog of orders at title companies caused closed sales to be less than they would have been. Nevertheless, unit sales were up 24% over 2019, and they are now just 4% below peak year 2007. Prices are now above peak levels. Condo sales were down from 2019’s pace, due to an even more acute inventory shortage, as well as the much longer than normal time to close sales. Land sales were also down, but they look set to improve in 2021.
Fannie, Freddie Tighten Rules for Condos in Vacation Locales
The Wall Street Journal reports that: Moves by government-controlled mortgage firms could drive up cost of borrowing to buy units in resort areas Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the government agencies that buy conventional loans, are imposing new standards that could affect loans on condos in resort areas where there are a lot of vacation…
Mortgage Rates Could Rise in 2021
A recent post in “Market Watch” noted that interest rates on home loans decreased 12 times to record lows during 2020, but that several factors suggest that rates will increase in 2021. Read to article at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mortgage-rates-hover-near-record-lows-to-close-out-2021-11609429164
Alternatives to Airbnb
There are a number of alternatives to Airbnb for people looking to rent a home or condo for vacations or longer stays.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to November 30, 2020
Demand for homes and condos remains strong. Purchase contracts are taking much monger than normal to close, due to a major backlog at Taos’s two title companies. Therefore, the number of closed sales would be higher if this problem didn’t exist. Condo inventory is very low, and this has been a constraint on sales. Land sales are also lagging last year’s pace.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to October 31, 2020
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but which we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. The market continued strong in October. Sales of single-family homes—by far the biggest segment…
Rich Buyers Seeking Open Spaces Fuel a Housing Boom in U.S. West
A recent article in Bloomberg.com confirms some of what has been happening in Taos: Many people are looking to escape urban areas and are buying homes in the western states. Although the Bloomberg article refers to “rich” buyers paying over $1million for a home, the trend is apparent in the $300,000 – $900,000 price range…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to September 30, 2020
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but which we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. After a drop in the spring due to the lockdowns at the onset of…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to August 31, 2020
The residential market continues to surge! After the lull in April-May caused by the Covid-19 lockdowns, the market has roared back. The numbers of homes and condos going under contract are at record levels. Prices are rising, and the time it takes to sell is falling. Land and commecial sales are still slow.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to July 31, 2020
After a drop earlier in the year due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, single-family home sales have surged in the past two months. The market is hot! The number of properties going under contract has jumped to levels not seen before. Covid-19 has added a new wave of buyers to a market that has been steadily gaining momentum for the past several years, as people seek a home in a less populous area for future emergencies.
30-Year Mortgage Rate Reaches Lowest Level Ever: 2.98%
Coronavirus has upended markets around the world. Its effect on the 30-year mortgage is especially significant. A recent post in the online version of the Wall Street Journal describes why rates have been falling–and why they may go even lower. Here is a link to the full article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/30-year-mortgage-rate-reaches-lowest-level-ever-2-98-11594908357?st=ogl913s9r5e6avf&reflink=article_email_share

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to June 30, 2020
June sales of sigle-family sales bounced back after a weak May. Market activity in this segment is brisk, and inventory remains very low. Condo and land sales continue to lag last year’s pace.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to May 31, 2020
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. May closed sales were down sharply, due to the Covid-19 health emergency and restrictions…
Mortgage Market Sends Wrong Message
Further to yesterday’s post about the current high profits being made by mortgage lenders, here’s another take from a different Bloomberg writer on the situation in the mortgage market today: Mortgage Market Sends Wrong Message Applications for loans to buy homes may be surging, but the availability of such credit is tumbling. With the economic impact…
Mortgage Lenders ‘Make Hay’ With Loan Spreads Widest Since 2008
An article in Bloomberg posted June 16 notes that even though unemployment is high, credit is tight, and scientists are warning that a dangerous second wave of the coronavirus is coming, U.S. mortgage companies are having one of their best years in history. Business is up, not only from re-financing, but also from home purchases. …

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to April 30, 2020
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. For the first four months of the year: Total market (all categories of property)…
The Coronavirus Is Going To Create New Real Estate Winners
An opinion piece in Bloomberg.com on May 13 discussed how the Covid-19 pandemic is changing the way many people work. These changes may last even after the health emergency has passed. Although it’s too early to say how much of a lasting change in work culture we’ll get, even a temporary shift such as this…
Why Home Prices Are Rising During the Pandemic
While buyer demand has softened and sales (for the entire U.S.) fell 8.5% in March, the supply of homes on the market is contracting even faster. An article in The Wall Street Journal Online dated May 5 discusses how although the Covid-19 health emergency is causing a drop in buyers venturing out to look at…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to March 31, 2020
Through the first quarter this year, the market is UP compared to the first three months of last year. However, year-to-date sales mostly originated before the coronavirus emergency really took hold; and it remains to be seen what effect the pandemic will have on sales during the second and third quarters.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to Feb. 29, 2020
It’s too early in the year to discern any trends in the Taos real estate market. Logic would suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic will have a negative effect on the market. The impact on the US economy will be severe, and this will dampen demand for vacation and second homes in the short term. However, in the long run, the pandemic may actually increase demand, as people seek a good place to escape to should another pandemic or other emergency arise.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for January 2020
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. For the first month of the new year: Total market (all categories of property)…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Full Year 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. Here is a comparison of 2019 vs. 2018 for the twelve months: Total market…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to Nov. 30, 2019
The market trend of this year continues with Single-family Home sales –the largest component of the total market–lagging last year’s pace due to inventory constraints. Condo and land sales are both up. Commercial unit sales are slightly down but dollar sales are up substantially.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to October 31, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. Here is a comparison of 2019 vs. 2018 for the ten months ending October…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to September 30, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. For the nine months to September 30, here is a comparison of 2019 vs.…
The Spread Between Mortgage Rates and Treasury Notes
Here is an excerpt from an article in The Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2019, entitled “That Superlow Mortgage Rate? It Could Be Even Lower”. Mortgage rates are closely linked to yields on the 10-year Treasury Note. The spread between the two has risen in recent months. Since the end of June, the Treasury…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to August 31, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River and other areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but that we don’t consider part of the main Taos market. For the year to August 31 (eight months) 2019 vs. 2018: Total market (all…
How Fannie and Freddie Have Changed Since the Crisis
Further to the earlier post today from Reuters, here is more on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in an article in the Wall Street Journal online, dated September 8, 2019: https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-fannie-and-freddie-have-changed-since-the-crisis-11567953001 The article discusses what these two government agencies do and their importance to the national housing market. They guarantee over 50% of all US…
A recession may hit some U.S. metros worse than others
An article in Reuters online dated September 6, 2019 says that if the U.S. economy slips into a recession, homeowners in some parts of the country will be more affected than in others. If there is a recession, it will probably be caused by the US – China trade war; local economies in the parts…
The future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?
An article in Reuters online dated Sept. 6, 2019 discusses how the federal government has released a report laying out its vision for overhauling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which guarantee over half of all U.S. mortgages and have been under government control since their bailout during the 2008 financial crisis. The report issued by…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to July 31,2019
Sales of single-family homes are starting to fall behind last year’s pace, as the inventory shortage is hampering sales. Condo sales are up over last year, although they are still only about half of peak market levels. Land sales have flattened, and are about the same as last year.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to June 30, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Miami, Mora, San Miguel, Vallecitos, and “Other” areas. These areas are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS, but we don’t consider them part of the main Taos market. Total market sales…

The Lora Company Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to May 31, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Miami, Mora, San Miguel, Vallecitos, and “Other” areas. These are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS but we don’t consider them part of the main Taos market. Total market sales (all…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to April 30, 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Miami, Mora, San Miguel, Vallecitos, and “Other” areas that are in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS but that are not considered part of the main Taos market. Total market sales (all…
Home Loan Rates Tick Up
Interest rates for home loans increased slightly during this week. According to an article in Market Watch, 30-year fixed rate loans averaged 4.12%, up from 4.08%. The 15-year fixed rate loan was 3.60%, up from 3.56%. The the complete article at https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mortgage-rates-tick-up-as-the-spring-selling-season-hangs-in-the-balance-2019-04-11. The article contains a useful chart that illustrates the interest rate on 30-year…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for First Quarter 2019
Note: The data in The Lora Company report do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Miami, Mora, San Miguel, Vallecitos, and “Other” areas that are included in the Taos County Association of Realtors MLS but that are not part of the main Taos market. Those areas do not…
Unconventional Mortgages Make A Comeback
Loans for home buyers without standard proof of income, such as pay stubs and W-2 forms from employers, are returning to the mortgage industry. These “stated income” loans were in disfavor after the subprime lending debacle, but these loans for self-emplyed and retired people are regaining a place in the lending marketplace. Read the full…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for December 31, 2018
Since bottoming out in 2011, the total market (all categories of property) through 2018 has gained 117% in unit sales, and 164% in dollar sales. Single-family home unit sales are now 20% below the level recorded in 2005. Inadequate inventory of homes for sale is limiting sales. Prices are rising, and homes are selling faster than they used to.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for November 2018
2018 sales are tracking about equal to 2017’s. The main factors that have been affecting the market for the past two years remain in place: a strong national economy, rising demand for single-family homes, and an inventory shortage of good homes available for purchase.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for October 2018
Single-family home sales are still tracking slightly below last year’s pace, while condo, land and commercial sales are ahead. There were 3 homes sold over $1 million last month. And there may be a huge sale in December: the 190-acre Blackstone Ranch is going to be auctioned on Dec. 6, with a minimum bid of $19 million (see the related article posted on our web site).
Blackstone Ranch To Be Auctioned
Taos Ranch Goes to the Auction Block Known as Blackstone Ranch, the New Mexico property is heading to auction with a reserve price of $19 million—a 65% reduction from its original asking price. By Katherine Clarke Sept. 6, 2018 10:48 a.m. ET A sprawling 190-acre ranch near Taos, N.M., is slated to go on the…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for September 2018
BIG NEWS! New air service this winter between Dallas DFW airport and Taos. See related post in our website. This should have a major positive impact on the Taos economy–and on Taos real estate–over time. Meanwhile, this weekend is the annual Taos Balloon Rally–another way to travel!
New Dallas-to-Taos flights will make hitting the ski slopes easier this winter
By Conor Shine in “Dallas News” website of The Dallas Morning News, October 13, 2018 North Texans looking to hit the ski slopes near Taos, N.M., will have a new, convenient option to get there this winter with the introduction of nonstop charter service from Dallas Love Field. It’s the latest step to revitalize the…
Mortgage Rates Fast Approaching 5%, a Fresh Blow to Housing Market
Mortgage Rates Fast Approaching 5%, a Fresh Blow to Housing Market Cost of borrowing, highest in over 7 years, could deter buyers and signal hazard for greater economy By Laura Kusisto and Christina Rexrode in The Wall Street Journal Updated Oct. 11, 2018 12:35 p.m. ET Mortgage rates hit their highest level in…

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for August 2018
Single-family home sales are pacing about equal to last year. Condo, land and commercial sales are all ahead of last year.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report for July 2018
Sales of single-family homes and condos were up in July 2018 compared to July 2017. Land sales were down slightly. Through the first seven months of this year, sales of homes are about 1% below last; condos are up 25%; land is up 12%.

The Lora Company’s Taos Real Estate Market Report – June 2018
Monthly single-family home unit sales were down for the second month in a row. June 2018 unit sales were below June of last year by 7 units (23%). The ongoing problem of low inventory of homes available for purchase is limiting sales. Buyer interest continues to increase while the supply of good homes for sale isn’t adequate to satisfy the demand. Homes in preferred locations are selling faster, and prices are rising!

Taos Real Estate Market Report – May 2018
Note: The data herein do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Miami, Mora, San Miguel, Vallecitos, and “Other” areas that are in the Taos MLS. For the most part, buyers looking for property in Taos are not looking in those areas, and vice versa. Those areas do not…

Taos Real Estate Market Report – April 2018
Note: The data herein do not include Angel Fire, Black Lake, Cimarron, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel, and “Other” areas that are in the Taos MLS. For the most part, buyers looking for property in Taos are not looking in those areas, and vice versa. Those areas do not have their…

Taos Real Estate Market Report for March and First Quarter 2018
March 2018 single-family home unit sales were the same as March last year; however, dollar sales were up 3%. Buyer interest continues to increase while inventory remains very limited. March condo sales were up; land sales were down; there were no commercial sales.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for February 2018
Buyer interest in single-family homes continues to increase while inventory remains very limited. The supply of good homes isn’t adequate to satisfy the demand. Homes in preferred locations are selling faster, and prices are rising.
Taos Real Estate Market Report for January 2018
2018 started with gains in all categories of property. Single-family homes are the largest component of the market. January unit sales were up 33.3% over last year. Buyer interest continues to grow while inventory remains very limited. There isn’t enough supply to satisfy the increasing demand. Good homes in good locations are selling faster, and prices are rising.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for December and the Full Year 2017
2017 was a good year for the Taos real estate market. The overall market was up 13% over 2016 in terms of the number of transactions, and it was up 21% in dollar sales. A major theme was the lack of adequate inventory of single-family homes. The imbalance between supply and demand was a limiting constraint on sales; and it is causing house prices to rise. The trend will probably continue in 2018.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to November 30, 2017
November 2017 was another “up” month, although not by much.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to October 31, 2017
October 2017 was up over October of last year, despite the ongoing lack of inventory of single-family homes. Year-to-date, unit sales of homes are up 15% over last year’s pace, but the gain would be even greater if the inventory were better.
If you have been thinking of selling your home, call us for a free consultation and market analysis!

Taos Real Estate Market report for the Year to September 30, 2017
The lack of inventory of single-family homes is definitely hampering sales. September was the second month this year that single-family home unit sales did not exceed the same month in 2016.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to August 31, 2017
August was the first month this year that single-family home unit sales did not exceed the same month in 2016.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to July 31, 2017
July unit sales exceeded last July’s by 1 unit: 23 vs. 22 (+4.5%). Dollar sales were down 5.4%, from $7,251,000 to $6,859,600.
Year-to-date, the positive variance for houses sold 2017 vs. 2016 has decreased from 34% to 29% (151 houses sold through this July vs.117 for the same period last year. Dollar sales are up 28%, from $37.8 million to $48.5 million.

Taos Real Estate Market Report For The Year to June 30, 2017
June was another strong month. Year-to-date, the Taos real estate market is up 26% versus the same time period last year.

Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to May 31, 2017
May 2017 single-family home sales were UP STRONGLY over May 2016. Every month so far this year has been up, and the market seems to be gathering momentum!
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year Ended April 30, 2017
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. The market was UP again in April. Total closed transactions were UP 8%; dollar sales were UP 17%. For the year to…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for 2017 First Quarter
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. The market was UP in the first quarter: Total closed transactions were UP 14.7%; dollar sales were UP 12.6%. Single-family homes are…
Staging for a Cozy, Minimalist Look
From Realtor Magazine: April 2017 | By Barbara Ballinger Staging for a Cozy, Minimalist Look Real estate agents often have to work with either barren rooms or sloppy, overstuffed spaces. But what’s truly attracting the most buyers right now is a deft balance of tidy austerity and a comfortable, lived-in feel. While decluttering a listing…

Taos Real Estate Market Report for 2016 Year-end
The market was UP again in December for the third month in a row, narrowing the negative variance to 2015: Total closed transactions were down 3.5%; dollar sales were down 5.8%.
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to November 30, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. November was another UP month. Single-family home and condo sales were both up; land was the same; commercial was down. This marks…

Credit Restrictions Cost Home Buyers ‘Deal of a Lifetime’
By Nick Timiraos in The Wall Street Journal, Dec. 4, 2016 1:03 p.m. ET After prices and rates dropped, regulators and lenders made it harder for borrowers to get loans Sean Dobson wanted to start a mortgage bank four years ago to serve borrowers with middling credit or irregular income. He eventually decided that growing regulatory hurdles…
Home Prices Recover Ground Lost During Bust
ByLaura Kusisto in The Wall Street Journal Updated Nov. 29, 2016 9:42 p.m. ET U.S. home prices have climbed back above the record reached more than a decade ago, bringing to a close the worst period for the housing market since the Great Depression and stoking optimism for a more sustainable expansion. The average home…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to October 31, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. October 2016 single-family home sales were UP slightly from October 2015. This marks the only the fourth month this year with a…
IRAs Gone Wild: How To Invest In Private Equity, Real Estate, Gold
by Ashlea Ebeling ,Forbes Staff This story appears in the November 8, 2016 issue of Forbes. A record $7.5 trillion is sitting in individual retirement accounts, the bull market is looking tired, and the Internal Revenue Service’s army of auditors has been shrinking. So the temptation to get creative with IRA money has never been…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to September 30, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. September 2016 sales were down slightly from September 2015. The positive variance registered in August did not continue this past month, and…
Credit reporting errors
Here is a link to an article about fixing credit report errors: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fixing-your-error-ridden-credit-report-2013-02-11
Tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements
Here is a link to an Energy Star overview of federal tax credits for home improvements that increase energy efficiency: https://www.energystar.gov/about/federal_tax_credits
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to August 31, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. August was the first month this year since March in which sales exceeded the same month in 2015. Single-family homes — by…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to July 31, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. Through the first seven months of 2016, compared to the same period last year the total market (all categories of property) is down 12% in…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to June 30, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. Through the first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year, the total market (all categories of property) is down 11%…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to May 31, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. Through the first five months of 2016, the total market (all categories of property) compared to the same period last year…
First Step for Buyers: Know Your Credit Score
You may want to make sure your home buyers know their credit score before they begin their house hunt. A new survey finds that house hunters who know their credit scores feel significantly more prepared to buy a home. Learning Your Score 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score What You Can Do to Improve…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for the Year to April 30, 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. Through the first four months of 2016, the total market (all categories of property) is down 1% in terms of the number of…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for March and First Quarter 2016
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. SUMMARY Through the first quarter of 2016, the market is up 4% in terms of the number of transactions; it is up…
Taos Real Estate Market Report for February 2016 and Year-to-Date
The new year has started off with mixed signals. However, it is too early to see a trend. The market certainly seems fairly busy for this time of year, and we expect 2016 to register moderate gains over last year in all categories of property.
4 Ways Buyers Can Mess Up a Loan Approval
Your home buyers have gotten approved for a mortgage and now they’re just waiting to make it to the closing table. Make sure they don’t throw their loan approval into jeopardy by making one of these common mistakes: Making a big purchase: Tell your buyers to avoid making major purchases, like buying a new car…
Condo-fee foreclosures become headache for homeowners
By Daniel Goldstein From Market Watch, published: Jan 9, 2015 If you’ve fallen behind on your condo or homeowner association (HOA) fees, this might be a shocker for you: Your HOA or condo association might have the right to foreclose on your property. And even for the vast majority of homeowners who never face foreclosure,…
January 2016 Taos Real Estate Market Report
Note: Our data exclude some areas of the Taos MLS (Angel Fire, Eagle Nest, Red River, Raton, Chama, Mora, San Miguel County, “Other”) which we do not consider relevant to the main Taos market. SUMMARY January 2016 sales were down compared to January 2015. However, January — and winter in general — is the slow season in the…
Make prospective buyers’ first impressions truly count
By Online staff, Herald-Tribune Saturday, June 22, 2013 By CYNTHIA ANDERSON, Correspondent Elizabeth Rose remembers the home as attractive and well maintained. The only obvious problem was the roof, which needed repair and which, for the couple to whom Rose was showing the property, signaled red alert. “The husband was actually a roofer himself, so…
7 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Every Home Buyer Should Know
By Liz Alterman in realtor.com You like being under a microscope? Whatever your answer to that question may be, you’d better get used to being scrutinized when you’re trying to buy a home. Your behavior can sway sellers to bestow their precious home on you—or pass you up for someone nicer or way less annoying. Naturally,…
8 Unwritten Etiquette Rules Every Home Seller Should Know
By Liz Alterman in realtor.com, Jan. 26, 2016 If you’re trying to sell your home, you’ve probably scrutinized it, staged it, and scrubbed it down from floorboards to rooftop as if the folks from Architectural Digest were stopping by for a cover shoot. OK, so it’s in immaculate shape—but your home isn’t the only thing…
Mortgage Rates Move Lower Than Expected
For the fifth consecutive week, mortgage rates trended down, surprising even forecasters. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is now at its lowest average since April 30, 2015. “Market volatility — and the associated flight to quality — continued unabated this week,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “The yield on the 10-year Treasury dropped another…
5 Ways to Sell a Home Faster, For More Money
24/7 Wall St. recently asked experts and several real estate organizations to weigh in on how sellers can get their house sold at the best price and in the shortest amount of time. Here’s what they had to say as some of the best ways to get the “sold” sign out this spring: Pay attention…
Just One Insurance Claim Can Prove Costly
In some states, all it takes is just one claim to a home owner’s property insurance to see premiums soar by hundreds of dollars. Filing a single claim can result in a monthly premium increase of 9 percent, according to a study by InsuranceQuotes.com. A second claim? Premiums climb an average of 20 percent. The…
2015 Year-end Report
We are pleased to report that 2015 ended with solid gains over 2014 in every category: Single-family homes sales — the most important segment of the market, accounting for 59% of all transactions and 70% of total dollar sales — were up 13.5% in units sold, and 23.7% in dollar sales.
November 2015 and Year-to-Date
The year is on track to finish with moderate to strong gains over last year. Although November 2015 sales of single-family homes were below last year’s, and December sales look as if they will maybe just equal last December’s, the activity we have been seeing during the past several months has been more than what we typically see at this time of year.
October 2015 and Year-to-Date
Single-family home sales closed in October 2015 were one unit fewer than last October. Dollar sales were slightly higher than last year.
September and Year to Date 2015
Single-family home sales came roaring back in September! The market seems to have overcome the July-August lull. At this point, it looks as if the year will end with a pretty solid gain over last year. Condos were down, Land was up. These two categories will probably end the year slightly down from 2014. Multi-family and Commercial were the same as September last year. Both these categories are on track to end the year with large increases over last year. Click the “September and Year to Date 2015” title above to read the entire report.
Advice for Home Sellers
Is there anything sellers can do to get the best price for their house and in the shortest amount of time?
Mortgage Rates Begin to Nudge Higher
For the first time in four weeks, fixed-rate mortgages reversed course this week and began to edge higher. “Headed into the fall, we’ll likely see continued interest rate tension, with dollar appreciation weighing against possible Fed rate hikes leaving the rate outlook clouded,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. Freddie Mac showed the following…
5 Ways To Improve Curb Appeal
It’s common knowledge that before selling, it’s important to spruce up the outside of the home to give a good first-impression to potential buyers. Small upgrades to a home’s exterior like adding a fresh coat of paint to a front door, installing new landscaping, and adding a new deck easy are ways to increase a…
Real Estate Ranks Tops Among Investments
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Housing on Track for Best Year Since 2006
The residential real estate market, now at its midpoint in 2015, is on track for its best year since the peak of the housing bubble in 2006, notes realtor.com® chief economist Jonathan Smoke. But as Smoke is quick to point out, this time it’s not a housing bubble. The buyer rush: Loan Demand Surges on…
Sellers May Need Reality Check on Price
Home owners tend to overestimate the value of their properties by about eight percent, according to a study published in the Journal of Housing Economics.
Bet on These Home Improvements in 2015
If you’re considering giving your home an upgrade this year, it can be overwhelming to choose what home features need an overhaul. Trends seem to change all the time, and the last thing you want is to spend money on costly improvements that will soon be out of date. What’s Hot In Design? 21 Hot…
Landscaping Boosts Home Values Up to 12%
Upgrading a home’s landscape from average to excellent can raise its overall value by 10 percent to 12 percent, according to research from Virginia Tech.