Realty World – Viking Realty

Investment-home sales surged an extraordinary 64.5 percent to 1.23 million last year from 749,000 in 2010.
Investment sales jumped to 27 percent in 2011 from 17 percent in 2010.
“During the past year investors have been swooping into the market to take advantage of bargain home prices,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Rising rental income easily beat cash sitting in banks as an added inducement. In addition, 41 percent of investment buyers purchased more than one property.”
The median investment-home price was $100,000 in 2011, up 6.4 percent from $94,000 in 2010.
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 FICO survey of bank risk professionals found that 46 percent of them expect the volume of strategic defaults in 2012 to surpass 2011 levels, as more than 25 percent of U.S. homeowners owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth.
Concerns about strategic defaults were also reflected in response to a question about the consumer payment hierarchy. When asked if the current generation of homeowners considers their mortgage to be their most important credit obligation, 49 percent of bankers said NO and 29 percent said YES.
Although concerns remain regarding strategic defaults, other signs point to growing stability in the housing market. More respondents (26 percent) expected delinquencies on mortgages to decline in the coming months than at any previous time in the two years FICO has been conducting this survey. Furthermore, 53 percent of respondents said the housing market would improve by the end of 2012, compared with 24 percent who said the market would deteriorate.
More than half of survey respondents expected the supply of credit for residential mortgages to fall short of demand over the next six months. A similar majority (53 percent) expected the supply of credit for mortgage refinancing to fall short of demand, indicating that lenders remain cautious about the risks in the real estate market.
Article was reprinted with permission from the Calif Assoc of Realtors. 
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Should I buy or rent?
The answer has never been clearer: Buy.
In 98 of the top 100 housing markets, buying a home is more affordable than renting, according to the online real estate company Trulia. Only Honolulu and San Francisco buck the trend.
There are several reasons. Home prices are falling. Mortgage interest rates are at historically low levels. And rents are on the rise.
Of course, many renters are not in a position to buy. For one, it’s hard to get a
mortgage these days, despite low rates. And paying rent can push them further away from being able to afford to buy, “Rising rents make it harder for people to save for a down payment, which is the biggest barrier to buying a home that aspiring homeowners face,” Jed Kolko, Trulia’s chief economist.
The nation’s cheapest buyer’s market is Detroit, where purchasing is only 3.7 times more expensive than renting.
Other top five metro areas where buying is much better than renting are Oklahoma City, Dayton, Ohio,Warren, Mich. and Toledo, Ohio.
In San Francisco, for example, studio and one-bedroom apartments sell for 13.1 times rent, while three bedrooms or larger sell for more than 18 times rent.
“People will pay more for a home if they expect prices to rise and give them a better return on their investment,” said Kolko.
According to Ken H. Johnson, a professor of real estate at Florida International who has studied the buy-vs-rent question extensively.
He believes home prices nationally have bottomed.”The ship has turned,” he said.
“Markets should slowly start to recover. Housing will return to its traditional
role of a safety investment.”
If so, that adds an incentive to buy. And investing in many of the most expensive markets may be even safer.
Kolko pointed out that places like Honolulu, San Francisco and Boston have strong long-term growth prospects. They also have little physical space to grow, a factor that tends to keep prices strong.
 The above information was obtained by the Calif. Assco. of  Realtors & CNN Money.
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Five years after the housing bubble burst, America’s wealthiest families are now losing their homes to foreclosure at a faster rate than the rest of the country — and many of them are doing so voluntarily.
Last year over 36,000 homes valued at $1 million or more were foreclosed on, or at least in default, according to data compiled by RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosures. While that’s still a low percentage of all foreclosures, it is growing.
Out of all foreclosure activity, the share of foreclosures on properties valued at $1 million or more has risen by 115% since 2007 while the share of multi-million dollar foreclosures — or homes valued at more than $2 million — jumped by 273%. Meanwhile, the share of foreclosures on mid-range properties valued between $500,000 and $1 million fell by 21%.
Lenders are typically more willing to work with homeowners that have other resources. But with a recovery in the housing market still years away, foreclosure has turned out to be a worthwhile option after all. Saddled with bloated mortgages after a long run up in property values, many high-end homeowners have chosen to pursue a “strategic default.” Even though they can afford the monthly mortgage payments, they still decide to walk away from their home because they owe more on the property than it is worth.
In million-dollar homes, you’re looking at people who can afford it, but they have to make a business decision: Does it make sense to make payments on a mortgage when the home is worth less than they owe. In many cases, it often makes more financial sense to walk away.
This information obtained by the Calif. Asso. of Realtors, courtesy of CNN Money, Feb 23, 2012.

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WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that a full economic recovery could take nearly three more years, and it went further than ever to assure consumers and businesses that they will be able to borrow cheaply well into the future.
The central bank said it would probably not increase its benchmark interest rate until late 2014 at the earliest — a year and a half later than it had previously said.
The new timetable showed the Fed is concerned that the recovery remains stubbornly slow. But it also thinks inflation will stay tame enough for rates to remain at record lows without igniting price increases.
Chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned that late 2014 is merely its “best guess.” The Fed can shift that plan if the economic picture changes. But he cast doubt on whether that would be necessary.
“Unless there is a substantial strengthening of the economy in the near term, it’s a pretty good guess we will be keeping rates low for some time,” he said.
The Fed has kept its key rate at a record low near zero for about three years. Its new time frame suggests the rate will stay there for roughly an additional three years.
The bank’s tepid outlook also suggests it’s prepared to do more to help the economy. One possibility is a third bond-buying program that would seek to further drive down rates on mortgages and other loans to embolden consumers and businesses to borrow and spend more.
Information obtained from the Calif. Asso. of Realtors with permission.
Article printed in the Mercury News and A.P.  Jan. 25,  2012.
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By: John Riha
Published: March 25, 2011
 Kitchen remodeling can turn a ho-hum room into your home’s pride and joy. Here are strategies to help your project run smoothly. A significant portion of kitchen remodeling costs may be recovered by the value the project brings to your home. Kitchen remodels in the $50,000 to $60,000 range recoup about 69% of the initial project cost at the home’s resale, according to recent data from Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report.
To make sure you maximize your return, follow these seven smart kitchen remodeling strategies.
1. Establish priorities
The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends spending at least six months planning your kitchen remodeling project. That way, you won’t be tempted to change your mind during construction  and inflate construction costs. Here are planning points to cover:  Cooking traffic patterns: A walkway through the kitchen should be at least 36 inches wide. Work aisles should be a minimum of 42 inches wide and at least 48 inches wide for households with multiple cooks.
Child safety: Avoid sharp, square corners on countertops, and make sure microwave ovens are installed at the proper height—3 inches below the shoulder of the primary user but not more than 54 inches from the floor.
A professional designer can simplify your kitchen remodel. Pros help make style decisions, foresee potential problems, and schedule contractors. Expect fees around $50 to $150 per hour, or 5% to 15% of the total cost of the project.
2. Keep the same footprint
No matter the size and scope of your kitchen remodel, you can protect your budget by maintaining the same footprint: Keep the walls, locate new plumbing fixtures near existing plumbing pipes, and forget bump-outs.  Not only will you save on demolition and reconstruction costs, you’ll cut the amount of dust and debris your project generates.
3. Get real about appliances
It’s easy to get carried away during your kitchen remodeling project. A six-burner commercial-grade range and luxury-brand refrigerator may make eye-catching centerpieces, but they may not fit your cooking needs or lifestyle.  High-priced appliances are worth the investment if you’re an exceptional cook. Otherwise, save thousands with trusted brands that receive high marks at consumer review websites, like www.ePinions.com and www.amazon.com, and resources such as Consumer Reports.
4. Light your way
Good kitchen lighting helps you work safely and efficiently.  Install task lighting, such as recessed or track lights, over sinks and food prep areas; assign at least two fixtures per task to eliminate shadows. Under-cabinet lights illuminate cleanup and are great for reading cookbooks. Pendant lights over counters bring the light source close to work surfaces.
5. Be quality conscious
Functionality and durability should be top priorities during kitchen remodeling. Resist low-quality bargains, and choose products that combine low maintenance with long warranty periods. Solid-surface countertops, for instance, may cost a little more, but with the proper care, they’ll look great for a long time.
6. Add storage, not space
Here’s how you can add storage without bumping out walls:  Install cabinets that reach the ceiling: They may cost more–and you might need a stepladder–but you’ll gain valuable storage space for Christmas platters and other once-a-year items. In addition, you won’t have to dust cabinet tops.
7. Communicate early and often
Establishing a good rapport with your project manager or construction team is essential for staying on budget. To keep the sweetness in your project:  Drop by the project during work hours: Your presence broadcasts your commitment to quality.  Give your cell phone number to subs and team leaders.  Set house rules: Be clear about smoking, boom box noise levels, available bathrooms, and appropriate parking.
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Los Angeles Times
Many borrowers in default stay put as lenders delay evictions
Despite being months behind, many strapped residents are hanging on to their homes, essentially living rent-free.  Pressure on banks to modify loans and a glut of inventory are driving the trend.
To read the full story, please click here.