Thursday, October 27, 2011

Local Market Conditions are Changing Fast...Market Insider

My Market Insider - Update for October 2011

Local real estate conditions are changing and your Market Insider provides valuable, up-to-date information about the communities important to you. View critical information about what is happening now, so you can be a "Market Insider"!

Market Area: 01742
Listing Price $1,237,390
Listing Price Trend -0.02%
Sold Price $843,710
Sold Price Trend + 4.45%
Just a fraction of what's happening...
click now to view more local market conditions!


Buying or selling a home involves many factors. Stay on top of current community trends by viewing these listing and sale prices, demographics, school performance, area comparisons, and more. Of course, you can always call or email for help understanding what this information really means for you.
Featured "Insider Tip"
Can You Still Buy with No Down Payment on a Home?

For many 1st time home buyers requiring down payment assistance, the idea of putting the traditional 10 or 20 percent down on a home purchase can leave them feeling drained or hopeless. Will the...
Learn more about successfully selling or buying a home and check out a whole library of tips and articles to help you!
As always, thank you for your time and feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

Yours truly,

The Blair Team

Patricia Blair
Keller Williams Boston Northwest
Office phone: 978-505-7624
Website: www.patandcharlieblair.com
Email: TheBlairTeam@kwrealty.com
KW Website: http://TheBlairTeam.kwrealty.com

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Daily Economic Update: Mortgage Applications

Daily Economic Update: Mortgage Applications

Each day the Research staff takes a look at recently released economic indicators, addressing what these indicators mean for REALTORS® and their clients. Today’s update highlights mortgage applications.

  • Mortgage applications declined 14.9 percent during the week ending October 14, maintaining the up-and-down trend of activity, with the Purchase index decreasing 8.8 percent.
  • The Refinance index dropped 16.6 percent from the prior week, as interest rates on 30-year fixed mortgages rose from 4.25 to 4.33 percent.
  • Cash purchases—which account for 30 percent of transactions—were not captured in the data.
  • The Census released the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of September—prices for goods rose 0.3 percent from the previous month.
  • Consumer prices are up 3.9 percent compared with last year, indicating an upward inflationary drift. The Cost of Living Adjustment on social security checks for 2012 is likely to be 3.5 to 4.0 percent.
  • The core CPI—excluding food and energy—was up 0.1 percent in September.
  • In another report, the Census Bureau shows that new housing starts registered an annual rate of 658,000 units in September, a 15 percent increase from the revised August figure.
  • New housing completions were up 2.1 percent in September compared with August—at 428,000 units—and 2.1 percent year-over-year.

Social Media and REALTORS®

Social Media and REALTORS®


  • Although social media has rapidly penetrated market communications, the use of social media has not changed much between the 2010 and 2011 surveys.
  • Almost half of members are using social media while an additional 9 percent plan to in the future. In the 2010 survey, only 35 percent of REALTORS® used social networking websites, and 14 percent planned to do so in the future.
  • The use of social networking sites is more widespread among younger REALTORS®, with over 8 out of 10 of those aged 29 or younger using such sites.
  • One in ten members reported having a real estate blog. That number did not change from the year before.
  • Among all REALTORS®, those younger than 39 years of age are more likely to have a blog, though 6 percent of those over 60 also have a blog.