Marti Hampton

Hello Real Estate Bloggers. Thanks for stopping by today.

Everyone always ask me “How’s Real Estate Marti”. The answer is real estate is very busy. Real estate is also very stressful. Real estate is stressful in good times, but in bad times the stress just keeps on coming. After all, moving your household is in the top 4 or 5 of all the top stress categories. Who makes up those lists anyway? We are right up there with divorce and loosing a job – great company, ah?

More than once this week I heard that, while things are bad, the rate at which they are getting worse is slowing down. Unemployment and manufacturing both showed their rate of decline slowing. So, while it’s still bad, the rate of “bad-er” is slower.
But if real estate will lead us out of this recession, then it appears that the ship is turning. Last week the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that the pending home sales index increased for the second straight month due to increased affordability created by lower prices and low mortgage rates. This is influenced by the spring buying season, but it’s still a positive. NAR also said that the median existing home price increased and that months of home inventory remained steady.

The giant ship we call the economy is beginning to turn. But like an aircraft carrier, it takes a while and momentum carries it forward before it comes about. We WILL see another drop in the stock market and ups and downs in real estate reports, but the basic fundamentals are starting to firm up.

This week rates dropped to a range between 4.625% & 5.0% depending on points and credit score.

There are two schools of thought on the economy. One says America is finished as the world super power and our economy will sink or at best take 10 years to recover. The other view, says we’ll rebound soon (and in fact already are) and have slow steady growth. If you think the “doom and gloom” folks have got it right – please don’t buy a home.

If you agree with me that America’s has not seen it’s best days yet, you might want to e-mail or call me now to buy a home or trade up to a better holding. When you hear that the buyers market we have today is disappearing, it will be too late for you to benefit from both low mortgage rates and a lower priced home.

Thanks for stopping by. You’all come back now, hear. God Bless. Mh

Hello Bloggers, Thanks for stopping by this weekend. It’s 5:28 p.m. Do you know where your real estate professional is?

Marti Hampton is right here in her office! I’ve completed my appointments for the day and am getting ready to do some paperwork that requires quiet reflection of the current market condition to review plans for our sellers and buyers to reach their goals in real estate. The market has picked up with showings and with offers. I am looking forward to seeing March’s numbers of pending sales. I feel a “change” a coming! Since Raleigh real estate and Cary real estate lagged behind the 2.1% national gain posted nationally, I am convinced our Triangle market will not be far behind.

Warren Buffett’s is quoted giving real estate advice as such: “Be a buyer of real estate when everyone else wants to sell real estate”. It sounds so simple when he says it. I was asked to join a meeting at WRAL last week and was asked by one of the executives to answer “What is the problem with the real estate market and why we are not currently selling more homes?” I don’t remember how I answered that question, but have thought a lot about the answer since that meeting. After all, why aren’t we selling more homes?

The answer I believe is closest to the truth is that we have a crisis of national confidence and it hit critical mass (I hope several months ago). We got so much negative news that we all went on overload. The news media is not all roses and hearts now, but it’s backed off of the intensity that it was at the height. So we’re beginning to believe again.
My personal belief that a simple tax credit of $18,000 for ANYONE that buys real estate would have given us a jump start on getting homes sold to borrowers that have good credit. Send that idea to your congressmen and representatives if you dare. I certainly have. Mail them a tea bag too while you are at it. Here is my last opinion of the day. The Fed printed money last week. A lot of money! When this happens, you can bet that inflation will not be far behind. House prices will go up right along with everything else. Even during this slow down, Triangle real estate has risen slightly during a recession. Imagine what it will do during inflation. Rates will also go up.

Buy a great home in a great location or trade up or down for a better home in a stronger location that will be a solid investment. Then pay your mortgage off! If you have questions about what really is a good investment in real estate – that’s what we are here for! Call or e-mail me at marti@martihampton.com. I’d love to hear from you. Till next time, God Bless and have a great weekend.

Hello Bloggers, thanks for stopping by today. What is one of the biggest factors that effect Raleigh real estate and Cary real estate? Answer – Mortgage rates. I want to be sure to send out important news about refinancing or purchasing a home. The media has been speaking about rates dropping. It is very important that we share news that the Chief Executive of Freddie Mac said last Friday that home rates are near the BOTTOM! Now really is the time to buy. Here is the update for mortgage rates today, please read carefully.


MMG Update - Tuesday, March 31, 2009 10:17am ET
Current Trend Direction: Sideways
Risks favor: Floating for now
Current Price of FNMA 4.0% Bond: $100.62, +12bp
In light of the recent price improvement in Mortgage Bonds, we have now switched our focus back to the FNMA 30-year 4.0% Bond. This change is reflected on the Bond Page and text messaging.
Mortgage Bonds are trading slightly higher so far this morning, and Stocks are looking to rebound after yesterday's sell off.
Interesting note that supports our views on the unlikelihood of rates moving much lower - last Friday, Jack Koskinen, interim chief executive of Freddie Mac, said that home loan rates are near the bottom and that any further decreases will be small. Mr. Koskinen commented on mortgage rates after he attended the meeting between President Obama and the CEO's of the financial services companies on Capitol Hill. Perfect opportunity to get the word out to clients who are sitting on the fence waiting for that 4% rate...now is the time to purchase or refinance as rates are at historically low levels, and not likely to move much lower.
Add this news to the $8000 tax credit available for all buyers that have not owned a home in the last 3 years and you have a winning combination for immediate home equity gain, if you follow one simple rule. The rule is NEVER shop for real estate with a amateur. It’s just to big of an investment. Call or e-mail us today to get started ifinding the right home value for you.
As always, God Bless and drop by again soon. Marti

Hello Happy Bloggers, thanks for stopping by. Usually, as you would guess, my blog entries center on Raleigh real estate and Cary real estate. In general, the market is moving right along. I would not describe the pace of sales a fast nor slow, just steady. It’s still the best time to buy a home in years and take an 8K tax break if you haven’t owned a home in the last 3 years.

But ENERGY not Triangle real estate is the point of time with you today. If you’ve been blessed (as I have) with an abundance of energy, you are fortunate and blessed. However, if you’ve ever lived through a period of time where you are drained emotionally or physically, you’ve likely seen your energy dip. I can relate! Earnestly, I feel that the headlines and daily news have been draining many of us in small business.

About 2 years ago, I ran into a past customer that told me about a product that gave her new found, boundless energy. I immediately wanted to know more. It was a simple program of a tonic, morning energy shake and occasional cleanse day. Frankly, a cleanse day never appealed to me, but I ordered the whole program and began my new regime.

At once, when I began the tonic and daily shake, I found I did not crave junk food! Everyone has their weakness and mine was a sugar addition joined with caffeine on a daily basis. Immediately, I did not crave sugar! It was huge for me. Part of the produce line was a simple energy packet to be added to bottled water that was appropriately called “Want More Energy”. These two things worked so well for me the first few weeks, I did not even look to see what else was in the box.
Long story short. I lost a few pounds, but the real story was the difference in how I felt each day. I decided if the morning tonic and shake could do this for me, what else could this program offer? So I decided to try a cleanse day. The day before my cleanse, I took two shakes, one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. The day of my cleanse, I drank the bottled cleanse product and the little wafers provided. My reaction the next day was startling. The immediate difference in the clarity of thought was amazing. The crisp, clean way you felt when you were in your teens and twenties was BACK in a big way.

Since diagnosed with a life threatening health issues in my twenties, I’ve always been open to how nutritional products. I tried hundreds of vitamins. None have ever made me “feel” different. This one did. For that reason, I will never be without these products. I know with certainty that our foods do not provide us with the nutrition that our bodies need to maximum health. That’s why I add a simple shake a day, a tonic and an occasional cleanse day to wake up my body’s natural vitality. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in knowing more about, e-mail me at marti@MartiHampton.com and I’ll tell you how to get started.
I know it takes high energy for my job and family. Yours too, I’ll bet. Contact me anytime, and as always, God Bless you and yours.

Hello Bloggers, Thanks for stopping by on the weekend. I head rumors of mortgage rate increases and wanted to get the scoop. I asked a lender friend, Michael Martin of WR Starkey Mortgage to update me on what our buyers should be expecting on rates in the next few months. Raleigh real estate and Cary real estate remain a tremendous value. When inflation kicks in (and it will) the home prices we have now will go significantly higher. Add a higher priced home and a higher interest rate and buyers loose the buying edge of today's historic market.

Here are Michael Martin’s comments about our local financial market ......

Lightning strikes twice! This week the Fed announced that they will purchase an additional $750B of mortgage backed securities (the fed has purchased almost $235B year to date). So, just as it happened in January, rates dipped on the news. However, core CPI (Consumer Price Index - a measure of inflation) came in up 1.8% this week after being flat in January. Even in this economy we still see inflation and that is what keeps upward pressure on rates. And, just as in January, after the initial drop we see rates ticking back up. That’s OK with the FED though as their MAIN goal is to purchase enough mortgages to keep rates in that ‘high 4 - low 5’ percent zone through the end of 2009, but not necessarily push them dramatically lower. The extra time is needed so that congress’ new 105% refinance / foreclosure abatement plan, which is just kicking in, will be able to take advantage of the lower rate environment.

Bottom line - although the media is already spinning it differently, this is still NOT a time to wait and hope for lower rates. Your clients have a short window to grab the dip before history repeats itself and rates drift back up. Regardless, home loan rates remain within inches of all-time historic lows, but may not necessarily move lower based on this purchasing plan – Tell your clients to ACT now and that waiting is a very risky move.

This week the 30 year fixed rate is between 4.5% to 4.75% depending on credit and program type. Have a great weekend

Sincerely,
The Martin Mortgage Group
WR Starkey Mortgage
Michael A. Martin Tom Deadmore Tonya Martin
Raleigh Branch Manager Mortgage Planner Mortgage Loan Coordinator
Office: 919-845-2150 Office: 919-845-2150 Office: 919-845-2150
Mobile: 919-612-9978 Mobile: 919-625-1935 Mobile: 919-215-9743
Fax: 866-546-8920 Fax: 866-546-8920 Fax: 866-546-8919
mmartin@wrstarkey.com

As always, thanks for stopping by today. Call or e-mail us with questions. God Bless. Marti