"If you SEE something, SAY something"

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) re-launched its "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign after the recent terror attacks.

"As the holidays approach, we remind our citizens to remain vigilant," said FDLE Commissioner Rick Swearingen. "It's important that we are aware of our surroundings and report suspicious behavior to law enforcement."

Florida initially launched the "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign in 2011. Although the campaign never ended, FDLE is redistributing information to law enforcement and media partners asking them to consider reposting the information.

Officials encourage anyone who sees suspicious activity to report it to local authorities or call 1- 855-FLA-SAFE (1-855-352-7233). It can also be reported online through FDLE's website.

Examples of suspicious activity include things like:

People drawing or measuring buildings for no known reason
Strangers asking questions about building security procedures
People in secure areas where they're not supposed to be
Leaving behind briefcases, suitcases, backpacks or packages

The "If You See Something, Say Something" campaign, originally implemented by New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority and now licensed to the Department of Homeland Security, is a "simple and effective program to engage the public and key frontline employees to identify and report indicators of terrorism and terrorism-related crime to the proper law enforcement authorities."

© 2015 Florida Realtors®

Fannie Mae reports things are looking up for housing!

WASHINGTON – June 10, 2015 – Americans' attitudes about the housing market are strengthening, according to Fannie Mae's May 2015 National Housing Survey, a survey of about 1,000 consumers on their views about homeownership. The survey results echo recent forecasts that predict a pickup in housing activity for the year.

In the latest survey, more consumers reported an increase in household income, nearing an all-time survey high. The growth in wages falls in line with the recent positive jobs reports that show an increase in average hourly earnings. The percentage of consumers surveyed by Fannie Mae who say their household income is "significantly higher" than 12 months ago grew six percentage points to 28 percent over the past two months.

"As job growth appears to be driving meaningful income growth, the outlook for housing market growth also is improving," according to Fannie Mae's report.

The share of consumers who say it's a good time to sell a home continues to rise, also reaching an all-time survey high in May at 49 percent of respondents – six percentage points higher year-to-year. In addition, the number of consumers who would prefer to buy rather than rent on their next move rose three percentage points in May to 66 percent.

"Things are looking up for housing," says Doug Duncan, senior vice president and chief economist at Fannie Mae, noting the survey high for those who say it's a good time to sell, as well as the growing percentage of consumers who say their household income is significantly higher than last year.

"We have found that these two indicators – good time to sell and income growth – are key drivers for the performance of the housing market," Duncan says. "The increase in these indicators suggests our forecast of moderate improvement in the housing market in 2015 is on course and mirrors the near-term performance of other leading market data, including mortgage applications and pending home sales."

The survey also found:

Consumers say they believe home prices will rise by 2.8 percent, on average, in the next 12 months.
The number of respondents who believe mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months dropped to 47 percent.
Consumers say they believe rental prices will rise about 4.3 percent in the next 12 months.
The percentage of respondents who believe it would be easy to get a home mortgage fell by 2 percentage points to 50 percent, while those who think it would be difficult remained at 46 percent.
Source: Fannie Mae

© Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD

Get your Lent on by taking the St. James Lenten Challenge!

We know that sometimes life and circumstance may make a challenge difficult or impossible to complete. That is why we will have each week’s challenges posted or emailed to you. If you can not do a particular days challenge just swap it out with another one from the week.
Copyright © 2015 St. James Catholic Cathedral - Orlando, FL


Week 1: February 18th – 21st:
Feb 18: Observing the rules of fasting and abstinence are already a challenge for some us. Today, take 5 minutes to pray that the Lord will help reveal His kindness through you during this year’s Lenten challenge.

Feb 19: “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have” – Vince Lombardi
Make a donation, say a prayer or learn more about a charity you have never supported before.

Feb 20: Smile and say “Hello” to everyone you meet today (no exceptions).

Feb 21: “Where I live if someone gives you a hug it’s from the heart” – Steve Irwin
Hug someone you love randomly and for no reason.

Week 2: February 22nd – 28th:
Feb 22: Turn off all electronics and spend time with family or friends
Feb 23: Praise someone for their hard work

Feb 24: “I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble.” – Rudyard Kipling
Refrain from Gossip for the entire day

Feb 25: Pray for the victims of human trafficking

Feb 26: Bring a treat to your co-workers or friends at school

Feb 27: “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not” – Samuel Johnson
Think of someone you do not like and say a prayer for them

Feb 28: Clean out a drawer (or four) and donate things you have not used in more than a year to charity

Get your Lent on with a fun challenge! Check it out Stjamesorlando.org Simply be kind, say hello, or offer a hug! God Bless...❤️

Move Inc. ready to take on Zillow-Trulia

The real estate portal space is heating up with Zillow and Trulia finalizing their merger Tuesday. The number of major competitors serving this market has been reduced to two big titans: Move Inc., which operates realtor.com, and Zillow-Trulia.

Following the Zillow-Trulia announcement, Move released a statement saying, "2015 will mark Zillow's year of the merge and realtor.com's year of the surge."

"My expectation is that the two of us will wage a spirited battle for the hearts and minds of consumers and the industry, and we will push each other to be better performers – more focused on the customer, quicker to innovate, more committed to adding value at every stage of the real estate cycle. In this way, everyone wins," said Move CEO Ryan O'Hara in an e-mail yesterday to Move employees.

Zillow finalized its acquisition of Trulia Inc. for $2.5 billion in a stock-for-stock transaction Tuesday. The acquisition forms Zillow Group Inc., which also houses New York-based StreetEasy and rental search brand HotPads.

However, the newly merged company faces increased competition now that realtor.com's operator has the force of News Corp behind it. This past November, the global media company, which operates real estate portals internationally and owns titles such as The Wall Street Journal and Barron's, completed its acquisition of Move Inc., effectively tying its name to the Realtor® brand.

"There is no digital replacement for the human touch," said Rupert Murdoch, executive chairman of News Corp, during the Real Estate Connect conference in New York in January. "No technology can meet all of someone's needs. It takes a real person. … We want the shortest distance between the American Dream and a family's reality to be realtor.com."

The acquisition has already proved a boon to Move's traffic. Entering 2015, Move Inc.'s web and mobile traffic jumped more than 30 percent. In January, Move reported an all-time high of 37 million unique visitors to realtor.com.

"Move/realtor.com is extremely well positioned to compete and thrive in this environment of industry consolidation and data-driven customers," O'Hara said in his e-mail to employees. "Competing in business typically involves trying to be better, cheaper, faster or different than your competition.

"How will we compete? By continuing to build the best web and mobile experiences for consumers, and the best and most valuable tools for brokers and agents, and by providing the market with the most comprehensive, most accurate, and most up-to-date listings in the U.S. I can also promise you we will quicken the pace of product innovation and apply more marketing muscle to our consumer and industry outreach."

Source: Realtor® Magazine Daily News

I am honored to be your digital replacement, a "real person" that cares!
Your friend & Realtor®,
Kris

Kris Julian | Realty Executives Seminole | 3899 W. Lake Mary Blvd. Suite 123 | Lake Mary, FL 32746 | 407-421-6187 | http://www.kris-julian.com |

Average U.S. rate on 30-year mortgage rises to 3.69%

Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose this week yet remained near historically low levels. Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage jumped to 3.69 percent from 3.59 percent last week. The average rate is still at its lowest level since May 2013.

The rate for the 15-year loan, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, increased to 2.99 percent from 2.92 percent last week.

A year ago, the average 30-year mortgage stood at 4.28 percent and the 15-year mortgage at 3.33 percent. Mortgage rates have remained low even though the Federal Reserve in October ended its monthly bond purchases, which were meant to hold down long-term rates.

Government data released last Friday showed a resurgent job market in January, signaling that the economy is finally regaining the kind of strength typical of a robust recovery. U.S. employers added 257,000 jobs last month, after 329,000 in December and a sizzling 423,000 jobs in November, the Labor Department reported. The November and December gains were much higher than the government had first estimated.

The job gains could boost the housing market, which has been recovering in the past few years from the recession but has struggled to maintain momentum.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country at the beginning of each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was 0.6 point, down from 0.7 point last week. The fee for a 15-year mortgage was unchanged at 0.6 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage jumped to 2.97 percent from 2.82 percent. The fee rose to 0.5 point from 0.4 point.

For a one-year ARM, the average rate increased to 2.42 percent from 2.39 percent. The fee remained at 0.4 point.

 Copyright © 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The best seasons to sell a home!

Spring is traditionally considered the best season to list a home, but it doesn't inch out the other seasons by much, according to a new analysis by the real estate brokerage Redfin.

Redfin's research team analyzed 7 million homes listed from 2010 through 2014 to gauge how important the season is in listing a home. It examined how many of the homes went under contract within 30 days and how often they sold for more than their list price.

Here's how the seasons stacked up:

• 39% of the homes listed in the spring (between March 21 and June 20) in the past five years went under contract within 30 days, and 15 percent sold for more than the list price.
• 38% of homes listed in the winter (Dec. 21 – March 20) sold within 30 days and 14 percent sold for more than the list price.
• 36% of homes listed in the summer (June 21 – Sept. 20) were under contract within 30 days and 12 percent sold above the list price.
• 34% of homes listed in the fall (Sept. 21 – Dec. 20) went under contract within 30 days and 11 percent sold at a premium.

Over the past five years prices have increased by an average of 3% month over month in the spring and ticked down by about 1% each month during the fall. To get the best of both worlds, sellers need be informed on both local buyer demand and recent sale prices in their neighborhoods before deciding when to list their homes and for what price. There doesn't appear to be a huge advantage or disadvantage to listing in any season, since the variance in prices is only by a few percentage points.

Source: "Should I Wait Until Spring to List My Home? Not Necessarily," Redfin Research Center (Feb. 5, 2015)

© Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

Selling your home? Call your REALTOR®

1. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.
2. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.
3. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR®markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.
4. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The National Association of REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
5. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.
6. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

I am honored to be your Realtor®,
Kris!

Realty Executives Seminole | 3899 W. Lake Mary Blvd. Suite 123 | Lake Mary, FL 32746 |
407-421-6187 | http://www.kris-julian.com

Dedicated Central Florida Realtor®

2014 Orlando housing market ends with price up, sales steady - Orlando Regional Realtor Association

2014 Orlando housing market ends with price up, sales steady - Orlando Regional Realtor Association

The return of the 3% downpayment

A growing number of lenders are reducing downpayment requirements so that borrowers can contribute 3% or less of a home's purchase price and still qualify for financing. In addition, some lenders have waived mortgage-related fees, and others are allowing downpayments from outside sources, such as the buyer's family. Most lenders target the new deals at buyers with stellar credit scores and steady income who have not been able to save enough for a substantial downpayment. Some types of low-downpayment mortgages have been around for a long while. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures home loans with down payments as low as 3.5%, and it's lowering the annual mortgage-insurance premiums charged on new mortgages starting today. The lower-downpayment trend accelerated after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac recently lowered the minimum down payments they will accept from 3-5%, driven by a White House campaign to make homeownership more affordable to a wider group of Americans.

Source: MarketWatch (01/26/15) Andriotis, AnnaMaria © Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688 

Please reach out for more info and assistance, I'm always happy to help. Thank you & have a beautiful day! Kris

Kris Julian | Realty Executives Seminole | 3899 W. Lake Mary Blvd. Suite 123 | Lake Mary, FL 32746 | 407-421-6187 | http://www.kris-julian.com | 

"I am honored to be your Real Estate Professional and appreciate your confidence in me to always help you and your family!"

Dedicated Central Florida Realtor® 

Lower gas prices = Lower mortgage rates

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported that the price of regular gasoline was $2.13 per gallon – its lowest point since a peak of $4 per gallon in May 2011. EIA estimates that the savings could amount to $550 per household in 2015. The drastic drop in oil prices could put downward pressure on mortgage rates. 

"Lower oil prices mean a lower inflation rate, which pushes down mortgage rates," economists note at the National Association of Realtors®' (NAR) Economists' Outlook blog. Indeed, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.66 percent last week – the lowest average in 20 months – according to Freddie Mac's weekly mortgage market survey. Taking into account the median home price of $205,300, a 0.75 percentage point drop in mortgage rates could yield a savings of about $1,000 annually, according to NAR researchers.

Source: "Recent Oil Trends and What They Mean for the Housing Recovery," National Association of REALTORS® Economists' Outlook Blog (Jan. 12, 2015)

© Copyright 2015 INFORMATION, INC. Bethesda, MD (301) 215-4688

FHA cut takes affect Jan. 26!

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) on Friday spelled out details of its plan to lower mortgage insurance premiums, a day after President Barack Obama unveiled the effort to jump-start first-time home purchases.

For 30-year mortgages with less than a 5 percent downpayment, the mandatory annual mortgage insurance rate of 1.35 percent of the loan balance will be cut to 0.85 percent. For FHA-insured loans with more than a 5 percent downpayment, the previous 1.30 percent rate will be reduced to 0.80 percent.

But the reduced rates will not apply to borrowers with 15-year mortgages, according to a letter issued to mortgage lenders by the federal government. The insurance rates on that loan product, which range from 0.45 percent to 0.95 percent of the loan balance, remain the same.

The lower insurance rates on 30-year mortgages will take effect Jan. 26. The agency said it will temporarily allow FHA purchase loan and refinancing applications now in process and that have a case number but have not closed to be canceled. Then, borrowers can restart the process and get new case numbers assigned on or after Jan. 26.

Borrowers are encouraged to contact their lenders and explore their options!

Copyright © 2015 the Chicago Tribune, Mary Ellen Podmolik. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.