Dennis Norman

Holmgren's Record as Seattle GM

Field Gulls (Free subscription) | yesterday

Obviously the subject of Mike Holmgren as Seattle GM continues to be brought up. I can't get away from it, from Steve Kelley to Ian Furness to several commenters on this site. So regardless of whether or not we'd all like it to be a dead issue, there is a feeling out there that he's the best fit to take us back to respectability. Well... let's actually take a real peek at his record as GM from 1999-2002....

US home prices increase 3.1 percent in 3rd quarter; down 8.9 percent from a year ago

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | yesterday

Dennis Norman This morning the S&P/Case-Shiller Index report for September was released showing that home prices in the US increased in 3rd quarter 2009 by 3.1 percent (seasonally adjusted) from 2nd quarter. The 3rd quarter index shows a 8.9 percent decline from a year ago, however this is a marked improvement from the 14.7 decline [...] Related posts: Foreclosures in third quarter 2009 increase...

• US home prices increase 3.1 percent in 3rd quarter; down 8.9 percent from a year ago - Real Estate Investor Daily

Almost 11 million homeowners are underwater on their mortgage

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | yesterday

Average value of home with “underwater” mortgage $210,300 – Average loan balance $280,000 – Average amount “upside down” $70,000 Dennis Norman According to a report released today by First American CoreLogic nearly 10.7 million U.S. mortgages, or 23 percent of all mortgaged properties, are in a negative equity position meaning the borrowers owe more on [...] Related...

• Almost 11 million homeowners are underwater on their mortgage - Real Estate Investor Daily

Reports and headlines say home sales increased 10.1 percent in October, up 23.5 percent from a year ago; I say up 6.6 percent for the month and almost even with last year

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009

Dennis Norman National Association of REALTORS Report: According to the latest report released today from the National Association of REALTORS(R), existing home sales in October jumped 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted-annual rate of 6.10 million units in October from a revised level of 5.54 million in September, and are 23.5 percent higher than the 4.94 [...] Related posts: New homes started...

Reports and headlines say home sales increased 10.1 percent in October, up 23.5 percent from a year ago; I say up 6.6 percent for the month and almost even with last year

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | 11/23/2009

Dennis Norman National Association of REALTORS Report: According to the latest report released today from the National Association of REALTORS(R), existing home sales in October jumped 10.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted-annual rate of 6.10 million units in October from a revised level of 5.54 million in September, and are 23.5 percent higher than the 4.94 [...] Related posts: New homes started...

Commercial Real Estate Forecast Uncertain according to NAR

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/22/2009

The recent deep economic downturn has had a pronounced impact on commercial real estate sectors, but credit availability is the big unknown that will determine how soon commercial markets recover, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said some initial movements earlier this week in commercial mortgage-backed securities are encouraging. “The...

Home prices in U.S. drop in September; Forecast is for 1.1 percent appreciation in next 12 months

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | 11/19/2009

Dennis Norman According to a report issued by First American CoreLogic national home prices continue to decline with their HPI (Loan Performance Home Price Index) declining by 9.8 percent in September 2009 compared with the year before. If you take the distressed sales out (foreclosures, short sales, etc) the nation decline in HIP for the same [...] Related posts: Home Price Forecast Predicts Further...

MBA’s Purchase Index for mortgages drops again; Now at lowest level in 12 years

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | 11/18/2009

Dennis Norman The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending November 13, 2009. The report showed the MBA Purchase Index (a measure of the volume of loan applications related to a home purchase) decreased 4.7 percent from the week before making six-consecutive weeks of decreases and bringing the [...] Related posts: MBA’s Purchase...

Number of consumers interested in investing in real estate doubles since March

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/16/2009

Dennis NormanForec Investors…Have you noticed more competition out there lately? Particularly when trying to buy foreclosures? If so, it is probably not just your imagination. According to a survey conducted by Move.Com, 25.3 percent of home buyers are looking for foreclosures and forty two percent of those buyers say their purchase is for investment. So that [...] Related posts: Has the real...

Investors; Should your company be an LLC, an S-Corp or Both?

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/14/2009

Of the many business entities that owners consider, Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) and Subchapter S Corporations (S-Corps) are two of the most popular. Although they share the distinction of being “pass-through” entities in addition to providing liability protection, they do have several differences. An owner must also consider operational ease, administrative requirements, profit-sharing...

MBA’s Purchase Index for mortgages drops to lowest level in almost 9 years

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009

Dennis Norman The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) released its weekly mortgage applications survey for the week ending November 6, 2009. The report showed the MBA Purchase Index (a measure of the volume of loan applications related to a home purchase) decreased 11.7 percent from the week before, bringing it to it’s lowest level since December 2000 in [...] Related posts: Mortgage Interest...

• MBA’s Purchase Index for mortgages drops to lowest level in almost 9 years - Real Estate Investor Daily

And now for the other side of the coin on the home-buyer tax credit

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/12/2009

Publishers note: If you have been reading our blog for a while you are probably aware we have been supporters and advocates of the home-buyer tax credit as well as the extension and expansion of the credit, which happened last week. We realize however, there are people that do not support the credits for a [...] Related posts: Home buyer tax credit update Dennis Norman I have been talking a lot lately...

• And now for the other side of the coin on the home-buyer tax credit - Real Estate Consumer News

Landlords; don’t forget people with disabilities are also covered by the Fair Housing Act otherwise it will cost you

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009

Publishers note: We frequently published news releases having to do with allegations of, or settlements of, Fair Housing violations – the purpose of us doing so is to help educate landlords and heighten awareness of the various ways that a landlord may be violating the Fair Housing Act, even though in many cases there seems [...] Related posts: Discrimination in housing; people with disabilities...

Fewer home owners are underwater on their homes according to Zillow report

Real Estate Investor Daily (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009

Dennis Norman The percent of American home owners with mortgages in a negative equity position fell to 21 percent in the third quarter of this year, down from 23 percent in the second quarter, as home values stabilized in the short term and more underwater homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure, according to the third quarter [...] Related posts: One-third of mortgages are underwater; Short sale...

Fewer home owners are underwater on their homes according to Zillow report

Real Estate Consumer News (Free subscription) | 11/10/2009

Dennis Norman The percent of American home owners with mortgages in a negative equity position fell to 21 percent in the third quarter of this year, down from 23 percent in the second quarter, as home values stabilized in the short term and more underwater homeowners lost their homes to foreclosure, according to the third quarter [...] Related posts: Home prices show signs of stabilizing according...