Mortgage Rate Information

Good afternoon Heritage Park!

I have some information for any of you that are in need of financing to purchase a home or even refinance. Please feel free to share this with your family and friends.

Thursday's bond market has opened in negative territory as yesterday's afternoon weakness continues into this morning's trading. The stock markets are showing noticeable losses with the Dow down 74 points and the Nasdaq down 26 points. The bond market is currently down 5/32, which with yesterday's late losses will likely push this morning's mortgage rates approximately .375 - .500 of a discount point higher than yesterday's morning rates. Just how much of that increase will be seen this morning depends on whether or not your lender revised higher yesterday afternoon.

December's Durable Goods Orders was posted this morning, giving us an indication of manufacturing sector strength. It revealed a 0.3% increase in new orders for big-ticket products, which fell well short of analysts' forecasts of a 2.0% increase. However, if more volatile transportation related orders are excluded, such as orders for new aircraft, we saw a larger than expected increase of 0.9 %. Therefore, this report basically gives us mixed results, but should be considered slightly negative for bonds and mortgage rates.

In a bit of positive news, the Labor Department reported that 470,000 new claims for unemployment benefits were filed last week. This was a decline from the previous week, but was much higher than the 450,000 that were expected. This is good news for bonds but its impact on trading and mortgage pricing is minimal because it is not considered to be very important news due to its single-week tracking.

There are three relevant reports scheduled for release tomorrow morning. The first is arguably the single most important report that we see regularly. The initial reading of the 4th Quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be posted early tomorrow. This data is so important because it is considered to be the best measurement of economic growth. The GDP itself is the total sum of all goods and services produced in the United States. Its' results usually have a major impact on the financial markets and can cause significant changes in mortgage rates. There are three readings to each quarter's activity, each released approximately one month apart. The first, which usually carries the most volatility, is expected to be an increase of 4.6%. A noticeably weaker reading would be great news for the bond market, questioning the pace of the economic recovery. That would likely fuel stock selling and a rally in bonds that would push mortgage rates lower tomorrow morning.

The 4th Quarter Employment Cost Index (ECI) is also scheduled for release early tomorrow morning. It measures employer costs for employee wages and benefits, giving us an indication of the threat of wage inflation. Current forecasts are showing an increase of 0.4%. A lower than expected reading would be favorable to bonds and mortgage rates, but the GDP reading will be the biggest influence on trading and rates tomorrow.

The last report of the week is the revised reading to the University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment. This index measures consumer confidence, which is thought to indicate consumer willingness to spend. I don't see this data having much of an impact on the markets or mortgage rates due to the importance of the employment index and GDP figures. It is expected to show a slight upward revision from the previous estimate of 72.8.

If I were considering financing/refinancing a home, I would.... Lock if my closing was taking place within 7 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 8 and 20 days... Lock if my closing was taking place between 21 and 60 days... Float if my closing was taking place over 60 days from now... This is only my opinion of what I would do if I were financing a home. It is only an opinion and cannot be guaranteed to be in the best interest of all/any other borrowers.

©Mortgage Commentary 2010


Remember to visit the NEW Heritage Park real estate website. You can find this type of helpful information right at your fingertips.

http://HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com


What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

TOYOTA RECALL- VERY IMPORTANT

Important information for all residents and family members. Please pass this post along to all you can, even if you don't drive a Toyota it could still affect you directly. I read this on the AP


By DAN STRUMPF and STEPHEN MANNING Dan Strumpf And Stephen Manning – 1 hr 21 mins ago


NEW YORK – Toyota said Thursday it is recalling 2.3 million vehicles in the U.S. to fix accelerator pedals that can become stuck, the latest in a string of quality problems that have bedeviled the Japanese automaker.

The recall affects the 2009-2010 RAV4, the 2009-2010 Corolla, the 2009-2010 Matrix, the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry, the 2010 Highlander, the 2007-2010 Tundra and the 2008-2010 Sequoia.

The latest move comes just months after Toyota Motor Corp. recalled 4.2 million vehicles over concerns that accelerator pedals could become lodged under floor mats, causing sudden acceleration. That problem was blamed for several crashes, including an accident involving a Lexus that accelerated to more than 120 mph before crashing in San Diego, killing four people.

But Toyota said Thursday's recall is due to potential problems with the actual gas pedal mechanism, causing the accelerator to become stuck regardless of whether the vehicle contains a floor mat. Toyota said in certain rare cases, the gas pedal mechanism wears down, causing the accelerator to become harder to press, slower to return or, in some cases, stuck.

In a letter to federal safety officials dated Thursday, Toyota said the problem appeared to be related to the potential build-up of condensation on sliding surfaces in the accelerator system that helps drivers push down or release the gas pedal.

Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the automaker does not yet have a solution to the latest problem but is working to develop one. Hanson said the company is unaware of any accidents or injuries due to the gas pedal problems associated with Thursday's recall, but could not rule it out for sure. He said the recall "came together very quickly," and said Toyota will soon be contacting owners directly about the matter.

Hanson added that all of the vehicles involved in the latest recall contain a gas pedal system that comes from a single supplier. He declined to identify the supplier or say whether Toyota would continue doing business with the supplier.

"Responsibility for this in the end is ours," he said.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a statement that the problem is "a serious safety issue and we are pleased Toyota is taking immediate action to address it."

Toyota recommends that drivers of the recalled vehicles should firmly apply their brakes if the gas pedal becomes stuck — not pump the brakes — and contact their nearest Toyota dealer after parking in a safe location.

The safety stumbles have dinged Toyota's reputation in the U.S. as a builder of dependable, high-quality cars. Last year's recall was the sixth-largest ever in the United States.

Toyota said 1.7 million vehicles are affected by both recalls, meaning their accelerator pedals could be at risk both of becoming trapped under floor mats and becoming stuck due to mechanical problems. The vehicles affected by both recalls are the 2005-2010 Avalon, the 2007-2010 Camry and the 2007-2010 Tundra.

___

Stephen Manning reported from Washington, D.C.

Remember to visit the NEW Heritage Park Real Estate Website

http://HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com


What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

3D Home TV Coming Soon

Hello Neighbor,

I read this article the other day on Yahoo! and wanted to share it with you all. What will they think of next! But I am sure I will be a willing participant when it comes out.

Don't have a 3D TV yet? Never mind that they don't really exist -- you better get cracking. Some of the biggest names in television are announcing plans to begin broadcasting in 3D later this year.

DirectTV and Sony are unveiling their 3D channels this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. That’s the annual trade show where tech companies show off their latest products and give the public (and reporters) a glimpse of the Next Big Thing.


Both DirecTV and a joint venture formed by Discovery, Sony, and Imax are likely to stake a claim on the "first" moniker for their 3D channels, though neither has a specific launch date set.

DirecTV's model, set to be announced at CES this week, is an all-HD/3D network, courtesy of a new satellite which will launch this March. All programming will be in 3D, including movies, sports, and other programming. Just imagine the possibilities of a 3D newscast!

Then there's the Discovery/Sony/Imax venture, which was announced today and is set to launch in 2011. This station will showcase a mix of sports and other entertainment, including 3D versions of Discovery's current programming.

And that's not all: ESPN announced it will launch a 3D network, broadcasting live 3D sporting events beginning in June of this year. Expect more such announcements as the month wears on and 3D (presumably) gains traction.

Now the question becomes a simple one: Who will be watching all of this 3D content, and how? That's a puzzler that will hopefully find the beginnings of an answer starting this week at CES, as the major television vendors show off their vision for 3D entertainment in the home, hopefully offering some insight into that age-old question of how accepting people are going to be about wearing headgear when lounging around at home... and whether that's going to get in the way of all the nuzzling on the couch.

Still, it's nice to know that, should 3D equipment actually take off, we'll actually have something to watch instead of just sitting around looking like nerds.


http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/158599;_ylt=AoFUZzDy1ifM6A.yJuX_iT08MZA5


remember to visit the NEW website for the neighborhood:

http://www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com




What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2010.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

Houston Real Estate Market Report

Good morning Heritage Park!

I have good news for the Houston market with the following figures from NAR and HAR.



Houston Housing Market Sees Strong Price Appreciation in December

2009 year-end sales figures reflect normalization following distortions caused by Hurricane Ike


HOUSTON — (Jan. 19, 2010) — The Houston real estate market closed out 2009 with a more realistic snapshot of local conditions, ending three months of sales readings that appeared high when compared to the fall of 2008 due to Hurricane Ike’s crippling effects on housing back then.



According to the latest monthly data compiled by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), December volume of single-family home sales across the greater Houston area dipped 2.1 percent compared to December 2008. That represents the first decline since last August. Total December property sales were flat on a year-over-year basis.

At $152,550, the December single-family home median price—the figure at which half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less—rose 5.2 percent from one year earlier, representing the eighth consecutive monthly increase in median price. The average price of a single-family home in Houston appreciated for a third straight month, reaching $219,214, up 15.1 percent versus December 2008. That figure represents the second highest for all of 2009 and the highest for a December in Houston.

Foreclosure property sales made up 21.0 percent of all single-family home sales in the Houston area in December compared to 25.5 percent a year earlier and the 2009 peak of 34.0 percent last January. The median price of December foreclosure sales reported in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) rose 4.2 percent to $89,900 on a year-over-year basis.

Sales of all property types in Houston for December totaled 5,267, flat compared to December 2008. Total dollar volume for properties sold during the month was $1.1 billion versus $976 million one year earlier, representing an increase of 12.9 percent.

“The December housing data suggests that we are finally out from under the veil of Hurricane Ike and probably seeing some of the seasonality that typically affects real estate markets during the holidays,” said Margie Dorrance, HAR chair and principal at Keller Williams Realty Metropolitan. “Houston begins 2010 on strong footing compared to much of the country, and between the homebuyer tax credit and low interest rates, we anticipate healthy growth in the months ahead, provided there is stability in the local job market.”

2009 Annual Market Comparison

The Houston housing market concluded calendar year 2009 on sturdier ground than 2008, with only a slight decline in property sales and pricing that was generally flat. There was an 8.2 percent decline in volume of total property sales and total dollar volume tumbled 10.7 percent. The median single-family home price edged up 0.7 percent in 2009 to $153,000; the average sales price for a single family home was $203,626, down 2.2 percent on a year-over-year basis.


December Monthly Market Comparison
The month of December brought Houston’s overall housing market mixed results when all listing categories are compared to December of 2008. Total property sales were flat while total dollar volume and both median and average single-family home sales prices climbed on a year-over-year basis.

The number of available properties, or active listings, at the end of December declined 1.3 percent from December 2008 to 43,185. That represents 2,267 fewer active listings than one month earlier, in November 2009, and reflects what the industry considers a healthy absorption of housing inventory from the marketplace.



December’s month-end pending sales—those listings expected to close within the next 30 days—totaled 2,700, which was 17.9 percent lower than last year and may signal another decline in sales volume in January. The months inventory of single-family homes for December came in at 5.8 months, up from 5.6 months one year earlier, but remains better than the national months inventory of single-family homes of 6.5 months, reported by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).


Single-Family Homes Update


At $152,550, the median sales price for single-family homes rose for the eighth consecutive month, up 5.2 percent from December 2008. The national single-family median price reported by NAR is $171,900, illustrating the continued higher value and lower cost of living that consumers enjoy in the Houston market. The average price of single-family homes in December was $219,214, an increase of 15.1 percent from one year earlier. That represents the third straight monthly jump in the average price, which reached the second highest level for all of 2009 and the highest for a December in Houston


HAR also reports existing home sales statistics for the single-family segment of the real estate market. In December 2009, existing single-family home sales totaled 3,611, a 3.0 percent increase from December 2008. At $138,950, the median sales price for existing homes in the Houston area rose 7.7 percent compared to last year. The average sales price of $202,019 shot up 19.7 percent from its December 2008 level.



Townhouse/Condo Update


The number of townhouses and condominiums that sold in December rose 11.7 percent compared to one year earlier. In the greater Houston area, 429 units were sold last month versus 384 properties in December 2008.



The median price of a townhouse/condominium dipped 1.6 percent year-over-year to $123,000. The average price retreated 6.2 percent to $156,026 from December 2008 to December 2009.


Houston Real Estate Milestones in December

•The median price of a single-family home rose for the eighth consecutive month, by 5.2 percent, to $152,550;

•The average price of a single-family home appreciated for a third straight month, by 15.1 percent, to $219,214, the second highest level of 2009 and the highest for a December in Houston;

•5.8 months inventory of single-family homes compares favorably to the national average of 6.5 months;

•Townhouse/condominium sales rose 11.7 percent;

•Total dollar volume grew 12.9 percent, reaching $1.1 billion.


The computerized Multiple Listing Service of the Houston Association of Realtors® includes residential properties and new homes listed by 24,000 Realtors® throughout Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties, as well as parts of Brazoria, Galveston, Waller and Wharton counties. Residential home sales statistics as well as listing information for more than 50,000 properties may be found on the Internet at http://www.har.com.

The information published and disseminated to the HAR Multiple Listing Services is communicated verbatim, without change by Multiple Listing Services, as filed by MLS participants.

The MLS does not verify the information provided and disclaims any responsibility for its accuracy. All data is preliminary and subject to change. Monthly sales figures reported since November 1998 includes a statistical estimation to account for late entries. Twelve-month totals may vary from actual end-of-year figures. (Single-family detached homes were broken out separately in monthly figures beginning February 1988.)

Founded in 1918, the Houston Association of Realtors® (HAR) is a 24,000-member organization of real estate professionals engaged in every aspect of the industry, including residential and commercial sales and leasing, appraisal, property management and counseling. It is the largest local association/board of Realtors® in the United States as well as the largest individual membership trade association in Houston



remember to visit the NEW website for the neighborhood:

http://www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com



What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2009.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

Congratulations Art Students!!!

Hello Heritage Park!


I wanted to say congratulations to all of the students from our area schools whose art was selected to be displayed at the 2010 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Exhibition.

The art work is still on display Jan. 14-29 at The Arts Alliance Center of Clear Lake located at 2000 NASA Parkway, Nassau Bay, Texas 77058, 281-335-7777



Wedgewood Elementary



30 students selected



Landolt Elementary



30 students selected



Brookside Intermediate



19 students selected



Westbrook Intermediate



27 students selected



Clear Brook High School



9 students selected



Great job!!!! We have some very talented kids out here, so show them some support and go see the exhibit.


remember the NEW website for the neighborhood:

http://www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com



What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2009.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

Beware of Scams

Good Evening Heritage Park,

Even in the midst of tragedy there are people out there who will try to make a buck. Please read this statement below from the Texas Attorney Generals Office.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Consumer Alert: Beware of Charitable Scams During Haiti Relief Effort

Many Texans make generous donations to charitable organizations when disaster strikes. Before reaching for their wallets to provide much-needed financial support for recovery efforts in Haiti, Texans should ask questions and check the facts. By doing a little research, well-meaning Texans can ensure their dollars actually help the recovery effort – and don’t end up in the hands of a scam artist seeking to capitalize on a tragedy.

Texans who are solicited by telephone or e-mail and asked to make a charitable donation toward relief efforts in Haiti should keep the following in mind:

• Know the soliciting organization. Ask for credentials, including the exact name and telephone number of the organization, particularly if the charity is unfamiliar.
• Call the charity directly and confirm that the solicitor is actually associated with it.
• Be on the watch for questionable charities using names that closely resemble those of well-known charities.
• Find out how the donation will be used.
• Be wary of appeals that are long on emotion and short on descriptions about how charitable contributions will aid the recovery effort.
• Don’t succumb to high-pressure tactics and demands for an immediate decision. A legitimate charity welcomes background checks on their operations.
• Never give a credit card or bank account number to a solicitor.
• Never give cash and never agree to give money to a courier. Write a check in the name of the charity, not the soliciting individual, and get a receipt.

For information about specific relief operations now underway, Texans should contact the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP). AIP is a national charity watchdog service that assists donors with identifying reliable charitable organizations. Texans should visit their Web site at www.charitywatch.org.

Texans who wish to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General regarding suspicious e-mail charity solicitations may call the Consumer Complaint Hotline at (800) 252-8011 or file a complaint online at http://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/.

remember the NEW website for the neighborhood:

http://www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com



What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2009.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

New Website

Good Evening,



Well it is almost finished and I wanted to get the address out to you all as soon as possible. So bookmark it now.



www.HeritageParkFriendswood4Sale.com



What are you still waiting for? Let me get your home SOLD!!!

Want to get your property listed For Sale? Give me a call, e-mail me or click on the link to the left for a free market analysis.

I look forward to exceeding your service expectations in 2009.

So before you call other Friendswood Realtors or Webster Realtors give me a call and lets talk!



Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor

(832)722-1756

NOW with Prudential Gary Greene Realtors- Friendswood
Prudential Relocation Certified Inventory Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Marketing Agent
Prudential Relocation Certified Destination Agent
Quality Service Certified Agent
Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Winner of CBU International Sterling Society Award 2008
Winner of CBU International Diamond Society Award 2008
Ranked in Top 100 Listing Agents CB United -Texas 2008
Member of the Million Dollar Month Club-2007, 2008

COMING SOON!

Hello to all,

I am currently working on and close to completing a brand new website for this area. So check back soon for new address. I will continue with this Blog but will have a link to the new website as well. Thanks for all of your support over the past five years!

Your Neighbor,

Brian Taylor