What Caused the Mortgage Meltdown in South Carolina? The Housing Crisis in Columbia?

FSBO, Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, problems, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

For those of you who have read this blog for a while, you know I think the whole concept of having some sort of meltdown or crisis in the real estate economy is a bunch of “hooey”.  Perhaps I’m a bit spoiled, here in Columbia, South Carolina where the market is basically insulated from any wild swings in property values.  However, for those that are convinced we are in crisis mode, this two-part video is just for you.


Part One:  

Be sure to click “read the rest” to see part two of this fascinating report!

Read the rest…

Bigger Mortgages from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Could be Coming Soon!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, government, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, real estate, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina No Comments

As the latest stimulus package is winding its way through Congress right now, more details are coming out.  In addtion to taxpayers getting up to $1,200 in checks, there’s also a part of the plan that will temporarily raise the conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  This package targets major metro areas with high housing costs. 

With a median price of around $140,000, Columbia, South Carolina is nowhere near the ceiling for either program.  However, the programs will allow the new limit to be 125% of the median price range.  No matter how you slice it, this plan is great news for buyers and those of us in the real estate industry.

Read the rest…

FREE Money From the Government! Really!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, credit, event, first time, first time buyer, government, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, law, lexington, mortgage, real estate, realtor, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

kathy smith, realtor, free money, stimulus package, housing, house, economy, seller, buyer, buying, selling, real estate, columbia, sc, south carolinaIt is absolutely amazing the stories and headlines that have been in the press lately.  They are screaming about the economy heading into a recession and are finding new and innovative ways to help out ‘the common man’.  Granted, the Columbia, South Carolina  economy is doing very well, thank you…but who am I to turn down free money like this?

Read the rest…

Mortgage Rates Hit a Historic 5.5% Low!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, chapin, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, prices, realtor, relo, relocation, russell, sc, south carolina No Comments

When the Fed announced they were cutting their rate to  loan money to banks, I knew those of us In South Carolina were about to get a huge gift from good old Uncle Sam.  Shortly after, I started seeing rates of 5.5% for a 30 year, fixed mortgage.   But is this too good to be true?  Could it last?  What could it mean to the larger economic picture? Read the rest…

Homeowners Up in ARMs Finally Get a Break!

Lake Murray, Midlands, Richland, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buyer, buying, columbia, cow lady, credit, first time, first time buyer, home, home owner, house, housing market, irmo, jeffcoat, kathy smith, law, lexington, prices, problems, real estate, realtor, russell, sc, seller, selling, south carolina No Comments

Please forgive the pun, but for once homeowners in Columbia, South Carolina now can breathe a little easier. Announcing a five year freeze on mortages with “teaser” rates, President Bush unveiled a plan today that keeps rates locked in for those who need it most. Read the rest…

Friday’s Mortgage Rates from Bank of America

ballentine, bank of america, blythewood, bofa, buying, chapin, columbia, first time buyer, home, house, irmo, kathy smith, lexington, mortgage, real estate, realtor, sc, south carolina No Comments

Check it out - rates are still very low.  Here’s today’s rates from Bank of America.

Read the rest…