Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/30/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

S&P/Case-Shiller® April Home-Price Index

The S&P/Case Shiller® composite index for the month of April was released today.

"'Home price levels remain close to the April 2009 lows set by the S&P/Case Shiller 10- and 20-City Composite series. The April 2010 data for all 20 MSAs and the two Composites do show some improvement with higher annual increases than in March’s report. However, many of the gains are modest and somewhat concentrated in California. Moreover, nine of the 20 cities reached new lows at some time since the beginning of this year. The month-over-month figures were driven by the end of the Federal first-time home buyer tax credit program on April 30th. Eighteen cities saw month-to-month gains in April compared to six in the previous month. Miami and New York were the two that fared the worst in April compared to March. New York is the only MSA to have posted a new relative index low with April’s report.' says David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the Index Committee at Standard & Poor’s. 'Other housing data confirm the large impact, and likely near-future pullback, of the federal program. Recently released data for May 2010 show sharp declines in existing and new home sales and housing starts. Inventory data and foreclosure activity have not shown any signs of improvement. Consistent and sustained boosts to economic growth from housing may have to wait to next year.'"

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/29/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/28/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

In response to a question in the weekend Bits Bucket about FSBO, Housepad offers a smorgasbord of services. (I'm not paid to advertise for them, just sharing the information).

Northern Virginia Weekend Bits Bucket 6/26-6/27, 2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/25/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Mortgage Rates -- Lowest on Record

Mortgage Rates Lowest on Record.

Is anyone else seeing a shortage of rentals? I think in Northern Virginia we are now seeing that mortgage payments are lower per month than renting, at least for single-family houses.

Case in point:

Warrenton, VA $2,500 asking in rent, which is close to going rents for this type of home.

In this neighborhood, the asking price is $450K for this house, although that is about 50K higher than some comparable listings. With a 4% mortgage, the price is close to renting.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/24/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/23/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

New Home Sales collapse to Record Low in May (lowest since September 1981).

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/21/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Weekend Bits Bucket 6/19-6/20, 2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/18/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/17/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/16/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac to delist shares from NYSE

Unexpectedly: "Housing starts fell more than expected in May to a five-month low as a homebuyer tax credit expired . . ."

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/15/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/14/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Weekend Bits Bucket 6/12-6/13, 2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/11/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia May Housing Sales

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/10/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

MRIS May market statistics will be out today.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/9/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

MBA: Mortgage Purchase Applications decline 35% over last four weeks Calculated Risk reports that this is the lowest level for the purchase index since February 1997.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/8/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/7/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Weekend Bits Bucket 6/5-6/6, 2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/4/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Economy Adds 431K Jobs but Private Sector Hiring Disappoints

All but 20K of those jobs were census jobs. The street expected 540K jobs.

CR today: This is a very weak report. The decrease in the unemployment rate was because of a decline in the participation rate - and that is not good news. I'll have much more soon ... "

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/3/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Diana Olick: Housing Double Dip a Done Deal

Current Housing Inventory

The total "Northern Virginia Inventory" represents the combined housing inventory (listed on the MLS) of Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax City, Fairfax County, Falls Church City, Loudoun County, Manassas City, Manassas Park City, and Prince William County. These numbers are extrapolated from Virgina MLS.

(Here's the spreadsheet on a separate page).

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/2/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.

Northern Virginia Bits Bucket 6/1/2010

Please post your local house search updates, MLS finds, on-topic ideas, and links here.