Posts Tagged ‘palm springs realtors’

Fed Will Not Raise the Current Low Interest Rates

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

Your Palm Springs Realtors here, dropping by to give you the latest dish on what’s happening across the country in the real estate market today.

(photo by jenn_jenn)

(photo by jenn_jenn)

With the economy seemingly on its way up, Federal Reserve policymakers will be reviewing consumer lending programs to see if they should be extended. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke along with his colleagues began a meeting Tuesday afternoon that will continue for two days. During this time, they will sort through economic data and information to determine how business and consumers are holding up financially nationwide.

While some unwanted changes may occur during the remainder of this recession, some policies are to remain in effect for an extended amount of time. The Fed is predicted to hold an important bank lending rate at its record low, near zero. Additionally, the central bank is expected to renew an agreement to hold the rate at its current rate as well. The average interest rate range is predicted to be between zero and 0.25 percent through the rest of this year.

This rate is being implemented with the rationale that extremely low lending will urge Americans to spend more, which would in turn support the economy. Other programs will be reviewed on a case by case basis and decisions will be made on whether or not the programs will continue, and for how long.

Interested in buying or selling property in the Palm Springs area? Contact Patrick Stewart Properties today.

Declining home prices are coming to an end!

Friday, July 31st, 2009

While we specialize in Palm Springs real estate, we also like to keep our finger on the pulse of the real estate market as a whole in order to provide you with the most up-to-date information available. The New York Times recently wrote an article announcing the exciting news that a 3-year descent in home prices seems to be ending across the United States. Eight major cities including Chicago, Cleveland, Denver and San Francisco have showed a price increase in May.

Why is this happening?

One reason home prices are changing is because of foreclosures. See, foreclosures make up about a third of all existing home sales and the demand for purchasing homes remains strong. So, these foreclosures are being bought without greatly impacting median price.

There’s also a rise in demand from first-time home buyers who want to take advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit which expires in December.

For the first time since early 2007, the top 20 major cities in the Unites States showed average home prices to be flat, rather than down. Which means the only way to go from here is up!

Interested in buying or selling a home in Palm Springs or the Coachella Valley area? Contact Patrick Stewart Properties today.