Skagit County WCRER 2011 First Quarter Housing Analysis

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2011 First Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 19.7% from the previous quarter, and up 14.3% from the first quarter in 2010. Statewide home re-sales ( # of units sold) were up 6.5% from the previous quarter and down -4.6% from the first quarter in 2010. Overall building permits in Skagit County were down -30.9% from the first quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the 23.2% decrease statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County was $204,700 (Down 7.0% from the first quarter in 2010), below the statewide median of $228,200 (down -7.2% from the first quarter of 2010). The 2011 First Quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 151.4 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 152.0.

WCRER Housing Analysis/ 2008 4th Quarter/ Skagit County WA

According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Fourth Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down -24.2% from the previous quarter, and down -46.8% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -15.8% from the previous quarter and down -29.1% from the fourth quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -60.6% from the fourth quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -53.4% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is down to $263,700, (down -2.0% from the fourth quarter in 2007), below the statewide median of $266,700 (down -9.3% from the fourth quarter in 2007). The 2008 fourth quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 96.9 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 107.5

Skagt County WA/ WCRER 2008 2nd Quarter Housing Analysis

Here is some helpful and interesting housing data for Skagit County WA


According to the Washington Center for Real Estate Research 2008 Second Quarter Housing Analysis; Skagit County home re-sales were down - 8.3% from the previous quarter, and down -33.5% from the second quarter in 2007. Statewide home re-sales were down -8.5% from the previous quarter and down -31.7% from the second quarter in 2007. Overall building permits in Skagit County are down -29.5% from the second quarter of the previous year, in comparison to the -29.7% reduction statewide. The median re-sale home price in Skagit County is $269,500, below the statewide average of $291,900. The 2008 second quarter Housing Affordability Index (HAI) was 93.5 for Skagit County, slightly lower than the statewide index of 95.5.


See all WA Counties: http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q2/Snapshot_2008Q2.pdf

Private Mortgage Insurance Elimination/ Bennett Appraisals

Are you paying for Private Mortgage Insurance unnecessarily?

PMI, also known as Private Mortgage Insurance, is a supplemental insurance policy you may pay for to protect your mortgage lender in the event of your default. PMI is provided by private (non-government) companies and is usually required when your loan-to-value ratio - the amount of your mortgage loan divided by the value of your home - is greater than 80 percent. PMI isn't a bad thing - it allows lenders to accept lower down payments on homes than they would normally be comfortable with. But you may be paying it unnecessarily!

How is PMI calculated?

PMI is calculated by your mortgage lender and covers the lender for a percentage they think will make them whole if they have to sell your property in foreclosure. Your PMI premium is fixed based on plan type (loan-to-value ratio, loan type, loan term, etc.) and is not related to your particular credit history or other individual characteristics. PMI typically amounts to about one-half of one percent of your mortgage amount, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, and the premium payment is usually rolled into your monthly mortgage payment. On a $200,000 mortgage, you may be paying $1,000 per year for PMI.

How can you eliminate your PMI insurance?

For loans made after July 1999, lenders are required by federal law to automatically cancel PMI when the loan balance falls below 78 percent of your purchase price not when you achieve 22 percent equity, which will happen much more quickly with rising property values. (Certain "higher risk" loans are excluded.) But you have the right to cancel PMI (for loans made after July 1999) once your equity reaches 20 percent, irrespective of the original purchase price.
Keep track of your principal payments. And keep track of what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood. If your loan is under five years old, chances are you haven't paid down much principal - it's been mostly interest. But property values in many parts of the country have gone through the roof lately. And that can earn you 20 percent equity even if you haven't paid down much principal.

When you think you've reached 20 percent equity in your home, you can begin the process of freeing yourself from PMI payments! You will need to notify your mortgage lender that you want to cancel PMI payments and you'll need to submit proof that you have at least 20 percent equity. A state certified appraisal on the appropriate form (URAR uniform residential appraisal report for single family homes) is the best proof there is - and most lenders require one before they'll cancel PMI.

We can help you eliminate PMI!

If you think you've got at least 20 percent equity in your home by now, you can call or send me an e-mail and I'll be happy to schedule an appointment to appraise your home. If you'd like more information about the appraisal process, or if you'd like to order an appraisal for your property to see if you can eliminate your PMI insurance, please visit our website at

www.Bennett4Appraisals.com.

Or you can always contact us at the e-mail address or the phone number below. Don't delay! If you can avoid paying hundreds of dollars a year to insure someone else's risk, it's worth starting right away.

Bennett Appraisals
1 Woodrush CourtBellingham, WA 98229
(360) 746-0224 (360) 990-7296
bennettappraisals@comcast.net
http://www.bennett4appraisals.com/?CertContactID=0&CampElementID=0

First Quarter Snapshot: Statewide, Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, & Island Counties, WA

According to the WCRER (Washington Center for Real Estate Reaserch) First Quarter 2008 Housing Market Snapshot:

WA Statewide: Home re-sales are down (-) 3.6% from last quarter, and down (-) 29.7% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 46.7% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-) 2.4% from a year ago.

Whatcom County: Home re-sales are down (-)6.5% from last quarter, and down (-) 12.8% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 57.8% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-)3.4% from a year ago.

Skagit County: Home re-sales are down (-)12.3% from last quarter, and down (-) 32.5% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 28.9% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is up (+)10.1% from a year ago!

Snohomish County: Home re-sales are down (-) 5.1 % from last quarter, and down (-) 34.8% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 46.7% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-) 4.7% from a year ago.

Island County: Home re-sales are up (+) 21.8% from last quarter, and down (-) 30.2% from a year ago. Building permits are down (-) 44.1% from a year ago. The median re-sale price is down (-)1.2% from a year ago.

For Full State of Washington and Counties PDF Info:
http://www.wcrer.wsu.edu/WSHM/2008Q1/Snapshot_08Q1.pdf

Press Release: Chantale at Bennett Appraisals Receives FHA Qualification

Chantale Merrick, a Certified Residential Appraiser at Bennett Appraisals has received her FHA appraisal qualification. Appraisers accepting FHA appraisal assignments must be registered under HUD, and comply with HUD guidelines as well as USPAP guidelines.

Use the below link to check if an appraiser is qualified. https://entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/apprlook.cfm


You should always be sure your appraisal service provider is licensed and in good standing. The Appraisal Subcommittee (ASC) of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) maintains a national database of appraisers and their license/certification status. It is available publicly at this link.


We currently provide FHA appraisal services to the Greater Bellingham area, as well as all of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, and Island Counties. (Including the Point Roberts area via the Canadian Border).


Bennett Appraisals provides FHA residential appraisal services to the following areas: Bellingham, Birch Bay, Blaine, Custer, Ferndale, Fairhaven, Geneva, Silver Beach, Sudden Valley, Sumas, Acme, Anacortes, Alger, Arlington, Bow, Burlington, Cain Lakes, Conway, Concrete, Darrington, Deming, Edison, Emerald Lakes, Edmonds, Everett, Everson, Glacier, Granite Falls, Hamilton, Kendall, Laurence, La Conner, Lake Stevens, Lynden, Lyman, Lynnwood, Maple Falls, Marblemount, Marysville, McMurray, Monroe, Mount Baker, Mount Vernon, Mulkilteo, Rockport, Samish Island, Sedro Woolley, Snohomish, Stanwood,Van Zandt, and all of Whatcom, Skagit and Snohomish Counties. * Time permitted we also serve Point Roberts and certain areas of Island County.

Getting Rid of Junk Mail/ Opt Out for the Environment!

Everyday as a business owner, real estate industry participant and everyday consumer we are bombarded with junk mail and catalogs! Per information at http://www.catalogchoice.org/environmental-facts

According to estimates at the Catalog Choice Project; approximately 53 million tons of trees are havested each year to produce 19 billion catalogs! And that is just the catalogs! The energy expended in catalog production is enough to power 1.2 million homes for a year and produces the emmissions of approximately 2 million cars!

Opt out legistlation now provides websites and phone numbers to opt out:

Credit card inquiries:http://www.optoutprescreen.com/

Direct Marketing Association: https://www.dmachoice.org/ 1-888-5OPTOUT

Catalog opt out:
http://www.abacusoptout.com/
http://www.catalogchoice.org/

What exactly is a 100 Year Floodplain?

100-year floodplain - Is another term for a Special Flood Hazard Area, referring to any area that has at least a one percent annual chance of flooding. The term 100-year flood is misleading. It is not the flood that will occur once every 100 years. Rather, it is the flood that has a one percent chance of being equaled or exceeded each year. Thus, the 100-year flood could occur more than once in a relatively short period of time. Because this term is misleading, FEMA has properly defined it as the one percent annual chance flood. This one percent annual chance flood is now the standard used by most Federal and State agencies and by the National Flood Insurance Program. This term signifies that a structure located with the one percent annual chance floodplain delineated on the flood map has a 26 percent chance of suffering a flood during the term of a typical 30-year mortgage.On FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), these areas are darkly shaded and labeled with zone designations that begin with "A" or "V."

* All information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed!