Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter Market Turmoil: A gift for refinancers and potential buyers? This past week saw a plunge in mortgage rates. This raised the question on many homeowners’ mind, should I refinance? It also rallied a lot of people to really seek out purchasing their dream home as the low rates allow for lower monthly payments and/or higher purchase prices. The financial markets have been turbulent as stock prices and bond yield have been tumbling. Rates on long term mortgage can track the 10 year Treasury yield which fell below 2 percent for the first time since May 2013. The average rate from Freddie Mac dipped below 4% for a 30 year fixed. As recently as January, the average was 4.53%. Ultra-low rates do carry risks as well as opportunities. A good loan officer should be able to do a financial analysis for you and easily show you with all closing costs if it makes sense for you to refinance. It’s all about the numbers (both short term savings and long term savings)!! Prior to paying points and fees, make sure the gain helps you reach your financial goals not just a temporary lower payment. Many in the lending industry have assumed that home loan rates would rise by the end of the year. Some anticipated rates going as high as 6 percent for a 30 year fixed loan. That was based on expectations that rates would rise at the end of QE3 and the Federal Reserve would start raising its key short term rate next year. The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
But stocks plunged Wednesday amid fears about global weaknesses, the spread of Ebola and the threat of the Islamic State militia group in the Middle East. Investors poured money into U.S. Treasuries and the yield on the 10 year note traded as low as 1.91 percent Wednesday. Money also went into the safety of Mortgage Backed Securities. By Friday, the stocks rally began and the Treasury yield went to 2.20. That suggests the moment to refinance might be fleeting. If you want a complementary analysis on your specific situation please call the Rice Conway Mortgage Team at 530-582-9992 or email us at Team@RiceConwayTeam.com
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter Truckee Single Family Homes
Corrected graph - from October newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter Lake Tahoe Single Family Homes
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
Seriously Underwater Mortgage Rate Sinks to Lowest Level in Two Years The number of U.S. homeowners who were seriously underwater in the third quarter declined 11 percent from the previous quarter, falling to the lowest level in more than two years, according to RealtyTrac's Q3 2014 Home Equity & Underwater Report released Thursday. RealtyTrac reported that 8.1 million U.S. homeowners, representing 15 percent of all mortgages in the country, were seriously underwater on their mortgage in Q3, the lowest percentage of underwater mortgages nationwide since RealtyTrac began tracking the data in Q1 2012. For a mortgage to be considered seriously underwater, the combined loan amount secured by the property must be at least 25 percent higher than the property's estimated market value. The number of seriously underwater mortgagors in the U.S. in Q3 accounted for a combined total of $1.4 billion in negative equity, according to RealtyTrac. The nation's seriously underwater rate has been steadily declining since Q2 2012, according to RealtyTrac. For that quarter, properties with a mortgage in the U.S. that were seriously underwater reached their peak at 12.8 million (29 percent). By Q3 2013, the number of seriously underwater properties in the nation had fallen to 10.7 million, representing 23 percent of the nation's mortgages. In Q2 2014, RealtyTrac reported there were 9.1 million seriously underwater properties, or 17 percent of all mortgages in the U.S Follow this link to the rest of the article from DS News. The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter . Weather or Not This time of year, it can be difficult to rally the troops for outdoor events when the weather is cool, wet, and wild. Here are a couple of tips for some indoor fun in our area! Click on the headers below will take you to the websites for more information.
Woodward Tahoe Run! Jump! Flip! Play! Get out your wiggles with a giant 33,000 sf warehouse full of ramps, tramps, and more, just steps from Boreal’s main lift.. Local freestyle ski and board teams workout here, as do many a pro athlete. It’s a great way for the kids to interact with their idols. A snack bar and party patio round out the offerings. Parents can relax while watching the action below. Season passes are available.
Tahoe Maritime Museum Discover the treasures lost beneath the surface of Lake Tahoe at the Tahoe Maritime Museum during "Ghost Ships," a new exhibit featuring boats that sank in Lake Tahoe. Using oral history, underwater footage and found artifacts, "Ghost Ships" pieces together the history of boating on Lake Tahoe. The exhibit features a combination of salvaged vessels, video and historical documents to explore the stories of select boats and question the social and legal issues pertaining to salvaging vessels along with the impact of public interaction with underwater historic sites.
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
The KidZone Truckee’s “go to” spot for tots and toddlers. A rich array of permanent and regularly changing exhibits, for early learners and school-age children, that invite children to lead with their imaginations, to explore without limitation and to learn through hands-on discovery. Drop in to play or participate in one of their many classes. An absolutely precious resource for little people not yet ready for the slopes during our long winters – and all year ‘round.
Photo courtesy of KidZone Museum
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter Dining Out in Shoulder Season The North Lake Tahoe area is visitor dependent and many stores and restaurants suffer a little bit during what we refer to as our “shoulder seasons” – those on either end of the busy summer and winter months. Many actually close and use this time for a well deserved vacation, or they may reduce their operating hours. Some – the ones we are grateful for – offer dining discounts such as two for one offers, and free appetizers with the purchase of two entrees, etc. One good way to be in the know about specials is the local paper and activity weeklies. Coupons are featured often here. Also, the Truckee Tahoe Excellence in Education Foundation offers Dining for Schools cards as a fundraiser. This is by far the best deal around. $50 gets you 50% off your individual dinner entrée at 43 participation North Lake Tahoe restaurants. And, by purchasing a Dining for Schools card, each cardholder supports excellence in the education of the children of our community. All proceeds from the purchase of Dining for Schools cards benefit the Tahoe/Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation. Each year the Foundation raises money and provides grants, resources and partnerships to benefit students, teachers and the educational community as a whole. For more information or to order a Dining for Schools card, click here. And for a list of North Lake restaurants and their operating hours, the nice folks at the North Lake Tahoe Chamber have put together it all together in one place for you. Manga!
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter NOVEMBER EVENTS November 1 African Bazaar and Fair Trade Gift Faire 11am – 4:30. Free. PUD Building – 11570 Donner Pass Road Looking for a creative way to celebrate the holidays this year? With a fair trade gift, you honor your loved ones and make a difference in the lives pf people living in Africa, all without a trip to the mall. Information: http://asantenetwork.org/
Photo courtesy of Asante Network
November 2 Sierra Senior Services Pancake Breakfast Sierra Senior Center, 10040 Estates Drive, Truckee 8 to 11am, $7adults/$3 kids A fundraiser for Sierra Senior Services Information: www.sierraseniors.org
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter
November 7 First Fridays Historic Downtown Truckee 5-8pm. Free. Most of downtown’s unique shops, boutiques, art studios, and eateries will keep their doors open later and offer special promotions, activities, demonstrations, food and beverages, music, and more! Participating shops and restaurants will display First Friday Flags so the public will know where the fun is. Information: www.historictruckee.com
November 7 “Climate Change 101” with Derek Larson Sierra College – Truckee 1001 College Trail 7-8:15pm RSVP: 530-550-2290 Information: www.sierracollege.edu
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
Dickson Realty’s November 2014 Newsletter November 7 Tahoe Regional Job Fair North Tahoe Conference Center 8318 N Lake Blvd, Kings Beach, CA 4-6pm
November 8 TRUCKEE SKI & SNOWBOARD SWAP 11am-4 pm Community Rec. Center Back with a wide variety of new and used equipment, accessories, clothing and winter gear for the entire family! Come join the fun and look for bargains! Local reps from ski shops and resorts will be on hand to answer your questions. All proceeds help support Truckee Youth Sports Programs. Information: www.tdrpd.org
The Dickson Truckee Team 11836 Donner Pass Road | Truckee, CA 96161 | 800.541.4440
November 20 Soroptishop Truckee Community Center, 6-9pm. Come enjoy wine & appetizers while you shop for the holidays! Several dozen vendors will be featuring jewelry, artwork, clothing, kids items, and so much more. Information: http://www.sitruckeedonner.org/soroptishop.html November 14-16 The Craft Festival Reno Sparks Convention Center 200 booths representing independent craft workers from 7 Western States. "The Craft Festival" demands that all exhibitors present and maintain high standards of originality. Information: www.stevepowers.com
November 21-23 Reno ComicCon Reno Sparks Convention Center 4590 South Virginia Street Jon Bernthal and Norman Reedus of “The Walking Dead,” fellow Boondock Saints stars Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco, and “Green Power Ranger” Jason David Frank were the first celebrities to commit to the event, which will feature additional toplevel celebrities for autographs, photo ops and panel programming. Thousands of fans, many cosplaying as their favorite characters, will also enjoy meeting superstar comics creators and celebrating the best in TV and movies, pop-fi, sci-fi, video and table gaming, toys, original art, collectibles, contests and everything pop culture. Information: www.wizardworld.com/home-reno.html