Greg Zaccagni's Discussions

Don't know if you can be quite that precise but this info is for chicago area overall and I think you will find it quite interesting. http://finance.realtor.com/finance/housepriceindex/yearly/57.asp?gate=realtor&poe=realtor Greg Zaccagni @ www.MortgageAdvisor.info 

After being recruited from my quotes on Zillow I left a company because the the owners kept all their zillow leads for themselves after I moved over.  They ignored my suggestion that we choose zip codes or other areas to divide our quotes up logically to avoid tripping over each other.  I believe this service should be set up to promote the individual LO.  As long as their individual license is in good standing they should not be foced to identify so heavily with where they hang their shingle.

Lots of great stuff here.  No cost makes more sense in declining rate envoronments where the likelihood is greater that you will not choose to stay in the loan long enough to justify paying regular closing fees.  They also make sense for 1st time homebuyers who may not have enough money for down payment. I wrote a seperate blog on this subject and invite my peers to comment on my analysis.  

Wall street journal predicted the bottom of the market to be summer of 08 so Jim is in good company.  Check out this link which appears to support this position.  http://www.realestateabc.com/outlook/overall.htm

I like to check out companies I consider doing business with on this website: www.RipoffReport.com Good luck with your decision

Depends on what you intend to do with the money.

Patrick: Your spreadsheet sounds interesting.  I have something from now defunct green point for commercial lending.  Is this something you can share or is it proprietary? Greg Z

It's not just the property values that are affecting most americans.  When you combine it with gas @ over $4.00 per gallon and the heating bills are coming this winter. Unless someone comes up with a realistic way to stabilize energy prices the future american landscape is likley to look more like our european friends across the pond. Homes closer to public transportation are likely to have higher values.  Homes will be smaller to keep energy prices down.  Kinda sounds like what many empty nesters already want for their retired years.  Who is going to buy all the big homes that go for sale as the bulk of baby boomers retire & downsize?

With more families being forced to rent because they cannot qualify for mortgage any longer the savings you may be enjoying today are likely to end.  As you may recall from your undergratuate economics class, as demand outstrips supply prices are sure to rise. Here is a link to some graphs suggesting that housing prices are starting to rise again.  Any comments?   http://www.realestateabc.com/outlook/overall.htm 

Here is a link to my blog comparing short sales & REO's for buyers.  Please let me know if you find it helpful. http://activerain.com/blogsview/608616/Comparing-REO-s-Short