In this Issue
December Market Update
Mortgage Rates Headed Higher
Adding an Outdoor Fire Feature
Search For Homes
House Plans Radio
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The Buyer's Broker of Greenville  

   The Buyer's Broker, Inc.
   Keith Clark  Broker/Owner
www.GreenvilleBuyersAgent.com
  Mobile Phone 864-420-0262
    Office Direct 864-271-4114  
 

 County Bank Logo    

 Call JD Nelson at 864-331-2212

[email protected]

CountybankMortgage.com 

    

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Dear , The Clark Family would like to wish each of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I hope you had a traffic free shopping experience and all your travel plans go off without a hitch. The real estate market was very active this year (it was another record year) and I expect that will continue into the summer. There is a sense of urgency with inventory low and interest rates on the rise, and the migration of baby boomers will probably continue for the foreseeable future. I hope you enjoy this month's newsletter and I hope you will forward it to your friends, family, and colleagues who may be thinking about buying a home in the Upstate. All my best, Keith (864-420-0262)

December Market Update  

The number of transactions for November was up 29.8% bringing the year to date number to 8.2% over last year. If December is more of the same we will set a new record of 12,500 transactions. Increasing interest rates is creating a sense of urgency that will probably continue into the Spring market. The Mortgage Bankers Association is predicting a gradual increase in rates to 5% by the end of 2018. View the MBA Forecast Report        

   

1. Cumulative MLS Statistics 

 

2. November MLS Statistics

 

3. Year to Date MLS Statistics   

 
  
 
We at The Buyer's Broker believe the more you know, the more you will want The Buyer's Broker of Greenville to represent you in your next real estate transaction.
As was almost-universally expected, the FOMC closed the year with its one-and-only rate hike of 2016. The consensus of the committee points to more rate hikes in 2017.
This week's mortgage rate survey was completed prior to the announcement. The 30-year mortgage rate rose 3 basis points on the week to 4.16 percent. The MBA's Applications Survey posted drops in both refinance and purchase applications, registering the impact of recent mortgage rate increases. If rates continue their upward trend, expect mortgage activity to be significantly subdued in 2017.
  • 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.16 percent with an average 0.5 point for the week ending December 15, 2016, up from last week when it averaged 4.13 percent. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.97 percent. 
  • 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.37 percent with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.36 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 3.22 percent. 
  • 5-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) averaged 3.19 percent this week with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 3.17 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 3.03 percent.
I want to add an outdoor fire feature when we move to 1200 Pelham so I've been doing a little research that I thought I would share with you.

I start all my real estate discussions from a resale point of view and this one is not any different. The size and scope of the project depends on my return on investment and I'll make the improvement proportionate and competitive with the rest of the properties in our neighborhood. When I decide how much I want to spend and what I think I'll get back in value, then I begin looking at pictures and reading articles to create a vision of what I want my fire feature to look like and how I want it to function in my day to day life.

If you've been thinking about adding an outdoor fireplace or fire feature I've created several links below to review and browse.
Houzz.com  DIYNetwork.com  BackYardBlaze.com  HGTV.com
Searching for homes online can be frustrating and time consuming. You can learn more about the Upstate real estate market in a phone conversation with me than you can learn surfing the internet for days, weeks, and months. If you would like to know exactly what the local market has to offer and the who, what, where, when, and why about purchasing a home in Greenville, call me today!

House Plans Radio Show 

Listen to me on the radio every Saturday morning on House Plans. "House Plans" airs live on WORD, 106.3 FM locally from 8:00AM until 9:00 AM. JD Nelson, Chris Roberts, (Countybank Mortgage) and I discuss local, state, and national real estate issues along with a variety of mortgage topics. The debate is lively and callers engage the hosts with local real estate questions. You'll learn all about the current real estate and mortgage market.
Click Here to Listen a Recent Show