Fred Roven's (froven) Blog

I am not sure what this has to do with real estate accept how to spend my money before I earn it.  from todays RIS Media  By Marshall LoebRISMEDIA, Feb. 21, 2008-(MCT)-Buying tickets for shows, concerts and sporting events online is akin to walking a virtual tightrope, with box offices and author...

I am pleasantly surprised with the surge of people visiting the island this weekend not to mention the e-mails and phone calls.  Maybe sellers have finally realized what Exclusive Buyer Agents have know for a long time.  Prices were just way to high.  As new listigs come on the market at realisti...

I am very impressed by the Online Convention sponsored by  Real Estate CyberSpace Society.  The speakers and topics are extremely important and valuable but I am blow away most by the concept.  They have taken the ideas of Web 2.0 and put them into an online presentation uses the best of interact...

I have a new idol in the world of real estate blogging and her name is Rachel Klein.Now I just have to figure out how to have the time to do in my market what she has done with NYC.http://www.intothebox.tv/By the way, I am enjoying reading all your responses to my blogs.  I have my opinions and h...

Our clients continue to ask opinions on where the market and interest rates are headed. From my vantage point, we are looking at another cut in March of the rate at which the FED loans funds. This would bring the rate down to 2.5%. That is still not as low as we have seen in recent years but alo...

Our friends in Washington seem to think raising conforming loans to $625,000 and up is a way to handle the current "crisis". I am not convinced. The conforming amount for Martha's Vineyard will probably be $700,000. The fixed rate will end up below 6% maybe as low as 5.25% before all is said and ...

Last Thursday Ben Bernanke announced his intention to recommend a further cut in the prime rate charged to banks. My market currently has 20% fewer listings this winter than last. Interest rates had been declining for a week prior to that announcement and have continued the slide possibly in anti...

I just had a phone call from a mortgage broker. His rates have dropped tonight to 5.25 for conforming loans. Their re-fi's have spiked over 30%. This is activity and rates not seen since mid 2005. I expect another rate reduction at the scheduled FED meeting, possibly another 1/4 point. If resale ...