Briefly Speaking
by Craig Goebbel
President & CEO, LoanTek, Inc.

Bush’s Boost

The Bush administration's 2003 budget proposal will favor the nation’s housing market, according to Fannie Mae Chairman Franklin D. Raines. "The President's housing plan will fuel the power of housing, which is easing the recession, speeding the recovery, expanding jobs and ensuring our economic security," said Raines. "The Bush Administration's strong housing agenda is important--housing is the number one consumer product, consumer investment, economic driver and priority of communities," he said. 

Builders Beat Goes On

Last year, single-family home starts were near record levels. With the recession supposedly fading, homebuilders anticipate new home starts will remain high in 2002.

Minorities, Boomers & Immigrants

After preventing a deeper recession last year the national housing market will help revive the economy in 2002 according to the Homeownership Alliance. The Alliance reported aging baby boomers who are buying rather than selling are one of the forces. The other force is the expanding population of minorities and recent immigrants who are rapidly approaching the point where they can afford their first home.

Home Sales Jump

January home sales were up more than 28% from last January, according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service. Brokers notched 4,983 closings during January, up from 3,886 closings in the same month last year. Last month’s total includes 4,259 single-family homes and 724 condominiums.

Home Buyers Fair

Mark your calendars. The Third Annual Partners In Homeownership Homebuyers Fair will be on Saturday, March 30, 2002 at the Tacoma Dome from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This year’s event is expanded to include First Time Homebuyers, Empty Nesters, Rehab Projects, Custom Homes and more.

© 1999 - 2004 LoanTek

Craig Goebbel is President and CEO of LoanTek.com, mortgage loan brokerage.  He is also producer and host of Real Estate Radio Show, a Seattle-based talk show featuring mortgage and real estate news, interviews and listener calls. It is broadcast on KVI Radio AM 570 in Seattle, Washington. Past show are also webcast via the Internet at http://www.realestateradio.net.

Real Estate Radio Sponsor

Real Estate Radio with Goebbel and Gray is the leading real estate radio talk show in the world and is hosted by Real Estate home mortgage expert Craig Goebbel, owner of LoanTek Home Loans and Robb Gray of John L. Scott Real Estate.