Thursday, February 12, 2015

Valentine's Day weekend things to do





Events 

Valentine's Day Dessert Making Class 
Fri. 02/13, 6:30pm
Luci's Healthy Marketplace, Phoenix
Learn how to make delectable chocolate desserts for the sweetest holiday of the year. $49.99
more info   map 

Peter Pan Jr. 
Fri. 02/13, 7pm
Phoenix Center for the Arts
The wonderful story by J.M. Barrie with Disney's magic touch. $15-$16
more info   map 

Moonprince 
Fri. 02/13, 7p,
Mesa Arts Center, Mesa
A magical tale about the eternal moon, and a woodland prince. A story for children of all ages. $11-$15
more info   map 

Napoli 
Fri. 02/13, 7:30pm
Symphony Hall, Phoenix
Ballet Arizona presents the U.S. premier of one of the most renowned ballets by choreographer August Bournonville. 
more info   map 

Valentine's Show 
Fri. 02/13 - Sat. 02/14, 7:30pm & 9:45pm
National Comedy Theatre Phoenix, Mesa
Two teams of top notch comedians square off in a hilarious and totally spontaneous comedy showdown featuring Valentine themed games and songs. $12-$14
more info   map 

27th Annual Arizona Renaissance Festival 
Fri. 02/13. 9am
 
Arizona Renaissance Festival, Gold Canyon 
Enjoy games of chance, food, sword fighting, comedy, acrobatics, magic, duels, and more. $22 
more info   map 

Me The Artist Valentine's "Works of Heart" 
Sat. 02/14, 6pm 
Me The Artis, Phoenix 
The "Heart of my Heart' session includes appetizers, desserts, photo, a rose for the ladies, and a painting class. $45 or $80 per couple. 
more info   map 

Valentine's Day Cooking Class 
Sat. 02/14, 7pm 
Valley of the Sun JCC, Scottsdale
Discover how easy it can be to create a romantic dinner for two. $100
more info   map 

An Unusual Love Story 
Sat. 02/14, 2pm 
Phoenix Theatre's Hormel Theatre, Phoenix
An original, full-length production by scorpius Dance Theatre's Director. $30
more info   map 

Celebrate a Romantic Night  in Chandler at Social Box 
Sat. 02/14, 5pm 
Social Box 
Meal includes an appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert. $75 per couple. 
more info   map 

2015 Chinese New Year Show 
Sun. 02/15, 4pm 
Chandler Center for the Arts
Celebrating the Chinese New Year with performances from local dance school, Eastern Art Academy. $15
more info   map 

             

           
          
Movies 
 
Annie (2014) showtimes and ticketsIn Theaters Rated
Kingsman: The Secret ServiceR
HitsNR
Love, RosieR
 
New DVD Releases  Rated
      Critics Say
John Wick R         

The Lookalike 
 

NR 
 
         
NightcrawlerR         


 
Sports 
 
ASU Sun Devils
(M) @ Washings State 
Pullman, WA 
02/13 @ 9:00pm 
@ Washington
Seattle, WA
02/15
 @ 3:30pm

(W) @ Oregon State
Corvallis, OR
02/13 
@ 7:00am 
@ Oregon
Eugene, OR
02/15
 @ 5:30pm
ESPN
 
Schedule
Arizona Wildcats
(M) @ Washington 
Seattle, WA 
02/13 @ 7:00pm 
@ Washington State
Pullman, WA
02/15
 @ 4:30pm

(W) @ Oregon
Eugene, OR
02/13 
@ 7:00pm 
@ Oregon State
Corvallis, OR
02/15 
@ 12:00pm
ESPN
 
Schedule
Phoenix Suns
   
 
 
Arizona Coyotes

 
 
vs Sharks 
02/13 @ 7:00pm
 
vs Rangers
02/14
 @ 6:00pm
Schedule
MLS

Major League Soccer 
Schedule 
ESPN
 
 
PGA TOUR

      
 
             AT&T Pebble Beach
             National Pro-Am
             Pebble Beach, CA
             02/12-02/15
 @ times vary
             Golf Network            
             Schedule


Weather 

 
Friday 
Clear
84º/56º
Saturday 
Clear  
86º/61º
Sunday 
Partly Cloudy 
  81º/58º 

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

REO's higher priced

REOs Are Fetching Higher Prices

The rise in home prices is helping lenders of REO properties to gross a higher recovery of unpaid balances at sale, according to the latest report from Black Knight Financial Services.
REO Resources
Since the fourth quarter of 2012, lenders have been recovering a greater gross percentage of the unpaid balance through REO liquidations than through short sales – which is a reversal of a trend during the housing crisis, says Trey Barnes, Black Knight’s senior vice president of Loan Data Products. However, he does note that REO sales do have added timelines and added costs that could impact total losses, which were not accounted for in the Black Knight study.
But, on average, REO properties are selling for 71 percent of the corresponding loans’ defaulted unpaid balance compared to just 65 percent for short sales.
REO sales on loans backed by government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are grossing a significantly higher percentage of unpaid balances than Federal Housing Administration loans and private/portfolio loans, according to the analysis. GSE loans are averaging 75 percent gross on unpaid balance recovery from REOs compared to FHA loans that are recovering 65 percent, Barnes notes. Portfolio and private loans are reporting a gross recovery of 70 percent of the unpaid balance.
REO timelines on GSE loans tend to be shorter than both FHA and private/portfolio, averaging 11.5 months to complete liquidation, according to the report. As such, the longer timelines associated with FHA and private/portfolio loans pose additional carrying costs for lenders that can add up, the report notes.
The National Association of REALTORS® reported in its most recent existing-home sales report, reflecting December 2014 data, that foreclosures and short sales are being discounted less. Foreclosures sold for an average discount of 15 percent below market value in December, down from 17 percent in November. Short sales were discounted, on average, by 12 percent below market value, compared to 13 percent in November.
Foreclosures also tend to sell faster than short sales. In December, Foreclosures sold in 61 days compared to short sales that were on the market for a median of 98 days. Non-distressed homes took an average of 66 days to sell, according to NAR’s report.
Source: “Black Knight: Recent REO Sales Gross Higher Recovery of Unpaid Balance,” HousingWire (Feb. 2, 2015) and “Existing-Home Sales Rebound in December, 2014 Total Sales Finish 3 Percent Below 2013,” National Association of REALTORS® (Jan. 23, 2015)

Friday, December 19, 2014

Highlights for 2014

Friday, December 19, 2014

Phoenix housing market highlights for the year
After several years of wild roller-coaster activity, the Phoenix-area housing market is ready to end a relatively flat year. Highlights for the year include:
* The median single-family-home sales price went up 4% in October from a year ago - from $200,000 to $208,000
* Sales of single-family homes down 5% from last October
* The Valley is experiencing a small bump up in two areas - investor interest and new-home sales
* The market share for new-home sales is doing better and has recovered to 14%
Read article - ASU News

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

3% down payment

3% Down Payments May Be Game Changer
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has announced that first-time home buyers can now qualify for loans with down payments as low as 3%. Freddie Mac launched Home Possible Advantage, a conventional mortgage with a 3% down-payment requirement geared to low- and moderate-income borrowers. To qualify, first-time home buyers are required to participate in a borrower education program. With Fannie Mae's 3% down-payment offering, borrowers must still meet standard eligibility requirements, including underwriting, income documentation, and risk management standards. At least one of the co-borrowers must be a first-time buyer. The loans will require private mortgage insurance.
Read article - Realtor Magazine