Federal funds rate increased

The increase to 3.5 percent is in line with Alan Greenspan's promise to continue raising rates, and will probably continue to do so as long as economic forces continue as they have been. The National Associatino of Realtors also today forecast the national median home price to increase by 10.5 percent. If interest rates increase home prices may slack off, or about a year from now, come "closer to balance." Read here about interest rates.

Pending Home Sales at Record High

The pending homes sales index, recently developed by National Association of Realtors, has risen to the third highest level on record. An index of 100 is equal to the 2001 level of activity, which was the first year to be tracked. ALTA - Industry News

Rates May Continue Upward

Inman News reports: Beware good news...very strong economic data on Friday were pushing mortgage rates higher, fixed-rate 30s still under 6 percent for the lowest-fee packages, but just barely. ARMs are under even more pressure, as the intermediate 5-, 7- and 10-year hybrids are all between 5.5 percent and 6 percent." See more at C.A.R.'sreport.

If You Buy From Lennar, You Donate to Charity

Lennar Corp., a Southern California housing group, is requiring new-home buyers to pay $50 for every $100,000 of the home price as an endowment fee for their charitable housing foundation. This fee must be paid by future buyers as well when the residence is resold. Lennar is currently seeking to build a new project in downtown Long Beach. Read more about the charity fee.

Calif. Median Home Prices Still Rises

Statewide home resale activity is up 3.6 percent from the 633,660 recorded in June 2004, as reflected in records from MLS systems. The median home price, statewide, is $542,720, up 16 percent from a year ago. Interest rates are lower than this time last year, and the inventory is greater, which help to increase the pace of sales; the number of days to sell a single family home was a few days longer than in June 2004. In cities covered by DataQuick, which uses county records, 396 of 406 cities showed an increase in their median home prices from a year ago. June 05 sales/price report

30-year fixed rate vs. HELOC

The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is still under 6%, while the average home-equity loan is over 7%, which makes this still a good time to cashout.

Alan Greenspan and Loans

The West Coast market has been identified numerous times as a market of faster and greater appreciation than other national markets. Alan Greenspan has once again stated his concerns about some banks taking risks on unsafe lending practices in order to make loans in extreme markets which may be part of a local market bubble. Elsewhere, this market is not considered a bubble that will "burst" but one that will slow with lower appreciation over a longer period of time than seen in the recent past.

30-year Fixed Rate Still Lower

Compared to this time last year when the 30-year fixed rate mortgage averaged 6 percent, interest rates are still lower, according to ALTA's Industry News article.

MBA's Economic Forecast

Find the Mortgage Bankers Association's forecast on their site, saying 2005 will be the third biggest year in mortgage production behind 2002 and 2003. Long-term interest rates are predicted to increase to 6.25 percent for 30-year fixed interest rates by 2007, still low compared to more recent history. Home prices are expected to increase in the more moderate ranges of 5-7% compared to much higher gains in 2004.

Southern California Economy vs. The Bubble

Another Chapter: The FDIC tells us California grew to 1.7 percent in job growth this year. But their state profile chart also shows Southern California has much lower job growth than other parts of California--excluding the Bay Area--and is also lower than the rest of the nation. However, home price growth in So Cal outpaced income growth.