January 27, 2015

MORTGAGE & FINANCE news

It’s time to think about refinancing

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/upshot/its-time-to-think-about-refinancing-your-mortgage.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=1

Rates falling, refis up

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-mortgage-rates-dip-0116-biz–20150115-story.html

Average 30-year mortgage rate falls

http://www.komonews.com/news/business/Average-rate-on-30-year-mortgage-falls-to-363-percent-289494341.html

Check interest rates for your situation with new tool from consumerfinance.gov

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/owning-a-home/check-rates/

Why 5% mortgage rates are still a ways off

http://blog.credit.com/2015/01/5-mortgage-rates-are-still-a-ways-off-106478/

 

REAL ESTATE news

Tips for hosting the perfect open house

http://seattletimes.com/html/homesrealestate/2025463730_hreopenhousexml.html?prmid=4917

44 impressive tiny houses

http://www.countryliving.com/homes/real-estate/tiny-house#slide-1

U.S. Home construction up 4.4 percent in December

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2025506281_apxhomeconstruction.html

Super homes you can rent for the Super Bowl

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/luxury/2015/01/07/super-bowl-home-rentals/index.html

 

LOCAL news 

Seattle Public Schools actively pursuing vacant downtown building for future school site

http://www.kplu.org/post/seattle-school-board-ponders-another-push-vacant-downtown-building

Seattle’s new city bird: the South Lake Union (construction) crane

http://www.oregonlive.com/travel/index.ssf/2015/01/seattle_needs_a_new_official_c.html

Rail-centered communities are poised to make a comeback

http://kuow.org/post/fighting-traffic-dreaming-light-rail-outside-seattle

Puget Sound region gets $9 million boost from new federal conservation program

http://www.courierherald.com/news/288954281.html

5 things to know about Paul Allen and the Seahawks

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/health-care-inc/2015/01/5-things-to-know-about-paul-allen-and-his-seahawks.html

Pierce County home prices rise in 2014

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/01/22/3601466/pierce-thurston-county-home-prices.html

Bellevue will be 8^th hottest neighborhood in the nation in 2015, says Redfin

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/01/seattles-hottest-residential-neighborhood-in-2015.html

2015 to be the year of the bike in Tacoma

http://www.exit133.com/articles/view/year-of-the-bike#.VMLOVtLF93o

 

WEEKLY DOSE OF awesomeness

Bucharest subway library allows commuters to scan QR codes from book spines to download ebooks to their phones

http://ebookfriendly.com/digital-library-on-the-bucharest-metro-station-pictures/

 

TITLE & ESCROW info

Need to find a utility company?  Click on the link below – select community links and you’ll find a large list of local utility companies in our Puget Sound region

http://www.cwtitle.net/title-and-escrow-resources/