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Real estate news from Billings and surrounding areas

 

Surging stocks vault S&P 500 higher for the year as pending home sales data boost mood
A double dose of good housing news ignited an advance in the Standard & Poor's 500 index: Pending U.S. home sales rose more than forecast and had their second straight monthly gain, while construction spending rose unexpectedly in March. (Yahoo Finance, May 4)

Billings named one of Forbes best small places for business and careers
Forbes' annual ranking of the Best Places for Business and Careers ranks Billings at 15th on the list of "Best Small Places for Businesses and Careers" in 2009. (Forbes.com, April 3)

Billings leads forecast for home appreciation
Billings is ranked No. 1 in the nation for expected 2009 housing price appreciation by HousingPredictor.com, a Web site that provides housing news and real estate market forecasts for more than 250 U.S. cities. Its houses are projected to increase 2.1 percent in value. (The Billings Gazette, April 3)

Mortgage rates drop to record low
Rates on 30-year mortgages fell this week to the lowest level on record after the Federal Reserve launched a new effort to assist the U.S. housing market. (MSNBC, March 26)

New-home sales rise 4.7%
Sales of new homes rose in February for the first time in seven months, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday, another sign that the housing market is thawing. (The Wall Street Journal, March 26)

Five things you should know about today’s Montana real estate markets
A downloadable PDF from the Montana Association of Realtors outlines five things to know about buying and selling a home in the state of Montana. (Montana Association of Realtors, March 13)

Billings ranks fairly high in report on housing affordability in Montana
A new statewide study on affordable housing puts some numbers on what most people already knew - that housing prices in Montana have climbed a lot faster than incomes in recent years. (The Billings Gazette, March 9)

5 real estate mistakes to avoid
Here's what some real estate agents identify as the five worst real estate mistakes, including not hiring a professional real estate agent, not considering your home's condition, and not making sure the price is right. (MSNBC, Feb. 27)

It's time to buy, says Billings-area Realtor
Now that interest rates are dropping toward a half-century low, the stimulus package is law and first-time homebuyers can get a tax credit of $8,000, open houses are busy and the phone is ringing again, said Twyla Best, president of the Billings Association of Realtors. (The Billings Gazette, Feb. 22)

Montana places in top 25 Forecast Housing Markets
Two states with reputations for being some of the coldest places in the country dominate the Housing Predictor Top 25 housing markets for 2009. Montana placed all of its five forecast markets on the list, and neighboring North Dakota had 4 markets make the top 25 forecast to have the highest appreciation in home values during the year. (HousingPredictor.com, Feb. 10)

 

Real estate resources

100 questions & answers for buying a home
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development answers some common questions regarding home ownership, including how to know if you're ready to buy a home and how to begin the homebuying process. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development)

Homebuyer's Dictionary
From acceleration clause to wraparound, this online glossary of real estate terms is a useful tool for prospective homebuyers. (MT Housing Resources)

Assistance Program Search
A current list of home programs identified by Montana Housing Resources.

 

Remember all Real Estate Markets are local! Call us at (406) 839-2202 or contact us online for information on the Billings market. News articles updated Feb. 27, 2009.