Real estate experts can debate whether housing prices are overvalued until they turn blue in the face. In the end, their opinions are less important than your opinion. Our ThinkGlink.com Real Estate Bubble Survey gathered consumer opinions on the housing bubble, and we've posted some of the free form comments below.
During the height of the real estate boom, a majority of respondents to the Real Estate Bubble Survey agreed with that the bubble was a fact. Learn what people thought would be the effect on the economy when the real estate market bubble burst and also when people expected the real estate market bubble to work.
2005 real estate trends show a rise in new construction sales, but a decrease in the sales of existing homes. The National Association of Home Builders just released their data on 2005 real estate trends, showing that new construction sales increased 13 percent but sales of existing homes fell 2.7 percent.
In hindsight, 2005 was an extraordinary year by almost any measure. Long-term mortgage interest rates fell as short term rates rose and it has become clear that the air has started coming out of the real estate balloon we've all been watching. In addition, the three major credit reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax, and Transunion each began offering every American a free copy of his or her credit history through a jointly-run website.
What is the best way to finance the construction of a second home - a home equity loan or refinancing the primary residence's mortgage? Take the equity out of your primary home in order to finance the second house. The refinanced mortgage on the primary residence will have a lower interest rate than a home equity loan.
