Existing Home Sales Move Up in August

Washington, September 23, 2010. Existing home sales rose in August following a big correction in July, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Existing home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in August from an upwardly revised 3.84 million in July, but remain 19.0 percent below the 5.10 million-unit pace in August 2009.
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Source: www.realtor.org

Napier Proudly Sponsors the Richmond Sprint Triathlon

The Napier Realtors Richmond Sprint Triathlon will be held on October 10, 2010, and you're invited to join us in raising money for this important cause. Our goal this year is to raise $6000 for the Massey Cancer Center! This is only $10 per triathlete. We have a growing list of people racing that are cancer survivors, which is so inspirational!

Many of you know people that have lost to the disease, and we want to make a difference. You can race in their name and also make a donation in their name.

Thank you so much for placing attention and focus in this direction for research to find a cure! http://NapierTriathlon2010.kintera.org

Napier Realtors Proudly Sponsors the New USO Center at RIC

Napier Realtors is proud to be a founding sponsor of the new USO Center that just opened at Richmond International Airport.

Since the USO’s primary mission is to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families, partnering with the USO right here in the Richmond area is a way for Napier Realtors to show their heartfelt thanks to our men and women in uniform and their families.



The agents and staff at Napier's four area offices are collecting items to donate to the Center -- snacks, drinks, paperback books, magazines, and toiletry items such as travel size hand sanitizer, lotion, and lip balm -- and committing to volunteer their time to work in the Center one day a month. The cart of donations has been overflowing with goodies for "our" troops!

A huge THANK YOU! to everyone for donating items that were on the Center's wish list or giving of your time by volunteering at the Center!!

FHA Gives Home Buyers One Month Window to Lock in Low Insurance Premium

RISMEDIA, September 2, 2010—“The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is giving homeowners and buyers until October 4, 2010 to lock in a low monthly insurance premium,” said Gibran Nicholas, chairman of the CMPS Institute, an organization that trains and certifies mortgage bankers and brokers. “After October 4, the monthly insurance premiums on FHA loans will increase by over 63%.”
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Source: rismedia.com

Mortgage Rates Amazingly Low, Continue To Fall

30-year fixed mortgage rates are now at 4% for well-qualified borrowers who pay .07 to 1 point origination shows FreeRateUpdate.com research of wholesale lenders' interest rate sheets. 15-year fixed mortgage rates are at 3.5%. Both fixed mortgage rates, which continue to decline, are at all time record low levels. FHA mortgage rates remain at similar levels to conforming rates. FHA 30-year fixed loan rates are at 4%; however, APR on an FHA loan at 4% is quite higher than that of a conforming mortgage at the same note rate. Why? MI at 2.25% of the amount financed and other FHA fees drive up closing costs.
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Source: realtytimes.com

Housing Starts Rose in July

Is it welcome news to the many slowly recovering housing markets? Real estate is waiting on a marked recovery from the recession, and some of the latest regional housing start figures seem to show it could be happening. According to the U.S. Commerce Department, "Housing starts increased 1.7 percent, consistent with private­sector expectations of a 2.0 percent increase."
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Source: realtytimes.com

Napier Realtors Proudly Sponsors new USO Center at RIC

Napier Realtors is proud to be a founding sponsor of the new USO Center that just opened at Richmond International Airport.

Since the USO’s primary mission is to enhance the quality of life of the U.S. Armed Forces personnel and their families, partnering with the USO right here in the Richmond area is a way for Napier Realtors to show their heartfelt thanks to our men and women in uniform and their families.



The agents and staff at Napier's four area offices are collecting items to donate to the Center -- snacks, drinks, paperback books, magazines, and toiletry items such as travel size hand sanitizer, lotion, and lip balm -- and committing to volunteer their time to work in the Center one day a month. The cart of donations has been overflowing with goodies for "our" troops!

A huge THANK YOU! to everyone for donating items that were on the Center's wish list or giving of your time by volunteering at the Center!!