Homeowners in Travis and Williamson counties will see modest increases in appraised values this year, based on preliminary figures from the county appraisal districts.

In Travis County, the average home value rose 1.7 percent, to $277,820, based on preliminary figures, Chief Appraiser Patrick Brown said Thursday.

In Williamson County, the average value rose less than 1 percent, to $187,088, according to preliminary numbers.

"It's relatively flat," Chief Appraiser Alvin Lankford said.

Brown said the increase in Travis County reflects that "it's a stable marketplace."

Read the rest of the article in the Austin Statesman: http://www.statesman.com/business/early-figures-show-modest-home-value-increases-in-1424412.html

News Facts

• 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending April 28, 2011, down from last week when it averaged 4.80 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.06 percent.  

• 15-year FRM this week averaged 3.97 percent with an average 0.7 point, down from last week when it averaged 4.02 percent. A year ago at this time, the 15-year FRM averaged 4.39 percent.  

Read the rest of the newswire on Freddie Mac's website : http://freddiemac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=12329&item=34002

Richard W. Fisher, president and chief executive of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank, engaged in some chest thumping Friday between his commentaries on national economic policies. He spoke to about 400 people gathered at a Real Estate Council event in Dallas.

 Read the full article in the Wall Street Journal Blog at: http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2011/04/01/dallas-fed-chief-texass-economy-is-bigger/

"There are too many trees," he said. "You can't see the sky."

Harrison, now 26, is back in Winkler County, drawn by a job in the aptly named community of Notrees.

But he is in the minority. The 2010 Census confirmed what anyone passing through the scrublands of West Texas already knew: People are leaving, and no one is taking their place, even with oil at more than $100 a barrel. The people who remain often drive an hour or more to visit a doctor, buy a pair of jeans or see a movie.

Read the full article in the Houston Cronicle at: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7517531.html

Central Texas homebuilders started construction on 1,430 homes in the first quarter of this year, a 37 percent jump over the last quarter of 2010 but down almost 10 percent from the first three months of 2010, new figures show.

"Home start activity was artificially inflated a year ago due to the housing tax credit," said Ted Wilson , principal with Residential Strategies Inc. "Today's housing demand stems from the recovering Austin economy and job growth."

Read the full article in the Statesman at: http://www.statesman.com/business/new-home-starts-slow-from-year-ago-first-1375491.html

At Guardian Mortgage, our 30 year fixed rate mortgage is at 4.875% with NO discount points!

Read more about weekly rates from Freddie Mac: http://freddiemac.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=12329&item=33883

Once a common home buyer's dream, new homes have lost some of their appeal. Instead, it's fixer-uppers and foreclosures that have been capturing buyers' attention, creating a window of opportunity for those still looking for new construction.

Read the rest of the article in the Wall Street Journal: http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/real-estate/buyers-shun-new-homes-1301521568482/

These issues beset condo buyers who want to get mortgages as well as people who already own condos and want to refinance.

"Condos are like the canary in the coal mine

Read the rest of the article in Scripps News: http://www.scrippsnews.com/content/real-condo-loans-challenge-buyer-and-association