Read the full article here..
http://www.broward.com/mld/dfw/news/local/states/texas/arlington/16794538.htm?source=rss&channel=dfw_arlington
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
January Sales Improve...
Existing-Home Sales Improve in January
WASHINGTON, February 27, 2007 -
Sales of existing homes rose in January, reaching the highest level in seven months, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Total existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 6.46 million units in January from an upwardly revised pace of 6.27 million in December. Sales were 4.3 percent below the 6.75 million-unit level in January 2006.
David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, said observers shouldn’t overreact to the sales gain, or to other short-term effects. “Although we’re expecting existing-home sales to gradually rise this year, and buyers are responding to the price correction, some unusually warm weather helped boost sales in January,” he said. “On the flip side, the winter storms that disrupted so much of the country in February could negatively impact the housing market.
“Although the data is seasonally adjusted, these weather events are unusually large – many transaction closings were postponed in February, and home shopping was essentially shut down for about a week in many areas,” he said. “We shouldn’t be surprised to see a near-term sales dip, but that will be followed by a continuing recovery in home sales.”
Total housing inventory levels rose 2.9 percent at the end of January to 3.55 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.6-month supply at the current sales pace – unchanged from the revised December level. Supplies peaked at 7.4 months in October. “Inventories are looking better, but price softness should continue until spring when the market is expected to become more balanced,” Lereah said.
The national median existing-home price2 for all housing types was $210,600 in January, down 3.1 percent from January 2006 when the median was $217,400. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
WASHINGTON, February 27, 2007 -
Sales of existing homes rose in January, reaching the highest level in seven months, according to the National Association of Realtors®.
Total existing-home sales – including single-family, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops – increased 3.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate1 of 6.46 million units in January from an upwardly revised pace of 6.27 million in December. Sales were 4.3 percent below the 6.75 million-unit level in January 2006.
David Lereah, NAR’s chief economist, said observers shouldn’t overreact to the sales gain, or to other short-term effects. “Although we’re expecting existing-home sales to gradually rise this year, and buyers are responding to the price correction, some unusually warm weather helped boost sales in January,” he said. “On the flip side, the winter storms that disrupted so much of the country in February could negatively impact the housing market.
“Although the data is seasonally adjusted, these weather events are unusually large – many transaction closings were postponed in February, and home shopping was essentially shut down for about a week in many areas,” he said. “We shouldn’t be surprised to see a near-term sales dip, but that will be followed by a continuing recovery in home sales.”
Total housing inventory levels rose 2.9 percent at the end of January to 3.55 million existing homes available for sale, which represents a 6.6-month supply at the current sales pace – unchanged from the revised December level. Supplies peaked at 7.4 months in October. “Inventories are looking better, but price softness should continue until spring when the market is expected to become more balanced,” Lereah said.
The national median existing-home price2 for all housing types was $210,600 in January, down 3.1 percent from January 2006 when the median was $217,400. The median is a typical market price where half of the homes sold for more and half sold for less.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Arlington Police Reports Now Online
ARLINGTON -- Someone break into your car? Vandalize your property? Now you can get a copy of your police report online if the crime was reported in Arlington.
What’s new: The Arlington Police Department launched the “Public Reports” link on its Web site last month to make it easier for people who need a copy of their incident reports for insurance or other purposes. Before, people had to come in person to the police department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Now, with a report number and the last name of a person involved in the incident, those reports can be retrieved online any time, without waiting in long lines or missing work.
“Sometimes people come rushing in at lunch hour and it’s packed so they leave without getting a report. The line can sometimes go out the door,” said Margarita Ibarra, police records assistant. “It’s easy for them now to get it off the Web and print it out wherever they are.”
What they cost: They’re free! That compares to the 10 cents-a-page the police charge if you request a report in person.
What the reports contain: Typically, contact information for witnesses, suspects and victims and a brief description of the incident. Some incidents, such as sexual offenses or juvenile crimes, will not be available online because the information is protected under the state’s open records law, police spokesman Lt. Blake Miller said.
What else is available on the web: Besides police reports, residents can also look up information such as crime statistics, working police calls, sex offender registry, a jail inmate list and the locations of the latest traffic collisions on the police department’s Web site.
Hit parade: The site received more than 1 million hits last month, Miller said.
“It’s another opportunity for our department to provide greater access to the community when it’s convenient for them,” Miller said. “This saves you a trip to the police department. You don’t have to take time off work.”
What about traffic accident reports: Traffic accident reports are expected to be available online within the next month, Miller said. Those reports, which cost $4 at the police station, will also cost to view online but a price has not been determined.
The Arlington Police have launched a new link on their Web site, www.arlingtonpd.org, for people to look up and print their police reports.
What’s new: The Arlington Police Department launched the “Public Reports” link on its Web site last month to make it easier for people who need a copy of their incident reports for insurance or other purposes. Before, people had to come in person to the police department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Now, with a report number and the last name of a person involved in the incident, those reports can be retrieved online any time, without waiting in long lines or missing work.
“Sometimes people come rushing in at lunch hour and it’s packed so they leave without getting a report. The line can sometimes go out the door,” said Margarita Ibarra, police records assistant. “It’s easy for them now to get it off the Web and print it out wherever they are.”
What they cost: They’re free! That compares to the 10 cents-a-page the police charge if you request a report in person.
What the reports contain: Typically, contact information for witnesses, suspects and victims and a brief description of the incident. Some incidents, such as sexual offenses or juvenile crimes, will not be available online because the information is protected under the state’s open records law, police spokesman Lt. Blake Miller said.
What else is available on the web: Besides police reports, residents can also look up information such as crime statistics, working police calls, sex offender registry, a jail inmate list and the locations of the latest traffic collisions on the police department’s Web site.
Hit parade: The site received more than 1 million hits last month, Miller said.
“It’s another opportunity for our department to provide greater access to the community when it’s convenient for them,” Miller said. “This saves you a trip to the police department. You don’t have to take time off work.”
What about traffic accident reports: Traffic accident reports are expected to be available online within the next month, Miller said. Those reports, which cost $4 at the police station, will also cost to view online but a price has not been determined.
The Arlington Police have launched a new link on their Web site, www.arlingtonpd.org, for people to look up and print their police reports.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Here are the latest MLS statistics for Arlington
Texas Residential MLS Activity-Number of Houses for Sale
Homes for Sale Dec 2006-2829 Dec 2005 2537
That is a 12% increase from last year.
Texas Residential MLS Activity-Number of Homes Sold
Homes Sold Dec 2006-459 Dec 2005 484 Down 5% for the month
Overall, the number of sales increase 6% in 2006 from 2005.
Homes for Sale Dec 2006-2829 Dec 2005 2537
That is a 12% increase from last year.
Texas Residential MLS Activity-Number of Homes Sold
Homes Sold Dec 2006-459 Dec 2005 484 Down 5% for the month
Overall, the number of sales increase 6% in 2006 from 2005.
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