Housing News Digest, July 27

Commissioners agree to sponsor Centennial grant application
STERLING -- The Logan County Commissioners delayed their public hearing on a proposed Colorado Division of Housing grant application on behalf of Centennial Mental Health on Tuesday until representatives could arrive. They later opened the hearing when the representatives arrived but there were no comments from the public attending.

Regional Housing Alliance makes homeownership real
It is a great time to buy a home in La Plata County, and the Regional Housing Alliance of La Plata County can be an important partner throughout the process.

Condos and homes are now affordable for many of us who thought we could never own a home. If you have ever wondered whether you could afford to buy and have one hour to spare, United Way of Southwest Colorado encourages you to visit with the amazing staff at the Regional Housing Alliance to learn how the process can work for you and your family.

Banks closing in Colorado at unprecedented pace
Even as the economy continues to show tepid improvement, more Colorado banks have failed this year than in the past two years combined, and perhaps more since the savings and loan debacle in the 1980s.

Four of the banks had presences in Fort Collins, Loveland or Windsor, and all but one were acquired by other financial institutions.

The Colorado Division of Banking on Friday closed Greeley-based Bank of Choice; two weeks ago, the state shut down Signature Bank with branches in Windsor.

‘Greening the MLS' will take some time
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colorado — Area real estate listings now include information about energy efficiency improvements, indoor air quality and whether sustainable building materials were used during construction.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

MBA: Mortgage Purchase Application Index Lowest Since February
The Refinance Index decreased 5.5 percent from the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 3.8 percent from one week earlier.
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The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages increased to 4.57 percent from 4.54 percent, with points increasing to 1.14 from 0.98 (including the origination fee) for 80 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans.