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By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) — Mortgage rates hit new lows this week, as worries about European debt markets drove investors to U.S. Treasurys, Freddie Mac’s chief economist said on Thursday.

Rates on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.32% for the week ending Aug. 11, the lowest the rate has been in 2011, according to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates. The mortgage averaged 4.39% last week and 4.44% a year ago.

Meanwhile, 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, as well as 5- and 1-year adjustable-rate mortgages, hit record lows this week.

Fifteen-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.5% this week, down from 3.54% last week and 3.92% a year ago.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages averaged 3.13%, down from 3.18% last week and 3.56% a year ago. And 1-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 2.89% this week, down from 3.02% last week and 3.53% a year ago.

To obtain the rates, the fixed-rate mortgages required payment of an average 0.7 point, while the adjustable-rate mortgages required an average 0.5 point. A point is 1% of the mortgage amount, charged as prepaid interest.

“Renewed market concerns about the European debt markets led investors to shift funds into U.S. Treasuries, pushing long-term yields lower,” said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist of Freddie Mac, in a news release.

“Further, in its August 9th Federal Open Market Committee statement, the Federal Reserve noted that economic growth so far this year had been considerably slower than it expected and that overall labor market conditions had deteriorated in recent months, leading the Committee to conclude that an exceptionally low federal funds rate should be maintained at least through mid-2013. See story on Fed meeting.

“These developments helped to ease mortgage rates lower this week.”

Low mortgage rates are making homes more affordable. The National Association of Realtors’ affordability index indicates that over the past three quarters, homes have been more affordable than any other time since the group began keeping the index in 1970, Nothaft said.

According to a separate survey released by Bankrate.com on Thursday, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 4.46% and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.61%. Seven-year ARMs averaged 3.45% this week, while the 10-year ARM averaged 3.93%, according to Bankrate.

RealtyTrac has long predicted that 2011 would break foreclosure records once lenders broke through a logjam of processing delays. But now that the slowdown in foreclosure activity is ten months old, RealtyTrac’s Rick Sharga says it’s time to reassess. Click to listen to MarketWatch Breaking News> http://www.marketwatch.com/story/realtytrac-foreclosures-may-have-peaked-2011-08-11

Copyright © 2011 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved.

Familiarize yourself with the following systems and components as well as the home inspection checklist at the end of the bullets of each section; This should give you a good idea of what your “CHI “Certified A-Pro Home Inspector will be looking for with his/her trained eye.

• Defects in the walls, roof framing, exterior wall framing, interior framing, or cracks in the foundation may indicate a serious structural problem that may be the result of poor structural design, foundation settlement, poor construction techniques, improper structural modification, water damage, termite damage or other causes.
• Raising up a house to replace damaged structural components, or underpinning a defective foundation wall is a major expense.
• The home inspector has the experience, education and expertise to evaluate structural problems. This is one of the reasons why retaining the services of an “CHI” Certified A-Pro Home Inspector to conduct your home inspection instead of a home inspector who is not “CHI” Certified is advantageous.
• Make sure your “CHI” Certified A-Pro Home Inspector performs a “Foundation Level Survey” (SECTION 2.01) to determine the levelness of the foundation which is in many times the cause of structural defects.
• Please note that most standards of practice do NOT require home inspectors to check the foundation levelness. As an example, foundation levelness testing is not required by ASHI^®, NAHI^® or InterNACHI_®.
• To download a illustrative Foundation Handbook including checklist click here.
• To see what’s inspected by your A-Pro “CHI” home inspection checklist for structures- click here.

Any Questions at all, just call our home inspection franchise devolopment team at 1.800.793.2776 x101

A-Pro Home Inspection Franchise

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A-Pro® is the most qualified network of home inspection franchise professionals in the United States.  Our company and home inspection franchise opportunity has been featured in such prestigious publications as the Wall Street Journal, Smart Money, and The Associated Press, as well as newspapers across the country.

A-Pro’s home inspection franchise opportunity gives you the freedom to become a fully trained, fully certified home inspector – with all of the tools, equipment, and support you need for success. Together, our franchisees represent the nation’s most trusted family of home inspectors  a group of professionals with a reputation for providing the most comprehensive, value-added, and guaranteed home inspection available today. Our home inspection franchise opportunity provides you with everything you need to succeed. We support our business owners at every stage of their career and promote their success in ways most franchises never consider.  A-Pro is the crowning achievement of President Greg Mangiaracina — an industry veteran, and former Co-Chairman of  Louisiana’s very first licensing board for Home Inspectors. Greg is also a experienced marketer; a skill that delivers tremendous benefit to his franchisees as well as the author of “Marketing Outside the Box”, and co-author of “How to Market a Home Inspection Business”.

Taking the Next Step

If you’re even considering a home inspection career, request our home inspection franchise packet now.

You’ll discover why the home inspection industry is poised for significant growth and advancement and how A-Pro home inspection franchise owners are benefiting from our cutting-edge business and marketing plan as well as competitive advantages they can’t find anywhere else.

Just call 1-800-793-2776 x101 and Fran will mail our home inspection franchise package to your door.

There’s no risk, and no obligation. A-Pro’s Impressive Professional and Lifestyle

• Affordable Start-Up Fees-only $14,490.
• No percentage royalty fees and no quotas!
• Award-winning training and certification program
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• The best Guarantees in the business
• Access to the exclusive A-Pro Certified Pre-Owned Home ® program
• An innovative, proven marketing plan
• Unparalleled home inspection franchiseesupport and family environment
• 24 hour access to our ready to serve marketing department
• A search engine optimized and state-of-the-art website
• An exclusive large territory in which to grow your business
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• A complete home inspection franchise marketing plan
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or;

You may simply complete and email our franchise qualification award questionnaire here.

Home Inspection Franchise services provided by A-Pro since 1994

“In addition to exceptional affordability conditions, steady improvements in the economy are helping bring buyers into the market,” NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun said on Thursday. 

The pending sales index rose to 92.2 in November from 89.1 in the prior month.  The seasonally adjusted index is based on newly signed contracts on existing homes that should go to closing in a month or two. 

The index is down 5% from November 2009.

The Realtors are forecasting that existing home sales will rise to 5.12 million in 2011, up from 4.82 million in 2010.  This 7.8% increase would bring sales up to the 2009 level.

Meanwhile, NAR economists are expecting home prices to remain stable.

“The median existing-home price could rise 0.6% to $173,700 in 2011 from $172,700 in 2010, which was essentially unchanged from 2009,” NAR said.

The Best in the Business

 Since 1994, A-Pro has been helping its clients make smarter, better and more informed decisions as they buy or sell a home. As one of the leading home inspection franchise service companies in the U.S, A-Pro not only offers you the best possible home inspection, service, and value, but also provides its clients with the peace of mind that their investment is protected.

An A-Pro home inspection franchise services benefit all 3 parties to a home sale, buyers, sellers, & Real Estate agents.

Why A-Pro Home Inspection Franchise ?

	Our home inspection franchise professionals are CHI, PHI, & ITI certified
	Comprehensive, 500-point home inspection franchise service
	We provide a FREE foundation inspection with foundation drawing ($150 value)
	No Further Evaluation Guarantee saves all parties time and money
	“If We Don’t Report It, We Repair It” guarantee provides ultimate peace of mind for all parties
	A-Pro’s home inspection franchise reports feature positive attributes of the home-a real benefit to all parties.
	The best and  easeiest to understand home inspection franchise reports in the business…bar none!.

Any questions at all, just call  our home inspection franchise hot-line 1.800.793.APRO (2776) .

 Home inspection franchise services by A-Pro since 1994

About A-Pro Home Inspection Franchise Opportunity…

When A-Pro was formed in 1994, our foundation rested on a unique concept: Introduce the element of accountability into the home inspection franchise business and furnish clients with a report that offers them protection, not just an opinion”.

This idea launched “The Only Certified Home Inspection with Guaranteed Protection” that A-Pro is renowned for.

Exactly how do we protect our clients from unreported items in a home inspection report? Simple. We pay for the repairs ourselves.

Any questions at all, just call our home inspection franchise development team at 1-800-793-APRO (2776).

What’s more, A-Pro is also the first company to champion  a home inspection franchise business that offers unique benefits to all parties concerned: the buyer, the seller and the real-estate professionals.

Today, A-Pro stands as a respected industry leader and as a continuing force for innovation in the home inspection franchise industry. Our highly-trained, ITI® & CHI® and PHI® Board Certified professional members are dedicated to providing our clients with the most comprehensive, advanced home inspection franchise techniques in the world, bar none.

In fact, our Inspector Standards not only meet every standard set forth by other home inspection associations, they exceed them in 15 vitally important ways.

Want the best home inspection franchise money can buy?

Take the next step and call now 1.800.793.APRO (2776) or click here to find an A-Pro”CHI” certified home Inspector to see if your exclusive home inspection franchise territory is available.

1831 Manhattan Blvd. F 334

New Orleans, LA 70058