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higher stamp prices
There is yet another cost of doing business for Realtors and Mortgage professionals taking place on April 17th, 2011. The United State Postal Service (USPS) will be increasing stamp prices for most of its mail classes including First Class, Media Mail, and Parcel Postage. Do not mistake these increases for the already implemented rate increases that took place on January 2, 2011 for Priority Mail and Express Mail. These services will not experience additional rate increases on April 17th.
Related: USPS Stamp Price Rise and No Saturday Mail Delivery in 2013.
Many Realtors and Mortgage professionals make use of postcard to keep in touch with their clients. These stamps will increase to $0.29 up from $0.28 per stamp. First class mail will remain $0.44 per ounce however each additional ounce will be $0.20, up from $0.17.
The chart below from Stamps.com summarizes many of the April 17th Postage Rate Increases.
| U.S. Postal Service Mail Class | New Postage Rates (effective 1/2/11 for Priority and Express, effective 4/17/11 for all other classes) | Previous Postage Rates |
| First-Class Mail letter (1 oz.) | $0.44 | $0.44 |
| First-Class Mail letter – each additional ounce | $0.20 | $0.17 |
| Postcard | $0.29 | $0.28 |
| First-Class Mail flat (1 oz.) | $0.88 | $0.88 |
| First-Class Mail parcel (1 oz.) | $1.71 | $1.22 |
| Certified Mail™ (in addition to postage) | $2.85 | $2.80 |
| Signature Confirmation (in addition to postage) | $2.45 | $2.35 |
| First-Class Mail International to Canada (1 oz.) | $0.80 | $0.75 |
| First-Class Mail International to Mexico (1 oz.) | $0.80 | $0.79 |
| First-Class Mail International to all other countries (1 oz.) | $0.98 | $0.98 |
| Priority Mail (1 lb.) | $5.10 (and up) | $4.90 (and up) |
| Express Mail (0.5 lb.) | $13.25 (and up) | $13.65 (and up) |
One of the most noticeable increases is the priority mail envelope which many Realtors and Loan officers use to send purchase agreements and mortgage applications. The Priority Mail 1 lb envelope will increase to $5.10 up from $4.90.
The increase in costs of stamps adds to extra costs from skyrocketing gas prices, licensing requirements and harder to qualify borrowers. Many Realtors and Mortgage professionals will be further affected by these changes.