RECENT BLOG POSTS
p> With home prices still relatively low and mortgage rates trolling near their all-time best levels, it's no surprise that home affordability is extraordinarily high in most U.S. markets. According to the quarterly Home Opportunity Index as published by the National Association of Home Builders,...
06/08/2010
After starting the day in the red, mortgage rates rebounded Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Reserve released its April 27-28, 2010 meeting minutes. It's good news for home buyers and would-be refinancers. Mortgage rates continue to troll along multi-year lows. "Fed Minutes" are lengthy, d...
05/30/2010
As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent. Anecdotally, guideline changes have led to an increase in the nu...
05/30/2010
A mortgage approval is never final until it's funded. A host of things can "go wrong" while your home loan is underway. Some are in your control, many more are not. And just being aware of some potential pitfalls could help save your loan down the road, and your peace of mind today. MSN Money ra...
05/27/2010
The national foreclosure rate is finally falling. According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac.com, the number of foreclosure notices dropped 2 percent between April 2009 and April 2010. 2 percent may not seem like much, but it's the first time in the history of the RealtyTrac report that th...
05/22/2010
Relocate America recently released its 2010 list of Top 100 Places To Live In America. The rankings are topped by some cities you may expect, and some you may not. According to Relocate America, the rankings highlight communities "moving in the right direction", defined as having a combination of...
05/21/2010
Shopping multiple lenders for a "good mortgage rate" can sometimes save you 1/8 percent on your rate and/or a few hundred dollars in fees. However, when it comes to getting the best mortgage rate, you're going to more than good research skills. You're going to need some luck. Mortgage rates for p...
05/19/2010
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Even when they're not "on", a multitude of everyday home appliances continue to draw power from the grid, raising home energy bills and increasing atmospheric emissions. These so-called "Energy Vampires" cost U.S. homeowners $4 billion, collectively, in 2005. In 2010, that figure is likely highe...
05/19/2010
The Real Estate Geeks On: Markets Ignore The April Jobs Report And It's Good News For Mortgage Rates
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On the first Friday of every month, the U.S. government releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report. More commonly called "the jobs report", Non-Farm Payrolls is a major market mover. The number of working Americans is directly tied to the health of the economy which, in turn, drives the stock and bon...
05/16/2010
The Federal Reserve says that financial markets "remain supportive of economic growth". Residential mortgage guidelines, however, continue to tighten. If you've applied for a home loan recently, you probably felt it; extra scrutiny on income, assets and credit scores, among other things. The har...
05/14/2010