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 strong leadership, job opportunities, improving real estate markets, recreational options and ..........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Relocate America's Top 100 Places To Live (2010 Edition)       05/12/2010

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.......   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Shopping For Mortgage Rates Is Part Research Skills, Part Luck     05/12/2010

The following are the market sales statistics for Altamonte Springs, Seminole County, Florida for April 2010.  Altamonte Springs is made up of the zip codes of 32701 & 32714.  For purposes of this analysis we are only splitting the data according to single-family homes vs, condominiums, townhomes and villas. A couple of definitions are in order.  The median sales price means that 50% of the homes sold for more and 50% of the homes sold for less during a certain period of time - in other words, it's the midpoint of sale prices.  So basically what this means, is that the median sales price is showing market activity in that it's specifically indicating which price range is more active. The average sales price, as opposed to the median sales price, is the total volume of sold properties d... 05/12/2010

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......... Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Your Microwave Wastes $70 Per Year And Other Vampire Energy Facts   05/10/2010

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 bond markets. In general, when jobs numbers improve, it's good for......   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Markets Ignore The April Jobs Report And It's Good News For Mortgage Rates     05/10/2010

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 hard proof of..........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: 1 In 8 Banks Tightened Prime Mortgage Standards Last Quarter     05/06/2010

Altamonte Springs is located in the Orlando Metropolitan Area within Seminole County.  Conveniently located with easy access to all of Central Florida makes Altamonte Springs so desirable.  Pedestrian friendly if you look around people take advantage of the fresh air, mild climate and the opportunity to be outdoors.  Everyday people are walking, running, skating or fishing, skiing, just really enjoying the outdoors.  Parks and recreation are plentiful as well as community events, festivals and culture.  Looking for Fun and Entertainment? Altamonte Springs offers culture, shopping, entertainment and an assortment of dining options.   Visitors, residents and vacationers take advantage of all the things to do in Altamonte Springs.  Need more information? 05/06/2010

The Pending Home Sales Index moved higher in March as home sales were spurred by low mortgage rates and an expiring tax credit. A "pending home" is a property that is under contract to sell, but not yet closed. March marks the second straight month in which........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: March Pending Home Sales Point To Stronger Spring Market     05/05/2010

For the first time this year, Fannie Mae announced significant updates to its mortgage underwriting guidelines. The changes include newer, harsher ARM qualification standards, the elimination of a once-popular loan product, and tighter rules for interest only mortgages.  Fannie Mae made its official announcement April 30, 2010.  The changes will........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Fannie Mae Tightens Guidelines On ARMs And Interest Only Products   05/04/2010

NBC's The Today Show hosted Consumer Reports for its take on mattresses. Some of the results may surprise you. At 7 minutes, the video is long, but it's stuffed with helpful comfort tips, including the scientific reason why a mattress should be replaced every 8 years or so.  Some of the other advice includes.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Shopping For Mattresses, Or How Buy A Good Night's Sleep   05/03/2010

Earlier this week, Standard & Poors released its February Case-Shiller Index, a home price tracker for select metropolitan areas.  Overwhelmingly, home values fell in the 20 markets tracked by.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: The Headlines Were Overly Rosy On February's Case-Shiller Index     05/03/2010

The Federal Reserve adjourns from a scheduled, 2-day meeting today.  It's one of 8 scheduled Fed meetings for 2010. Upon adjournment, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke & Co. will release a formal statement to the market. In it, the Fed is expected to announce "no change" in the Fed Funds Rate. The Fed Funds Rate is currently in a target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The Fed Funds Rate is a........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: The Fed Adjourns From A 2-Day Meeting Today And What It Means For Mortgage Rates     04/28/2010

Today, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within in its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. In its press release, the FOMC noted that, since March, the U.S. economy "has continued to strengthen" and that the jobs markets "is beginning to improve".  This is a.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (April 28, 2010 Edition)   04/28/2010

The sales of newly-built homes soared in March. Even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling us. Take a look at the.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST: New Homes Sales Were Strong in March, But Not As Strong As The News Would Have You Believe       04/28/2010

The sales of newly-built homes soared in March. Even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling us. Take a look at the.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST: New Homes Sales Were Strong in March, But Not As Strong As The News Would Have You Believe       04/28/2010

The sales of newly-built homes soared in March. Even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling us. Take a look at the.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST: New Homes Sales Were Strong in March, But Not As Strong As The News Would Have You Believe       04/28/2010

Existing Home Sales rose in March, as expected. U.S. home buyers closed on 7 percent more homes as compared to February. Furthermore, versus March 2009 -- a month many people equate to the low point of the U.S. economy -- sales volume was up 16 percent. "Existing home sale" is the technical term for a home resale; a home previously inhabited by a person.  It's the opposite of a "new home sale" which is.........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Home Resales Boom Into The End Of The Tax Credit; Home Values Seen Rising.     04/23/2010

More than 60 percent of U.S. homes are "over-assessed", says an industry trade group. Homeowners in Lake Mary pay more in property taxes than they otherwise should have to.  You might be one of them. Have you considered fighting your........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Fight Your Real Estate Property Tax Bill Without A Lawyer   04/22/2010

Mortgage rates and home affordability have improved lately, thanks to an unlikely ally -- Mother Nature. In the 7 days since Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull erupted, ash clouds have grounded planes, disrupted businesses, and stranded exports in warehouses worldwide. It's a drag on commerce that's spilled over onto Wall Street. As experts debate the potential for........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: How Iceland's Volcanoes Are Helping Mortgage Rates Fall       04/21/2010

After a strong March showing and a surprise upward-revision for February, Housing Starts are, once again, trending better. It's yet another signal that the housing market in Orlando and nationwide is stabilized. A Housing Start is a new home on which construction has started and, over the last 6 months, home builders are..........   Read the COMPLETE BLOG POST HERE: Housing Starts Data Hints That Housing Will Expand Even After The Tax Credit Expires     04/20/2010