A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (June 22, 2011 Edition) - 06/22/11 02:09 PM
A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (June 22, 2011 Edition)

Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.
The vote was 10-0 - the fourth straight unanimous vote for the nation's Central Bank.
In its press release, the FOMC said that the economy is recovering, although "somewhat more slowly" than what was expected. Labor markets have been weaker than anticipated and the Fed believes that is, in part, a result of higher food and energy costs, and supply chain disruptions as a result of … (0 comments)

Homebuilder Confidence Slips To 9-Month Low - 06/21/11 10:08 AM
Homebuilder Confidence Slips To 9-Month Low
 

Despite rising new home sales and an increase in building permits nationwide, home builder confidence slipped to a 9-month low in June. The monthly Housing Market Index from the National Association of Homebuilders registered 13 this month - three ticks lower than last month, and its lowest level since September 2010.
June's 3-point drop from May is the biggest one-month move since May 2010, the month after the expiration of the federal home buyer tax credit. The retreat could signal favorable pricing for new home buyers in Spartanburg in the months ahead.
When … (0 comments)

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates : Week of June 20, 2011 - 06/21/11 08:45 AM
What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates : Week of June 20, 2011

 
Mortgage markets improved last week as Wall Street managed news on both sides of the economic coin. There were several instances of higher-than-expected inflation - an event that tends to lead rates higher - but weak domestic jobs data and a soft manufacturing report suppressed the damage.
Rates were also held low by ongoing issues in Greece.
In Greece, the government is currently struggling to meet its debt obligations - despite a restructuring of existing debt negotiated in 2010.
Without a plan for its new debt, though, Greece will … (0 comments)

Housing Starts Climb Unexpectedly In May - 06/19/11 08:09 PM
 
The housing market received a jolt of good news Thursday. The Commerce Department reports that Single-Family Housing Starts improved in May.
As compared to April, last month's Single-Family Housing Starts rose 4 percent to a seasonally-adjusted, annualized rate of 419,000 units, a figure slightly better than the 6-month average and the highest tally since January.
A "housing start" is defined as a home on which new construction has started.
In addition, Building Permits saw a boost in May, too, climbing nearly 9 percent overall. Building Permits are a gauge of future construction activity with 89 percent of permits leading to … (0 comments)

Monthly Foreclosure Count Drops For 16th Straight Month - 06/19/11 08:06 PM


Foreclosure rates are falling.
According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, monthly foreclosure filings fell 2 percent in May to just under 215,000 filings nationwide. A foreclosure filing is defined as any one of the following: a default notice, a scheduled auction, or a bank repossession.
On an annual basis, foreclosure counts have dropped over 16 consecutive months, dating back to January 2010.
Like all things in real estate, though, foreclosures are local. 6 states accounted for more than half of the country's foreclosure filings in May. Those six states - California, Michigan, Arizona, Florida, Georgia and Texas - represent just 34% of the U.S. population.
… (2 comments)

Is This The Start Of A Refi Boom? Mortgage Rates Fall For 8 Straight Weeks. - 06/14/11 02:23 PM
Is This The Start Of A Refi Boom? Mortgage Rates Fall For 8 Straight Weeks.

Mortgage rates are falling, falling, falling.
On a wave of uncertainty about Greece and its debt; and weaker-than-expected economic data at home, conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates have fallen to levels not seen since December 2, 2010.
Mortgage rates have dropped 8 weeks in a row. Not even last year's Refi Boom produced an 8-week winning streak. This season's streak is historic.
The 30-year fixed rate mortgage now averages 4.49% nationally, down 42 basis points, or 0.42%, since early-April. For every $100,000 borrowed, that … (2 comments)

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 13, 2011 - 06/14/11 02:19 PM
What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 13, 2011
Mortgage markets moved in feverish fashion last week, changing with extreme frequency, and eventually ending slightly worse on the week. Conforming mortgage rates fell to a 6-month low Wednesday but, by Friday, they had retreated higher.
Last week marked just the second time in 8 weeks that rates in Greenville increased. During that span, Freddie Mac reports that mortgage rates have dropped 42 basis points, or 0.42%.
That equates to a monthly savings of $25.24 per $100,000 borrowed.
One reason why mortgage rates have been dropping is that the economy … (0 comments)

Do You Know What Questions To Ask Your Lender? - 06/10/11 11:09 AM
Do You Know What Questions To Ask Your Lender?
A mortgage comes with many moving pieces and understanding them is the key getting a great deal. Unfortunately, studies show that few Americans have a firm grasp of how mortgages work - from mortgage types to mortgage fees.
In this back-to-basics interview on NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn some mortgage planning basics to help you get smarter with your next home loan in Oconee or anywhere else - purchase or refinance.
Some of the topics covered include:
The mortgage applicants for whom adjustable-rate mortgages are a better choice than fixed-rate mortgages … (0 comments)

Temporary Conforming Loan Limits Expire September 30, 2011 - 06/10/11 11:05 AM
Temporary Conforming Loan Limits Expire September 30, 2011

 
If you live in a high-cost area, keep an eye on your calendar. Effective October 1, 2011, temporary conforming loan limits will be lowered nationwide. Perhaps by as much as 14 percent.
These limits range up to $729,750 currently.
"Temporary loan limits" were enacted as part of the government's 2008 economic stimulus package. At the time, the financial sector was entering its crisis and private mortgage lending had all but disappeared. Financing was scarce for both homeowners and home buyers for whom loan sizes exceeded Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's national … (0 comments)

"Homes Under Contract" Plunge 12 Percent In April - 06/10/11 11:01 AM
"Homes Under Contract" Plunge 12 Percent In April

Hurt by foul weather and a soft market, the Pending Home Sales Index plunged 12 percent in April.
The monthly index is published by the National Association of REALTORS® and measures the number of homes on which new contracts have been written. 
It's the association's lone "forward-looking" report; meant to predict future, closed home sales. 80% of homes under contract close within 2 months.
Therefore, if the April Pending Home Sales Index is accurate, we should expect home sales to decline through June and July.
On a regional basis, "pending homes" varied. … (1 comments)

Case-Shiller Shows Home Values Rolling Back 9 Years - 06/03/11 09:24 AM
Case-Shiller Shows Home Values Rolling Back 9 Years

The March Case-Shiller Index was released this week and it corroborates the findings of the government's most recent Home Price Index - home values are slipping nationwide.
According to the Case-Shiller Index's publisher, Standard & Poors, home values fell in March from the year prior.
The March report was among the worst Case-Shiller Index readings in 3 years. On a monthly basis, 18 of 20 tracked markets worsened. Only Seattle and Washington, D.C. showed improvement, rising 0.1% and 1.1%, respectively.
On an annual basis, price degradation was even worse.
Washington, D.C. is the … (4 comments)

Making A Rate-Lock Plan Before Friday's Jobs Report - 06/03/11 09:20 AM
Making A Rate-Lock Plan Before Friday's Jobs Report

 

Tomorrow morning, at 8:30 AM ET, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report for May. If you're floating a mortgage rate right now - or are in the process of shopping for a loan - consider locking your rate sooner rather than later.
The Non-Farm Payrolls report can be a major market mover, causing large fluctuations in both conforming and FHA mortgage rates in Spartanburg. It's because of the report's insight into the U.S. economy.
More commonly called "the jobs report", Non-Farm Payrolls is issued monthly. Sector-by-sector, it … (1 comments)

Mortgage Guidelines Start To Loosen At The Country's Biggest Banks - 06/02/11 07:07 AM
Mortgage Guidelines Start To Loosen At The Country's Biggest Banks
 
 

Another quarter, another sign that mortgage lending may be easing nationwide.
The Federal Reserve's quarterly survey of senior loan officers revealed that an overwhelmingly majority of U.S. banks have stopped tightening mortgage requirements for "prime borrowers".
A prime borrower is one with a well-documented credit history, high credit scores, and a low debt-to-income ratio.
Of the 53 responding "big banks", 49 reported that mortgage guidelines were "basically unchanged" last quarter. Of the remaining four banks, two said mortgage guidelines had "eased somewhat", and the remaining banks said guidelines … (3 comments)

 
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Frank Hilliard

Greenville, SC

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New Penn Financial, LLC

Address: 124 Verdae Blvd, Suite 203, Greenville, SC, 29607

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Daily updates from the mortgage industry from Preferred Trust's perspective. Keep track of weekly mortgage rate updates and many other issues impacting the mortgage finance world. I hope you enjoy the information contained in this blog!


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