mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 30, 2017 - 10/30/17 02:32 PM
Last week’s economic news included readings on new and pending home sales and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
New Home Sales Exceed Expectations; No Growth for Pending Sales
September sales of new homes reached a 10-year high with a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 667,000 new homes sold. Analysts said that high demand drove September sales past the expected rate of 555,000 sales and August’s reading of 561,000 sales of new homes. September’s reading was 19.9 percent higher than for August and was 17 percent higher year-over-year. September’s reading was 8.60 percent higher for year-to-date sales of new homes. This … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 16, 2017 - 10/16/17 01:49 PM
Last week’s economic reports included minutes of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting held in September along with releases on inflation and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
FOMC Meeting Minutes Indicate December Rate Hike is No Sure Thing
According to minutes for the September 19 and 20 meeting of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed has adopted a wait-and-see posture concerning a possible rate hike at December’s meeting. Although analysts previously indicated that additional rate hikes were expected by the end of 2017, the Fed chose not to raise the federal funds rate in September.
Hurricanes Harvey and … (1 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 9, 2017 - 10/09/17 08:33 AM
Fixed mortgage rates rose by two basis points last week as the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage dropped by two basis points.  Construction spending returned to positive territory, but job growth dropped in public and private sectors. National unemployment was lower.
Construction Spending Rises in August
Builders increased construction spending in August after July’s reading dipped lower than June’s reading. Construction spending rose by 0.50 percent in August, which exceeded expectations of a 0.40 percent increase and July’s reading of -1.20 percent. Higher construction spending in August was driven by higher spending on public sector building projects.
Analysts said that public … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 2, 2017 - 10/02/17 06:43 AM
Last week’s economic reports included Case-Shiller’s Home Price Indices, readings on new and pending home sales and Freddie Mac ‘s weekly mortgage rates report. Weekly jobless claims and reports on inflation and core inflation were also released.
Case–Shiller Home Prices Rise in July; New and Pending Home Sales Lower in August
According to Case-Shiller July Index reports, national home prices rose at a rate of 5.8
90 percent on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis as compared to June’s reading of 5.80 percent. The top three cities in the 20-City Home Price Index were Seattle, Washington, Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas, Nevada.
Home prices are responding to … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster With These Money-Smart Strategies - 09/28/17 07:09 AM
As with any loan or line of credit, there are benefits to getting your mortgage paid down. You’ll pay less in interest, potentially saving thousands over the repayment period. Moreover, you’ll own your home outright that much quicker.
Let’s explore four money-smart strategies that will help you to pay your mortgage off faster.
Start With The Obvious And Increase Your Payments
It won’t come as a surprise that one of the easiest ways to get your mortgage paid off is to increase the amount you put towards your monthly payments. Most lenders will allow you to place any extra funds directly against the outstanding … (1 comments)

mortgage rates: Whats Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week September 25 2017 - 09/25/17 12:20 PM
Last week’s economic news included readings on housing starts, building permits issued and sales of pre-owned homes. The Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee issued its customary post-meeting statement and Fed Chair Janet Yellen gave a press conference. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released.
Housing Starts Lower, but Building Permits Increase
August saw fewer housing starts with 1.18 million starts on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. July’s reading was upwardly adjusted to 1.19 million starts; analysts expected 1.175 million starts annually in August. Building permits rose in August, which suggested builder confidence was strong regardless of fewer starts.
Recent hurricanes … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: Worried About Rates Rising? Here’s How to Prepare for an Upward Trend - 09/13/17 01:07 PM
Whether you are just starting to shop for a new home or you’ve been paying off your mortgage for years, the news of potential interest rate increases may be worrying. Of course, interest rates naturally cycle higher and lower over time, so is there anything to be genuinely concerned about? In today’s article, we’ll explore interest rates and how you can prepare for an upward trend in rates if and when the time comes.
Speak With Your Mortgage Advisor First
If you already have a mortgage, the first step would be to speak with your lender to discuss what’s coming in regards to … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 11, 2017 - 09/11/17 06:48 AM
Last week’s economic news was slim due to the Labor Day Holiday. Scheduled releases included the Fed’s Beige Book Report and weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. 
Beige Book Cites Concerns Over U.S. Auto Industry
Federal Reserve Board members shared anecdotes from their respective regions; of note were concerns about U.S. automakers. Auto production was more than 16 percent lower year-over-year in Cleveland, Ohio. Fed business contacts said that automakers are no longer seeking buildings for expanding production. Analysts said that slowing auto production and sales could indicate slowing economic trends. Auto industry slow-downs could also result in layoffs in … (1 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 5, 2017 - 09/05/17 12:01 PM
Last week’s economic reports included readings on home prices, pending home sales and construction spending. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were released along with labor-sector readings on Non-Farm Payrolls, ADP employment and National Unemployment.
Case–Shiller: Three Western Cities Hold Top Three Places for Home Price Growth
According to Case-Shiller’s June edition of its 20-City Home Price Index, the top three spots were again held by Seattle, Washington, Portland Oregon and Dallas, Texas. Seattle home prices outstripped Portland, Oregon with a reading of 13.40 percent home price growth on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Portland, Oregon home prices grew by a … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 28, 2017 - 08/28/17 03:48 PM
Last week’s economic news included readings on sales of new and previously-owned homes, Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released, along with coverage of Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s remarks at a conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Home Sales Lower in July
According to the Commerce Department, new home sales fell to a seven-month low in July; 571,000 new homes were sold on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis in July.  This reading fell short of the expected sales rate of 608,000 new home sales and June’s reading of 630,000 sales. This was unwelcome news for home builders, who have been … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 24, 2017 - 07/24/17 07:21 AM
Last week’s economic news included releases from the National Association of Home Builders and releases from the Commerce Department on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released.
NAHB Housing Market Index Dips; Builder Sentiment Remains Strong
Higher lumber costs were cited by the National Association of Home Builders as contributing to lower readings for the group’s monthly Housing Market Index. July’s reading was two points lower than May’s index reading. The original May reading of 67 was adjusted to 66.
Builders said that a steep tariff on Canadian lumber has raised building costs, … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 10, 2017 - 07/10/17 01:11 PM
Last week’s economic reports suggested that demand for homes is rising despite a jump in mortgage rates and rising home prices fueled by low inventories of homes for sale. Demand for homes rose by 1.40 percent as interest rates jumped after the 10-year Treasury rate rose by 10 basis points.
Construction spending was unchanged in May as compared to a -0.70 percent reading in April. Although builders express high confidence in housing market conditions, construction spending continued to lag behind spending levels based on builder confidence readings.
Home buyers received good news as major credit bureaus removed two key components from consumer credit … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – July 3, 2017 - 07/03/17 08:30 AM
Last week’s economic news included Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, pending home sales and inflation. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were released along with a reading on consumer sentiment. Case-Shiller and pending home sales readings suggested that recent rapid growth in home prices and home sales may be easing. High demand for homes coupled with low inventories of homes for sale has created an artificially high rate of home price growth and competition among buyers for a limited number of homes.
Home Price Growth Rate, Pending Home Sales Slow
Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for April showed lower home price growth … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 26, 2017 - 06/26/17 02:47 PM
Last week’s economic news included readings on sales of new and previously owned homes. Despite expectations of lower sales in both categories, sales surpassed expectations and April sales. Analysts were concerned about extremely tight inventories of available homes limiting home sales and did not expect May home sales to increase.
May Home Sales Surpass Expectations
Sales of new homes increased to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 610,000 sales as compared to expectations of 590,000 sales and an annual sales pace of 593,000 homes in April. Home builders have repeatedly cited a lack of buildable lots and skilled labor, but growth in new home … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 19, 2017 - 06/19/17 07:20 AM
Last week’s economic reports included readings on inflation, core inflation, and the Federal Reserve’s FOMC statement. The NAHB Housing Market Index, housing starts and building permits issued were also released, along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
Inflation fell by -0.10 percent in May, which was lower than the no-change reading expected by analysts based on April’s reading of +0.20 percent. The core inflation reading for May, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, grew by 0.10 percent. Analysts had estimated a gain of 0.20 percent based on April’s reading of 0.10 percent growth.
Builder Confidence Slips, Housing Starts … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 12, 2017 - 06/12/17 09:02 AM
Last week’s economic news was slim, with few scheduled reports released. Job openings for April, along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims were released. Job openings rose in April, while weekly jobless claims were lower. The headline event last week was a further decrease in fixed-rate mortgage interest rates.
Mortgage Rates Lowest in Almost 7 Months
Freddie Mac reported that average rates for fixed rate home loans fell again last week. Mortgage rates typically follow 10-year Treasury yields, which also fell last week. The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropped five basis points to 3.89 percent; … (1 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 5, 2017 - 06/05/17 07:38 AM
Last week’s economic releases included readings on inflation, core inflation pending home sales and multiple reports from the labor sector. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Pending home sales were lower and weekly jobless claims rose, which illustrates continued volatility in the economic sector.
Inflation rose 0.40 percent in April, which matched projections and exceeded April’s reading of 0.30 percent. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, grew by 0.20 percent and exceeded expectations of 0.10 percent growth based on a negative reading of -0.20 percent in March. The Federal Reserve has set an … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 30, 2017 - 05/30/17 02:19 PM
Sales of new and previously owned homes were lower in April after reaching near-record levels in March. Mortgage rates were lower last week and new jobless claims were little changed.
New Home Sales Fall in April; March Reading Revised
New home sales were lower in April after moving higher in March. The Commerce Department revised March figures for new home sales to 642,000 sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. April sales of new homes fell by 11.40 percent to 569,000 new home sales, which fell shy of 605,000 expected sales in April. Sales of new homes reported by the government are based on … (1 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 22, 2017 - 05/22/17 07:12 AM
Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims.
NAHB Housing Market Index Rises, Exceeds Expectations
Builder Sentiment rose two points in May, which exceeded expectations of no change to April’s reading of 68. Builders and analysts said that short inventories of available homes continue to drive demand for new homes. While index readings jumped immediately after the Presidential election in November, builder enthusiasm settled when tariffs on lumber were increased.
Two of three components used in calculating the NAHB Housing … (0 comments)

mortgage rates: What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 15, 2017 - 05/15/17 07:07 AM
Last week’s economic reports included readings on inflation and core inflation, retail sales and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on new jobless claims and mortgage rates were also released.
Inflation, Retail Sales Higher in April
April inflation grew by 0.20 percent as expected. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy sectors, increased by 0.10 percent. Analysts expected a reading of 0.20 percent. The Federal Reserve monitors inflation readings as part of its research for monetary policy decisions. The Fed set a benchmark of 2.00 percent annual inflation as an indicator of solid economic recovery. Growing inflation could prompt the Fed to raise interest … (1 comments)

 
Joe Gonzalez, NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563 (CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029)

Joe Gonzalez

NMLS# 126036 (610) 739-6563

King of Prussia, PA

More about me…

CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC NMLS #3029

Address: 625 W. Ridge Pike, Building C, Suite 100, Conshohocken, PA, 19428

Office: 610.355.8039

Mobile: 610.739.6563

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