mortgage: Add Color To Your Home Decor Without Going Overboard
- 03/16/14 04:59 AM
There is a fine line between adding color to your home décor and using too much color, so that you feel like you are living inside a rainbow. A little bit of color will add a lot of fun and interest to your home design, but too much color can be overwhelming. How can you achieve that perfect balance? Here Are Some Tips To Keep In Mind For Using Color In Your Home In A Subtle And Balanced Way: Use Color Schemes Before choosing the colors for your décor, do a little bit of research into color schemes and how they … (3 comments)
mortgage: Mortgage Rates - Float or Lock? 03/15/2014
- 03/15/14 05:13 AM
Mortgage Rates We will continue to float, but we are extremely cautious given that Stocks fell Friday as did Mortgage Bonds. If rates are favorable and you can't lose any pricing, think about locking short term files, measured in a few days to a few weeks. But there is no panic given that rate sheets were better Friday. Otherwise, float if you can.
Market Wrap-up
Tame inflation, a weak reading from Consumer Sentiment and a declining Stock market couldn't boost Bond prices today as traders grow jittery after the recent Bond rally. The 4% coupon finished at 104.41 down … (3 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/14/2014
- 03/14/14 02:56 AM
Inflation at the wholesale level remained tame in February due in part to declining energy prices. The Producer Price Index, which measures prices businesses receive for their goods and services, fell by 0.1% last month, below the 0.2% that was expected. The year-over-year number came in at 0.9%, down from the 1.2% annual increase recorded in January. The unusually harsh winter weather has dampened consumer attitudes on the U.S. economy's outlook. The early March Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 79.9, below the 82.0 expected and down from the 81.6 registered in February. That was the lowest reading since November and economists … (0 comments)
mortgage: Cut Energy Costs by Going Green this St. Patrick’s Day
- 03/14/14 01:28 AM
You’re ready to make some changes to your home, but you want to be smart with your money and see a positive return on your investment. While most homeowners don’t see that return until they sell their home, you can start seeing the benefits now through conserving energy by making your home green. So in honor of the upcoming green holiday, stop searching for that pot of gold. Get inspired by St. Patrick’s Day to go green to cut your energy costs with the environmentally friendly renovations below. You’ll soon see the savings building up at the end of the rainbow. … (0 comments)
mortgage: Legal Secrets For Homeowners
- 03/13/14 08:29 PM
Being a homeowner is exciting. It can be personally and financially rewarding, too. Those rewards come with a certain amount of risk, however. Keeping yourself legally protected is a good idea. Here Are Some Risks And Some Ways To Handle Them HOAs. If you own a condo, townhome or other property in an association, the homeowner association is extremely powerful. Not paying their dues or violating their rules could leave you subject to fines or even foreclosure. Neighbors. Whether or not good fences make for good neighbors, bad neighbors make for legal problems. Before dealing with your neighbors, research your community’s … (2 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/13/2014
- 03/13/14 05:13 AM
Americans filing for first time unemployment benefits fell to lows not seen since late November, signaling an uptick in the labor market. The Labor Department reported that Weekly Initial Jobless Claims fell by 9,000 in the latest week to 315,000, which was below the 329,000 that was expected. As the country moves out of the unbearable cold weather and massive snowstorms, the sector could be on its way to greener pastures. In the foreclosure arena, RealtyTrac reported that foreclosure activity across the nation fell to its lowest level in more than seven years, due in part to the rise in home … (0 comments)
mortgage: Financial Preparations to Make Before Applying For A Mortgage
- 03/13/14 05:05 AM
Getting a mortgage isn’t an easy thing to do. Before a lender will put down hundreds of thousands of dollars, it wants to know that the borrower can handle the loan so that it will get paid back. To this end, there are three things that a potential homebuyer can do to prepare for the mortgage approval process. Managing Debts For many homebuyers, managing their credit score is the biggest challenge. Mortgage lenders like buyers with strong credit. While getting strong credit usually isn’t something that can be done overnight, paying bills on time, all of the time, can help to … (0 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/12/2014
- 03/12/14 12:10 AM
As the spring and summer driving seasons near, one thing is for certain - higher gas prices at the pump. The national average price for a regular gallon of gasoline is $3.48, up from $3.28 a month ago as prices have increased 28 straight days. AAA predicts that prices will rise an additional 10 to 20 cents this spring and could rise more if the tensions in the Ukraine ramps up. Russia is the third largest oil producing country behind Saudi Arabia and the U.S. and any disruptions could cause oil prices to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this … (0 comments)
mortgage: Want To Get A Home Loan? Don’t Make These Mistakes
- 03/11/14 08:38 PM
Getting a home loan can be a challenging process. Qualifying can be challenging and once a buyer gets approved, it can be surprisingly easy to derail the process. Here are some mistakes to be avoided: Not Pre-Checking Credit Once a borrower makes his application for a mortgage, his fate is largely sealed. One way to increase the chance of qualifying for a home loan is for a borrower to check his credit before applying. That way, he can address any issues before they become problems for the lender. Changing Jobs Lenders judge borrowers on their ability to repay the loan. While … (30 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/10/2014
- 03/10/14 05:44 AM
The closely watched S&P 500 closed at another record high on Friday of 1,878.04, which is a long way from the close of 676.53 hit five years ago at the height of the Great Recession. The S&P has gained 177% since that day, which is the best 5-year performance since the June 1996 to June 2000 rise during the dot-com bubble. Shares of Dow component Boeing are lower this morning after its 777-20 plane with 239 passengers and crew disappeared during a Malaysia Airlines flight to Beijing on March 8. There are no signs of debris or any traces of the … (0 comments)
mortgage: Mortgage Rates: Float or Lock? 03/08/2014
- 03/08/14 03:35 AM
CLOSING TECHNICAL SIGNAL: After Friday's fireworks supplied by the Jobs Report, we will float into the new week as the 4% coupon seems to have found support at the 200-day Moving Average. MARKET WRAP: The better than expected jobs data pushed Mortgage Bonds considerably lower Friday morning, but they did manage to cut some of the losses before the close of trading. The 4% closed down 25bp to end the session at 104.16. The Dow finished at 16.452.72 up 30.83 points, the S&P 500 gained 1.01 points to end at 1,878.04, another record close. The Nasdaq fell by 15.90 points to … (0 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/08/2014
- 03/08/14 03:21 AM
Friday: The U.S. economy added more jobs than expected in February, despite the harsh winter weather that blanketed the country. The Labor Department reported that Non-farm Payrolls rose by 175,000, above the 163,000 that was expected, and up from the 129,000 created in January and 84,000 in December. Within the report it showed that the Unemployment Rate ticked up to 6.7% from 6.6% - signaling that more people are beginning to look for jobs. In a sign that online shopping is becoming more popular, office supply chain Staples, announced it will close as many as 12% of its North American stores … (0 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/06/2014
- 03/05/14 11:25 PM
The labor market continues to muddle along as evidenced by today's ADP Private Employment Report for February. Employers added 139,000 jobs last month, below the 150,000 expected. In addition, January's 175,000 was revised lower to 127,000. The ongoing factor behind the weak jobs data continues to be the harsh weather across the nation this winter. The report comes ahead of the government's monthly Jobs Report, which is due to be released this Friday. The weather is also being blamed for a decline in the service sector of the U.S. economy. The Institute for Supply Management's ISM Service Index declined in February … (1 comments)
mortgage: More Buyers to Enter the Market / Lenders Easing Credit Standards
- 03/04/14 11:28 PM
Two major indicators of home price trends showed a slowing momentum for home prices in December. 1. Case-Shiller’s seasonally adjusted month-to month reading showed that home prices rose by 0.8 percent as compared to 0.90 percent in November. 2. David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said that “Gains are slowing from month-to-month.” He also noted that seasonally adjusted data was showing a loss of momentum for home prices. December home prices posted a year-over-year gain of 13.40 percent, down from November’s year-over-year reading of 13.70 percent. December’s reading reflected the highest year-over-year increase in home … (0 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/05/2014
- 03/04/14 11:11 PM
News from Russia that there is no immediate need to invade Ukraine has sent the Stock markets skyrocketing today, while pressuring the Bond markets lower. The rally in the Stock markets have pushed the closely watched S&P 500 Index to an all-time intraday high of 1,871. In housing news, CoreLogic reported today that home prices, including distressed sales, were up 12% in January 2014 compared to January 2013. This marks the 23rd consecutive month of year-over-year price increases. In addition, prices rose by 0.9% from December 2013 to January 2014. CoreLogic said price growth should continue as the market comes out … (0 comments)
mortgage: Mortgage Pre-Qualification – What is it?
- 03/03/14 11:52 PM
A mortgage pre-qualification is an initial estimate of what type of mortgage a borrower could get. It is limited, though, because it’s only based on what the borrower tells the lender, which might not be the same as what the lender finds out when it goes through a full process of analyzing the borrower and his credit. Steps Of A Pre-Qualification To get pre-qualified, a borrower starts by finding a lender. Typically, he will give the lender basic information on his ability to borrow. This includes his income, how much money he has in the bank, his current payments and an … (0 comments)
mortgage: Mortgage Rates This Week – March 3, 2014
- 03/02/14 11:14 PM
Fixed Mortgage Rates, New and Pending Home Sales Rise Freddie Mac reported that average rates for fixed-rate mortgages rose last week, with the rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage rising 4 basis points to 4.37 percent. The rate for a 15-year mortgage also increased by 4 basis points to 3.39 percent. The average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage fell by 3 basis points to 3.05 percent. Discount points were unchanged at 0.7 0 percent for fixed rate mortgages and 0.50 percent for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage. Weekly jobless claims also rose to 348,000 against projections for 335,000 … (0 comments)
mortgage: Today's Economics in a Nutshell - 03/03/2014
- 03/02/14 10:47 PM
Economic data was plentiful this morning with reports ranging from U.S. growth to housing numbers. The government reported that the second reading for Gross Domestic Product, a measure of goods and services produced across the nation, was lower than previously reported falling to 2.6% in the final quarter of 2013 from 3.2% in the initial reading. There was a bright light within the report, as company spending rose to 10.6% from 6.9%. Over in housing, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported that Pending Home Sales in January were essential unchanged with monthly gains in the South and Northeast offsetting declines … (1 comments)
mortgage: Get The Overview On Escrow Accounts
- 03/01/14 10:35 PM
Whether you are purchasing a new home or you are considering applying to refinance your home, chances are the lender will require an escrow account. These accounts are often a source of confusion for homeowners. In reality, these accounts benefit the homeowner and help protect the lender. What Is An Escrow Account? Escrow accounts are sometimes called “impound” accounts. These accounts are set up to help manage payments of property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. Depending on the individual requirements of the lender, you may be asked to pay as much as one-quarter of these upfront and they will be put into … (1 comments)
mortgage: Mortgage Rates: Float or Lock? 03/01/2014
- 03/01/14 07:42 AM
MORTGAGE RATES: We will continue to float into next week with prices closing near the session highs. But get your clients ready to lock ahead of next Friday's Jobs Report. MARKET WRAP: Mortgage Bonds took a breather today from their recent run higher closing slightly lower due to a mixed bag of economic data this morning. The 4% coupon fell by just 6bp to end the session at 104.81 and near the upper end of today's range. Stocks had a seesaw day, trading positive, then negative and back to positive by day's end. The Dow rose by 49.06 points to 16,321.71, … (0 comments)
There is a fine line between adding color to your home décor and using too much color, so that you feel like you are living inside a rainbow.
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