A report issued Monday by the U.S. government showed core inflation rising 2.5 percent in the last 12 months for its biggest one-year gain since January 2010. Everyday living is becoming expensive, it seems. But there are some U.S. towns in which the cost of living remains affordable — and downright cheap — as compared to the national average. They’re detailed in a BusinessWeek piece titled “The Cheapest 25 Cities In The U.S“. In comparing costs across 340 urban areas as compiled by the Council of Community & Economic Research, cities in Texas, … (2 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: What did the Fed say today - in English please
- 06/22/11 08:27 AM
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 … (1 comments)
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 Scottsdale in the months ahead. When builders get less bullish on housing, they … (1 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: How to clean outdoor furniture - what I learned from a hard weekend in the yard!
- 06/20/11 06:05 AM
How To Clean Outdoor Furniture : Resin, Wood And Metal This week marks the official start of Summer in Phoenix. If your home's outdoor area has furniture in it, you'll want to make sure that your furniture is clean. In this 4-minute video from Lowe's, you'll learn tricks to keep your outdoor furniture clean, and protected from the elements. All types of outdoor furniture are covered in the lesson including metal, resin-based, and wooden. The offered tips include: Why you should never remove the "care tags" from a furniture pillow Choosing the proper pressure-washer tip for the job at-hand How … (1 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Fireworks are legal in Arizona? - But are they?
- 06/18/11 03:28 AM
With 209,000 acres of charred Arizona landscape and still burning as of this morning I thought it appropriate to talk about Firework sales in Arizona and where we can set them off and where we can't. What is or isn't legal to help remedy all the confusion - now that still begs the question with 209,000 acres burnt beyond recognition! Should we set off anything flammable - you be the judge. So what is all the fuss about? Fireworks haven't been legal in Arizona for more than 50 years -- until December 1 2010. For the first time in decades, the sale … (5 comments)
I decided to create this graphical tutorial to help make sure every blog is the best it can be when fitting inside its frames! Be they AR or Wrodpress. STEP ONE Log back into your blog if you notice a similar problem as above. Make … (3 comments)
Mortgage rates are falling, falling, falling, Is a refi boom coming? 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 … (1 comments)
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 Phoenix 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 … (0 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Really what questions do you ask of your lender?
- 06/10/11 09:00 AM
Do You Know What Questions To Ask Your Lender? Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy 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 Scottsdale or anywhere else - purchase or refinance. Some of the topics covered include: The mortgage … (3 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Does it cost more to move from one state to another
- 06/09/11 03:44 AM
Moving To A New City? See How Much Your Cost Of Living Will Change. It's a fact: It's more expensive to live in some cities than others. Beyond just the costs of buying a home, different cities also carry a different Cost of Living. For households relocating from Arizona and across state lines, the change in "life costs" can be jarring. Depending on where you live, everyday expenses - from groceries to gasoline - make a different-sized dent in a household budget. And now you can see in numbers by how much your expenses might change. Visit Bankrate.com's Cost of Living Comparison … (0 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Home Ownership and the tax benefits simplified
- 06/03/11 10:39 AM
Buying a House? Give Yourself a Raise! - Most buyers are aware of the potential tax benefits of ownership - here's how to put them in place without waiting for a refund. These smart strategies are very important to share ahead of time when buyers are considering their payment and budgets for house hunting. You will be amazed just how much this info puts the buyers at ease and helps them pull the trigger when it comes to committing to a purchase contract.
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 Scottsdale. 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 details the … (2 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Home Affordabilty reaches new highs was your state one of them?
- 05/27/11 05:46 AM
Home affordability moved higher last quarter, buoyed by stable mortgage rates and falling home prices in AZ and nationwide. The National Association of Home Builders reports that Q1 2011 Home Opportunity Index reached an all-time highfor the second straight quarter last quarter. Nearly 3 of 4 homes sold between January-March 2011 were affordable to households earning the national median income of $64,400. It’s the 9th straight quarter in which home affordability surpassed 70 percent, and the highest reading in more than 20 years of record-keeping. From metropolitan area-to-metropolitan area, though, affordability varied. In the Midwest, for example, affordability was high. 7 … (1 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Memorial Day Messes With Mortgage Rates
- 05/25/11 12:48 AM
Mortgage rates across the state are near year-to-date lows, but locking them in this week may be difficult. As Memorial Day nears, and Wall Streeters get a head-start on the long weekends, trade volume in the mortgage bond markets will dip. When bond volume drops, mortgage rates get jumpy. It's a relationship based more on scarcity than actual market fundamentals. It works like this: Conforming and FHA mortgage rates are based on the "market price" of a mortgage-backed bond Mortgage-backed bonds can't be bought or sold without a buyer and a seller at a specific price As Friday gets closer this … (1 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Short Sale vs. Foreclosure - What's the difference?
- 05/24/11 03:17 AM
An oldie but goodie had 5 calls on this yesterday alone, thought I would republish - Any of the information within if you would like a sheet for your own distribution with your name and logo on it don't hesitate to let me know and I would be happy to send the file to you so you can help your clients. Also www.azshortsalesdoneright.com will be of help to Arizona home owners and agents looking for the latest in short sale info. Feel free to go ahead and use whatever material you feel you can use to prevent more homeowners from going … (0 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: How To Screen For A Good Home Contractor
- 05/22/11 07:42 AM
Home remodeling projects are expected to top $130 blllion this quarter, their highest total since Q1 2008. A likely catalyst is that the average cost of a home improvement project is falling fast. With the economy loosening up and contractor costs on a downswing, some in Phoenix homeowners are choosing to put money back into their respective homes, and making home improvements. If you’re among them, you’ll want to make sure you’ve properly screened your contractor. Advice is mostly common sense, and worth heeding. For example: Only select registered/licensed, and insured contractors for work in your home Don’t automatically select the lowest bid; … (0 comments)
mark taylor hud fha va usda jumbo and conventional mortgage loans in arizona and california: Fed Minutes Put The Heat On Mortgage Rates To Rise
- 05/21/11 04:14 AM
The Federal Reserve released its April 2011 Federal Open Market Committee meeting minutes Wednesday. In the hours since, mortgage markets have worsened; rates in AZ are higher by 1/8 percent this morning, at least. The “Fed Minutes” is published 8 times annually, three week after each scheduled FOMC meeting. The minutes are the Federal Reserve’s official recap of the conversations and debates that shaped the prior FOMC session. Another way to consider the Fed Minutes is as the companion piece to the more well-known FOMC press release. The press release is issued on the day of adjournment, and is brief, narrow, and high-level. … (1 comments)
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