First and foremost, we hope everyone had a safe and happy New Year’s! Here’s to a prosperous 2012! Mortgage rates are starting 2012 near the all time record lows they reach multiple times in 2011. That’s great news for those looking to purchase a new home or looking to refinance their existing mortgage to a [...]

Last week marked new yearly 2011 lows for mortgage rates as a debt ceiling agreement was reached early in the week. These low rates were sustained through out the week with a small uptick on Friday when the Non-Farm payrolls came in stronger than expected. Fast forward to today and the markets are being rocked [...]

Mortgage rates set new lows for 2011 yesterday, fresh off a week that saw more negative economic data released and the biggest Dow plunge since 2008, with a total loss of 512.76 points. The loss was fueled by ongoing concerns in the markets about US debt, ongoing weak economic data, the possibility of a second [...]

Everyone’s home search is different. Some buyers fall in love with the first home they see, and others have wish lists that are harder to satisfy. Buyers typically make their decisions based on location, size, finishes and features, and of course price. What most buyers don’t realize is that the process doesn’t end when you [...]

Mortgage rates were suppressed last week by jittery markets focused on the ongoing debt ceiling debate. While there is a talk of a debt ceiling resolution this morning, there are still concerns about the details of implementing such a solution and whether or not the damage has already been done to world confidence in the [...]

U.S. Treasuries prices rose this morning (good for lower mortgage rates) as news the U.S. economy grew at an even slower pace in the first half of the year than was previously estimated, raised yet more fears the economy was at a real risk for recession. Gross domestic product, a measure of all goods and [...]

With the current state of the real estate market, remodeling or completing renovations on your home is a great way to begin putting value back into your property. However, it is a big investment and when you are hiring a contractor to complete the work, you need to be certain that they are reputable and [...]

Mortgage rates worsened this morning, led in part by “positive” data from the the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo sentiment index. The index climbed to 15 this month from 13 in June, which was higher than forecast. While the index is still at very low levels, positive surprises such as this one carry more [...]

As part of the economic stimulus package in 2008, temporary loan limits were enacted to help homeowners in high-cost areas that were unable to get loans for more than $417,000 under the standard conforming loan limits regardless of their payment history, credit and income. Homeowners in areas such San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles [...]

Whether you’re applying for a mortgage for the first time or are looking at purchasing a new home and will be increasing your mortgage amount, it’s essential to understand how much you can afford. You may think that any number that fits within your monthly budget is comfortable and sustainable, but your mortgage lender may [...]