28
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

You Ask, We Answer: Should I Consider a Warranty when Buying a New Home?

Are you buying a new home? If so, you've likely pondered whether or not you should invest in a warranty to protect your investment. In today's blog post we'll briefly explore home warranties including some of the pros and cons of buying one and how they differ from homeowner's insurance. The Benefits of Buying a Home Warranty Home warranties are an excellent solution if you're buying a brand new home which has a lot of new appliances and fixtures inside of it, or if you're not really the "do it yourself" type and would prefer to make a service call…
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26
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

Case-Shiller Home Prices: Price Growth Slows in September

According to the Case-Shiller National Home Price Index, annual home price growth slipped to a seasonally-adjusted rate of 4.80 percent in September. This was 0.30 percent lower than August's year-over-year reading of 5.10 percent. Cities posting the highest year-over-year gains in home prices were Miami, Florida 10.30 percent, Las Vegas, NV with a gain of 9.10 percent, San Francisco, California posted a gain of 7.90 percent, Dallas home prices gained 7.40 percent and home prices increased by 6.70 percent in Portland, Oregon. David M. Blitzer, chairman of the S&P Dow Jones Index Committee, said that Florida and the Southeastern region…
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25
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Buying a Home with a Mortgage? A Quick Guide to Closing Costs and What to Expect

Whether you're just starting to shop for a new home or you've already found the perfect new house and you're ready to submit an offer, if you're taking out a mortgage loan to cover some of the home's purchase price you should be aware of the various closing costs you may encounter. In today's blog post we'll share a quick guide to closing costs and what you can expect to pay when you buy a new home. What Closing Costs Do Buyers Typically Pay? As you move forward in the home purchase process you'll incur a variety of fees that…
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24
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, , , ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – November 24, 2014

Last week's scheduled economic news included the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, Housing Starts and Existing Home Sales. FOMC meeting minutes were released along with weekly Freddie Mac mortgage rates and weekly jobless claims. In addition, the National Association of Realtors® suggested that FHA should lower its mutual mortgage insurance premiums (MMI) as its fund for paying claims has normalized since recession. Homebuilder Confidence Nears Nine-Year High The National Association of Home Builders/ Wells Fargo Housing Market Index achieved a reading of 58 for November. This was two points higher than the expected reading of 56 and four points above…
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21
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

USDA Mortgages: Take Advantage of These Low-Rate Mortgage Loans to Buy a New Home

Are you thinking about buying a home in a rural or suburban area? If so, you'll want to take a look at the United States Department of Agriculture's mortgage programs as you may qualify for them. In today's blog post we'll introduce the USDA Rural Development Single Family Housing Guaranteed Loan Program, explain the benefits of this mortgage program and how to determine if you qualify. What is a USDA Mortgage Loan? The USDA mortgage program is one of a number of programs in which the federal government will guarantee a mortgage loan as long as the recipient meets certain…
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20
Nov
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

FOMC Minutes: Economy Growing, Housing Lags

Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held October 28 and 29 were released Wednesday. The report suggests that the U.S. economy continues to improve, although the annual inflation rate remains near 1.50 percent and short of the committee's goal of 2.00 percent. Falling crude oil prices were cited as a cause of faltering inflation rates. The minutes indicated that FOMC members expect inflation to remain below the 2.00 percent benchmark for the next year or so. The minutes did not reveal an exact date for raising the target federal funds rate, which is currently 0.00 to 0.250…
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