Blog

29
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 29, 2018

Last week's economic news included releases on new and existing home sales along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Home Sales Fall Due to Slim Supply of Homes December sales of previously-owned homes dipped to an 18-year low with a reading of 5.57 million sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Pre-owned home sales were expected to reach 5.73 million homes based on November's downwardly- revised reading of 5.78 million sales. December sales were 3.6 percent lower month-to-month, but were 1.10 percent higher year-over-year. Analysts credited the shortage of sales to tight inventories of homes for sale.…
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26
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

3 Reasons You Might Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage in Early 2018

If you are a homeowner who has had their mortgage for a few years, you may be starting to wonder about refinancing. In essence, this is the process of retiring your current mortgage and taking out a new one because the terms are more favorable to you. Below we will share three reasons why you might want to look at refinancing your mortgage this year. Let's get started. Can You Use Some Extra Cash? Ask yourself: if you had some extra money on hand, how would you use it? Many homeowners refinance to pull out some of the equity value…
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25
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

In a Hurry to Buy a Home? Speed Your Mortgage Approval up by Following This Checklist

Have you finally found your dream home after months of searching, only to discover that the seller has received other offers? Few circumstances can raise your stress level as much as finding yourself in a bidding war against another buyer. However, being unprepared by not having your finances in order can make the situation even worse. Let's take a quick look at a few ways that you can speed up your mortgage approval if you are in a hurry to buy your next home. Pull Your Credit Report ASAP The first step you will want to do is check your…
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24
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Housing Market

NAHB: Home Builder Confidence Drops in January

Homebuilder confidence in housing market conditions dipped two points in January; ongoing challenges including labor shortages and materials costs were cited by the National Association of Home Builders, which provides monthly readings on home builder sentiment. Three component readings of the Housing Market Index declined by one point each. Readings for current sales conditions, housing market conditions for the next six months and for buyer traffic within new single-family housing developments were 79, 78 and 54 respectively. Readings over 50 indicate positive builder sentiment. The reading for buyer traffic seldom exceeds 50. Current readings support continued builder confidence in current…
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23
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Shopping for a Mortgage? Don’t Make These Key Mistakes That Trip Up First-time Buyers

Are you ready to dive into the real estate market for the first time? Buying a new house, condo or apartment is an exciting experience that sets you on the path to building your net worth. However, if you are planning to take out a mortgage, you should be aware that there are some potential pitfalls to avoid. Let's explore a few of the key mistakes that first-time homebuyers make when they are shopping around for a mortgage. Mistake #1: Trying To Rush The Process The first mistake that you will want to avoid making is trying to rush the…
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22
Jan
By Jim Hasek
Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 22, 2018

Last week's economic news included readings on home builder confidence, housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released; the week wrapped with the University of Michigan's report on consumer sentiment. Home Builder Confidence Dips, Remains in Positive Territory According to the National Association of Home Builders, builder confidence dropped two points in January to 72, but high demand for homes continued to provide builders with positive outlooks on housing market conditions. While continued concerns over labor and lot shortages were cited, home builders surveyed for January's Housing Market Index said…
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