Blog

09
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

FOMC Minutes: Housing Market Stable But Slow

The minutes of the March meeting of the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) were released Tuesday and included a staff review of current economic conditions. The minutes noted that while labor markets continued to grow, inflation to the Fed’s target rate of 2.00 percent was impeded by dropping fuel prices. The Committee noted that expectations for longer-term inflation remained stable. Non-farm payrolls, which include both private and public sector jobs, grew in January and February and the national unemployment rate reached a new low of 5.50 percent in February. Readings for workers employed part time due to economic reasons…
Read More
08
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

First-time Real Estate Investor? Here Are 3 Helpful Tips That Will Get You Started

Real estate investing comes with many benefits that you may be eager to start taking advantage of. For example, the right rental property can provide you with monthly cash flow coupled with equity appreciation, tax deductions and more, and these can have incredible effects on your overall financial situation. As a first time real estate investor, you may be excited to start searching for a property to invest in, but you may consider following a few helpful tips to make your search more successful. Determine Your Budget There are investment properties that range in price considerably, and you will need…
Read More
07
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

How Does Making Lump Sum Payments Affect Your Mortgage? Let’s Take a Look

Periodically, many homeowners will receive a rather sizable amount of extra cash. This may be from a bonus from your employer, a refund on your tax return, a financial gift from a relative or something else altogether. While there are many things that you could do with your windfall, you may be wondering if paying down your mortgage balance is a wise idea. Before you make your decision about how to spend your money, consider what impact your lump sum payment will have on your mortgage. Reduction in Principal Balance The most obvious impact a lump sum payment will have…
Read More
06
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 6, 2015

Mortgage rates ticked upward for fixed rate loans and were unchanged for 5/1 adjustable rate mortgages according to Freddie Mac. Weekly jobless claims were lower in spite of slower job growth reports. Last week's economic events included several reports on jobs and unemployment including the ADP report on private-sector payrolls, the Department of Labor's reports on non-farm payrolls and the national unemployment rate. The details: Mortgage Rates, Pending Home Sales Weekly Jobless Claims Fixed mortgage rates rose by one basis point for both 30 and -15-year mortgages. The average rate for a 30 year mortgage rate was 3.80 percent and…
Read More
03
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Around The Home, ,

Get Rid of Wi-Fi and Cellular Dead Zones in Your Home with These Easy Tips

It can be frustrating to deal with dead zones with your wireless and cellular coverage while you are out and about. However, overcoming dead zones in public areas may be as simple as relocating to a different area in a building or walking to a new location. Dead zones may also be present in residential homes and apartment buildings. If you have a dead zone in your home, this issue can easily cause you considerable frustration on a daily basis, and you may be wondering what steps you can take to overcome the problem. Invest in a Better Router If…
Read More
02
Apr
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Four Ways That Being Diligent with Your Mortgage Payments Can Seriously Improve Your Credit

The unfortunate reality is that many individuals have a lower credit rating than they would like. For many, this is caused by issues related to high debt balances, late payments and other related issues. If you have a lower credit rating, you may be wondering what steps you can take to improve your standing with the credit bureaus. While there are several steps available for you to consider, making timely payments on your home mortgage can have a great impact on your credit. There are four unique ways that diligence with your mortgage payment may improve your credit. Showing Financial…
Read More