Blog

09
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 9, 2015

Last week's economic news included construction spending, which fell shy of expectations but exceeded the prior month's spending, and several consumer and labor-related reports. The details: Mortgages More Accessible: Fed Survey A Federal Reserve survey of senior loan officers at 73 U.S. banks and 23 branches of foreign banks indicated that mortgages may be more accessible. While banks eased credit standards for mortgages eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, consumer demand for mortgages fell over the last three months. This seems puzzling given lower mortgage rates, but mortgage lending rules remain tough for borrowers with less than…
Read More
06
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Are You Ready to Make the Leap into Home Ownership? Here’s How You Can Tell

Are you ready to make that leap from living at home or renting to owning a home of your own? While everyone moves at their own pace, here are some signs that you can use to determine if it is time to own your own home. Let's take a look at some of the reasons you can use to justify your decision. Are You Sticking Around? If you plan on moving soon for a job or think that you won't be in town much longer, it may be better to rent. However, if you are thinking about living in the…
Read More
05
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Home Buyer Tips, ,

Buying a New Home? Follow These Three Tips to Ensure a Stress-Free Transaction

Buying real estate and or taking out a home loan is a significant milestone in life. Frequently, it means that a new phase is starting, whether it's a new job, a new relationship, or moving to a new area. However, when the most basic steps are missed, this transition can be fraught with stress and disaster. To ensure a smooth transaction, home buyers should be sure to mind the following tips. #1: Always Be Honest Honesty and clear communication need to be a two-way street. Home buyers expect their mortgage professional to be honest with them, and likewise it is…
Read More
04
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Tax Time is Upon Us: Learn About Tax Deductions and How to Write off Your Home Mortgage Interest

Much to the chagrin of taxpayers all over the country, the tax-filing season begins in January and runs through April 15 of each year. As the current tax season approaches, it presents an opportunity to help tax-payers clarify their responsibilities and remind them of certain important tax deductions that may be available. Filing Responsibilities Every person in the United States is required to file their tax returns by April 15 so long as they have some form of qualifying income. Based on filing status, income and available deductions, tax-payers must file a 1040EZ, 1040A or 1040 (long-form for itemized deductions).…
Read More
03
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Home Mortgage Tips, ,

Do You Need Mortgage Insurance Even if It’s Not Required by Your Lender? Let’s Take a Look

Finding a proper mortgage loan and understanding the processing procedures behind the loan is the basis of good research. The down payment on a mortgage loan is typically significant when dealing with mortgage insurance. Most loan applications with less than 20% down payment are required to include mortgage insurance with the loan. However, mortgage insurance may still be required even if it's not typically required by your lender. Underwriting Requirements Most home mortgage applications undergo a strict set of standards for approval. These standards are known as underwriting and make up the bulk of time spent on a mortgage application.…
Read More
02
Feb
By Jim Hasek
Market Outlook, ,

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – Feburary 2, 2015

Last week's economic reports included Case-Shiller 10 and 20-City Home Price Index reports for November along with new and pending home sales for December. Freddie Mac reported on average mortgage rates and new jobless claims dipped unexpectedly. The details: Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slower in November Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index for November indicated that home prices continue to slow across the nation. Seasonally-adjusted annual home price growth slowed to 4.30 percent from October's reading of 4.50 percent. Slowing momentum in year-over-year home price growth placed downward pressure on month-to-month readings. Several cities, including Atlanta, Georgia, Boston Massachusetts and Cleveland…
Read More
Skip to content