Blog – Page 634 of 820

21 Jan 2016

The Do’s and Don’ts of Getting Approved for a Mortgage Quickly

Home Mortgage Tips

If you're ready to buy a home, getting approved for a mortgage is a critical step that you can't skip or rush. And although it may seem like the lenders can be a bit arbitrary in their approvals, there's actually a detailed set of criteria they look for when approving or denying an application. So how can you ensure your mortgage gets approved quickly and without any hassles? Here's what you need to know. Do: Have All Your Documents In Order Right Away Processing the paperwork on a mortgage approval is one of the most time-consuming parts of getting a…

20 Jan 2016

By Mark Feder

Home Builders Remain Confident in January

Market Outlook

Home builders maintained December's confidence level according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index for January. The latest reading of 60 mirrored December's reading, but was two points lower than expected. Readings of more than 50 indicate that more builders were confident about housing conditions than those who were not. Although January's reading fell shy of October's reading of 65, which was a ten-year high for the home builder index. Any reading in the low 60's suggests gradual improvement in housing market conditions according to NAHB. While December's year-over-year reading for new home sales was 14…

18 Jan 2016

By Mark Feder

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – January 18, 2016

Market Outlook

In addition to weekly reports on mortgage rates and new unemployment claims, last week's economic news included the Fed's Beige Book report, retail sales and consumer sentiment. January's Empire State Index showed an unexpected dip and Consumer Sentiment increased for January. Fed's Beige Book Shows Diverse Economic Trends According to the Federal Reserve's Beige Book report for January, the central bank's business contacts reported strength in housing, while agriculture, energy and manufacturing sectors were struggling. New York's Empire State Manufacturing Index for January supported this trend with a sharp drop. New York manufacturing has hit its lowest level since the…

14 Jan 2016

By Mark Feder

Who Is Exempt From The VA Funding Fee?

Mortagage Tips

Who is NOT required to pay the VA funding fee? This video could save some veterans thousands. VA loan applicants pay a funding fee - as of 2014, 2.15% of the total loan amount - which can be thousands of dollars. Some veterans and spouses are eligible for exemption. Broadly speaking, veterans who received disability benefits - current or former and who are NOT currently in debt to the government may be exempt from the funding fee. Some spouses may qualify as well. The key thing to understand is, exemption from the funding fee is NOT automatic! Borrowers must certify their veteran…