Blog – Page 693 of 726

12 Aug 2013

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 12, 2013

Housing Analysis

Highlights of economic news from last week, include a survey of senior loan officers from U.S. and foreign banks doing business in the U.S. They indicated that banks were gradually easing lending standards for business and consumer loans, but viewed lending criteria for home loans as more restrictive than other types of loans. According to CoreLogic, U.S. home prices increased at their fastest pace since February 2006. Mortgage rates rose incrementally, and the Weekly Jobless Claims report came in lower than the expected 339,000 at 333,000 new jobless claims. Monday: Bank loan officers surveyed indicated that while mortgage lending requirements have…

09 Aug 2013

By Mark Feder

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Quick Tips To Beat The Heat And Save On Your Electric Bill

Around The Home

Summer always brings with it a hard choice: Do you turn down the thermostat to stay cool and resign yourself to high power bills? Or, do you sweat it out to save some dough? If you've been struggling with this dilemma, don't fret. With a programmable thermostat, you can beat the heat and save money, too. They are easy to install and can save you over $100 a year. The key is that they have different temperature settings for certain times of the day. The latest models can be self-installed, are easy to program and can be controlled over the…

08 Aug 2013

By Mark Feder

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RealtyTrac Report Shows Home Prices Increasing At Highest Rate Since 1977

Housing Analysis

U.S. housing markets continue to drive the economic recovery according to data released by RealtyTrac Inc. National home prices rose by 11.90 percent year-over-year for June. 48 states reported rising home prices with only Delaware and Mississippi reporting lower home prices. Nevada led the states with a 26.50 percent gain over June 2012. Cities also fared well on housing prices; 99 of the 100 largest U.S. cities reported gains in home prices. Rising Home Prices And Mortgage Rates, Short Supply Of Homes According to Mark Fleming, chief economist for CoreLogic, home price trends are rising at their fastest pace since…

07 Aug 2013

By Mark Feder

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A Few Red Flags To Look For When Buying Real Estate

Home Buyer Tips

If you're looking to purchase real estate, keep in mind that the homes you are considering might be in need of repairs or improvements. In a recent study done by a major home inspection company, at least 40 percent of previously owned homes on the market have at least one serious issue or defect. When buying real estate, you should have a professional inspection performed on the property to look for any issues that might not be visible to the untrained eye. It's better to identify this damage before you buy so that you are not stuck with budget-busting renovations.…