Blog – Page 723 of 790

27 Feb 2014

Case Shiller Price Index Shows That It’s A Buyers Market

Housing Analysis

Two major indicators of home price trends showed a slowing momentum for home prices in December. The S&P Case Shiller 10 and 20 city indices reported that of 20 cities tracked, home prices were lower in December than for November. Case-Shiller's seasonally adjusted month-to month reading showed that home prices rose by 0.8 percent as compared to 0.90 percent in November. David Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said that "Gains are slowing from month-to-month and the strongest part of home price recovery may be over." He also noted that seasonally adjusted data was showing…

26 Feb 2014

By Mark Feder

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How Can I Get A Cash-Out Refinance Using An FHA Loan?

Home Mortgage Tips

While homeowners typically equate the FHA loan program with low-down payment mortgages, FHA refinances are also available. In addition to easy-to-source rate-and-term and streamline refinances that replace an existing FHA mortgage with a better one, the FHA even offers cash-out refinance loans. A cash-out FHA loan refinance allows the borrower to take out up to 85 percent of the value of his property. In today's market, the ability to pull out 85 percent of a home's equity is attractive, but not as generous as a 96.5 percent FHA purchase mortgage. Nevertheless, while the borrower doesn't get the high leverage of…

25 Feb 2014

By Mark Feder

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Existing Home Sales Lowest Since 2012

Housing Analysis

Sales of existing homes fell by 5.10 percent in January according to the National Association of REALTORS. Pre-owned home sales slowed to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.62 million homes against an expected reading of 4.65 million and December's reading of 4.87 million existing homes sold. Rising home prices are reducing the number of affordable homes and a shrinking inventory of available homes were said to be underlying causes to January's slump in existing home sales. Severe winter weather also contributed to lower sales. January's reading was the lowest for existing home sales since July of 2012. The national inventory…

24 Feb 2014

By Mark Feder

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – February 24, 2014

Mortgage Rates

Last week's economic data supported recent reports indicating that housing markets are slowing, The National Association of Home builders/Wells Fargo Home Builders Index (HBI) dropped by 10 points to a reading of 46 for February. Home builder confidence dropped to its lowest reading in nine months, and fell below the benchmark of 50, which indicates that more builders are pessimistic about current market conditions than not. Severe weather was blamed for the lower builder confidence reading, which fell below the expected reading of 56. Regional readings of builder confidence were also lower: Northeast: Builder confidence fell from 41 to 33…