Blog – Page 725 of 738

16 Apr 2013

Home Builders Hold Great Confidence For New Homes Over Next 6 Months

Housing Analysis

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) report for April shows that builder confidence slipped by two points to a rating of 42 from the March reading of 44. The Housing Market Index (HMI) measures home builder confidence in market conditions for newly built single family homes. A reading of more than 50 indicates better than average confidence, while readings below 50 indicate that home builders have concerns about current market conditions. NAHB Housing Market Index Results For April Home builders expressed concern over a gap between a growing demand for homes and builders'…

15 Apr 2013

By Mark Feder

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 15, 2013

Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates saw little change last week amidst mixed economic news. Treasury auctions held on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday saw weak demand; this could have been caused by the FOMC minutes that were released on Wednesday. The minutes indicated that some FOMC members supported ending the current quantitative easing (QE) program within a few months. The Fed is currently purchasing $85 billion monthly in bonds and Mortgage Backed Securities. If the QE program is ended, demands for bonds and MBS will decline, which usually raises mortgage rates. Employment Numbers Show Promise For Housing Market Thursday's jobless claims offered some positive…

12 Apr 2013

By Mark Feder

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6 Essential Spring Cleaning Chores to Make Your Home Shine

Around The Home

If the thought of cleaning your Solana Beach home this spring doesn't bring a smile to your face, you're not alone. To help you get going now, here is a short list of the 6 essential spring-cleaning chores. 1. Store winter clothes. It's time to pack away your winter clothes. Coats, sweaters, and bulkier clothing need to be inspected, cleaned and packed away. Store your clothes somewhere clean, cool, dark and dry. 2. Wash window treatments. You'll be surprised at the huge amount of dirt and grime that a thorough window cleaning removes. Wash blinds, launder curtains that are machine…

11 Apr 2013

By Mark Feder

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Fed Meeting Minutes Reveal Rising Wealth Among Homeowners

Federal Reserve

The minutes for the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting held March 19 and 20 were released on Wednesday April 10, 2013. These periodic meetings by the FOMC cover a wide ranging group of topics that impact the overall economy in the United States. The decisions made and acted upon from the FOMC meetings often sway the real estate and residential financing markets. Some highlights of the recent FOMC minutes for the March meeting include: Jobs and Unemployment Gaining Steam The unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent in February. While lower than the average unemployment rate for Q4 2012, the…