Blog – Page 759 of 784

26 Jun 2013

Home Prices Record Highest Monthly Gains Since Case Shiller Index Inception

Housing Analysis

The S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for April indicate that the housing recovery gained ground. In April 2013 average home prices tracked in the Case-Shiller 10 and 20-city Composites increased by 11.60 and 12.10 percent year-over-year. On a month-to-month basis, the Composites increased by 2.60 and 2.50 percent respectively. According to David M. Blitzer, Chairman of the S&P Dow Jones Indices' Index Committee, the 10-and 20- City Composites experienced their largest month- to- month gains since their inception: "Thirteen cities posted month- to-month gains of two percent or more, with San Francisco leading with a month-to-month gain of 4.90 percent."…

25 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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3 Clever But Simple Ways To Get Your Home Mortgage Paid Faster

Mortgage Tips

Paying off the mortgage on your home faster means that you will not only have the satisfaction of owning your own home sooner, you will also have the benefit of paying much less in interest over the years. The faster you pay off your mortgage, the more money you can save, so here are some tips to accelerate your payment schedule. Pay Your Mortgage Every Other Week (Bi-Weekly) Did you know that if you take your monthly mortgage payment and divide it in half and then pay it every two weeks that you will end up making a full extra month…

24 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 24, 2013

Housing Analysis

Comments by Fed chairman Ben Bernanke after Wednesday's FOMC meeting caused havoc in financial markets as investors anticipated the potential effects of any rollback of the Fed's policy of quantitative easing (QE). Chairman Bernanke said that the Fed may begin reducing its $85 billion monthly purchase of Treasury securities and MBS toward the end of this year. The chairman made it clear that any decision concerning QE would be based on careful review of current and developing economic conditions. QE is intended to keep long-term interest rates low; any reduction of the QE securities purchases could cause mortgage rates to…

21 Jun 2013

By Mark Feder

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The Federal Open Market Committee Holds Steady With Mortgage Backed Security Investments

Federal Reserve

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve decided to continue its current policy of quantitative easing (QE) based on current economic conditions. The Fed currently purchases $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and $45 billion in Treasury securities monthly. Objectives for the QE program include: Keeping long term interest rates, including mortgage rates, low Supporting mortgage markets Easing broader financial conditions FOMC repeated its position of evaluating QE policy based on inflation, the unemployment rate and economic developments. Members of the FOMC determined that keeping the federal funds rate between 0.00 and 0.25 percent until the following…