Financial
The Pros and Cons of Buying a New Construction Home
Home construction has picked up steam in recent months, and experts largely expect that continue. Fannie Mae, for example, predicts that housing starts will jump by 6.7% in 2021. The Mortgage Bankers Associations also sees strong single-family construction numbers for…
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Mortgage Activity Holds Steady, While Government Lending Picks Up
Mortgage applications technically dipped last week, but only by a mere 0.7%. Purchase loans fell 2% on their own, while refinance activity dropped just 0.3%. Considering the rate on 30-year, fixed-rate loans dropped to a new low, according to the…
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Shopping for a Home in One of These Hot Markets? Get Ready for Competition
The hottest housing markets probably aren’t where you think they are. According to the latest data from Realtor.com, America’s home buying hotspots aren’t major metros or huge, urban cities like most of us would assume. For the most part? They’re…
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4 Reasons Fall May Be the Best Time To Buy a House
Fall’s certainly the season for pumpkin-carving, hayrides, and apple cider tasting, but more importantly? It’s also a great time to buy a house. Both the current market and historical trends point to good home-buying conditions for Americans this fall. From…
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Mortgage Applications Drop as Rates Hit Survey Low
Mortgage activity ticked down this week, with total applications dropping 4.8%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Purchase loan activity was actually up 2% for the week, but refinances dipped 7%. They’re still 52% higher than one year ago. The…
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What Is an Appraisal Waiver?
If you’re refinancing your mortgage loan, you might qualify for an appraisal waiver. This allows you to skip the appraisal process, as well as the fees that come with it. Appraisal waivers are only available on conventional loans, so if…
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Mortgage Applications Rise, Despite Increasing Interest Rates
Mortgage applications jumped last week, rising nearly 7% over the previous week and 18% over the year. Refinance loan activity rose the most, with an 18% jump, while purchase applications increased 13%. Refinances are now 86% higher than the same…
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Tips for Teaching Your Teenager About Managing Money and Personal Finance
Your teen might learn how to solve linear equations in high school math, but personal finance? Probably not. That’s on your shoulders, and unless you’re a certified financial planner or another kind of financial pro, it probably seems pretty intimidating. …
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Mortgage Applications Drop but Activity Remains Strong
Total mortgage applications were down this week, even as mortgage rates held steady near record lows. Overall applications dropped 2.5%, while refinances dipped 4%, and purchase loan activity fell 12%. Meanwhile, rates on 30-year, fixed-rate loans stayed put at 3.07%. …
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Purchases, Refis Jump as Rates Dip Again
Mortgage activity jumped over Labor Day weekend, with refinances rising 3% over the week, and purchase loans up a slight 0.2%. Both are still up considerably over the year. According to Joel Kan, the uptick was due to dropping mortgage…
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