Category Archives: Uncategorized

Case-Shiller Shows Home Price Improvement In 95% Of Cities

Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index Tuesday. On a seasonally-adjusted basis, between April and May 2010, home prices rose in 19 of Case-Shiller’s 20 tracked markets. It’s the second straight month of strong Case-Shiller findings. Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off

Case-Shiller Shows Home Price Improvement In 90% Of Cities

In reviewing the April Case-Shiller Index and its accompanying analysis, it appears that the housing market’s rebound is gathering momentum. Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Approved To Triple In Cost

In a near-unanimous vote, the House of Representatives gave the FHA power to raise the monthly mortgage insurance premiums it charges to its borrowers. Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off

Relocate America’s Top 100 Places To Live (2010 Edition)

Relocate America recently released its 2010 list of Top 100 Places To Live In America. The rankings are topped by some cities you may expect, and some you may not. Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off

March Pending Home Sales Point To Stronger Spring Market

The Pending Home Sales Index moved higher in March as home sales were spurred by low mortgage rates and an expiring tax credit. A “pending home” is a property that is under contract to sell, but not yet closed. March … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Fannie Mae Tightens Guidelines On ARMs And Interest Only Products

For the first time this year, Fannie Mae announced significant updates to its mortgage underwriting guidelines. The changes include newer, harsher ARM qualification standards, the elimination of a once-popular loan product, and tighter rules for interest only mortgages. Fannie Mae … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : May 3, 2010

Mortgage markets improved last week on tame inflation data, a benign statement from the Federal Reserve, and ongoing credit problems in Greece. The factors combined to drop conforming mortgage rates to their lowest levels in 6 weeks. It’s an unexpected … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Headlines Were Overly Rosy On February’s Case-Shiller Index

Earlier this week, Standard & Poors released its February Case-Shiller Index, a home price tracker for select metropolitan areas. Overwhelmingly, home values fell in the 20 markets tracked by the Case-Shiller. Only San Diego showed a modest increase. The other … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Debate Rages Over the Supply of Foreclosed Homes

Why is there such a fierce debate about whether the housing market is slowly healing or heading for another free fall? Partly because no one can estimate with much confidence how many foreclosed homes banks need to sell or how … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (April 28, 2010 Edition)

Today, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 9-to-1 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within in its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. In its press release, the FOMC noted that, since March, the U.S. economy “has continued to … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off