The news has been full of articles forecasting a crash in home prices. Mortgage rates have roughly doubled since this time last year which has kept many buyers out of the market. Fewer buyers means less demand and less upward pressure on prices and significantly slowed the number of purchases. So, the talking heads are quick to predict a housing … Read More
Boost Your Credit Score – Qualify for Better Mortgage Rates
I can often get borrowers a much better rate if they can just improve their credit scores. There are a number of actions that can improve your score. Most important is to make all bill payments for loans and credit cards on time. I’d be happy to share some other key ways to improve your credit, just give a call. … Read More
Sizzling Real Estate Market
If you are looking to buy a home, you probably know that prices are very high. They have increased by 24% in Southern California since last year, with the median home price in LA County at $775,000 (according to the LA Times). It is still a very competitive market with the buyers out numbering the homes for sale. It has … Read More
How Much Will Your Child Tax Credit Be?
There are millions of homeowners that are parents waiting for their advance child tax credits to arrive; however, they might not be sure exactly how much money they are going to get. This makes it difficult to set a budget. Some parents could expect to receive $300 per month between now and December. The rest of the credit should arrive … Read More
Understanding Appraisals and What to Do If Your Home Doesn’t Appraise for Its Purchase Price
It can be a bit of a surprise if your home turns out to be valued at less than the purchase price offered, but this is the type of thing that can occur in an appraisal situation. While this can change everything from your contract to the amount of your down payment if your home has been appraised at less … Read More
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 7, 2021
Last week’s economic reporting included readings on construction spending and public and private-sector employment data. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Census Bureau Reports Construction Sending Up by 9.8 Percent Year-Over-Year Construction spending rose by nearly 10 percent year-over-year in April. Overall construction spending rose by $1.542 billion on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Construction spending … Read More
The Pros and Cons of Paying Your Mortgage Bi-weekly Vs. Monthly
When applying for a new mortgage or after closing, many may have the option to choose between a single monthly mortgage payment or smaller bi-weekly payments. There are benefits and drawbacks associated with both options, and some personal financial considerations may need to be reviewed in order to make a decision that is best for the individual. With a closer … Read More
In The Current Housing Market, Prospective Buyers Must Remain Patient
The housing market has been through many ups and downs during the past 12 months. Now, buyers are facing a unique challenge as they try to find the right house in the perfect seller’s market. Right now, real estate is extremely competitive, as low inventory has continued for several months. As mortgage rates remain low, more people are looking for … Read More
Case Shiller: Home Prices Rise at Fastest Pace Since 2005
March readings for S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indices rose to their highest level since 2005 in March. National home prices rose by 13.20 percent year-over-year as compared to February’s reading of 12.00 percent growth. The Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index reported average year-over-year home price gains of 13.30 percent in March. Phoenix, Arizona continued to lead the 20-City Index … Read More
What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 1, 2021
Last week’s economic reports included readings on home price growth, new and pending home sales, and inflation. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller Reports Highest Gains in Home Prices Since 2005 March home prices grew at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 13.20 percent according to S&P Case-Shiller’s National Home Price Index for March. National … Read More