Category: Sales

Huge Mortgage Rates Jump

By Kevin Chiu Mortgage rates jumped higher to the highest level in ten months as applications for home mortgages tumbled, demonstrating further weakness in the housing market as many home buyers remained on the sidelines, according to the Mortgage Bankers weekly survey. The rate on a fully executed 30-year fixed rate mortgage increased to 5.13%,… Continue reading Huge Mortgage Rates Jump

Americans Move at Lowest Rate since World War II

By Mike Colpitts Saddled with a weak economy and sluggish housing market Americans moved across state lines at the lowest rate since World War II in 2010, according to the Brookings Institution. Only 1.4% moved to a new state during the year. Demographer William Frey said “tepid gains in employment and the rise in home… Continue reading Americans Move at Lowest Rate since World War II

Mortgage Rates Climb as Loan Applications Rise

By Mike Colpitts Fixed mortgage rates rose for the third straight week slightly as pent-up demand for housing got more applicants to apply for home mortgages. The rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan rose marginally just one basis point for the week to 4.81%. However, rates for all other types of mortgages declined for… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Climb as Loan Applications Rise

Federal Housing Agency Orders Halt to Home Resale Fees

By Mike Colpitts U.S. mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will be halted from providing mortgages on homes that hold home resale fees under a new federal mandate. The decision, ordered by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees both government backed lenders, was ordered late Tuesday. It was contained in a proposal made… Continue reading Federal Housing Agency Orders Halt to Home Resale Fees

Mortgage Volume Slows as Applications Decline

By Mike Colpitts Refinancing applications fell to the lowest level in more than a year and mortgage applications for new purchases also declined for the week, demonstrating mixed signals for the housing market, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The composite index, a measure of loan application volume showed a decline of 12.9% on a… Continue reading Mortgage Volume Slows as Applications Decline

Case for Optimism on Housing Market

By Kevin Chiu The case for optimism in 2011 on the U.S. housing market gained momentum with the latest National Association of Realtors monthly sales report, showing that home sales rose for the fifth time in six months. With pent-up demand, near record low mortgage rates and lower home prices the housing market is poised… Continue reading Case for Optimism on Housing Market

Homeowners Will Walk Away from Home Mortgages

In what may be a harbinger of things to come almost half of those surveyed say they will walk away from home mortgages if home prices continue to drop. The Housing Predictor opinion poll is the most forceful indicator yet of what is likely to happen next as a result of the troubled U.S. economy.… Continue reading Homeowners Will Walk Away from Home Mortgages