Category: Tools

Refinancing Bombs as Mortgage Rates Soar

By Ryan Jackson After record all-time mortgage rates triggered a refinancing frenzy, applying for lower rate home mortgages dropped like a bomb last week as rates soared to the highest levels in weeks. The Mortgage Bankers Association refinancing index dropped 9% to lead the summer slowdown. The seasonally adjusted purchase index fell under just one-percent… Continue reading Refinancing Bombs as Mortgage Rates Soar

Underwater Homeowners Gain Home Equity

By Mike Colpitts Underwater homeowners, already upside down in the current economy more than ever before are seeing their fortunes turn around, with new data showing a gain in home equity. The upturn in homeowner equity comes as a result of growing home price inflation in some cities and slower equity losses in others. Some… Continue reading Underwater Homeowners Gain Home Equity

Kiddie Home Purchases Jump

By Mike Colpitts A tight mortgage market has triggered a jump in parents, grandparents and other relatives helping younger home buyers qualify for a home loan. Baby boomer parents have helped a son or daughter to purchase a home by co-signing for a mortgage, supplying down payments or purchasing a home outright in 20% of… Continue reading Kiddie Home Purchases Jump

Seven Ways to Green Homes on the Cheap

By Jeanne Roberts It’s nice to own real estate, even nicer to own a home. But nicest of all is knowing that your home, which shelters all your loved ones has a small impact on the earth and the other creatures that also live here. You’ve heard about one’s carbon footprint, those dark blots on… Continue reading Seven Ways to Green Homes on the Cheap

Feds Launch Wipe Out Radon Gas Program

Almost 1 in 15 U.S. homes is infected with radon gas, one of the leading causes of lung cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which just launched a major program with eight other federal agencies to encourage homeowners to have their homes inspected for the silent killer. Radon gas exposure is the leading cause… Continue reading Feds Launch Wipe Out Radon Gas Program

Steps to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market

By Kim Olson Finding “just the right home for you” can be daunting, especially if you’re moving to an area that you’re not familiar with. Fortunately, a good real estate agent can really make the process much easier. Follow these steps to find the best real estate agent in today’s troubled market, and your search… Continue reading Steps to Find the Best Real Estate Agent in Today’s Market

The Truth Behind Reverse Mortgages

By Kim Olson We’ve all seen the advertisements on reverse mortgages: “Get money now, pay all of your bills, stay in your home as long as you want to, and never make another mortgage payment!” That sounds good, doesn’t it? However, although these can be good for older homeowners, they may have drawbacks that will… Continue reading The Truth Behind Reverse Mortgages

Fewer Think Housing is Safe Investment

More Americans think it’s a better idea to put money into a savings or money market account than to buy a home, according to a government backed opinion poll. The finding was determined as part of Fannie Mae’s latest national housing survey, which also found the exact opposite of what a Housing Predictor poll recently… Continue reading Fewer Think Housing is Safe Investment

4 Ways to Buy Without Much Cash

So you figure it’s time to pinch pennies and put as much cash into buying an investment home as possible. With homes and condos selling for less than half of what they were a few years back, now just might be the time to invest. But taking advantage of current market conditions might be harder… Continue reading 4 Ways to Buy Without Much Cash