Monthly Archives: July 2007

Why Alerting Your Mortgage Lender About Bad News In Advance Is Better Than Surprising Them

Having trouble paying your mortgage? You aren’t alone. According to RealtyTrac, 1 out of every 134 homes filed for foreclosure in the first half of 2007. More and more, though, mortgage companies are doing their best to work things out … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Week In Review (July 30, 2007) : What To Watch For

The stock markets faced large losses last week and the bond market was a beneficiary. That was good news for mortgage rates, but the news could have been better. Unnerved by losses in the sub-prime market, investors are beginning to … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Charts Show That Yesterday’s Stock Market Plunge Was Really Just A “Blip”

The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 311.50 points yesterday. On the rankings of Top 10 Daily Losses of All-Time, 311.50 doesn’t even come close, according to djindexes.com (and the charts above) So, as we always do, let’s put yesterday’s action … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Using Flip-Charts To Understand How Sub-Prime Mortgages Work

This video from CNBC via YouTube does a terrific job of illustrating how sub-prime mortgage defaults are impacting mortgage rates overall. There’s some jargon in there, but overall, it’s very easy to follow.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Why You Should Approach Tomorrow’s Existing Home Sales Headlines With Some Skepticism

June’s Existing Home Sales reported weaker than expected and dropped from prior levels, according to the National Association of REALTORS. Because our country (A) loves to discuss real estate, and (B) loves statistical headlines, expect tomorrow’s newspapers to emblazon one … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Biggest Banks Are Eliminating The Most Prevalent Sub-Prime Loan

Mixed news from the sub-prime sector, depending on how you look at it. Many lenders discontinuing their short-term ARM products. Washington Mutual, Countrywide and Wells Fargo are among the sub-prime lenders no longer offering the 2/28 mortgage product. The “2/28″ … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The Week In Review (July 23, 2007) : What To Watch For

With more ups-and-downs than an elevator, the mortgage market has not been for the faint of heart since March. Last week provided more good news than bad, though, and mortgages rates closed out the week slightly improved overall. The good … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Why Medical Bills Are More Dangerous To Homeowners Than ARMs

If you own a home and somebody else depends on your income, consider that the leading cause of home foreclosures is not “adjustable rate mortgages”. As cited many times over (including by a Harvard law professor), the answer is medical … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

Simple Steps To Keep Home Insurance Costs Down

As homeowners insurance premiums rise across the nation, Bankrate.com writes a helpful story on ways to keep your premiums down. The tips may surprise you. Some of the highlights include: Don’t think a series of small claims is better than … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off

How Ben Bernanke’s Testimony To Congress Is Moving Mortgage Rates

Despite lower prices at the gas pump, the Consumer Price Index increased a little bit more than expected in June. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI rose 0.2% versus the 0.1% expected by economists CPI tries to answer … Continue reading

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off