Monthly Archives: September 2007

For parents with children in college, or nearing college age, this video from NBC’s Today Show is worth watching. Investing in collegiate housing is not for everyone, but if the angle interests you, don’t forget to purchase an accompanying personal … Continue reading →

Economists worry about rising oil prices because it tends to generate higher pump prices for Americans. With more money spent on gasoline, there’s (theoretically) less money available to spend on goods and services. Today, GasBuddy.com says that the average price … Continue reading →

The National Association of Realtors

In a study of 2,036 U.S. adults commissioned by Visa USA, nearly half of all Americans are losing track of their money. An average of $45 in cash is “lost” each week in what Visa dubs “mystery spending”, Visa’s version … Continue reading →

In a semi-surprise move last week, the Federal Reserve lowered the Fed Funds Rate by 0.500%. The Fed wants to prevent a dramatic economic slowdown that started in the housing sector and appears to be spilling over into other sectors … Continue reading →

For more proof that the Fed does not control mortgage rates, consider this: In the immediate aftermath of the Fed’s decision to lower the Fed Funds Rate by 0.50%, mortgage rates improved by about 0.125% on average. But, in the … Continue reading →

Prime Rate is currently 7.750%. Prime Rate is the “shorthand” name for the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, a variable interest rate that is used in pricing many types of consumer loans. These loans include: Home equity lines of credit … Continue reading →

The Fed lowered the Fed Funds Rate by 0.50% yesterday. A rate decrease was expected by most market participants, but the 50 basis points movement seemed to catch some players off-guard. Mortgage rates dipped in the wake of the announcement, … Continue reading →

It’s all eyes on the Fed today; the market anxiously awaits the central bank’s 2:15 P.M. ET press release. Some of the market bias towards a 0.50% rate cut has decreased in favor of a 0.25% cut. This shift is … Continue reading →

The volatile path of mortgage rates last week followed the changing expectations for Tuesday’s Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The FOMC sets the Fed Funds Rate, a benchmark interest rate upon which Prime Rate is based. According to Federal Funds … Continue reading →