Monthly Archives: May 2010

The supply of newly-built homes for sales plummeted in April, a positive indicator for the housing market as we head into the summer months. It’s no wonder that homebuilders are breaking new ground at the fastest clip in 2 years. … Continue reading →

Because of strife in Greece, Spain and North Korea, conforming mortgage rates are back to all-time lows. They’re at levels not seen in 50 years. For homeowners that missed the Refi Boom of November 2009, it’s a second chance. In … Continue reading →

Home values rose in March, according to the Federal Home Finance Agency’s most recent Home Price Index. Values were reported higher by 0.3 percent, on average, from February. We use the phrase “on average” because the Home Price Index is … Continue reading →

Sales of existing homes rose in April, buoyed by an expiring home buyer tax credit and exceptionally low mortgage rates. As compared to March, April’s Existing Home Sales rose by 410,000 units nationwide — the second straight month of large … Continue reading →

Another week, same old story. Mortgage markets improved again last week on worsening news out of Greece and the Eurozone. Then, as contagion mentality set in, U.S. mortgage bonds gained and mortgage rates fell. It’s the 4th straight week in … Continue reading →

With home prices still relatively low and mortgage rates trolling near their all-time best levels, it’s no surprise that home affordability is extraordinarily high in most U.S. markets. According to the quarterly Home Opportunity Index as published by the National … Continue reading →

After starting the day in the red, mortgage rates rebounded Wednesday afternoon after the Federal Reserve released its April 27-28, 2010 meeting minutes. It’s good news for home buyers and would-be refinancers. Mortgage rates continue to troll along multi-year lows. … Continue reading →

Single-family Housing Starts rose by 55,000 last month, suggesting ample housing stock from which can choose this summer. The report is a slightly larger read than what economists had expected. Furthermore, for the first time since June 2009, Housing Starts … Continue reading →

As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 10 percent. Anecdotally, guideline changes have led to an … Continue reading →

Mortgage markets improved last week — but barely — as ongoing doubt surrounding the health of Greece and the Euro pushed additional investors into safe assets, including mortgage bonds. Mortgage rates were wildly volatile between Monday and Friday before closing … Continue reading →