Should I Lock or Float? This Week- November 18, 2013

November_18th_2013_Mortgage_MarketThe Non-Farm Payroll numbers came in on the 8th of this month, well above expectations with 204K versus an estimate of 125K new jobs. In addition, revisions added 60,000 more jobs to the prior two month
releases and thus mortgage rates took a significant one-day beating – noted by the long red column shown on the far right of this graph. Prices are now almost back where they were before that report was announced.

For those of you shopping for a good mortgage rate, who did not lock at the time, may have just gotten your reprieve!

Continue reading

Does Zillow Work?

What is my home worthDoes Zillow work, and will it give you a good approximation of the market value for the home you want to buy, or sell? My simple answer – “Sometimes it’s close and sometimes it’s not even on the same planet.”  While Zillow offers many services, it is primarily known as a free website to help folks obtain a property value, without paying for an actual appraisal. It brings out the Curious George in all of us! Below, I will show you a few Zillow estimates and then compare them with an actual appraisal. Continue reading