The nation’s biggest banks have started to loosen mortgage lending guidelines. Is this another signal of an improving U.S. economy?
As reported by the Federal Reserve, last quarter, no “big banks” reported stricter mortgage standards as compared to the quarter prior and “modest fractions” of banks reported easier mortgage standards. Continue reading
One month after posting a multi-year high, the Pending Home Sales Index retreated to 99.3 in June — a strong reading in its own right.
At the same time, millions of homeowners find themselves underwater, unable to refinance and take advantage of these historic low rates.
There is help now – click here !
And more help maybe on the way – click here ! Continue reading
For that matter, is the Real Estate Market in California truly getting better?
84 U.S. Markets Improved In July, and the Wall Street Journal proudly called an end to the housing crisis, a declaration made without hedge, stating, “the housing bust is over.”
As a lender in Sacramento, I don’t typically have this conversation with my clients because we jump right into Mortgage and Real Estate stuff. With home values slow to rise and mortgage rates at all-time lows, there’s never been a more affordable time to own a home.
However, there is more to the cost of living than just a mortgage payment. There’s the cost of groceries, gasoline and getting your hair cut, too.
Not surprisingly, where we live affects our costs. Big cities are often more expensive to live, and local tax laws influence daily costs, too. Continue reading
The typical U.S. taxpayer will receive roughly $3,000 in federal income tax refunds this year — an average of $250 per month. So, what would you do with an extra $250 monthly? This segment from NBC’s The Today Show offers some advice. Continue reading