Did you know that mortgage rates drop below 4%

21 Apr

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Mortgage rates drop below four percent Mortgage rates surged shortly after the presidential election, and many experts believed the long-awaited rising-rate trend had begun. However, rates have pulled back in recent weeks. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly forecast, this week’s average fixed-rate mortgage at 3.97% is the lowest since November 2016. “The 30-year mortgage rate... Read more »

What traits maximize home value increases?

20 Apr

Herold

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Investing: What traits maximize home value increases? A home’s value generally appreciates 3 percent to 4 percent every year, which is attributed mostly to population growth and inflation. In 2016, however, homeowners saw appreciation jump to an average of 6.3 percent. What traits lead some homes to appreciate more than others? Realtor.com’s research team studied... Read more »

Did you know that major changes coming to credit score calculations

20 Apr

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Major changes coming to credit score calculations The math behind your credit score is getting an overhaul, with changes big enough that they might alter the behavior of both cautious spenders as well as riskier borrowers. Most notably for those with high scores: Abiding by the golden rule of “don’t close your credit card accounts”... Read more »

Common real estate slip-ups retirees make

18 Apr

Herold

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Common real estate slip-ups retirees make One of the most stressful aspects of retirement can come down to real estate. Many retirees face several choices, like deciding whether to downsize, buy a second property, keep the family home or move to a senior community. Realtor.com recently featured some of the biggest mistakes experts say retirees... Read more »

More owners opting for a cash-out refi mortgage

18 Apr

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More owners opting for a cash-out refi mortgage They’re either a valuable financial tool for homeowners or a harbinger of trouble on the horizon: Cash-out refinancings, which were wildly popular during the housing boom years and contributed to the severity of the crash, are on the rise again. National mortgage investor Freddie Mac reports that... Read more »

Do you know the 4 ways to make your phone battery last longer

17 Apr

Herold

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4 ways to make your phone battery last longer I’ve had big-time battery drain issues on my last three iPhones. I just figured it was my fault – maybe I’m too addicted to apps, take too many photos, or just use my phone too much. It’s an issue I’ve gone to Apple for help with... Read more »

Did you know that Millennial owners advice to peers Get off the sidelines

17 Apr

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Millennial owners’ advice to peers: Get off the sidelines Millennials who bought a home are generally happy about it. Bank of America’s second annual Homebuyer Insights Report finds that millennials who have taken the plunge into homeownership buy the house they can afford now and plan to buy their ideal home later. A large majority... Read more »

How does the PACE program in Florida react for misinformation?

17 Apr

Herold

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PACE program in Florida sued for misinformation A company that finances home improvement projects in South Florida with no credit checks and no money down is the subject of a federal court lawsuit charging it fails to adequately disclose important limitations of the loans to its consumers. The defendants, Ygrene Energy Fund and Ygrene Energy... Read more »

What is the immigrants key to homeownership growth?

14 Apr

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Immigrants key to homeownership growth Foreign-born residents will have a “significant impact” on the housing market according to “Housing in America: Immigrants and Housing Demand,” released by the Urban Land Institute’s Terwilliger Center for Housing. The report also notes that if the current levels aren’t sustained, the industry could suffer. “Immigrants have helped stabilize and... Read more »

Did you that Foreclosures drop below ‘normal’ pre-recession levels

14 Apr

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Foreclosures drop below ‘normal’ pre-recession levels ATTOM Data Solutions’ March 2017 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report finds that U.S. foreclosure activity was below pre-recession levels in 102 out of the 216 metropolitan statistical areas (47 percent) analyzed in the report. Nationwide, foreclosure filings – default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions – were down 11 percent... Read more »