Saturday, August 8, 2009 | Add a comment
According to Freddie Mac..the 30-year fixed mortgage rate dropped from 5.25 percent last week to 5.22 percent ending August 6th. The 15-year fixed-mortgage rate dropped to 4.63 percent from 4.69 percent and adjustable-mortgages fell to 4.73 percent from 4.75 percent. I would advise buyers to get those loan application in because who knows how long everything will last!
Saturday, August 8, 2009 | Add a comment
According to the National Association of Realtors, Pending home sales are up for the fifth consecutive month, and it’s been six years since a streak like this. Based on the figures from the Pending Home Sales Index, signed contracts rose 3.6 percent to 94.6 in May. In June of 2008 the figure was 88.7 percent. Some factors that are contributing to the gain are low mortgage interest rates, affordable home prices, and buyers who’ve been waiting for something to change.
Here are the regional figures from the Pending Home Sales Index:
Friday, February 20, 2009 | Add a comment
A few weeks ago I was mentioning how the rates consumers pay are tied to their credit scores and tips on how they can improve them. Well now in light of the recent stimulus package, both Fannie and Freddie are planning large fee increases by toughening their credit score and down-payment rules on April 1, 2009.
If a buyer is purchasing a duplex, the buyer could be charged a 1 percent add-on to their interest rate. Lenders will be if their not already factoring in these higher fees. Now buyers with down payments of less than 25 percent will be charged a three-quarter point add-on penalty, no matter how high their credit score is.
Those who would like to refinance and take cash out could be charged three points depending on the amount of equity they have.
Source: Washington Writers Group, Kenneth R. Harney (02/15/2009)
