Home Loans

Jumbo Mortgages Getting Cheaper and Easier

In recent months, it has become cheaper and easier for individuals to take out jumbo mortgages – loans of $417,000 or more (or $625,000-plus in more expensive markets). Whereas a 20% down payment and a 700 credit score used to

On Tap: Lowered Credit Standards, Lesser Demand for Mortgages

In the most recent Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey conducted by Fannie Mae, the lending company found that attitudes are changing in the areas of credit standards and mortgage demand. According to Mortgage News Daily, large lenders are set to ease

Mortgage Rates Back to 4.25 Percent

As of Friday afternoon, mortgage rates had gone 10 days without decreasing and are now back up to 4.25 percent. On some days during the span the rate increased, and others it stayed the same. “Momentum has been negative for several

Mortgage Applications at 14-Year Low

In the week ending September 5, the number of mortgage applications filed in the U.S. was the lowest it has been since December 2000. According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, its Market Composite Index showed a decrease of 7.2 percent

Foreclosure Rates Rise for First Time in Four Years

For the first time since November 2010, the U.S. real estate market has seen the number of foreclosures rise from the same time last year. Nearly 52,000 homes were put up for auction in August, up 1 percent from the

Your Next Home: A Shipping Container?

With the right frame of mind, a steel shipping container may make for the perfect affordable, eco-friendly home. There are lots of these vessels sitting around, otherwise useless, in shipping yards all around the country. So why not convert them

All-Cash Sales at a New Low

CoreLogic revealed on Tuesday that fewer and fewer homes are being purchased in all-cash deals. The most recent data available shows that the percentage of all-cash sales dropped from 34.4 to 33 percent in the month between May and June.

Mortgage Calculators Help Determine Home Affordability

When beginning the home buying process, it may be a smart idea to check out one of the many mortgage calculators on the Web. These free calculators take home price, down payment, interest rate, taxes and more into consideration and

Mortgage Application Rate Remains Steady to Close Out Summer

As the final week of summer came to a close, the volume of mortgage applications remained essentially unchanged from the week before. On Aug. 29, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Market Composite Index revealed an increased of only .2 percent from

Zillow Reveals Real-Market Prices for Popular TV Homes

The folks at Zillow had a little fun recently and determined how much it would cost the stars of “Full House” and “Friends” to inhabit their iconic TV homes in a real-life market. Zillow determined that the Tanners’ home on

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