Refinance

Mortgage Rates Almost Back to Early January Levels

Mortgage rates made more progress today, but only after some drama in the morning. The bond market started the day in weaker territory and many mortgage lenders were offering higher rates as a result. As the day progressed, bonds improved and lenders adjusted their offerings accordingly. By the afternoon, the average lender was in better territory than yesterday. The improvement is the latest in a string of slow, steady gains for the mortgage market. While the average lender is not yet quite back to the super low territory from early January, many are as close as they’ve been since the January 6th rate spike following the Georgia senate election. Top tier purchase rates for conventional 30yr fixed loans are in the 2.5 to 2.75 neighborhood while top tier no-cash-out refis are about an eighth

Construction Surges to Highest Levels in 15 Years

Posted To: MND NewsWire

Residential construction finished out 2020 much more strongly than analysts had expected. The U.S. Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development reported significant increases in both residential permitting and housing starts in December , the second month in a row those numbers have grown. The numbers, however, took a hit in the Northeast. Permits for privately funded construction were issued at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,709,000 units, an increase of 4.5 percent from the revised (from 1,639,000 units) rate of 1,635,000 in November. The pace of permitting in December was 17.3 percent higher than the 1,437,000 units estimated a year earlier. Econoday and Trading Economics had reported low expectations for December permits on the part of their analysts. The consensus…(read more)

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2020 home sales hit highest level since 2006

Existing-home sales rose in December, and total home sales in 2020 reached the highest level in 13 years, according to NAR. In all, 5.64 million homes were sold in 2020, up 5.6% from 2019 and the most since before the Great Recession.

The post 2020 home sales hit highest level since 2006 appeared first on HousingWire.

Should You Get an FHA or Conventional Loan?

A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan or FHA loan is insured by the federal government. First-time home buyers and those with lower credit scores and lower down payments are more likely to qualify for an FHA loan. A conventional loan isn’t insured by the government. It’s instead backed by a private mortgage lender and the… Read More

The post Should You Get an FHA or Conventional Loan? appeared first on Credit.com.

Alaska First-Time Homebuyer Programs

The Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) offers low-interest mortgage loans, and down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time home buyers and repeat buyers. This article takes a look at the requirements and provides links to the homebuyer program page for every city in Alaska. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage and Check Rates If you […]

The post Alaska First-Time Homebuyer Programs appeared first on The Lenders Network.

Top 5 Low-Income Home Loans of 2021

If you’re living on a limited income, it’s easy to assume that homeownership just isn’t in the cards for you. After all, it’s challenging to save up a 20% down payment on a home when…

The post Top 5 Low-Income Home Loans of 2021 appeared first on Crediful.

How COVID-19 is Affecting Mortgages

Coronavirus cases are increasing at a phenomenal rate and sending the economy into free-fall. Every industry will be affected in some way, but the housing market could be one of the hardest hit. Borrowers are struggling to pay their mortgages, lenders are seeing far fewer applications, and we could be just around the corner from […]

How COVID-19 is Affecting Mortgages is a post from Pocket Your Dollars.

Your Home Is An Investment, But Not If You Raid It Constantly

The home buying process was eye opening for several reasons, but what I found most surprising was how many homebuyers owed more on their mortgage than the original mortgage was worth.

The post Your Home Is An Investment, But Not If You Raid It Constantly appeared first on Bible Money Matters and was written by Melissa. Copyright © Bible Money Matters – please visit biblemoneymatters.com for more great content.

Where More Young Residents Are Buying Homes – 2021 Study

The homeownership rate in America peaked at a little more than 69% in 2004 before falling to 63.7% in 2016, according to U.S. Census data. Despite the fact that it has rebounded to a little more than 65% in 2019 … Continue reading →

The post Where More Young Residents Are Buying Homes – 2021 Study appeared first on SmartAsset Blog.