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VA loan refinance scams and how to avoid them

Mortgage scams are real and they often veteran homeowners. Here are the most common VA loan refinance scams and how to avoid them.

Refi Demand Staying Strong Despite Rising Rates

Posted To: MND NewsWire

The current Mortgage Monitor from Black Knight looks at the recent small increases in mortgage rates and their potential impact on home sales. The company says that Treasury yields have been rising with the 10-year up nearly 0.25 percent just since the January 5 Georgia senatorial runoff. While the spread between it and the 30-year mortgage rates absorbed part of the increase , mortgages did subsequently rise by about 1/8 th of a point. The January spike wasn’t an isolated event, the 10-year yield had eased up 40 basis points over the last five months of 2020. “Should yields rise further in coming months, they may begin to impact 30-year rates more directly, although the Fed’s bond buying efforts are expected to insulate the mortgage market to some degree,” the report says. The 1/8 th point…(read more)

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Home Movers Flocked to Decisive Battlegrounds Ahead of 2020 Election—Many Came From Blue States

The mass movement from liberal metropolises to less crowded locales may be shifting the electoral map.

The post Home Movers Flocked to Decisive Battlegrounds Ahead of 2020 Election—Many Came From Blue States appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

February Class-Action Settlements Involve Godiva, Walmart and More

Sometimes, you notice right away if you have been overcharged for an item. If you pick up a box of cereal marked $2.99 and see it listed at $3.22 on your receipt, that error is pretty easy to spot. In other cases, price discrepancies aren’t so obvious, as seen in a new pre-filled propane tank […]

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

How Are Mortgage Rates Determined?

Buying a home is a major financial undertaking. After all, the median home listing price in the U.S. was nearly $230,000 in 2019, and the prices have only gone up since then. If you need to obtain a mortgage loan to complete the purchase, it can get even more expensive. When you add in a […]

The post How Are Mortgage Rates Determined? appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Store Brand vs. Name Brand: How to Save Money on Everyday Stuff

Editor’s note:  This post was originally published in February 2020. What’s in a name? A lot actually. We often default to certain brands when shopping simply because of the name on the package — and the reputation that comes along with it, thanks to clever advertising. We buy Bounty paper towels because they’re the “quicker […]

This was originally published on The Penny Hoarder, which helps millions of readers worldwide earn and save money by sharing unique job opportunities, personal stories, freebies and more. The Inc. 5000 ranked The Penny Hoarder as the fastest-growing private media company in the U.S. in 2017.

5 Things Every Home Buyer Needs to Know About New Construction

Imagine being the very first person to live in your new home.

Standard vs. Itemized Deduction: Which One Should You Take?

Standard versus itemized deduction: Which one should you claim? If this question is weighing heavily on your mind as you file your taxes now that all the new tax reforms have taken effect—then let this guide help you decide.

The post Standard vs. Itemized Deduction: Which One Should You Take? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Tread Carefully in a Hot IPO Market

Be wary of high-priced initial public offerings (IPOs) in a stock market that’s stacked against you.