Mortgage applications for purchases spiked 14 percent during the week that ended Nov. 19, to their highest level since May, according to the latest weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. According to Michael Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics for the MBA, "the increase in purchase applications last week aligns with other incoming data suggesting that consumers are feeling somewhat more confident with their financial situation." Meanwhile, refinancing applications fell 1 percent week-over-week, to their lowest level since June, as the interest rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.5 percent -- its highest since September. The average contract interest rate for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 3.83 percent from 3.87 percent one week ago. TRDMortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
November 24, 2010 08:30AM
Monday, November 29, 2010
Mortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
Mortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
Mortgage applications for purchases spiked 14 percent during the week that ended Nov. 19, to their highest level since May, according to the latest weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. According to Michael Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics for the MBA, "the increase in purchase applications last week aligns with other incoming data suggesting that consumers are feeling somewhat more confident with their financial situation." Meanwhile, refinancing applications fell 1 percent week-over-week, to their lowest level since June, as the interest rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.5 percent -- its highest since September. The average contract interest rate for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 3.83 percent from 3.87 percent one week ago. TRDMortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
November 24, 2010 08:30AM
Homeowner net worth 41 times renters'
Homeowner net worth 41 times renters'
November 18, 2010 03:30PM
Has the path to homeownership become more treacherous? Perhaps, if a study on homeownership and net worth from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances is to be believed. While the median net worth of homeowners was 31 times that of the "typical renter" in 1998, the report shows that that figure climbed steadily over the years, with median net worth among homeowners 46 times that of renters in 2007. While that amount has likely declined somewhat since the real estate market downturn, the National Association of Realtors estimates homeowner net worth is still 41 times that of renters, today. TRD
Homeowner net worth 41 times renters'
Homeowner net worth 41 times renters'
November 18, 2010 03:30PM
Has the path to homeownership become more treacherous? Perhaps, if a study on homeownership and net worth from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances is to be believed. While the median net worth of homeowners was 31 times that of the "typical renter" in 1998, the report shows that that figure climbed steadily over the years, with median net worth among homeowners 46 times that of renters in 2007. While that amount has likely declined somewhat since the real estate market downturn, the National Association of Realtors estimates homeowner net worth is still 41 times that of renters, today. TRD
Homeowner net worth 41 times renters'
Has the path to homeownership become more treacherous? Perhaps, if a study on homeownership and net worth from the Federal Reserve Survey of Consumer Finances is to be believed. While the median net worth of homeowners was 31 times that of the "typical renter" in 1998, the report shows that that figure climbed steadily over the years, with median net worth among homeowners 46 times that of renters in 2007. While that amount has likely declined somewhat since the real estate market downturn, the National Association of Realtors estimates homeowner net worth is still 41 times that of renters, today. TRDHomeowner net worth 41 times renters'
November 18, 2010 03:30PM
Mortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
Mortgage applications for purchases spiked 14 percent during the week that ended Nov. 19, to their highest level since May, according to the latest weekly survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association. According to Michael Fratantoni, vice president of research and economics for the MBA, "the increase in purchase applications last week aligns with other incoming data suggesting that consumers are feeling somewhat more confident with their financial situation." Meanwhile, refinancing applications fell 1 percent week-over-week, to their lowest level since June, as the interest rate for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.5 percent -- its highest since September. The average contract interest rate for the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined to 3.83 percent from 3.87 percent one week ago. TRDMortgage purchase apps reach 6-month high
November 24, 2010 08:30AM
Monday, October 18, 2010
Tools For Design : Visualize Your Home In Different Colors
In home design, the exterior is as important as the interior. The exterior are your home's first impression while performing the double-duty of protecting living space from damage and Mother Nature.
And, occasionally, you may want to make upgrades.
For some people, visualizing changes to a home's exterior is easy. For others, though, there's the Better Homes and Gardens Color-a-Home tool.
Color-a-Home is a website via which homeowners can test different exterior home designs and color combinations. Using a series of drop-down menus and mix-and-match swatch colors, homeowners can build home exterior mock-ups featuring:
- New roofing
- New siding
- New windows
- New shutters and doors
Better than a mental picture of your home -- get an actual picture.
The Better Homes and Gardens site requires basic site registration to use its Color This! product suite. Color This! is also available for home interiors and window treatments.
