Federal Reserve raises rates as expected, but we could be in for a wild ride

March 21, 2018 in Economic News Federal Reserve

The Federal Reserve announced a rate increase as expected. But here's what you might not have anticipated.

What mortgage rate history can tell us about the future

February 15, 2018 in About Mortgages Economic News Essential Mortgage Miscellany Federal Reserve First-Time Home Buyers Forecasts Homeownership Topics Mortgage Rates Mortgage Strategy Real Estate Refinance Uncategorized

How useful is mortgage rate history? Mortgage rate history may sound a pretty boring topic. Indeed, you may subscribe to the Henry Ford school, which believes that all history is bunk. However, knowing how mortgage rates behaved in the past can help you understand what might happen to them in the future. That knowledge could […]

Is 2018 the year you should become a homeowner?

January 24, 2018 in About Mortgages Buying a home Economic News First-Time Home Buyers Homeownership Topics Mortgage Rates Real Estate Uncategorized USDA Loans VA Loans

Happy new year — as a homeowner Is your new year's resolution for 2018 to become a homeowner? Or would you make it one, if only you thought it was a smart move — and you stood a chance of achieving it? Well, read on because you might find some good news. 2018: A vintage […]

Federal Reserve Meeting Mortgage Rates Preview

Fed Preview: Rate Increase Expected, But What Will Janet Do?

December 12, 2017 in Economic News Federal Reserve

As the FOMC meets for the final time in 2017, analysts expect a rate hike. Janet Yellen's comments on future Fed actions could have a ripple effect.

BLS Non-Farm Payrolls Hourly Earnings October 2017

Wages not rising as fast as home prices; NAR presents 2018 housing forecast

November 6, 2017 in Economic News Forecasts Real Estate News

Post-hurricane jobs numbers not as strong as expected The October jobs report is in, and the numbers are a mixed bag. The U.S. economy added 261,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in October, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A hiring rebound at restaurants and bars impacted by recent hurricanes helped boost numbers. However, October's jobs […]

First jobs decline in 7 years. How does that affect home buyers?

October 9, 2017 in Economic News

The U.S. economy unexpectedly was in negative territory for job creation in September. What does that mean for home buyers?

New-home sales plummet in August as affordability squeezes buyers

September 27, 2017 in Economic News

New-home sales for August were unexpectedly lower, says the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Equifax breach another page in credit bureaus sordid history

Equifax breach just another page in the sordid history of credit bureaus

September 18, 2017 in Economic News

Equifax is making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Where did the credit bureaus come from, anyway, and how did they get so much of your information?

Equifax data breach victim? Here’s what to do today to protect yourself

September 8, 2017 in Economic News

Equifax data breach sparks firestorm of consumer concerns 143 million. That's how many U.S. consumers are potentially affected by a data breach of consumer credit reporting agency Equifax. Nearly two-thirds of the adult U.S. population. The disturbing thing about the latest breach — in what seems to be a neverending stream of breaches — is that thieves had […]