Falling Consumer Confidence Helps Drag Mortgage Rates Lower. For Now.

by Chris Brown on July 29, 2010

For the second consecutive month, U.S. consumer confidence is plunging. July’s official reading is its lowest since July of last year and the figures run in stark contrast to just two months ago, when the index touched a multi-year high.

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Case-Shiller Shows Home Price Improvement In 95% Of Cities

by Chris Brown on July 28, 2010

Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index Tuesday. On a seasonally-adjusted basis, between April and May 2010, home prices rose in 19 of Case-Shiller’s 20 tracked markets. It’s the second straight month of strong Case-Shiller findings.

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New Homes Sales Gain in June, But Gains Are Relative

by Chris Brown on July 27, 2010

June’s New Home Sales data is a major improvement over May, but gains are relative. It’s possible that the true “new home market” may be softer than the statistics suggest.

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How To Prevent Mercury Poisoning With CFL Light Bulbs

July 26, 2010

CFL bulbs tend to pay for themselves in less a year and often last for several. It’s no wonder they’re so popular. But they also come with health risks.

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Existing Home Sales Drop In June But Hint At Support For Higher Price Tiers

July 23, 2010

Consistent with most post-home buyer tax credit housing news, Existing Home Sales eased lower last month. The 5 percent drop in sales was expected, but a closer look at the month’s data reveals some interesting trends.

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Yes, You Can Still Get A Mortgage If You’re Pregnant

July 22, 2010

The New York Times ran an important story this week concerning pregnancy and mortgage approvals. Titled “Need a Mortgage? Don’t Get Pregnant”, the article discussed the difficulties that expecting and recently-expanded families are having with their mortgage financing.

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Housing Starts Ease 0.7 Percent In June — 7x Better Than The Headline Data

July 21, 2010

Single-family Housing Starts eased lower last month, falling by 0.7 percent from May, or 3,000 units nationwide.

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Sagging Homebuilder Confidence Opens The Door For Good Deals

July 20, 2010

Remember, it wasn’t too long ago that most builders were flush with home inventory, unable to find willing buyers. To help move product at that time, builders dropped prices and offered incentives including free upgrades. If confidence continues to sag going forward, home purchase deals of that nature may return — especially as the foreclosure market gets larger.

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25 Cities In Which To Get A Bang For Your Homebuying Buck

July 19, 2010

CNNMoney.com recently ran a piece titled “Where Homes Are Affordable”, listing 25 communities around the U.S. in which median incomes are relatively high and median homes are relatively low. It’s a housing market “bank for your buck” list.

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The Fed’s June Minutes Keep Mortgage Rates In Rally-Mode

July 16, 2010

At 7,333 words, the June Fed Minutes is the unabridged version of the more well-known, post-meeting press release. The corresponding press release was just 360 words. It turns out, the Fed’s words are doing wonders for mortgage rates.

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