Last week's economic news included reports on inflation, construction spending, the Federal Reserve's announcement regarding interest rates and several labor and employment related releases. Weekly reports on new jobless claims and Freddie Mac's survey of interest rates were also released. Construction Spending Rises, Fed Holds Steady on Interest Rates, Suggests December Increase Construction spending remained in negative territory for September according to the Commerce Department. The month-to-month reading decreased by 0.40 percent against the expected reading of +0.40 percent and August's … [Read More...]
Deciding to purchase a home will be one of the biggest investment decisions you'll make in your life, but it can be confusing for the first-time home buyer to know all the ins and outs of buying a home. If you're wondering what things first-time buyers often forget about before purchasing a home, here are three important things that you'll want to keep in mind. Ignoring Their Credit History If you have a high debt load or you haven't been making your minimum payments, it can be pretty frightening to consider looking at your credit report, but it's very important to do this before applying for … [Read More...]
Luxury estates can be a challenge to sell. The more expensive a home is, the less potential buyers there are. The biggest hassle is going through the process with people who can't actually afford the home, only to have it fall apart at the last minute. Here are some ways to make sure the property is only being viewed by qualified buyers. Only Accept Offers From Buyers Who Are Pre-Qualified From A Lender One of the only ways to guarantee a buyer will be able to afford a luxury home is to let the bank do the work on your behalf. By only accepting offers from people who have been pre-qualified by … [Read More...]
As a homeowner, you may have heard the term re-financing without being aware of exactly what it means, but there are a lot of pros and cons associated with what it can do for your financial situation. While getting a different new loan for your mortgage can be a good financial decision in certain situations, here are some things you should consider before you decide that this is the right choice for you. Getting A Lower Rate One of the main reasons that re-financing can be a popular option for many homeowners is that it can provide the opportunity for considerable money savings. Since you will … [Read More...]
It's important to remember that when a home is put up for sale it should appeal to as many people as possible. Sometimes those flashy paint colors the owners grew up with will not charm new buyers. Here are five ideas for paint colors that will help any home sell quickly. Keep It Neutral For A Reason The first thing everybody hears when they try and sell their home is to paint in neutral colors. There is a good reason for this. Every person who walks through the front door should be able to picture living in the home and not think about the people who had lived there before. Neutral colors … [Read More...]
Last week's economic reports included S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes, along with readings on new and pending home sales. Recurring weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller: Pacific Northwest Shows Fastest Home Price Growth According to the Case-Shiller 20-City Home Price Index for August, home prices in Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington grew fastest year-over-year. Portland posted an August index reading of 11.70 percent and Portland followed closely with a reading of 11.40 percent. Denver, Colorado rounded out the top three … [Read More...]
