Last week's economic news included several good signs for U.S. Labor Markets with higher than expected readings for private and public sector job creation. The Federal Reserve announced its decision not to raise the target federal funds range, and inflation rose. Mortgage rates held steady and pending home sales rose. Private and Public Sector Jobs Post Unexpected Gains ADP, which tracks private-sector job growth, showed a gain of 246,000 jobs in January against expectations of 168,000 new jobs and December's reading of 151,000 private sector jobs created. Analysts said 208,000 of jobs added … [Read More...]
Winter may be a time for nesting until the cold weather abates, but there are a number of important tasks that a homeowner should be sure to do during the winter months. If you're readying for the slow season or wondering what you might have forgotten, here are some things you'll want to check off your to-do list. A New Coat Of Paint Getting out the paint may seem like a sizeable task, but any peeling paint is going to be adversely affected by the cooler temperatures of fall and winter. While you may want to hold off if it's already cold, it might be a task worth prioritizing if the materials … [Read More...]
Whether they're found online or heard from family and friends, there are so many mortgage tips out there that it can be hard to know exactly how to proceed. But, if you're new to the market, there are a few surefire things you can do to get a mortgage rate you'll feel good about. For some of the best tips on getting a great loan, look no further than the following. Know Your Credit History It's a simple fact that one of the most important factors in your mortgage application is your credit history, so good or fair, it's important to be aware of where you stand. While the acceptable credit … [Read More...]
November home prices grew by 5.60 percent year-over-year on a seasonally adjusted basis according to Case-Shiller's reading on National Home Prices. National average home prices rose 0.80 percent from October to November. Case-Shiller's 20-City home price index revealed that the West and Mountain regions continue to hold the top three growth rates for home prices. Seattle posted a seasonally adjusted growth rate of 10.40 percent which was closely followed by Portland, Oregon's year-over year average home price gain of 10.10 percent. Denver rounded out the top three home price growth rates … [Read More...]
With all of the home renovation and fixer-upper shows on television, the idea of completely renovating and re-doing an old home can seem like an enticing premise. Unfortunately, investing in the wrong fixer-upper can mean an awful lot of expenditure without the added financial rewards. Whether you're considering investing down the road or are ready to dive in, here are a few things to consider first. How Much Do You Want To Spend? It's easy to be swept away by possibility, but before making an offer you'll need to sit down and determine exactly what you're willing to invest into upgrades for … [Read More...]
Last week's economic news included readings on new and existing home sales and mortgage rates. Also released were reports on new jobless claims and consumer sentiment. New and Existing Home Sales Lower in December According to the U.S. Commerce Department, sales of new homes fell to 536,000 sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. This reading was markedly lower than the expected rate of 595,000 sales and November's reading of 598,000 sales. Analysts said that the drop in new home sales indicated that the housing sector is still experiencing a rocky recovery. December's reading for new … [Read More...]
