Mortgage Rates Are Still Dirt Cheap
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Mortgage rates have skyrocketed over the past few months. Just one week ago, they set a record for the largest single-day increase in history, leading industry experts such as Matthew Graham, chief operating officer of Mortgage News Daily, to characterize it as a "catastrophic surge.". The impact on the...

How Much Will Rising Mortgage Rates Cost You?
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Mortgage rates are rising. An average 30-year fixed mortgage carried a 3.35% interest rate nine months ago. Today, the same loan will cost you 4.46%. That's a big jump.. But we know most Americans aren't very good at finance. And they're pretty bad at math, too. The media has been buzzing about rising...

Gulf War Veterans And Active Military Personnel Push FY 2012 VA Loan Guarantees To Record-Levels
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
In 1944, the government passed the G.I. Bill, a law which provided a wide range of benefits to U.S. soldiers returning from World War II. One of the G.I. Bill's programs -- the VA Loan Guaranty -- awarded veterans with at least 90 days of active duty during the war years access to low-cost mortgages nationwide.. Nearly...

Rising Mortgage Rates? Home Builders Shrug Them Off
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Home builders believe the U.S. housing market is strengthening despite rising mortgage rates, a sign the sector could lift the economy during the latest rough patch.. The National Association of Home Builders, an industry trade group, said Tuesday that its housing-market index surged six points to a reading of...

Questions To Ask Your Home Inspector Before Buying Your Home
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Imagine how frustrated you'd be to find out that the hot water heater wasn't working - in the middle of your very first shower in your new home!. This, among other very good reasons, is why you should have a home inspection before you buy your home.. When you buy a home, you need to know exactly what...

RealtyTrac Report Shows Home Prices Increasing At Highest Rate Since 1977
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
U.S. housing markets continue to drive the economic recovery according to data released by RealtyTrac Inc.. National home prices rose by 11.90 percent year-over-year for June.48 states reported rising home prices with only Delaware and Mississippi reporting lower home prices. Nevada led the states with a 26.50...

It's Important To Follow These Specific Steps When Using Gift Funds For Your Down Payment
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for home buyers, minimum down payment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 5 - 10 percent. Incidentally, these guideline changes have led to an increase in the...

Before And After Tips When Dealing With A Disaster
Updated Oct. 9, 2013
Weather patterns across the United States seem to be getting more and more erratic. From tornadoes and earthquakes to flash floods and wild fires, there are many natural disasters that can quickly consume your home without warning. Because you never know when disaster might strike, it's best to be...

Reasons Why You Should Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage
Updated Nov. 14, 2013
Refinancing a mortgage is a golden opportunity to lock in today's low interest rate for the next 15 or 30 years. While interest rates now are still low, there's a good chance they will be heading up in the coming months.. The Fed won't maintain the current bond purchasing level forever, and just as...