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12 September 2009
Ten Year Note at 3.28%...WoW!!
Ten-year-note yields dropped 2 basis points, or 0.02%, to 3.33%. They earlier touched 3.28%, the lowest since May 20. Yields move inversely to bond prices and mortgage rates. Benchmark 10-year notes are on track to score a fifth weekly gain after the Read More...
31 July 2009
Lender Questions-My Interview with Dean Wong at First Capital Mortgage
It is with great pleasure to post my Interview with one of my favorite Lenders Dean Wong at First Capital Mortgage. (His contact is at the end of my post). Tom: Hello Dean. How are you doing? Dean: Great Tom Tom: 1).I have heard that there are some changes Read More...
15 June 2009
Rates move higher in past 2 weeks after their bottom in May
As I mentioned before, added supply has been one of the main culprits behind the recent sell-off in Bonds and corresponding climb in home loan rates . So where is that supply coming from? First, all those refinances you've heard about lately are actually Read More...
08 January 2009
Rates Fall to Record Low of 5.01%
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5.01 percent with an average 0.6 point for the week ending Jan. 8, 2009, down from last week when it averaged 5.10 percent, according to Freddie Mac’s latest results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey Read More...
26 September 2008
Lender Interview w/Dean Wong-Part II
My Lender Dean Wong and I sat down for Part II of our Interview on Finance 101: Thomas Ray : How are interest rates figured and how do I compare lender rates? Dean Wong :Rates are determined by the overall economy and supply and demand of money. Best Read More...
04 August 2008
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act
This week, President Bush signed the "Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008" into law. This $300 Billion rescue plan is aimed at helping struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure, as well as boost confidence in the housing market. Although Read More...
14 July 2008
Forecast for the Week - July 14, 2008
We could be in for another explosive week, as several reports will show the impact inflation continues to have on the economy. Tuesday will bring the wholesale inflation measuring Producer Price Index as well as the Retail Sales Report, which measures Read More...
04 May 2008
When should you get Pre-Approved for a Loan?
I recommend that prospective home buyers get Preapproved as a way of establishing their good faith to home sellers and agents. Home buyers sometimes get into trouble because they aren't clued into the sequence of steps involved in financing their Read More...
11 April 2008
Buyers and Renters - The Cost of Waiting
First up: The loss of tax deductions . In most cases, people who lack a mortgage pay more federal and state income taxes than those who qualify for a mortgage deduction. A Mortgage Calculator illustrates this point: Assume that a buyer is currently paying Read More...
11 April 2008
2008:The Best Year to Buy a Home in 35 Years!
In April of 1973 , mortgage rates were about the same as they are today. Since that time, we have only had mortgage rates this low during 2001 and 2002, the height of the seller's markets where there was little inventory. In the last two major buyer's Read More...
07 April 2008
Bond Prices move higher...Rates move lower!
Remember, when Bond prices move higher, home loan rates move lower ...Bonds have rebounded higher off of their key 50-day moving average support level, and are moving back toward the upper portion of their current trading range. This means if Bond prices Read More...
07 April 2008
Taking an Interest in your Credit Card Rate...
Credit cards are one of the most pervasive forms of your financial picture. On a daily basis, they provide the flexibility and freedom to reserve a hotel room, travel without carrying cash, and purchase just about anything at anytime. As such, your credit Read More...