What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 2nd, 2018

Last week's economic releases included readings from Case-Shiller, pending home sales, and consumer sentiment. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released.     Case-Schiller: Home Prices Continue to Rise According to Case-Shiller Home Price Index reports for January, U.S. home prices continued to rise at a rapid pace with the national home price index rising at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 6.20 percent. Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price Index rose by 6.40 percent year-over-year. Seattle, Washington held the top spot with year-over-year home price growth of 12.90 percent. Las Vegas, Nevada reported year-over-year home price growth of…
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7 Tips To Plan A Spring Yard ‘Tune-Up’ Before Listing A Home For Sale

The oft-repeated maxim that there is never a second chance to make a great first impression is especially true when it comes to real estate. Street appeal may focus on a dramatic approach to the front door, but prospective buyers will be especially "wowed" by an appealing back yard. Early spring is the perfect time to add some new plants, set out pots of blooming flowers and focus on one memorable feature. A little work now will pay big dividends later, in terms of buyer interest, increased showings, quick offers, and even a higher price. Here are 7 ideas that are…
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A Mortgage Pre-Approval Can Help You In Your Home Purchase Negotiations

A mortgage pre-qualification is an initial estimate of what type and size of mortgage a borrower could get. It is limited, though, because it's only based on what the borrower tells the lender, which might not be the same as what the lender finds out when it goes through a full process of analyzing the borrower and his credit. The Initial Loan Pre-Qualification To get pre-qualified, a borrower starts by finding a lender. Typically, he will give the lender basic information on his ability to borrow. This includes his income, how much money he has in the bank, his current…
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5 Tips For Prospective Buyers To Submit A Winning Offer

In a hot real estate market, agents often tell buyers they must expect to make multiple offers before one is accepted. Disappointment may be the new normal rather than an exception. The stress of repeated rejections isn't easy, so be prepared. Significant numbers of first-time buyers find the process difficult, and recent research indicates that about 60 percent of Millennials choose to rent rather than own, delaying other important life decisions, including marriage and family.  There are, however, at least 5 ways to strengthen your buyer profile and give yourself an advantage:  Check Your Credit Take advantage of the free credit checks offered by…
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Over 5 Trillion Dollars In Home Equity May Lead To More Cash Out Transactions

US homeowners now have over 5 trillion dollars in home equity which is a very large amount of money! So this year may be the year for a lot of cash out refinances and other home equity mortgage products. Most often, when you are purchasing a home, you are buying at or below the appraised value and you are making a down payment. The good news is this means you have "instant equity" in your home. And over time you build more equity as you make your monthly mortgage payments as well as any potential home price appreciation. This build…
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