Todd Grey, Author at Todd Grey

25

Mar

Real EstateHome Improvement, Landscaping, Real Estate

Turn Your Yard Into An All-Seasons Living Space

Think of backyard space as "in-between" or transitional space that is a bit like being inside while being outside. Sunrooms, screened-in covered patios, outdoor kitchens, spas, fire pits and more, are all becoming very popular ways to make more use of the backyard. Making use of the outside area is not limited to only the times of the year that have nice, warm weather. Sitting around a fire pit, with a blazing fire in it, is a perfect way to spend a chilly winter evening under the stars. This is a bit like camping out, without having to leave the…

24

Mar

By Todd Grey

MortgageFinancing Options, Market Trends, Mortgage

Home Sales Are Spiking, Driven By Low Mortgage Rates

According to data from the National Association of Realtors, existing-home sales increased by 3.6% in December 2019. That pace is the strongest month-over-month in almost two years, since February 2018. The sales figures were also up 10.8% from what they were in December 2018. What's behind this uptick? The biggest factor driving the surge in home sales is historically low mortgage interest rates. Plummeting Rates During the last week of February 2020, mortgage rates fell to their lowest in three years and were hovering - just barely - above all-time lows. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was sitting at 3.45%, almost…

23

Mar

By Todd Grey

Financial ReportsFederal Reserve, Financial Reports, Mortgage Rates

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week -March 23rd , 2020

Last week’s economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing market conditions, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued and National Association of Realtors® reporting on sales of previously-owned homes. The Federal Reserve canceled the scheduled meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee and Fed Chair’s press conference, but the Fed did lower its target federal funds rate early in the week. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and initial jobless claims were also released. Builder Confidence, Housing Starts and Building Permits Decrease Builder confidence in housing market conditions dropped two index points…

20

Mar

By Todd Grey

MortgageCredit Cards, Mortgage, Rent

Paying Rent And Mortgages With A Credit Card

When people purchase a house, they usually set up their mortgage payments as a direct draft out of a checking account. The same is typically true of rent payments; however, many people have wondered if there was another way to pay rent or mortgage. After all, there are credit cards out there that have fantastic rewards. It would be great to take advantage of these rewards by placing rent and mortgage payments on a card. Sadly, there is no way to pay rent or mortgage with a credit card without a fee. There are bank interchange fees that would lead…

19

Mar

By Todd Grey

MortgageMarket Outlook, Market Trends, Mortgage

More Than 25% Of Millennial Homebuyers May Be Financially Unprepared

Millennials are the first generation in America that will probably not be able to do as well as their parents. In the United States, there is not as much upward mobility as there was in the past. What is the cause of this? CNN reports that Millennials have more college degrees than their parents. They also have an enormous amount of student loan debt. Many millennials have lower-paying jobs than their parents had at the same age when adjusted for inflation. Spending patterns changed as well, due to the high cost of living. Finding The Money Saving is not easy.…