Home prices are falling in most major U.S. cities, as reported by Bloomberg BusinessWeek. At least 10 major U.S. markets, including New York, are at their lowest point since the housing boom of 2006-2007. According to The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller city index, home prices fell in 19 out of the 20 major cities. The record …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the recent fall of mortgage rates. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of mortgage rates, this week saw a decline in mortgage rates with the average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropping to 4.80% the week of April 21, compared to 4.91% the week before. A 15-year …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
Data released by RealtyTrac on April 14 showed that the number of foreclosures in the first quarter of 2011 was lower than what it was during the same quarter in 2010. More than 681,000 homes received a foreclosure filing in Q1 2011, a 27% decrease. That same quarter, 215,046 borrowers lost their homes, which is …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
The housing market may be impacted by the possibility of a government shutdown. The Wall Street Journal reported on April 7 that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan told Senate lawmakers that he is “very concerned” that if the government shuts down as a result of lawmakers failing to reach an agreement on a …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
Bankrate.com reported on March 31 that home equity rates fell slightly from 7% last week to 6.99% this week, based on a survey it conducted with large banks and thrifts. Meanwhile, the typical home equity line of credit (HELOC) averaged 5.57%, a gain of one basis point from the previous week. (One basis point is …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
The Census Bureau released estimates on Wednesday that sales of new single-family homes last month were at an annual rate of 250,000 units, down 16.9% from an upwardly revised figure of 301,000 units in January and down 28% from the February 2010 figure of 347,000. It was the lowest level since the federal government started …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services Weekly Finance Review
The Commerce Department reported this week that housing starts fell 22.5% in February to 479,000 units, from an upwardly revised January figure of 618,000 units. It was the biggest decline in 27 years and finished just above a record low set in April 2009. Building permits — a hint of future construction demand — fell …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services Weekly Finance Review
CNNMoney recently reported that the number of foreclosures in February fell 14%, compared to January and 27% compared to February 2010. According to RealtyTrac, that is the largest year-to-year drop the company has ever recorded. While some see this as a sign of recovery in the housing market, the company says part of the decline …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services Weekly Finance Review
The number of mortgage applications fell 6.5% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The MBA also reported that refinancing activity also fell by 6.5% to 64.9% of total applications last week, down from 65.7% the week before. The four-week moving average for all mortgage applications was down 2.5%. Adjustable-rate mortgages made up 5.5% …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services Finance Review
Freddie Mac reported this week that the average rate on the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose from 4.80% last week to 4.81% this week. Meanwhile, the average rate for 15-year fixed-rate mortgages decreased from 4.09% last week to 4.08% this week. The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage fell to 3.69%, compared to 3.70% last …
Continue reading Affordable Financial Services’ Weekly Finance Review
Recent Comments