Posts by: Chris Richter

Foreclosure Activity By Metro Area, Q3 2010

On October 29, 2010 By

Foreclosures are a big part of the housing market, with distressed properties accounting for 35 percent of all home resales last month, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. But for as common as foreclosures can be, they remain a localized concern.

Continue Reading →

New Home Housing Stock Drops To A 5-Month Low

On October 28, 2010 By

After improving 1 percent in August, New Home Sales popped another 7 percent in September. It’s no wonder homebuilder confidence is at a 5-month high.

Continue Reading →

Home Values Up 0.4 Percent In August, On Average

On October 27, 2010 By

The Federal Home Finance Agency’s data showed values up 0.4 percent nationwide, on average. Region-by-region, however, the results were scattered. Coastal states tended to perform poorly. Plains states tended to perform well.

Continue Reading →

Existing Home Sales Jump; Housing Market Shows Spark

On October 26, 2010 By

“Deals” were in ample supply this summer and eager home buyers snatched them up.

Continue Reading →

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : October 25, 2010

On October 25, 2010 By

The dollar was strong in the first part of last week, then weakened through Friday’s close with the G-20 meeting looming. Mortgage rates trended along similar lines.

Continue Reading →

Time To Refinance? Mortgage Rates Down 1.00 Percent Since April.

On October 22, 2010 By

The rate-and-fee combination you’d get in your home state is different from the rate-and-fee combination you’d get if you lived somewhere else. In the West, rates are low and fees are high; in the Southeast, it’s the opposite.

Continue Reading →

See How Credit Missteps Lower Your Credit Score

On October 21, 2010 By

The company behind the popular FICO scoring model has published a “What If?” series for common, specific credit missteps.

Continue Reading →

Housing Starts Jump In September, Buoyed By Homebuilder Confidence

On October 20, 2010 By

According to the Commerce Department, the number of single-family Housing Starts increased to 452,000 units in September, a 19,000 improvement over August.

Continue Reading →

As Buyer Foot Traffic Rises, So Does Homebuilder Confidence

On October 19, 2010 By

According to the NAHB, October’s HMI reading of 16 is its highest value in 5 months. The uptick hints that the market for newly-built homes may rebound more quickly that this summer’s weak new homes sales figures would otherwise suggest.

Continue Reading →

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : October 18, 2010

On October 18, 2010 By

The United States is experiencing a Refi Boom. As compared to 6 months ago, a new, $200,000 home loan costs $124 less per month in principal + interest.

Continue Reading →