Revamped HARP Program is Now Available

March 20, 2012

The new, revamped HARP program is now available. It was officially released Saturday, March 17, 2012 by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Read the full article →

Mortgage Rates Rise Along with Retail Sales

March 15, 2012

The U.S. economy is expanding, fueled by a renewed consumer optimism and increased consumer spending.

Read the full article →

Mortgage Markets Worsened Slightly After Fed Released their Statement

March 13, 2012

Tuesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.

Read the full article →

Federal Reserve Meets This Week, Mortgage Rates will be Volatile

March 12, 2012

Fed Funds Rate Not Expected to Change This week’s big event is the Federal Open Market Committee’s second scheduled meeting of the year. Whenever the FOMC meets, mortgage rates can change in a hurry. The FOMC is a subcommittee within the Federal Reserve, the U.S. government’s monetary-policy making group. Since 2008, the Federal Reserve has […]

Read the full article →

15-Year Fixed Rate Hit Lowest Level in History Last Week

March 12, 2012

Mortgage markets were mostly unchanged last week despite a series of positive developments. In addition to Greece successfully reaching a deal with its private creditors, the U.S. economy turned out strong reports — most notably the Non-Farm Payrolls report.

Read the full article →

New Changes Coming for FHA Streamline Refinances

March 9, 2012

Beginning mid-June 2012, certain current, FHA-backed homeowners will be able to refinance their existing FHA mortgage into a new one, without having to pay the government-backed group’s new, costly mortgage insurance premium schedule.

Read the full article →

Rates are Expected to Rise after Jobs Report is Released Friday

March 8, 2012

When jobs come back, analysts say, so does the economy. That should push mortgage rates higher.

Read the full article →

Is Now the Right Time to Refinance Your Iowa Home?

March 7, 2012

Mortgage rates are low but can’t stay low forever. Here’s how you can join the current Refi Boom.

Read the full article →

Midwest Markets are the Most Affordable in the U.S.

March 6, 2012

Home affordability moved higher last quarter, boosted by the lowest mortgage rates in history, a rise in median income, and slow-to-recover home prices.

Read the full article →

Friday’s Jobs Report Will Be the Focus This Week

March 5, 2012

Rates Should be Volatile According to Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now 3.90% nationwide with an accompanying 0.8 discount points and a full set of closing costs. Borrowers in Urbandale wishing to pay no points, or fewer fees, should expect higher rates than the Freddie Mac average. […]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →