Mortgage Market and Rate Forecast – Week of January 12th, 2008

January 12, 2009

A Slow Start to the Week This week, the market-moving data doesn’t start until Wednesday.  Fortunately, with a fair number of Fed members making public appearances, a case of “loose lips” can lead to mortgage rate volatility. The most notable appearance is Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s speech in London today.  There are 10 speeches in […]

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Mortgage Market and Rate Recap – Week of January 5th

January 12, 2009

A Volatile First Full Week of 2009 In 2009’s first full week of trading, mortgage bond markets traded back-and-forth all week. Eventually they closed the week with an overall improvement. Weekly mortgage rates also fell for the first time since mid-December. Job Losses Pile Up The most anticipated news of last week was Friday’s jobs […]

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Iowa Citizens Recognizing Asbestos Hazards – Eco Alternatives Now Abundant

January 11, 2009

This post is courtesy of the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.  They reached out to me because they wanted to share the importance of understanding Asbestos and how it can impact you. Here’s their message.  It’s definitely worth your time: When remodeling or purchasing an older home, there a variety of things to consider in the real […]

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Yes, Rates Are Falling. However, Fees Are Increasing!

January 9, 2009

It’s Not Always What It Seems With respect to mortgage rates, you can’t always believe what you read in the papers.  Or what you see.  The folks who write the articles are only as well informed as the sources that gave them the information. A great example is the chart here on the right. Published […]

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Think You Can Predict 2009? You’ve Got To Be Kidding.

January 8, 2009

Calling The Shots The New Year is not yet one week old but that’s not stopping market “experts” from predicting what’s in store for 2009. The calls on housing and mortgage rates run the gamut: Home prices have farther to fall Home prices have touched bottom Mortgage rates will dip Mortgage rates will rise Their Guess […]

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Des Moines Iowa Real Estate Market Recap – Week of December 29nd, 2008

January 7, 2009

What’s The Real Estate Market Doing? Do you ever wonder how our real estate market is here in Des Moines? Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time listening to how rough things are in other cities around the country, but too often we don’t really consider what our real estate climate is like. I’m a […]

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The Fed Delivers on Their New Year Present

December 31, 2008

It’s the Time To Give.   The Fed’s Giving You a Lower Interest Rate! The Fed Makes The Announcement For its last move in an action-filled year, the Federal Reserve announced it will begin buying its pledged $500 billion in mortgage-backed securities next month. Good News For Mortgage Shoppers! For home buyers and mortgage rate shoppers, […]

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Des Moines Iowa Real Estate Market Watch – Week of December 22nd, 2008

December 30, 2008

What’s The Real Estate Market Doing? Do you ever wonder how our real estate market is here in Des Moines? Unfortunately, we spend a lot of time listening to how rough things are in other cities around the country, but too often we don’t really consider what our real estate climate is like. I’m a […]

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Shopping for Mortgages on a “Vacation Week” Can Be Difficult

December 30, 2008

Understanding the Mortgage Market Mortgage markets are like any other market, in order for goods to change hands, a buyer and a seller must first agree to “trade” at a specific price point. In general, the more buyers and sellers there are for a particular item, the easier it is to find that “fair value” and […]

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Mortgage Market and Rate Forecast – Week of December 29th, 2008

December 29, 2008

Another Holiday Week, Even Less News! This week, much like last week, is interrupted for the holiday.  Regardless, there’s not much going on. Aside from the two economic reports listed below, there is nothing else for markets to digest and there are no planned speeches by members of the Fed (this can often catch lenders […]

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