This month the Federal Reserve hiked rates for the third time in seven months. Does this mean the end of low mortgage rates? Let’s take a closer look to see how it impacts your home-buying and refinancing plans. What is a Fed rate hike, anyway? The Fed Funds Rate is an overnight bank-to-bank lending rate.
After months of searching for the perfect home, making some offers, and maybe even competing with other buyers, you finally have a deal on your dream home. It took some negotiations, but you and the seller have come to terms. Or have you? Too often, getting a signed contract and putting your money into escrow
If you’re approaching the end of your lease, it’s easy to think of reasons to move – new neighborhood, change of scenery, different amenities. But there are many compelling reasons why staying put might be a better choice. Take these three considerations into account before packing up and making the move. Dollars and cents From
Housing stock continues to age, increasing to 37 years in 2015, up from 31 years a decade ago, according to a blog from the National Association of Home Builders. This aging trend shows the market could be growing for remodelers as older structures normally require additional remodeling and renovations. Additionally, the aging market could bring
Bare, white walls are usually the reality when you first move into a new home. But if you want to show off your personality, there’s no better way to do it than with original art. A one-of-a-kind piece transforms a space, makes you feel more at home, and expresses your personal interests. Diving into the
The latest report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau showed housing starts sank to an eight-month low. Now, economists are saying that drop could intensify in the months ahead as building permits also saw a drop in May. “Housing shortages look to intensify and may well turn
Housing starts took a turn for the worse in May as they decreased from the month and year before, according to the latest jointly released report from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Privately-owned housing starts decreased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.092 million. This is
Back in the summer of 2011, Aman Makkar stepped down as CEO of AppraiserLoft, a former national provider of collateral valuations services. Shortly after that, the company went under, closing its doors for good and taking Makkar down with it. Or so we thought. When the company closed its doors, it owed more than $3
A room with a view is always inviting, but you can’t overlook its interior. That’s what one family learned after rebuilding a weekend getaway on the West Arm Bay of Minnesota’s Lake Minnetonka. They felt the new property lacked character, so they brought in designer Rebecca Van’t Hull. Her solution: more color – and lots of
It’s finally a seller’s market, but according to a new Capital Economics report, the increased selling sentiment doesn’t guarantee a boost in much-needed housing inventory. Fannie Mae’s most recent Home Purchase Sentiment Index reported that the net share of those saying it’s a good time to sell surpassed those saying it’s a good time to