For the first time since March, mortgage rates have gone up last week, mostly as a result of the jobless rate and the stock market’s milestone. The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage increased from 3.52% two weeks ago to 3.6% last week, according to Bankrate.com. The mortgages in last week’s survey had an […]
Today, Freddie Mac reported that the national averages for mortgage rates for the week ending April 18 fell for the third week in a row. Thirty-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.41%, with an average 0.7 point, down from 3.43% last week and 3.90% the same time last year. For 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, the average rate was […]
Equifax recently released its March National Consumer Credit Trends Report, which showed that there were $43.1 billion in home finance balances written off during the first quarter of 2013, down 23% year over year from $55.4 billion in Q1 2012. Last quarter’s figure is at a five-year low. Write-offs (or severe derogatories) include loans that […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]