Lori Blank & Associates

28

Aug

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Housing Analysis

Case Shiller Price Index Shows Home Prices Are Still Increasing

Home prices are still rising, but at a slower pace according to the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices for June. Home prices for the cities surveyed in the HPI rose by 12.10 percent on an annual basis as compared to May's reading of 12.20 percent. This is the highest rate of monthly growth for home prices since the peak of the housing bubble in 2006. June's home prices remained approximately 23 percent lower than peak prices, but economists consider the bubble peak an anomaly and caution against comparing current home prices to the peak prices seen in 2006. Overall Housing…

27

Aug

By Lori Blank

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FHFA

Existing Home Sales Report Shows Highest New Home Inventory Since January 2012

The National Association of REALTORS reported that existing home sales for July came in at 5.39 million on a seasonally adjusted annual basis. July's reading exceeded both expectations of 5.21 million existing homes sold and June's reading of 5.06 million homes sold. This suggests good news for home buyers who've been constrained by limited supplies of homes for sale. As home prices continue increasing in many areas, more homeowners are likely to list their homes for sale. Existing home sales for July rose by 6.80 percent year-over-year. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Home Price Index reported a 7.70 percent year…

26

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 26, 2013

Last week brought mixed economic news, but Leading Indicators released Thursday suggest that the U.S. economy is growing at a moderate rate. Mortgage rates for fixed rate loans were higher, but the average rate for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage was unchanged from the prior week. Weekly jobless claims were also higher. The National Association of REALTORS released its Existing Home Sales report for July and reported existing home sales came in at 5.39 million on an annualized basis. This reading surpassed expectations of 5.21 existing homes sold as well as June's reading of 5.06 million existing homes sold on…

23

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Preventing And Clearing Clogs In Your Home

You're brushing your teeth and you turn on the faucet. It's not draining and starts to back up. Here's the dilemma; do you spit and let it sit or run to the kitchen? One thing is for sure; having a clogged drain can be a major annoyance. Clogs not only frustrate a homeowner but they can be hard on your plumbing. The added pressure they create puts stress on your pipes and can shorten their lifespan. So end the issue by following the guidelines below. You'll learn how to prevent clogging and clear the ones you already have. No Food Down…

22

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Federal Reserve

Fed Meeting Minutes Reflect Support For Reducing QE Program

The minutes of last month's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting show significant support for tapering the Fed's current amount of monthly securities purchases. These purchases, known as quantitative easing (QE), are an effort to maintain lower long-term interest rates including mortgage rates. The Fed has been buying $85 billion per month in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Ben Bernanke, chairman of the Federal Reserve and FOMC has hinted at "tapering" the Fed's securities purchases by year-end in recent statements. The FOMC minutes released Wednesday further suggest that tapering based on strengthening economic trends is likely. FOMC Members Express…

21

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Mortgage Tips

It’s Important To Follow These Specific Steps When Using Gift Funds For Your Down Payment

As lenders tighten mortgage guidelines for Scottsdale home buyers, minimum downpayment requirements are increasing. Several years ago, you could finance a home with nothing down. Today, most conventional mortgages require at least 5 - 10 percent. Incidentally, these guideline changes have led to an increase in the number of home buyers accepting cash gifts from family. Gifts are allowed in most cases but the problem is, if you don't accept the gift in a "lender-friendly" way, the mortgage underwriter could reject it, and negate it. Three Steps To Success With Your Down Payment Gift Funds You can't just deposit a cash…

20

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

Home Builder Confidence Highest Level In Nearly 8 Years

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported Thursday that its Housing Market Index rose three points to a reading of 59 for August. Confidence among builders is likely growing in connection with stronger housing markets and high demand for homes. These conditions are being driven by short supplies of homes for sale in many markets. Builder confidence in current market conditions rose by three points to a reading of 62, while builder confidence in market conditions within the next six months rose by one point to a reading of 68. Confidence in buyer foot traffic was unchanged from July’s…

19

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Housing Analysis

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 19, 2013

Last week wasn't kind to stock market investors, but weekly jobless claims fell to an unexpected low of 320,000 new jobless claims filed, the lowest level in nearly six years. Here is a review of the major events of the week. Monday: The federal budget for July shows an increase in its deficit to -$98 billion, a deficit increase of $28 billion over June's figure of -$70 billion. The good news is that the deficit for the first 10 months of the fiscal year is $38 billion less than during the same period of the prior fiscal year. Thursday: Thursday was…

16

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Tips For Helping Your Kids Adjust To A New School

August means it's time to get your children ready for school once more. Picking out backpacks, going clothes shopping and finding all the right school supplies can be hectic enough. However, when you've moved and your children have to start all over in a new district, there's even more to worry about! Summer fun can make the sunny months fly by. It's easy to forget that with the beginning of school comes excitement and anxiety for your little ones — especially if they're starting out somewhere new. So help them get adjusted with the back-to-a-new-school strategies below. Explain Why You'll…

15

Aug

By Lori Blank

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Around The Home

Clever Ways To Pay For A Renovation Of Your Home

So you want to renovate your home, but you don't have the cash at the moment for the project and you don't qualify for a home equity line of credit? What can you do to get the money you need to upgrade your property? Here are a few creative solutions to the problem, so that you can find the money you need to fund your renovations. Take In A Renter If you have a spare bedroom or a basement suite, you can rent out your home for a while to help you save money toward the renovations. Taking in a…