The Good & the Bad about the Fed’s Latest Rate Move
Anytime interest rates move up most people view this is a signal of the economy getting worse. However, when rates are this low, it’s really a signal the economy is getting better and can withstand higher interest rates. To better understand it, you have to think from an investor perspective. Making 4 to 5 % [...]
How Employment and Unemployment Affects Interest Rates
The December employment report came in relatively bond friendly. Though unemployment came in at 10% as expected; the payroll component showed job losses of 85,000 compared to the 35,000 losses that were expected by analysts. Though the mortgage bond market had a generally positive reaction to the report, improvements in rates were tempered by concerns [...]
What to Expect During the First Quarter of 2010
Over the holidays I did some research on what most “experts” (at least that is how they cast themselves) were saying about the coming year 2010 and found a common thread that had to do with what will happen as the government starts to back out of holding the interest rates down as well as [...]
The Latest News for 1st Time Homebuyers & More
If you have not heard by now, President Obama has signed legislation extending the first time homeowner tax credit. You must have a property under contract by April 30th and it must close by July 30th of 2010. The income restrictions have been raised to $125,00 if you are single and $250,000 if you are [...]
Getting Ready for Thankgiving
Let’s face it, it has been a wild year! Last year at this time no one knew what was going to happen as we had just been told that our country was on the brink of a financial meltdown like we had never seen before. Though you will find few people who are glad the [...]
Will the Stimulus Money End in November or be Extended
I’m not sure why this keeps popping up as a question but over the last two weeks I have been asked is the stimulus tax rebate will be extended into next year no less than 6 times. While it seems to everyone out here on the front lines that the government should extend this tax [...]
Is Credit Really that Tight?
If you’re like me, you keep hearing that credit is tight. Well, I’m not so sure that’s true. What I do think has tightened are the regulations and rules in regard to who is a good credit risk. You can still get a good loan with a good rate if you start out with [...]
We Live in a Strange World
So I’d heard in MSNBC the Jon Stewart of the Daily Show just didn’t understand what all was happening. After all he is a comedian, not a financial wizard like the people who are on MSNBC and we should all know the difference.
Well, if you have never seen the Daily Show, I highly recommend [...]
Clarification Points about the Tax Credit
I received a number of calls this morning about the tax first tiem home buyer tax credit. And though this is not an extensive or exhusted post in regard to the tax credit here are a few of the most misunderstood highlights.
If you have not owned or been on the deed of another home in [...]
To Wait on the Government or Not? That is the Question!
Over the last two weeks I have been asked my opinion more than I can remember about two things; should I wait until I know we get the $15,000 tax credit to purchase a home and; when will we see the government give us the 4.5% interest rate so I can either buy a [...]
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