Standard & Poors released its Case-Shiller Index Wednesday. The report shows that, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, between December and January, home prices rose in more than half of the index’s tracked markets. The strength of this month’s Case-Shiller report, however, should be put in context. For one, the report is on a 2-month delay; it’s [...]

Starting Monday, April 5, 2010, getting an FHA mortgage will be more expensive for borrowers. In new guidelines set forth earlier this year, the FHA announced plans to raise additional revenue and reduce the overall risk of its mortgage portfolio. The changes include the following: Increase Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premiums from 1.75% to 2.25% for [...]

Mortgage markets tanked last week, raising rates to their highest levels in a month. Most of the losses occurred Wednesday in what was the worst 1-day mortgage market performance in more than 6 months. Even Friday’s rally could barely dent the losses. Most of the movement was tied to geopolitical concerns and worries of a [...]

Home values fell again in January, according to the Federal Home Finance Agency’s Home Price Index. Values were reported down 0.6 percent, on average. We say “on average” because the Home Price Index is a national report. It doesn’t capture the essence of a local market , or even a city market. The most granular [...]

April 15 is Tax Day and the IRS estimates that the average U.S. household will receive a $2,800 tax refund this year. If you’re among the Americans expecting a refund, this 4-minute piece from NBC’s The Today Show may be helpful. It’s a talk about how to receive a refund and what to do with [...]

As expected, Existing Home Sales fell in February, slipping 30,000 units versus January’s numbers. It’s the 4th straight month in which Existing Home Sales were lower, month-over-month. An “existing” home is one that is previously owned and lived-in (i.e. not new construction). Existing Home Sales peaked in November 2009, just as the First-Time Home Buyer [...]

CNNMoney.com recently published its 2010 forecast and projections for home prices in the country’s largest metro markets. Listed as “Top 25″ and also comprehensively by state, CNNMoney.com’s home price forecasts puts Santa Rosa, California at the top of 2010′s home appreciation list and Hanford, California at its bottom. The 10 cities projected for highest home [...]

Mortgage markets closed unchanged last week, but that’s not say mortgage rates were calm. Monday through Wednesday, rates improved steadily before a swift, late-week sell-off unwound the gains. Mortgage rates have been very low for a very long time — against the expectations of most market experts. The speed of the Thursday-Friday reversal may signal [...]

Homes are more affordable across the nation as the housing market emerges from a slow winter season with mortgage rates still near 5 percent. Soft housing and low rates are an excellent combination for home buyers but whereas home values rise with a gradual pace, mortgage rates change in an instant. It’s something worth watching. [...]

Single-family Housing Starts idled last month, dropping just 3,000 units from the month prior, or 0.2%. According to the Commerce Department’s report, February marked the 8th straight month in which Housing Starts straddled the half-million marker, dating back to June 2009. This is a different slant on the Housing Starts story as told by the [...]