Tag Archive for Homes.org

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – How a Week of Market Reports Affected Interest Rates

admin | February 7, 2012 | One comment

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – How a Week of Market Reports Affected Interest Rates











Find Homes & More at Homes.org

(PRWEB) February 03, 2012

The Homes.org weekly mortgage rate report found that mortgage interest rates rose last week despite the Fed’s announcement of long term plans to keep base interest rates at record. However, since that climb rates have again fallen back down to record lows. The up and down movement has been a product of investor confidence that the U.S. economy is growing stronger and government actions to help the housing market. This back and forth tug of war in interest rates is right in line with Homes.org’s forecast last week.

Current interest rates are:

         4.12% – average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage

         3.34% – average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage

In the last week, 30-year fixed-rate mortgages fell by 12 basis points while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped 11 basis points. This time last year the 30-year fixed was at 5.02%.

The Homes.org Weekly Mortgage Rates Update identifies the five reports coming out this week that could impact interest rates and how.


    Monday – December Personal Income and Outlays Report

    Tuesday – Consumer Confidence Report

    Thursday – Initial Jobless Claims Report and 4th Quarter Productivity Report

    Friday – Jobs Report

Homes.org is forecasting that there will likely be more steady movement over the next week with the possibility of a slight increase. There aren’t any big announcements being made by the government as was the case the last two weeks and the positive outcome in the market reports this week will probably keep investor confidence higher in the U.S. Especially since Europe is still struggling over their own economic issues.

To find more information on mortgage rates, new home listings and local real estate agents, please visit: Homes.org.

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools and home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – Fed Helps Rates Stay Steady

admin | February 3, 2012 | One comment

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – Fed Helps Rates Stay Steady











Find Homes & More at Homes.org

Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 20, 2012

The Homes.org weekly mortgage rate report found that last week mortgage interest rates remained steady and the trend is likely to continue thanks mostly in part to the economic situation in Europe.

With the real estate industry expected to show some slight improvements this week, now is no time for mortgage rate increases. The Fed knows this and is doing their part to squelch upward movement by buying mortgage bonds. When bond buying is strong interest rates remain low and the Fed’s actions are keeping the traders’ interests up. This and Europe’s economic state is the primary reason for mortgage rates staying steady since last week.

Current interest rates are:

         4.18% – average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage

         3.38% – average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage

Most of the economic activity and reports that affect mortgage rates in the U.S. is happening late in the week, partially due to the week opening with a holiday. The Producer and Consumer Price Index inflation reports came out Wednesday and Thursday showing that inflation hasn’t occurred at the consumer level and dropped by .1% for wholesale prices. This is good news in the mortgage interest industry since increase in inflation often equates to higher rates.

Employment and spending numbers were also optimistic with spending and manufacturing up and unemployment claims down this week to the lowest level since April 2008. These trends are keep stocks from dropping and signaling signs of economic recovery in the U.S.

This week housing reports are also released which directly show how the real estate industry is fairing. The Housing Starts report released Thursday showed a 4.1% drop in December, however builder sentiment was stronger in January. They remain optimistic because single-family home starts did increase by 4.4%. The Existing Home Sales report due out today is predicted to show continued signs of recovery.

Homes.org is forecasting that with the Fed keeping mortgage bond buying in action, the EuroZone still in economic uncertainty and desire to keep the U.S. real estate market moving in the right direction, mortgage interest rates are likely to move sideways and remain just as low at the start of next week.

To find more information on mortgage rates, new home listings and real estate resources, please visit: http://www.homes.org

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools and home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – What the Fed Announcement Means for Mortgage Rates

admin | January 27, 2012 | One comment

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – What the Fed Announcement Means for Mortgage Rates











Find Homes & More at Homes.org


Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 26, 2012

The Homes.org weekly mortgage rate report found that mortgage interest rates have inched upward since last week, however the Fed is aiming at keeping it from rising too much. As we predicted last week the Fed is determined to keep interest rates in check in an effort to keep real estate and the overall U.S. economy on its path to recovery.

Current interest rates are:

         4.25% – average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage

         3.45% – average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage

Here’s what Homes.org is reporting as the need to know info about the Fed’s unprecedented announcement yesterday and the effects it’s already having.


    The Fed stated it wouldn’t increase the benchmark interest rate until late 2014.
    The key rate has been kept at a record low near 0% for the last three years.
    The Fed is making the decision based on the slow economic recovery and signs that inflation will remain low.
    The timeline of late 2014 is a ‘best guess’ not a hard timeframe, depending on how the economy fares over the next few years.
    The Fed believes the economy will grow by 2.2-2.7%, that unemployment will drop to 8.2% and inflation will be at only 2% this year.
    The Fed also said that they are holding off on further bond buying, but that depending on the economy they may resume doing so in the future.
    The Fed actions were approved by members 9-1.
    After the announcement Treasury yields fell which indicates that mortgage rates will hold or decrease.
    Stocks saw positive gains after the announcement, recovering losses that were experienced earlier in the day.

Homes.org is forecasting that there will be a tug of war over interest rates in the weeks and month to come. As the U.S. economy improves and people gain confidence in it, it’s typical for interest rates to rise. However, the Fed is taking steps to try and counteract that from happening, no doubt because they know the lure of low interest rates will be a big factor in getting more buyers into real estate markets across the country.

To find more information on mortgage rates, new home listings and the home buying guide for today’s buyer, please visit: Homes.org

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools and home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , ,

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – Interest Rates Fall Despite Signs of Recovery

admin | January 18, 2012 | One comment

Homes.org Releases Mortgage Rates Update – Interest Rates Fall Despite Signs of Recovery











Find Homes & More at Homes.org


Austin, TX (PRWEB) January 13, 2012

The Homes.org weekly mortgage rate report finds that last week was a good week for mortgage interest rates and the trend is likely to continue. Despite encouraging signs that the U.S. economy is on its way to recovery, rates started the week out 3 basis points lower. This is due to investor interest in U.S. Treasuries and bonds which are still considered a safer bet compared to European investments.

Current interest rates are:

         4.18% – average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage

         3.38% – average rate for a 15-year fixed rate mortgage

All in all the economy was looking up last week – the December Employment Report showed a drop in unemployment to 8.5% and the Commerce Department noted that factory orders increased by 1.8% in November. However, the recovery has been slow and the real estate industry is still trying to find its footing.

This week two reports in connection with consumer spending will likely have an effect on interest rates come Monday. The Retail Sales Report, which tracks monthly sales of U.S. retailers, measures consumer spending which accounts for approximately 70% of the U.S. economy. The December report found that while spending wasn’t high initially expected there was a .1% gain after seasonal adjustments. While that wasn’t a huge gain it did add to the overall 2011 sales numbers which showed an 8% increase over last year making it the largest annual percentage increase in 12 years.

Friday the University of Michigan will release its Index of Consumer Sentiment. The report will indicate consumer’s willingness to spend which has a significant impact on the markets. If the report shows any dramatic changes over the last it will likely cause slight movement in mortgage rates.

Homes.org is forecasting that with the EuroZone still in economic uncertainty, and the U.S. posting strong annual sales figures investors will continue to see the later as the safer bet. Given the December sales report, the Friday sentiment report will likely show a slight increase in consumer confidence and willingness to spend. All of which indicates there won’t be much movement in mortgage interest rates next week.

To find more information on mortgage rates, new home listings and real estate resources, please visit: Homes.org

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools and home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Homes.org Report Reveals the Top Mortgage Market Factors of 2011

admin | December 21, 2011 | One comment

Homes.org Report Reveals the Top Mortgage Market Factors of 2011











Find Homes & More at Homes.org


Austin, TX (PRWEB) December 20, 2011

The Homes.org weekly analysis of mortgage rates has found a number of factors that have influenced the movement of mortgage rates in the last quarter of 2011. Today, the 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 3.94%. This is a record low that was first achieved in October of this year. the 15-year fixed mortgage is also now at a record low of just 3.21%.

Both national and global activities are affecting the mortgage rates seen in the U.S. Below are the top three factors that are influencing whether mortgage rates remain low or begin to swing upwards.

EuroZone Economic Uncertainty

The economic troubles in Europe were found to be the most influential factor for mortgage rate movement in 2011. The health of the European economies is directly correlated to the increased buying of U.S. bonds which has helped to keep mortgage rates suppressed. However, the Federal Reserve recently noted, “Strains on the global financial markets continue to pose significant downside risks to the economic outlook.”

Fed’s Attempts to Boost the State of the Real Estate Market

The Fed has been taking actions and buying mortgage backed securities to keep the mortgage rates low in hopes that it will help to boost the slow-to-recover real estate market. Though there are signs of overall improvement in the real estate market compared to last year, the progress hasn’t been as fast or as great as hoped. The Fed, which has been keeping the federal funds rate at a record low 0-.25%, is expected to announce a strategy for better forecasting rates as early as January of next year.

Unemployment in the U.S.

The unemployment rate in the U.S. greatly affects a number of economic factors which feed in to average mortgage rates. Consumer Sentiment, Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE), Consumer Spending and more will rise and fall with the unemployment rate. The latest Jobs Report announced that the national unemployment rate dropped to 8.6%. However, though thousands of jobs were added, the drop was partly due to thousands of people abandoning their attempt to find work.

Regardless of which way mortgage rates move, no significant swings are expected in the beginning of 2012. Rates will likely remain near record lows for the first few months of the new year because no major changes are expected to occur with any of the three factors listed above within that time period.

To find more information on mortgage rates, homes newly listed for sale and real estate resources, please visit: Homes.org

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools and home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , ,

Homes.org Provides Buyers with Analysis of the October Housing Report

admin | November 22, 2011 | One comment

Homes.org Provides Buyers with Analysis of the October Housing Report












Austin, TX (PRWEB) November 22, 2011

The National Association of Realtors has just released the October Existing-Home Sales figures which Homes.org has analyzed for its readers, highlighting the key takeaways and what buyers and sellers can likely expect in the months to come given the market performance in October.

The positive news is that sales of existing homes is up 1.4% from last month and up 13.5% compared to October of last year. The adjusted annual rate of home sales in October was 4.97 million showing the real estate markets are remaining steady, however the improvements weren’t enough to make economists pronounce a turnaround in the markets, which they say would take 6 million monthly home sales.

“Home sales have been stuck in a narrow range despite several improving factors that generally lead to higher home sales such as job creation, rising rents and high affordability conditions. Many people who are attempting to buy homes are thwarted in the process,” said NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun.

Another less encouraging finding in the October Existing-Home Sales report was that many contracts are falling through before they can close which is helping to suppress the progress of real estate markets. Homes.org has previously covered the issue of why contracts are falling through and the top reasons cited for the contract failures in October correlated with a number of their findings:

    Declined mortgage applications
    Failures in loan underwriting due to appraisals coming below the contract price
    Home inspections
    Employment loss
    Disruption in the National Flood Insurance Program
    Lower loan limits for conventional mortgages that have led to higher interest rates
The report found that contract failures was at 33% in October up from just 18% in September. Some of the factors, such as the National Flood Insurance Program, problems are temporary whereas some of the issues have been ongoing results of tightened lending. Given the change in conventional loans which contributed to the decline in closed contracts, it is likely that the FED will continue to do what they can to keep mortgage interest rates low. Though many people have been outspoken about the shortcomings of the new appraisal process, it doesn’t appear that the government will ne relenting on the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) that went into effect in May of 2009.

To learn more about why real estate contract fall through and how to improve your odds of getting to close, please visit: http://www.Homes.org

About Homes.org

Homes.org is a fast growing real estate search portal that offers users much more than MLS listings. Homes.org gives users access to a rich collection of resources, including but not limited to, real estate listings, home owner finance tools, home service tools. Homes.org brings buyers, sellers and renters important information about the current markets and intelligent tools by partnering with real estate professionals from around the country. Homes.org is a subsidiary of Star Nine Ventures, Inc. headquartered in Austin, TX.

About Star Nine Ventures®

Star Nine Ventures® is an Austin-based, marketing-driven venture creation company targeting a wide range of national business-to-consumer online marketplaces. Star Nine’s core mission is to build businesses that provide exemplary consumer experiences and unparalleled customer service.

###





















Vocus©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.







Category: Mortgages | Tags: , , , , , ,