economic data

Phoenix Home Prices Holding Steady

August 20, 2009

An article in this morning’s Arizona Republic had some good news for home prices in Phoenix. According to the article written by J.Craig Anderson: After a record-breaking 27 months of decline in the Valley’s median home price, some of the most influential local real-estate analysts predict that home values finally have hit the bottom of […]

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Foreclosures Still Concentrated In Just A Few States

July 16, 2009

For the fourth consecutive month, the country’s foreclosure activity was dominated by a small number of states. As reported by RealtyTrac.com , more than 50 percent of the country’s foreclosure-related actions in June concentrated in just 3 states: California Florida Nevada The states rounding out the Top 10 include Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Ohio, Illinois and Colorado. Meanwhile, June’s reported foreclosure figures are consistent with the data from earlier this year, suggesting that the foreclosure remedy plans put forth by the government and by lenders can barely keep pace with the national default rate.

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : July 13, 2009

July 13, 2009

Mortgage markets improved last week on fresh concerns about the U.S.

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Fannie Mae Restricts 2-Unit Borrowing

July 8, 2009

For the first time in nearly six months, Fannie Mae is imposing strict, new guidelines on American homeowners. This time, the hardest hit demographic is owners of 2-unit homes.

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : July 6, 2009

July 6, 2009

Mortgage markets were relatively calm throughout last week’s holiday-shortened trading sessions. After trading within a tight range between Monday and Wednesday, a weak jobs report helped edge rates lower into the weekend. For the second week in a row, mortgage rates ended the week lower than where they started — if only slightly.

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Home Prices Show Improvement In 19 of the 20 Case-Shiller Markets

July 1, 2009

Tuesday — for the first time in a long while — members of the press met the monthly Case-Shiller Index data with enthusiasm. And why shouldn’t they?

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With The Year Half-Over, How Accurately Did Economists Predict 2009

June 30, 2009

At the start of the year, the “experts” made a lot of predictions about the U.S. economy and what to expect in 2009

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 22, 2009

June 21, 2009

Mortgage markets finished out the week unchanged last week but that’s not to say that mortgage rates stayed flat. From day-to-day, mortgage rate shoppers were on a veritable roller coaster. Monday and Tuesday, rates dipped Wednesday and Thursday, rates surged Friday, rates retreated Overall, conforming mortgage rates carved out a half-percent range this week

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How To Fight Mortgage Rate Volatility

June 19, 2009

Mortgage rates are suffering through another volatile week, causing problems for rate shoppers and home buyers. After falling Monday and Tuesday, mortgage rates surged Wednesday and Thursday. The momentum higher appears to be carrying into the weekend, too

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The Double-Edged Sword That Is Rising Housing Starts

June 17, 2009

After being range-bound since the start of the year Housing Starts unexpectedly jumped in May, surprising analysts and Wall Street.

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What Consumer Sentiment Surveys Mean To Housing Markets

June 16, 2009

Americans are feeling better about their budgets right now, raising the possibility of a full economic recovery. According to a University of Michigan and Reuters, Consumer Sentiment rose for the fifth straight month in June.

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Pareto Principle In Action : 80 Percent Of The Country’s Foreclosures Occur In 20 Percent Of The States

June 11, 2009

The Pareto Principle is a statistical concept most commonly known as the 80/20 Rule. It says 80 percent of the effects come from 20 of the causes

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How To Receive A Cash Gift For Downpayment

June 10, 2009

Tighter mortgage guidelines since late-2008 are forcing home buyers to make bigger downpayments. Anecdotally, the change has led to a surge in buyers taking gifts of cash from family members

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 8, 2009

June 8, 2009

The economy posted stronger-than-expected data last week, reigniting fears of inflation on Wall Street. The positive-slanted economic news caused conforming mortgage rates to rise by another 1/2 percent last week. It marked the second week in a row of soaring mortgage rates and the fifth week out of six that rates have moved higher.

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Mortgage Rates Rose By More Than 1/2 Percent Wednesday

May 28, 2009

Conforming mortgage rates rose by 0.625 percent Wednesday.

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Pending Home Sales Rise In March — Another Sign That Housing Is Recovering

May 5, 2009

For the second consecutive month, the number of homes under contract to sell increased — further evidence that housing markets may have already bottomed.

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The Decline In Home Values Slowed In February, Says Case-Shiller. Probably in March and April, Too.

May 4, 2009

The Case-Shiller Index is a popular reporting tool for the nation’s home prices. Each month, researchers measure home values in 20 large cities, compile their findings, and then publish them to the public.

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Finding Yourself In A Multiple-Offer Situation? You’re Not Alone.

April 27, 2009

The days of rock-bottom housing prices may be reaching an end. According to the National Association of REALTORS, the number of Existing Home Sales fell by a modest 140,000 units last month. It’s the fifth straight month in which home sales straddled the 4.5 million mark.

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National Real Estate Data Lumps 128,203,000 Homes In America Into 1 Data Set

April 23, 2009

National real estate data helps economists identify trends in the housing market. It shapes policy and influences markets. For active home buyers and home sellers, though, national real estate data is irrevelant

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Current Mortgage Rates and the Week Ahead: April 13, 2009

April 13, 2009

For the second week in a row, mortgage markets started the week strong and then ended with a fizzle. In the holiday-shortened week, rates were exactly flat overall. There wasn’t much economic data to move rates last week, incidentally.

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