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Archive for January, 2009

Obama Promises More Low-Cost Mortgages
President Barack Obama promised Saturday to reduce mortgage costs as a key part of his plan to improve the economy. Analysts applauded the move, saying that making low-cost mortgages widely available could stabilize housing markets and jumpstart new home construction.
Posted in Mortgage Rates, U.S. Economy |
Top Companies that are still Hiring!
Fortune recently announced the top 100 companies to work for.  The good news is that 73 of these companies are hiring right now.   A surprising 93 companies on the list are currently hiring for open positions - nearly 75% of them with 50 or more jobs to fill. Out of the top 20 companies with job [...]
Posted in Top Housing Markets |
Good News for the Housing Market!
The housing market received some positive news yesterday when the National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes rose 6.5 % from November to December. This was especially good news because sales were expected to decline. Industry analysts and economists saw hope in the apparent pickup in housing sales and attributed the gain [...]
Posted in Top Housing Markets |
New Refinance Boomlet May Lift Economy
Record low mortgage rates are providing a small measure of stimulus to the troubled U.S. economy as borrowers scramble to refinance their home loans–a move that frees up cash to spend on other items.  The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that the volume of loan applications has soared since November to its highest level in six [...]
Posted in Mortgage Rates, U.S. Economy |
For Obama, Rare Chance for Bold Start on Big Task
President-elect Barack Obama is well on his way to finding the silver lining in the economic storm he is inheriting. The two-year, $825 billion economic recovery plan taking shape in Congress includes billions of dollars for renewable energy and a national electricity grid to distribute it, lower taxes for all Americans but the affluent, computerized [...]
Posted in U.S. Economy |
Americans giving Obama extraordinary support
WASHINGTON (AFP) – Barack Obama has attained extraordinarily high levels of public approval, according to opinion polls released Sunday, ahead of his historic inauguration ceremony as the first African-American president. A survey conducted by The New York Times and CBS News found a US public eager to give the president-elect a wide berth as he attempts [...]
Posted in U.S. Economy |
Tax Credit Changes Could Unleash Home Sales
If all home buyers become eligible for a tax credit without a repayment feature, it could result in an additional 555,000 home sales, enough to meaningfully draw down excess housing inventory, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® says. An evaluation of options for a home buyer tax credit by NAR shows wide ranging implications and benefits. [...]
Posted in Tax Credits |
30-Year Rates Fall Below 5 Percent
Mortgage rates dropped to their 11th straight weekly decline, reaching new record lows, according to Freddie Mac. Interest rates on 30-year, fixed rate mortgages averaged 4.96 percent this week, down from a previous week’s 5.01 percent. The low rates have caused a spike in home refinancing loans and a welcome relief to cash-strapped home owners facing [...]
Posted in Mortgage Rates |
America’s 25 Strongest Housing Markets
Moody’s Economy looked at metro areas with populations over 500,000 to find those closest to recovery. The firm prepared forecasts through 2011 and compared them to prices in the second quarter of 2008, which are the latest figures available, to calculate how far prices will likely fall before reaching bottom. All of our Bluegreen Texas markets [...]
Posted in Top Housing Markets |