RECENT BLOG POSTS
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Wherever we go, we respond to color, though its effect is often underestimated. Color use is important to us in our homes and workplaces. If you are selling a house, you will want to choose different colors than those you might use for your own home. If you just purchased a house, you can add so...
04/08/2011
Home security systems used to be thought of as just for high-end homes and high-income buyers. Today, improved technology and competitive pricing have made systems more affordable. There is a system for everyone. Besides notifying the monitoring center of a potential break-in, the systems can ...
04/07/2011
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At the beginning of the mortgage meltdown a couple of years ago, Congress enacted emergency legislation raising the limits on High Balance Conforming Loans. These loans are designated "conforming," meaning lower interest rates and typically a slightly easier transaction to get approved and clo...
04/06/2011
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Today, you can get all of what you need and most of what you want. When it comes to fine kitchens, more bedrooms, storage space, and great features, your chance of getting them all is better than in many previous years. How about a deck and a sunroom? The recent Housing Affordability Index by t...
04/05/2011
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This week brings us the release of little relevant economic data for the markets to digest. We will, however, see the minutes from the last FOMC meeting. There are no important monthly economic reports scheduled for release this week, so look for the stock markets to heavily influence bond tra...
04/04/2011
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It's new, it's fun, and it's strictly personal! Now that the "man cave" has become an established custom in homes, women have taken the cue to establish a spot of their own. Forget men's huge TVs, theater chairs and eating spots, where they do manly, messy, sporting things. A woman's personal pl...
04/01/2011
The U.S. Treasury wants to quit writing paper checks. At the same time, it wants to give taxpayers more choices. Its latest effort consists of a pilot program to deliver tax refunds through prepaid debit cards. About 600,000 taxpayers earning $35,000 a year or less have received letters inviti...
03/31/2011
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Mortgage industry changes: Low rates and terms may soon be history You are going to be hearing a lot about restructuring the mortgage industry in the next months and years. But the bottom line for home buyers is buy now and get financing in place by as early as May. The great terms of recent yea...
03/31/2011
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It's still a great time to buy real estate! With real estate inventories at an all-time high, and rates still at attractive levels, the window is wide open for home buyers. But buyers beware, the window doesn't stay open indefinitely. Take a look at the blog by Economists Outlook, which featur...
03/29/2011
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This week brings us the release of five reports that are considered relevant to mortgage rates but some of the data is considered to be very important and one is arguably the single most important data we see each month. We also have two Treasury auctions that have the potential to swing bond tr...
03/28/2011