Texas Mortgage Lender | FHA, VA, USDA, Refinance, Home Equity

Is More Fed-Led Stimulus On Its Way?

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 18th, 2012

The Federal Open Market Committee released its April 2012 meeting minutes this week, revealing a Federal Reserve in the ready for additional monetary stimulus.

Tags: Fed Funds Rate, Fed Minutes, FOMC | Category: Federal Reserve | No Comments »

Single-Family Housing Starts Powers Ahead

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 17th, 2012

The new construction housing market continues to improve.

Tags: Building Permits, Census Bureau, Housing Starts | Category: Housing Analysis | No Comments »

Homebuilder Confidence Moves To 5-Year High

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 16th, 2012

After a brief dip in April, the National Association of Homebuilders reports that the Housing Market Index rose 5 points in May to 29.

Tags: HMI, Homebuilder Confidence, NAHB | Category: Housing Analysis | No Comments »

Home Affordability Getting A Springtime Boost From Greece

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 15th, 2012

Home affordability is receiving a boost from across the Atlantic Ocean this spring.

Tags: Austerity, Eurozone, Greece | Category: Mortgage Rates | No Comments »

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – May 14, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 14th, 2012

Conforming mortgage rates edged higher last week.

Tags: Eurozone, Jobs, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | No Comments »

Mortgage Rates Make New All-Time Lows (Again)

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 11th, 2012

Conforming mortgage rates continue to drop.

Tags: Discount Points, Freddie Mac, PMMS | Category: Mortgage Rates | No Comments »

8-Fold Increase In “Improving Markets” Since September

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 10th, 2012

The economic and housing recovery continues nationwide, but the recovery is an uneven one.

Tags: IMI, Improving Market Index, NAHB | Category: Housing Analysis | No Comments »

With LIBOR Low, Don’t Rush To Refinance Your ARM

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 9th, 2012

Is your mortgage scheduled to adjust this season? You may want to let it.

Tags: Adjustable-Rate Mortgages, ARM, LIBOR | Category: Mortgage Rates | No Comments »

Reverse Mortgages : Pros And Cons

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 8th, 2012

A reverse mortgage is exactly what it sounds like — a mortgage in reverse. Here’s some analysis on the program and how it could work for you.

Tags: HUD, NBC, Reverse Mortgage | Category: Mortgage Guidelines | No Comments »

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – May 7, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 7th, 2012

Mortgage rates improved last week for the first time in 3 weeks.

Tags: Eurozone, Freddie Mac, Non-Farm Payrolls | Category: Mortgage Rates | No Comments »

Planning For A Memorial Day Closing

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 4th, 2012

Planning to close on your home at the end of May? Plan ahead. Memorial Day is coming and the holiday may delay your closing.

Tags: Holiday, Memorial Day, Title Company | Category: Personal Finance | Comments Off

Make A Mortgage Rate Plan Ahead Of The Jobs Report

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 3rd, 2012

Been shopping for a mortgage rate? You may want to lock something down. Tomorrow morning, mortgage rates are expected to change. Unfortunately, we don’t know in which direction they’ll move.

Tags: Home Affordability, jobs report, Non-Farm Payrolls | Category: The Economy | Comments Off

Home Values Start The Year Strong

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 2nd, 2012

According to the Federal Home Finance Agency’s Home Price Index, home prices rose a seasonally-adjusted 0.3 percent between January and February 2012.

Tags: Case-Shiller Index, Home Price Index, HPI | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Mortgage Guidelines Resume Tightening Nationwide

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | May 1st, 2012

Despite an improving U.S. economy, the nation’s banks remain cautious about what they will lend, and to whom.

Tags: Federal Reserve, Homeownership Rates, Mortgage Approvals | Category: Mortgage Guidelines | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – April 30, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 30th, 2012

Mortgage markets were mostly unchanged last week for the second straight week.

Tags: Fed Funds Rate, fha mortgage rates austin, fha mortgage rates dallas, fha mortgage rates el paso, fha mortgage rates houston, fha mortgage rates san antonio, Non-Farm Payrolls, Spain, va mortgage rates austin, va mortgage rates dallas, va mortgage rates el paso, va mortgage rates houston, va mortgage rates san antonio | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Pending Home Sales Index Crosses The 100 Barrier

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 27th, 2012

After a series of worse-than-expected data last month, the housing market appears to be back on track.

Tags: Existing Home Sales, NAR, Pending Home Sales Index | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (April 25, 2012)

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 25th, 2012

The Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent Wednesday.

Tags: Fed Funds Rate, FOMC, inflation | Category: Federal Reserve | Comments Off

New Home Sales Revised Higher In February; Slip 7% In March

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 25th, 2012

Sales of new homes ticked lower in March, unexpectedly.

Tags: Census Bureau, New Home Sales, New Home Supply | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

The Fed Starts A 2-Day Meeting Today. Make A Strategy.

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 24th, 2012

The Federal Open Market Committee begins a 2-day meeting today. Mortgage rates are expected to be volatile for the next 48 hours.

Tags: Fed Funds Rate, Federal Reserve, FOMC | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – April 23, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 23rd, 2012

Mortgage markets were mostly unchanged last week, breaking a three-week winning streak.

Tags: FOMC, Greece, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Existing Home Sales Slip In March

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 20th, 2012

In March, for the second straight month, home resales slipped nationwide.

Tags: Existing Home Sales, Existing Home Supply, NAR | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Nevada Relinquishes “Top Foreclosure State” Title

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 19th, 2012

Last month marks the first time since July 2007 that foreclosure filings numbered less than 200,000 on a monthly basis — a span of nearly 5 years.

Tags: Distressed Homes, Foreclosures, RealtyTrac | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Single-Family Housing Starts Slip 0.2% In March

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 18th, 2012

In March, single-family Housing Starts were down 0.2% from the month prior, or just 1,000 units on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis.

Tags: Building Permits, Census Bureau, Housing Starts | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Homebuilder Confidence Slips 3 Points In April

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 17th, 2012

For the first time in 3 months, homebuilder confidence has slipped.

Tags: HMI, Homebuilder Confidence, NAHB | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week : April 16, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 16th, 2012

Mortgage markets improved last week as a global flight-to-quality continued.

Tags: FOMC, Freddie Mac, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Mortgage Rates Fall For Third Straight Week

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 13th, 2012

After a brief surge north 4 percent last month, mortgage rates have settled back near their lowest levels of all-time.

Tags: Discount Points, Freddie Mac, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Tax Tips : What To Do With Your Tax Refund

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 12th, 2012

The typical U.S. taxpayer will receive roughly $3,000 in federal income tax refunds this year, an average of $250 per month. What would you do with an extra $250 per month?

Tags: NBC, tax refund, The Today Show | Category: Taxes | Comments Off

The Top 10 Cities In Which To Raise A Family

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 11th, 2012

Looking for a great place to raise a family? Forbes Magazine has a list that may help you.

Tags: Family, Forbes, Top 10 | Category: Rankings | Comments Off

Homes Get More Affordable On March Jobs Data

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 10th, 2012

Last Friday, in its Non-Farm Payrolls report for the month of March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced 120,000 net new jobs created, plus combined revisions in the January and February reports of +4,000 jobs.

Tags: Jobs, Non-Farm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate | Category: The Economy | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – April 9, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 9th, 2012

In a week of up-and-down trading, mortgage markets improved for the second consecutive week last week.

Tags: Eurozone, jobs report, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

FHA Announces Several Underwriting Changes

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 8th, 2012

FHA recently announced several changes that will impact underwriting in several areas. These changes are effective April 1, 2012. Here’s a quick summary of these changes: For self-employed borrowers: P&L statements are now required if the last business tax return is more than 3 months old; in addition, statements must be audited if P&L income…Read the Rest of Article

Tags: FHA collection accounts, FHA Guidelines, FHA identity of interest transaction, fha MIP changes, FHA self employed borrower | Category: FHA Guidelines, FHA Mortgages, Mortgage Guidelines | Comments Off

Jobs Report Due Friday; Mortgage Rates Expected To Change

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 5th, 2012

If you’re out shopping for a home this week, or trying to lock a mortgage rate, with Friday comes home affordability risk. Consider locking your mortgage rate today.

Tags: Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs report, Non-Farm Payrolls | Category: The Economy | Comments Off

Fed Minutes Causes Mortgage Rates To Rise Suddenly

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 4th, 2012

The Federal Reserve has released the minutes from its last FOMC meeting. Mortgage rates are rising on the news.

Tags: Fed Minutes, FOMC, Mortgage Rates | Category: Federal Reserve | Comments Off

FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Increasing April 9, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 3rd, 2012

Planning to use an FHA-backed mortgage for your next home loan? You might want to get your application in gear today.

Tags: fha, MIP, UFMIP | Category: Mortgage Guidelines | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – April 2, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | April 2nd, 2012

Mortgage markets improved last week on renewed concerns of a European debt default, and Federal Reserve rhetoric.

Tags: Italy, Non-Farm Payrolls, Spain | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Mortgage Rates Fall Back Below 4%

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 30th, 2012

After a brief run-up two weeks ago, mortgage rates are back below 4 percent.

Tags: Discount Points, Freddie Mac, Home Affordability | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Case-Shiller Shows Uneven Recovery For U.S. Housing

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 29th, 2012

Recent data suggests that the U.S. housing market is in recovery, albeit an uneven one.

Tags: Case-Shiller Index, Distressed Homes, Home Prices | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Pending Home Sales Index Remains Strong Into Spring

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 28th, 2012

The housing market took a step back in February, but remains near post-Recession highs.

Tags: Home Prices, NAR, Pending Home Sales Index | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

New Home Sales Slip In February

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 27th, 2012

Sales of new homes fell to the lowest levels in four months last month.

Tags: Census Bureau, New Home Sales, New Home Supply | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – March 26, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 26th, 2012

Mortgage markets carved out a wide range last week before eventually closing close to unchanged on the week.

Tags: Ben Bernanke, Fed Speakers, fha rates, Freddie Mac, home equity rates, refinance rates, usda rates, va rates | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Building Permits On The Rise

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 23rd, 2012

The new construction housing market appears primed for growth.

Tags: Building Permits, Census Bureau, Housing Starts | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Existing Home Sales Stay Strong; Spring Season Underway

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 22nd, 2012

Despite sparse home inventory, the National Association of REALTORS reports that 4.59 million “existing homes” were sold in February on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis.

Tags: Existing Home Sales, Existing Home Supply, NAR | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Buyer Foot Traffic Through New Construction Up Nearly Threefold Since 2009

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 21st, 2012

Home builder confidence in the newly-built, single-family housing market remains high.

Tags: HMI, Homebuilder Confidence, NAHB | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Loans For Underwater Homeowners : HARP 2.0 Now Available

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 20th, 2012

The new, revamped HARP program is now available. It was officially released Saturday, March 17, 2012 by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Tags: HARP, making home affordable, Underwater | Category: Mortgage Guidelines | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – March 19, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 19th, 2012

Mortgage markets worsened last week as the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee suggested economic recovery may be closer than its originally expected, and that inflation may be a near-term economic concern.

Tags: fha rates, FOMC, HARP, home equity rates texas, inflation, usda rates, va rates | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off

Foreclosure Volume Slated To Rise This Spring

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 16th, 2012

After a series of months during which volume was low, foreclosure filings have started to rise again.

Tags: Distressed Homes, Foreclosures, RealtyTrac | Category: Housing Analysis | Comments Off

Mortgage Rates Climb Sharply After Retail Sales Report

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 15th, 2012

The U.S. economy is expanding, fueled by a renewed consumer optimism and increased consumer spending.

Tags: Census Bureau, Home Affordability, Retail Sales | Category: The Economy | Comments Off

A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (March 13, 2012)

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 13th, 2012

Tuesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent.

Tags: Fed Funds Rate, FOMC, inflation | Category: Federal Reserve | Comments Off

The Fed Meets Today : Protecting Your Housing Payment

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 13th, 2012

The Federal Open Market Committee meets today,its second of 8 scheduled meetings this year. As a home buyer or would-be refinancing household, get ready for changing mortgage rates.

Tags: Ben Bernanke, Fed Funds Rate, FOMC | Category: Federal Reserve | Comments Off

The Deal on Mortgage Rates This Week – March 12, 2012

by FHA VA USDA Jumbo Home Equity Texas Mortgage Lender | March 12th, 2012

Mortgage markets were mostly unchanged last week despite a series of positive developments. In addition to Greece successfully reaching a deal with its private creditors, the U.S. economy turned out strong reports — most notably the Non-Farm Payrolls report.

Tags: Federal Reserve, FOMC, Greece | Category: Mortgage Rates | Comments Off