Mortgage News

HARP II: Three Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare

November 9, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

If you missed the news last week, the FHFA has announced major changes to the HARP, or “Home Affordable Refinance Program.” (Otherwise known as the program to help underwater homeowners refinance, which did not help as many as it should have.) The new program, which we’ve been calling HARP II (seen elsewhere as HARP 2.0) [...]

Related posts:

1. HARP II: Fannie, Freddie Announce Changes to HARP Program
2. HARP II: Fannie and Freddie Release Expanded HARP Refinance Rules
3. Fed Day and Mortgages: No Policy, Rate Changes. More Help for Mortgage Rates a Possibility.

8 Healthiest Housing Markets: Minneapolis-Saint Paul Metro Tops The List

November 8, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

Builder Magazine (A trade publication) is out with a report which is getting much tout in local real estate circles because it names Minneapolis- Saint Paul as THE healthiest housing market. [ The source article is of annoying the page-view pumping variety (list spread out over multiple slow to load pages) so we'll link instead [...]

Related posts:

1. Homes That Inspire: Nominations Due for The 2005 Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour
2. Minneapolis: Also More Frugal Than Saint Paul
3. West Metro Tops in Average Home Value

Fed Day and Mortgages: No Policy, Rate Changes. More Help for Mortgage Rates a Possibility.

November 2, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

Today, the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee wrapped a two day meeting with a policy statement, interest rate decision, and a press conference. As for policy and rates, the Fed maintained the status quo: “…the Committee decided today to continue its program to extend the average maturity of its holdings of securities [And] its existing [...]

Related posts:

1. What Today’s (semi-surprising) Fed Statement Means for Mortgage Rates (Thanks Ben!)
2. HARP II: Fannie, Freddie Announce Changes to HARP Program
3. Fed Statement: Does a Promise That Rates Will Stay Low Until 2013 Apply to Mortgages?

HARP II: Fannie, Freddie Announce Changes to HARP Program

October 24, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

This post published on Monday October 24th 2011.  Since publication,and depending on the date you are reading this, more information, or even the complete HARP II rules may have been published.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on the current state of the HARP II refinancing program ——– The Federal Housing [...]

Related posts:

1. HARP II: Fannie and Freddie Release Expanded HARP Refinance Rules
2. HARP II: Three Things You Can Do Right Now to Prepare
3. Fed Day and Mortgages: No Policy, Rate Changes. More Help for Mortgage Rates a Possibility.

Mixed Signals: Good and Bad Signs for Twin Cities Real Estate Market in September 2011

October 13, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

Let’s check in with the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, who just published the September 2011 numbers.  Press release here: “Without any government stimulus, the Twin Cities housing market continued to take small yet noticeable strides toward recovery in September. Sellers listed 5,562 new homes on the market, down 16.8 percent from last year. Buyers entered [...]

Related posts:

1. Behind The Numbers: Feb 2011 Twin Cities Real Estate Market Stats
2. Twin Cities Real Estate: Inventory Improves, and Why You Should Ignore Prices (sometimes)
3. September Existing Home Sales Down 8% Nationally, 28% in Twin Cities

Mixed Signals: Good and Bad Signs for Twin Cities Real Estate Market in September 2011

October 13, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

Let’s check in with the Minneapolis Area Association of Realtors, who just published the September 2011 numbers.  Press release here: “Without any government stimulus, the Twin Cities housing market continued to take small yet noticeable strides toward recovery in September. Sellers listed 5,562 new homes on the market, down 16.8 percent from last year. Buyers entered [...]

Related posts:

1. Behind The Numbers: Feb 2011 Twin Cities Real Estate Market Stats
2. Twin Cities Real Estate: Inventory Improves, and Why You Should Ignore Prices (sometimes)
3. September Existing Home Sales Down 8% Nationally, 28% in Twin Cities

De-Mystifying The Loan Approval Process (It is not as tough as you think)

September 28, 2011 by Alex Stenback · Leave a Comment 

Mortgage Applications Are Rising, but… The Mortgage Bankers Association reports that mortgage purchase applications rose 2.6% pecent last week. While this is potentially good news for the ailing housing market, these numbers are not as high as they should be when we have record low interest rates and housing prices have been rolled back by [...]

Related posts:

1. Is Your Pre-Approval Letter Worthless?
2. If the Process of Getting a Mortgage is too Confusing, Shoot the Messenger
3. Will a Minnesota Government Shutdown Impact Your Loan Approval?

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