My husband and I are starting week three of installing a penny floor in our West Seattle home. Boy oh boy…I wish the room was a bit smaller!!! However, I’m pleased to say that I think we are almost 50% down with the penny installation.
What May Impact Mortgage Rates this week: November 16, 2015
November 16, 2015 by 1 Comment
I am so saddened by the events that have taken place in Paris and Beriut last week. Our hearts, prayers and thoughts are with the innocent people who were injured or lost their lives and to their families.
World events such as this may influence the direction of mortgage rates as traders may seek out the safety found in bonds, like mortgage backed securities. Tragic events may cause mortgage rates to lower.
DIY Penny Floor: Week Two
November 14, 2015 by 1 Comment
We are on the second week of our penny project. I am now referring to that ginormous 10 x 13 foot room as the pennytentiary. I must admit, I love seeing how it’s evolving and I will be happy beyond words when this project is DONE! 🙂
Since my last post about the penny floor, we finished gluing the compass.
HUD temporarily eases approval process for Condos
November 13, 2015 by 1 Comment
HUD is easing the requirements for condo approvals for a limited time. This is a great opportunity for home owner associations to submit their condo for HUD approval so that units in the condominium may be eligible for FHA financing.
Steps in the Mortgage Process when you are Refinancing a Home
November 10, 2015 by 19 Comments
The process of getting a mortgage consists of several stages and typically takes anywhere from 30 – 45 days (or more) depending on how prepared you are, what mortgage program you have selected and if it’s a purchase, the closing date may dictate how long the process will take. With this post, I’m focusing on the steps involved with obtaining a refinance (aka refi) which are slightly different than the process when you are buying a home.
The steps below may not take place in the exact order I have listed and some steps may happen simultaneously. In addition, some lenders may have different procedures with how they process a mortgage.
What May Impact Mortgage Rates this Week: November 9, 2015
November 9, 2015 by 1 Comment
Mortgage rates continue to drift higher as odds increase that the Fed will raise the Funds Rate in December following the stronger than expected Jobs Report on Friday. As of 9:04 this morning, the Dow is down 239 at 17,671.
It’s a shorter work week with Veterans Day on Wednesday, November 11, 2015. A huge heartfelt thank you to our Veterans who serve our country and to their families.
DIY Project: Our Penny Floor
November 7, 2015 by 1 Comment
Now that my husband and I are officially “empty nesters”, we are beginning to have fun redecorating some of our extra bedrooms. My hubby has decided to convert one of the rooms into a man cave. The carpet needed replacing and the room is in a basement. We thought a “penny floor” would work well.
There are several web pages from fellow Do-It-Yourself folks who have happily installed floors made of coins… I thought it would be fun to share our progress with this project on some weekend post.
Mortgage Rates trending higher after the Jobs Report
November 6, 2015 by 2 Comments
This morning’s Jobs Report came in much stronger than expected with 271,o00 new jobs added in October vs the 181,000 anticipated. Positive revisions were made for August and July. The unemployment rate remains at 5% and hourly wages saw their biggest year over year increase since 2009.
All this good news is not so good for mortgage interest rates. While it’s great for more jobs, less unemployment and higher wages, it translates to wage inflation. Inflation is the arch enemy of bonds and mortgage backed securities (bonds) are what mortgage rates are based on.
The strong Jobs Report also increases the odds of the Fed increasing the Fed Funds rate in December.
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