According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, mortgage applications rose 4.9%, on a seasonally adjusted basis, from the previous week. The jump in mortgage applications this week ended the three-week decline in application activity. Additionally, the FHA share of mortgage applications also rose .3% from the previous week, and the seasonally adjusted…

Dealing with frozen pipes can be an unpleasant and expensive job. You can reduce the chances of your pipes freezing by taking some precautionary measures before extreme temperatures hit. Here are a few tips to help you avoid potential catastrophe: Insulate any exterior wall pipes; open cabinet doors to allow heat from your home to…

Recent reports confirm the housing market remains headed in a positive direction. Lindsey Piegza, the chief economist at Sterne Agree said, “both from an investment standpoint and on a relative basis compared to the rental market, consumers continue to endeavor toward home-ownership. Improving demand for housing is additionally fueling a modest improvement in supply.” Piegza…

Many Baby Boomers are indeed downsizing, but according to recent data, 46% plan to upsize. Not as many Boomers plan to relocate either, as analysts frequently report; 63% intend to stay in their current homes. Of those planning to relocate, 51% have no plans to move to a retirement community in a sunny locale; 67%…

Applications for new home purchases jumped approximately 8% according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey for October. Conventional loans made up 68.2% of all loan applications; FHA loans made up 16.2%, RHS/USDA loans made up 1.5% and VA loans made up 14.2%. The MBA’s chief economist, Mike Fratantoni said, “applications for new home…

Many high-end homeowners are insisting on a new set of amenities to improve their quality of life. A few of the more popular extravagances are: A subterranean garage; a garage that moves your car to its desired location below ground automatically, at the touch of a button. Also, dining areas located within wine cellars are…

While cleaning out gutters is a dreaded task for many homeowners, it must be addressed in order to keep potential structural disasters at bay. Blocked gutters can cause damage to the trim and siding of your home, interior walls, and can even cause leakage in your basement. Listed here are a few tips that may…

Consumer confidence in housing is on the rise, reaching an all-time-high. According to Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey for October 2014, 45% of survey participants believe that they will be more financially secure within the next year. Many of the participants also expect the economy to improve, and 44% expect housing prices to jump and believe…

The National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) reports the housing market continues to make successful strides toward recovery. The U.S. housing market reached 90% of its normal economic housing activity last quarter, up 1% from the second quarter of 2014. Positive recovery is expected to maintain gradual growth. Kevin Kelly,  the…

According to Freddie Mac’s most recent Primary Mortgage Market survey, mortgage rates increased for the second week in a row. The survey reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage jumped over 4%, coming in at 4.02% averaged nationally while the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also increased 0.8%, and averaged 3.21% nationally. Additionally, the national averages for the…