Financially Unprepared Consumers Are Vulnerable when Disaster Strikes

There are a variety of natural disasters that could happen anytime during the year, but early September officially marks the peak of hurricane season. Those who are fortunate enough to survive the initial impact often find themselves dealing with a financial disaster that arrives soon after the storm is gone. It is not pleasant to […]

Consumers Expect Slower Growth in Spending

The July 2015 Survey of Consumer Expectationsresults suggest relatively stable expectations about the economy. The median one-year and three-year-ahead expected rates of inflation remained unchanged at 3.0 percent. While earnings and household income growth expectations were largely unchanged, median household spending growth expectations retreated substantially to their lowest level since the inception of the survey in […]

Millennials Have the Lowest Credit Scores of All Generations

As millennials have now passed baby boomers as the largest segment of the U.S. population, this digitally independent generation is still much less savvy than older generations when it comes to their finances and credit management. Experian® recently released key findings today that provide a glimpse into the credit management habits of millennials and show […]

87 Percent of U.S. Homes Qualify for Down Payment Help

RealtyTrac recently released a Down Payment Resource (DPR) on the availability of down payment programs across the country. Out of more than 78 million U.S. single family homes and condos, more than 68 million (87 percent) would qualify for a down payment program available in the county where they are located based on the maximum […]

Effective Rate on New Home Loans Continues Downward Drift

On average, the contract rate on conventional mortgages used to purchase newly-built homes, remained a constant 4.03 percent in December, according to data released yesterday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). However, initial fees and charges on the loans dropped form 1.23 percent in November down to 1.16 percent. As a result, the average […]

HUD Secretary Julián Castro to Answer Housing Questions in Live Fireside Chat Wednesday, Moderated by Zillow Chief Economist

Zillow® will bring together an esteemed group of national real estate experts, influencers and policy makers to debate and discuss housing trends and policies from different communities as we begin to identify housing issues that will have the greatest impact over the next two years. HUD Secretary Julián Castro will be discussing the Obama administration’s […]

Existing Sales Trend Up for First-Time Buyers

Although existing home sales decreased in November, the share of sales for first-time buyers increased to the highest level since October 2012. Existing home sales decreased 6.1 percent in November, but were 2.1 percent above the same period a year ago. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported November 2014 total existing home sales at […]

Existing Sales Trend Up for First-Time Buyers

Although existing home sales decreased in November, the share of sales for first-time buyers increased to the highest level since October 2012. Existing home sales decreased 6.1 percent in November, but were 2.1 percent above the same period a year ago. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported November 2014 total existing home sales at […]

Existing Sales Trend Up for First-Time Buyers

Although existing home sales decreased in November, the share of sales for first-time buyers increased to the highest level since October 2012. Existing home sales decreased 6.1 percent in November, but were 2.1 percent above the same period a year ago. The National Association of REALTORS (NAR) reported November 2014 total existing home sales at […]

Benefits of Real Estate Investment vs. Stocks and Bonds

As the economic recovery continues to build, Americans are again able to consume and invest; and with recent reports from the U.S. Census Bureau noting 34 percent of American households are rental units, investors are taking notice and rushing to reap benefits of placing investment funds in single- and multi-unit residential property. “Investor demand for […]