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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 […]
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Expert Ways to Increase Home Value

With housing prices at recent highs, it’s a great time to sell; and still-low interest rates also make it a good time to buy a home.  Findings from a new, exclusive survey of more than 300 licensed residential real estate agents by the Consumer Reports National Research Center point to certain factors, such as smart […]
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A More Robust Year for Housing in 2015

NAHB hosted an economic and housing outlook seminar at its International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas inviting Frank Nothaft, chief economist at Freddie Mac, and David Berson, chief economist at Nationwide Insurance, to join David Crowe to discuss the outlook for 2015. Here’s the highlights. A strengthening labor market, low interest rates, improving mortgage availability […]
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10 Ways to Raise Your Credit Score 100 Points in 2015

(TNS)—It’s important to get your credit score as high as possible if you want to qualify for the best loans and credit. Many lenders don’t even look at your credit report; they stop at your credit score. FICO credit scores range between 350 and 850, with 850 being the very best score you can get. […]
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Millennials Seek Smaller Houses, but Won’t Sacrifice Details

As Millennials begin to enter the home buying market in larger numbers, homes will get a little smaller, laundry rooms will be essential, and home technology will become increasingly prevalent, says panelists during an International Builders’ Show press conference on home trends and Millennials’ home preferences held last week. NAHB Assistant Vice President of Research […]
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Keeping Your Phone on Lock Down: App Awareness

You just had a flat tire along a dark country road. Luckily, you downloaded a flashlight app into your cellphone and now can put it to use. But that flashlight, handy as it is, may be just one of many doors you unwittingly opened to let spies take up residence inside your phone. “Most free […]
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7 Ways You’re Accidentally Improving your Credit

(TNS)—There’s little doubt that Americans with higher credit scores get better deals on core consumer items like mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. In many cases, you might be getting those “good credit” benefits without even knowing it. In the credit management game, experts calls that “accidental improvement” of your credit—and yes, there’s nothing wrong […]
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Best Ski Towns for Real Estate Investing 2015 Edition

Thanks to the popularity of the inaugural Best Ski Towns for Real Estate Investing list for 2014, the RealtyTrac editorial team sacrificed their precious holidays to endure the toils of travel to idyllic ski resort towns and the trials of rigorously testing champagne-powered ski slopes all for the sake of bringing our readers a new […]
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The Top 7 Things to Do when You Inherit a Home

FOX Business Network host Jamie Colby weighs in on the top 7 things you should do when you inherit a home. Colby is the host of Strange Inheritance, the new story-driven reality series debuting on Monday, January 26 at 9PM. 1. Check the title. Make sure that the ownership is in the name it is intended so […]
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Zillow, Trulia Shares Soar Friday as Merger Rumored to Get Approval by FTC

Several outlets were reporting Friday that stocks of Zillow (Z) and Trulia (TRLA) had soared by midday on talk of expectations that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is going to green-light the merger between the two online listing giants. Shareholders of the two firms approved the acquisition, but the deal was still awaiting regulatory approval […]