James Moss- Better Rate Mortgage

Look before you leap into a smaller home Writers do it all the time. They are given a maximum word count and must suddenly cut down their copy in order to make what they’ve written fit into a given publication. Downsizing to a smaller home, however, takes much more...

Real estate market news represents a mixed bag of progress There are “firsts.” And then there are all the firsts that have happened since the pandemic began. That’s a whole ‘nuther statistic where housing is concerned. According to...

Three things that could impact rates this week These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this week. 1) Inflation, 2) Treasury Sales and 3) The Fe...

While achieving the perfect credit score is elusive, the effort is well worth it Remember those kids in school that maintained a 4.0 GPA and then took AP courses and ended up with an even higher one? Like a 4.5? While there was no doubt...

Big Jobs Friday surprises markets Non-farm jobs were expected at 250K with some guessing 200K; as reported jobs increased 528K. Private jobs expected at 220K increased 471K. The unemployment rate...

Attacking noise issues with common sense solutions There are two good reasons to soundproof a room. The first is so that others can’t hear what’s going on (privacy). And the second (and most prevalent) is noise complaints...

Three things that could impact rates this week These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this week. 1) Jobs 2) The Fed and 3) Central Banks...

Markets focused on inflation data At 8:30 am ET June personal income and spending were better than estimates; income up 0.6% on expectations of +0.5%, spending expected +0.9% increased 1.1%. The Fed’s inflation data, PCE...

GDP data indicates recession Its official, our economy has moved into recessionary territory in the second quarter. The 2nd QTR GDP contracted with a reading of -0.9%, on top of the 1st QTRs contraction of...

When choosing white paint, an underlying color by any other name is just as sweet Is white truly the absence of color? White is associated with so many things, if you really think about it. It represents purity, light, cleanliness, and essentially serves as a backdrop and canvas to...

Housing tries to find a ‘sweet spot’ amidst higher pricing and interest rates According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), existing-home sales dropped for the fifth straight month in June. Three out of four major U.S. regions experienced...

Three things that could impact rates this week These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this week. 1) The Fed, 2) Recession watch and 3) Inflation...

A vacation checklist to ensure ‘out of sight’ also means ‘out of mind’ As you settle into your airplane seat or begin nodding off in the car as the scenery gets boring, the thoughts begin to gather. One by one, the concerns pop up. You not only begin wondering...

Expectations shift on Fed rate hikes A major change in sentiment yesterday and so far, this morning. Yesterday kind of out of the blue the 10 yr. note rate declined 15 bps and at 8:30 am ET this morning down another 6 bps, that is...

Initial Weekly Jobless Claims continues to climb Initial Weekly Jobless Claims increased by 251K which was much higher (worse) than estimates of 240K and was an 8 month high. The more closely watched 4 week moving average moved...

Gleaming expanses of continuous surface countertops – which type to choose? Stone countertops are synonymous with luxury, style and long lasting beauty. Few decisions are more important when renovating a kitchen or bathroom than the countertop surface you choose...

Homebuilders are finding it more difficult than ever to produce ‘affordable’ units Four key structural issues related to land, labor, regulation, and NIMBYism that make it increasingly difficult to get entry-level homes built today are exacerbating the issue of affordability. Land is finite, which means...

Three things that could impact rates this week These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this week: 1) Artificial Demand, 2) Central Banks and 3) Treasury Sales...

Move? Or stay put and improve what you’ve got? Remodeling is not for the faint of heart, but it could increase the overall value of your home, which would be beneficial if you consider selling in the future...

June retail data better than expected The probability of a downturn over the next 12 months stands at 47.5%, up sharply from 30% odds in June, according to the latest Bloomberg monthly survey of economists...

Inflation continues to pressure markets The June Producer Price Index (PPI) increased another 1.1% vs. est. of 0.9% on a MOM basis, plus the prior month was revised upward to...

What your contractor won’t tell you before starting your remodel job So you want to renovate all or parts of your home and hire a contractor, but you’d prefer to call all the shots whenever possible. Others have offered you warnings about...

Teaming up with government; agencies, NAR seeks solutions for rental housing crisis Pleas are being made to shore up what balance remains in the housing sector as evidenced by a housing provider industry groups coalition letter sent to...

Three things that could impact rates this week These are the three areas that have the greatest ability to impact rates this week: 1) Inflation, 2) The Fed and 3) Domestic News...