Archive for the ‘Financial News’ Category

Thursday, February 24th, 2011

Below is a helpful set of tips from Military.com to assist veterans with VA loans during the home-buying process.

Hints and Tips for VA Loans

Tip: Get Pre-Approved

Before you start the hunt for a ( new Birmingham home for sale), the best thing you can do is to get pre-approved for your VA loan amount. The time you save quite literally will be your own. Once you have determined the loan amount you are approved for, you can start house hunting with confidence. In a tight housing market it will also give you a heads up with the seller, as other potential buyers may not have taken this important step.

Knowing in advance what you are able to afford offers a great deal of security. That kind of security will go a long way as you search for the best value for your money. Having a VA mortgage is an excellent benefit, but finding the right home is just as important. With pre-approval, you avoid wasting time with homes out of your price range or sellers who are unsure whether you are a serious buyer.

Hint: Check Your Credit

Did you know that over 70 percent of all credit reports in the United States contain errors? Your lender will be looking at your credit report and making important decisions based on the information that is contained within – decisions that could make a big difference in the bottom-line…

To read the article in its entirety, the original post can be found at: Military.com

Friday, June 4th, 2010

As real estate conditions continue to improve nationwide, a few simple signs give proof that the worst may be behind the Birmingham new homes market. Below, Jeff Clabaugh, with the Birmingham Business Journal writes about current mortgage rates and credit conditions:

The residential real estate industry is counting on low mortgage rates to stimulate sales, but long-term borrowing costs inched up this week, according to Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) says a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.79 percent in the week ending June 3, up from 4.78 percent last week, just above the lowest levels of the year.

A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.2 percent, the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking 15-year mortgages in 1991.

A one-year adjustable-rate mortgage was unchanged at 3.95 percent, considerably lower than the 4.81 percent one-year ARMS were averaging a year ago.

“There are also signs that credit conditions may be improving,” said Freddie Mac chief economist Frank Nothaft. “The number of homeowners with private mortgage insurance who became current on their mortgages outnumbered those who defaulted for the third month in a row in April, according to the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America.”

Pending sales of existing homes in April rose 6 percent, the third straight monthly increase, reaching the highest levels in six months, the National Association of Realtors reported this week.

The homebuyer tax credit expired at the end of April, leaving low mortgage rates as the main incentive for buyers entering the market.