Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Slows to 20-Month Low

Home price growth slowed to its lowest rate in 20 months according to the 20-City Home Price Index issued by Case-Shiller. After years of dismal readings, Las Vegas, Nevada led the cities included in the index. Top three cities for August included Las Vegas, Nevada where year-over-year home prices grew by 13.90 percent. San Francisco, California saw home prices increase by 10.60 percent year-over-year and Seattle, Washington home prices rose by 9.60 percent year-over-year. August's 20-City Home Price Index overall reading fell below six percent for the first time in a year. Cooling Home Price Growth Helps Balance Housing Markets…
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Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment Is Trending

Although the real estate market is currently booming, the last housing bubble burst remains relatively fresh in investors' minds and that has many taking a long look at crowdfunding. One of the lessons that came out of the burst and ensuing Great Recession was that investors were blind to where their money went. If you watched the Academy Award-winning film "The Big Short," then you at least understand Hollywood's hyperbolic explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis. You may be asking: what does this have to do with real estate crowdfunding real investing? Well, everything. Among the key reasons that the…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – October 29th, 2018

Last week's economic news included readings on sales of new homes and pending home sales. A reading on consumer sentiment was also released along with weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. Sales of New Homes Slide to Near 2 – Year Low According to Commerce Department readings on new home sales, the pace of sales slipped close to a two-year low in September; new homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 553,000 sales. September's reading was 5.50 percent lower than for August and was 13.20 percent lower year-over-year. Analysts expected a reading of 620,000 sales; August's…
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Could Fed Interest Rate Hike Help Home Buyers?

News of the Federal Reserve hiking interest rates appears to have caused unnecessary panic among people poised to purchase a first home or a larger one for a growing family. Headlines and news reports that talk about interest rates being at their highest since 2014 can be alarming. Announcements from the Fed that rates would increase four times in 2018 and again in 2019 seems downright scary. After all, isn't it logical that increased interest rates mean that monthly mortgage payment could be substantially higher? As it turns out, neither the click-bait headlines about dramatic rate increases or higher monthly premiums…
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3 Budgeting Tips to Help Make Your New Mortgage Payments Easier

Buying a new home is an exciting time, but excitement can easily turn to stress if there isn't enough money to pay the monthly mortgage bill. The added expense can take some time to get used to, but there are ways to make the payments easier, especially in those first few months when money is the tightest. Prioritize The Mortgage Bill And Pay It Immediately This may seem like a counterintuitive tip for anybody looking for help making mortgage payments, but it is easily the best one and the one that provides the most trouble for homeowners. Late mortgage payments…
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