ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2011
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Despite rising new home sales and an increase in building permits nationwide, home builder confidence slipped to a 9-month low in June. The monthly Housing Market Index from the National Association of Homebuilders registered 13 this month -- three ticks lower than last month, and its lowest le...
06/22/2011
This week marks the official start of Summer in Lake Mary. If your home's outdoor area has furniture in it, you'll want to make sure that your furniture is clean. In this 4-minute video from Lowe's, you'll learn tricks to keep your outdoor furniture clean, and protected from the elements. All...
06/21/2011
A Home Owner Association (HOA) can have a huge impact on your life when you buy a home in a PUD (Planned Unit Development) or Condominium Project. According to Wikipedia: A homeowners' association (abbrev. HOA) is an organization created by a real estate developer for the purpose of developing, m...
06/20/2011
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The housing market received a jolt of good news Thursday. The Commerce Department reports that Single-Family Housing Starts improved in May. As compared to April, last month's Single-Family Housing Starts rose 4 percent to a seasonally-adjusted, annualized rate of 419,000 units, a figure slight...
06/20/2011
Foreclosure rates are falling. According to foreclosure-tracking firm RealtyTrac, monthly foreclosure filings fell 2 percent in May to just under 215,000 filings nationwide. A foreclosure filing is defined as any one of the following: a default notice, a scheduled auction, or a bank repossessio...
06/17/2011
The jobs market is recovering slower than expected, and so is housing. But neither condition has slowed U.S. consumers. According to the Census Bureau, Retail Sales rose for the 11th straight month in May. Excluding cars and auto parts, sales receipts climbed to $322 billion last month. It's an...
06/16/2011
Mortgage rates are falling, falling, falling. On a wave of uncertainty about Greece and its debt; and weaker-than-expected economic data at home, conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates have fallen to levels not seen since December 2, 2010. Mortgage rates have dropped 8 weeks in a row. Not...
06/15/2011
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If you have a flair for home decoration projects, Better Homes & Garden has some terrific ideas for you on its website. Titled "Fast and Fabulous Decorating Projects", the lifestyle company offers inspiration for 20 do-it-yourself art projects that can breathe life into old furniture, and add p...
06/15/2011
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Many people believe that interest rates are simply set by lenders, but the reality is that mortgage rates are largely determined by what is known as the Secondary Market. The secondary market is comprised of investors who buy the loans made by banks, brokers, lenders, etc. and then either hold th...
06/13/2011
A mortgage comes with many moving pieces and understanding them is the key getting a great deal. Unfortunately, studies show that few Americans have a firm grasp of how mortgages work -- from mortgage types to mortgage fees. In this back-to-basics interview on NBC's The Today Show, you'll learn...
06/13/2011