ARCHIVED BLOG POSTS
2011
It doesn't take much effort to stand over a pot and "stir continuously", as called for in some recipes. It can be tedious, though, and once a chef stops stirring or leaves a pot unattended, the recipe is sure to ruin. Enter the automatic stirrer. With its self-adjusting, self-centering blades, ...
01/31/2011
For homeowners interested in making some property improvements without tapping into their savings or investment accounts, the two main options are to either take out a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), or do a cash-out refinance. According To Wikipedia: A home equity line of credit is a loan in...
01/30/2011
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Sales of new homes rose sharply in December, posting a 17.5 percent gain from the month prior. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, New Home Sales climbed to 329,000 in December, besting November by close to 50,000 units on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. Last month...
01/28/2011
Today, the Federal Open Market Committee voted 10-to-0 to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. In its press release, the FOMC noted that since December's meeting, economic growth is ongoing, but at a pace deemed "insufficient" to make a material imp...
01/26/2011
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Home values were reported unchanged in November 2010, on average, according to the Federal Home Finance Agency's Home Price Index. We say "on average" because the government's Home Price Index is a data composite for the country. The index doesn't measure citywide changes in places like Orland...
01/26/2011
The Federal Open Market Committee begins a 2-day meeting today in Washington D.C. It's the group's first meeting of 2011 -- one of 8 scheduled for the year. The Fed meets every 45 days, on average. Its last meeting was December 14, 2010. Rate shoppers and home buyers should make a note. Mortgag...
01/26/2011
Granite is a popular "finishing choice" for homeowners in Longwood because of its good-looks and its strength. A well-maintained granite counter-top boasts natural beauty and outlasts most other finishes. But granite is also natural rock, mined from the earth. It's porous and highly absorbent. ...
01/24/2011
The FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium is an important part of every FHA loan. There are actually two types of Mortgage Insurance Premiums associated with FHA loans: 1. Up Front Mortgage Insurance Premium (UFMIP) - financed into the total loan amount at the initial time of funding 2. Monthly Mortga...
01/24/2011
Existing Home Sales surged 12 percent last month, closing 2010's housing market with strength. An "existing home" is a home that cannot be categorized as new construction; a resale. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, seasonally-adjusted, annualized Existing Home Sales figures c...
01/21/2011
Each month, in conjunction with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Census Bureau releases its New Residential Construction report. The report is comprised of several sections, one of which counts the number of homes that have "broken ground" in Florida and nationwide. They're ...
01/20/2011