Monthly Archives: June 2011

Pending Home Sales Unexpectedly Spike In May

According to data from the National Association of REALTORS, the Pending Home Sales Index smashed analyst expectations, jumping 8 percent on a monthly basis in May. Continue reading

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Home Values Climb 0.8 Percent In April

Maybe homes are holding value better than we thought. Continue reading

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Top 25 Least Expensive U.S. Cities

There are some U.S. towns in which the cost of living remains affordable — and downright cheap — as compared to the national average. Continue reading

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week : June 27, 2011

Mortgage markets improved again last week on a revised economic outlook for the U.S. economy, and ongoing concerns about Greece and its sovereign debt. Continue reading

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New Home Supplies Drop, And So Does Homebuilder Confidence

Last month, the number of new homes sold on an annualized, seasonally-adjusted basis tallied 319,000. The May reading is the second-highest of the year, and 6 percent above the current 12-month average. Continue reading

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A Simple Explanation Of The Federal Reserve Statement (June 22, 2011 Edition)

Wednesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. The vote was 10-0 — the fourth straight unanimous vote for the nation’s Central Bank. Continue reading

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Existing Homes Sales Slip In May

Home resales slipped 4 percent in May, falling below the 5,000,000-unit mark on a seasonally-adjusted, annualized basis for the first time since February. Continue reading

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Homebuilder Confidence Slips To 9-Month Low

If you’re a home buyer and have considered “buying new”, the time may be right for making an offer. Financing is cheap, home values are low, and builders are pessimistic — a terrific combination for today’s home buyer. Continue reading

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How To Clean Outdoor Furniture : Resin, Wood And Metal

This week marks the official start of Summer. If your home’s outdoor area has furniture on it, you’ll want to make sure that furniture is clean. Continue reading

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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates : Week of June 20, 2011

Mortgage markets improved last week as Wall Street managed news on both sides of the economic coin. There were several instances of higher-than-expected inflation — an event that tends to lead rates higher — but weak domestic jobs data and a soft manufacturing report suppressed the damage. Continue reading

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