One of the biggest risks to the housing market, many economists have been noting, is the virtual certainty that interest rates will rise, and probably sooner than most people think.
mortgages
Poll: What Should We Do to Revive the Housing Sector?
With the newest data on home sales out Wednesday, one thing is clear: The volume of current real estate activity is not what many players hoped it would be.
Consumer Debt: How Do You Compare?
After cutting back for three years, Americans are feeling more relaxed about borrowing and have started increasing their debt levels again. Is that smart? And how does your own financial situation compare?
Why Some Home Sellers Are More Delusional Than Others
Everybody knows that homes on the market are not all priced the same way. Some buyers want to sell in a hurry, so they set their price aggressively low. Others focus on maximizing the return on their housing investment, so they …
Your Credit Report: 6 Ways To Raise (or Lower) Your Score
You probably know that having a good credit score is important for your financial stability. What you may not realize is just how good a score you need these days to be considered top-notch by lenders. Banks are aggressively …
Foreclosures Plunged This Year — Why Isn’t That Good News?
Real estate foreclosures — what a mess. Want a visual? Go spill half a can of cola on your kitchen floor. Did it clean itself up? I thought not. The same thing is happening with foreclosures.
Why the Real Estate Recession is Halting Divorces
Study after study has looked at the impact of the recession on everything from obesity to fashion. But I’ve had my eye on a number of reports all year which, collectively, seem to indicate that the recession has made for …
What Would a U.S. Government Default Feel Like For the Average American?
A compromise between the budget proposals being batted around by President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner will, hopefully, be reached before the federal government defaults on any debt.
But what if the August 2 deadline to …
Credit Scores: Is 750 the New 680?
Buried in the housing data of the past few days (housing volume is down over the last month while prices are slightly up) was the most interesting release: the performance report of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Why Underwater Mortgages Don’t Kill Jobs
If you’re wondering why you can’t find a job, don’t blame your underwater mortgage.
That’s the finding of a new study by economists Colleen Donovan and Calvin Schnure, which attempts to get at the roots of our stubborn joblessness problem. There are a lot of economists speculating that homeowners who can’t afford to pay off their …
Some Say Pay Off ‘Bad Debt’ First. But Why?
There’s a lot of personal finance advice in the blogosphere that I wish didn’t exist. And one of the most annoying pieces of advice is the constant yammering about “good debt” and “bad debt” and how that bad debt must be paid off first.
The Newest Real Estate Trouble: “Flopping”
Real estate markets are somewhat inefficient. This shortcoming allows me to make my living, because as an agent, I can add value with a keen sense of pricing. However, the imperfect market also allows room for scams. Meet the …
