About the Author
James K Barath, CMPS
James K Barath is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist, qualified liability advisor and your FHA Home Loan Expert. He is also a graduate of Purdue University, The CMPS Institute, Dale Carnegie Human Relations Course & Napoleon Hill Foundation's PMA Science of Success Class. It's your home and your future. It's his profession and his passion. He is ready to work for your best interest. Contact James Barath today for your Borrow Smart Analysis - the CALM Approach to Borrowing ! His Motto: I Facilitate the American Dream Through Responsible Mortgage Lending and Financial Literacy!
My Contributions
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: January 17, 2012
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!Mortgage markets gained last week, picking up momentum into the weekend. Global demand for mortgage-backed bonds helped push mortgage rates to new lows, and closing costs eased somewhat, too. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly mortgage rate survey, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 3.89% nationwide.... [Read more]
Fed Minutes Show an Improving U.S. Economy Threatened by the Eurozone
The Federal Reserve has released the minutes from its most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The Fed Minutes are a detailed meeting recap; the companion piece to the more brief, more well-known press release. As a comparison, the minutes of the last FOMC meeting contained 60 paragraphs and 7,027 words. The post-meeting press release was just 5 paragraphs and 382 words. December’s... [Read more]
Home Affordability Set To Worsen On Thursday’s Retail Sales
Consumer spending continues to rise nationwide, fueled by jobs growth and a rosier outlook for the U.S. economy. Unfortunately for mortgage rate shoppers in Crown Point Indiana, it may also lead to higher mortgage rates later this week. Thursday morning, the Census Bureau will release its U.S. Retail Sales data for December. The report is expected to show an 18th consecutive monthly increase, with analysts... [Read more]
Lock Your Mortgage Rate: New Loan Fees Expected Within Days
Starting soon, nearly all home buyers and refinancing households throughout Indiana and nationwide will pay higher mortgage loan fees. Congress has made it law. 13 months ago, as part of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, Congress enacted a one-year cut to FICA payroll taxes. FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act. Taxes collected under... [Read more]
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: January 9, 2012
Mortgage markets improved last week, pushing mortgage rates in Indiana lower for the second straight week. Conforming fixed and adjustable-rate mortgage cut new, all-time lows, and FHA mortgage rates did the same. In a holiday-shortened trading week, stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data and ongoing weakness within Europe drove investors into the U.S. mortgage-backed bond market. When demand for... [Read more]
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages Are A Relative Bargain Today
For home buyers and refinancing households throughout Indiana, adjustable-rate mortgages are a relative bargain as compared to fixed-ones. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey of more than 125 banks nationwide, Illinois mortgage applicants electing for a conventional ARM over a conventional fixed-rate mortgage will save 105 basis points on their next mortgage rate. “Conventional”... [Read more]
Are You Locked? Friday’s Job Report Will Make Mortgage Rates Move
If you’re floating a mortgage rate, or have yet to lock one in, today may be a good day to call your loan officer. Friday morning, the government releases its Non-Farm Payrolls report at 8:30 AM ET. The Non-Farm Payrolls report is more commonly called the “jobs report“ and, lately, it’s been Wall Street’s domestic economic metric of choice. As jobs go, so go markets. In... [Read more]
Housing and Mortgage: The Experts Make Their 2012 Predictions
As the new year begins, there are no shortage of stories telling us what to expect in 2012. Housing finished 2011 with momentum and mortgage rates closed at the lowest rates of all time. Some expect those trends to continue through the first quarter and beyond. Others expect a rapid reversal. Who’s right and who’s wrong? A quick look through the newspapers, websites and business television... [Read more]
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: January 3, 2012
Mortgage markets improved last week during a holiday-shortened trading week. The mortgage bond markets were closed Monday for Christmas, and closed early Friday afternoon. Trading volume was light all week long, which contributed to a year-end rally. Mortgage bonds made their largest one-week gain in two months as conforming mortgage rates in Illinois, Indiana and nationwide fell to new lows. Because... [Read more]