About the Author
James K Barath, CMPS®
James K Barath is a Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist®, Certified FICO® Professional, 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 for your FREE Home Loan Approval ! His Motto: I Facilitate the American Dream Through Responsible Mortgage Lending and Financial Literacy!
My Contributions
Fed Minutes Shock Investors – Mortgage Rates Rise Suddenly
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!The Federal Reserve has released the minutes from its last FOMC meeting held March 13, 2012. Mortgage rates in Northwest Indiana and suburbs of Chicago Illinois are rising on the news. The Federal Open Market Committee, the sub-group within the Federal Reserve that votes on U.S. monetary policy, publishes its meeting... [Read more]
FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums Increasing April 9, 2012
Planning to use an FHA-backed mortgage for your next home loan? You might want to get your application in gear today. Beginning next week, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is changing the way it charges mortgage insurance to U.S. homeowners. For the fourth time since 2010, FHA mortgage insurance premiums are rising for all FHA-backed homeowners. For FHA Case Numbers assigned on, or after,... [Read more]
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: April 2, 2012
Mortgage markets improved last week on renewed concerns of a European debt default, and Federal Reserve rhetoric. Conforming mortgage rates in Northwest Indiana and suburbs of Chicago Illinois dropped on the news, one week after posting a 5-month high. A major strike in Spain and growing unrest in Italy, both in opposition to recent austerity measures, have re-ignited fears that the Eurozone may lapse... [Read more]
Mortgage Rates Fall Back Below 4% For Well Qualified
After a brief run-up two weeks ago, mortgage rates are back below 4 percent. It’s good news for home buyers and mortgage rate shoppers of Schererville because with lower mortgage rates come lower mortgage payments. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, the national, average 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate fell to 3.99 percent this week from last week’s... [Read more]
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: March 26, 2012
Mortgage markets carved out a wide range last week, eventually closing slightly worse. Mortgage-backed bonds sold off early in the week on rising investor sentiment. Then, they reversed higher on prepared remarks from Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke, which tempered Wall Street optimism. When bonds prices rise, mortgage rates fall. Conforming and FHA mortgage rates in Northwest Indiana edged higher... [Read more]
HARP 2.0 Now Available for Underwater Homeowners
The new, revamped HARP program is now available in Indiana and nationwide. It was officially released Saturday, March 17, 2012 by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. HARP is an acronym. It stands for Home Affordable Refinance Program. HARP is the conforming mortgage loan product meant for “underwater homeowners”. Under the HARP program, homeowners in Crown Point Indiana can get access to today’s... [Read more]
The Week Ahead for Mortgage Rates: March 19, 2012
Mortgage markets worsened last week as the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee suggested economic recovery may be closer than it originally expected, and that inflation may be a near-term economic concern. Although the FOMC voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged in its current range near 0.000 percent, its published comments sparked a broad-based mortgage bond selloff. Conforming... [Read more]
Retail Sales Report Drive Mortgage Rates Sharply Higher
The U.S. economy is expanding, fueled by a renewed consumer optimism and increased consumer spending. As reported by the Census Bureau, Retail Sales in February, excluding cars and auto parts, rose 1 percent to $335 billion as 11 of 13 retail sectors showed improvement last month. February marks the 19th time in twenty months that U.S. Retail Sales increased on a month-over-month basis. Retail Sales... [Read more]
The Federal Reserve Statement (March 13, 2012) Explained
Tuesday, the Federal Open Market Committee voted to leave the Fed Funds Rate unchanged within its current target range of 0.000-0.250 percent. For the 4th consecutive month, the Fed Funds Rate vote was nearly unanimous. Just one FOMC member dissented in the 9-1 vote. The Fed Funds Rate has been near zero percent since December 2008. It is expected to remain near-zero through 2014, at least. In its... [Read more]
