Fed’s Open Market Committee Holds Key Rate Steady

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy committee decided against changing the Fed’s benchmark interest rate range of 0.00 to 0.25 percent. The Federal Open Market Committee said in its post-meeting statement that it is not considering raising rates until 2023. Two of 17 FOMC members felt that the Fed’s key rate may rise in 2022. Fed Approves Quantitative Easing Measures Committee members also stabilized the Federal Reserve’s ongoing purchases of Treasury bills and mortgage-backed securities and said that the Fed would purchase Treasury bills and mortgage-backed securities “at least at the current pace.” The Fed was tapering its purchases before the Coronavirus pandemic. FOMC members moved to stimulate the economy through quantitative…
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Buying A Home: You Might Be Able To Skip The Home Appraisal – But Should You?

When someone is thinking about buying a home, one of the key parts is the home appraisal. The appraisal ensures that the buyer is paying a fair price for the home while also protecting the mortgage lender against taking a loss. On the other hand, an appraisal is also an added cost of the buyer can be a serious source of stress for both sellers and brokers. Recently, government agencies have passed a rule saying that home appraisals are no longer going to be required on homes that are less than $400,000; however, many lenders will still require them. Therefore, when should someone consider skipping a home appraisal to save some…
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7 Reasons To Buy A Home In The Summer Months

If you've been putting off your house hunting, it's time to head out. Summer is the best season to go shopping for a new home, for a variety of reasons.  1. More Inventory Homeowners list their homes for sale in the summer more often than any other season. When you shop for a new home during this time, you'll have a much wider selection of homes to choose from.  2. Better Prices More inventory in summer often turns the local real estate scene into a buyer's market. Home sellers may have to compete with other sellers on the same block or even down the street. This gives buyers a nice position…
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5 Tips For Getting A Job In A New City When You Relocate

Did you just move into a new city? Transitioning to a new city is hard enough, but when you also need to find a job, it can be even tougher. Since everything is a bit new to you, there are definitely some strategies to implement that will make your job hunting easier. Here are some tips to keep in mind. 1. Let People Know You are Looking For A Job Everywhere you go, spread the word that you are in the market for a new job. In general, people love to help out other people. Someone you speak with will surely know of a job opening; either where they work or…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – June 8, 2020

Last week’s economic news included readings on construction spending and labor reports on public and private sector jobs and the national unemployment rate. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Construction Spending Falls in April The Commerce Department reported lower than expected deficits in consumer spending in April. Construction spending fell by -2.90 percent from the March reading of 0.00 percent growth in spending; analysts expected 6.80 percent less construction spending for April due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Additional declines in construction spending are expected for May and June as impacts of the Coronavirus and uncertain economic conditions lessen demand for homes. Residential construction spending fell…
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How To Choose A Moving Company

Once you've accepted an offer on your house, the next thing you should do is schedule a moving company. The earlier you plan for the moving company, the more time you'll have to research your options and ensure that you can reserve the date you need.  Narrow Down By Services The first step is to narrow down your choices so you can focus on moving companies that are best suited for your needs. First, determine if you need a long distance mover or a regional mover. Long distance movers will have larger trucks and/or semi-trailers; regional movers will have mid-to-small sized trucks only. Next, decide if you want to do all…
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