Mortgage rates were lower again this past week. Freddie Mac announced that for the week ending January 23, 30-year fixed rates decreased to 4.39% from 4.41% the week before. The average for 15-year loans fell slightly to 3.44%. Adjustable rates were mixed with the average for one-year adjustables falling slightly to 2.54% and five-year adjustables rising to 3.15%. A year ago 30-year fixed rates were at...
FHA is now allowing potential borrower’s to qualify for a FHA loan as soon as 12 months after a foreclosure, short-sale, or bankruptcy. But this is only for borrowers where the derogatory credit was caused by an Economic Event, which is defined by HUD as job loss, or a 20% or greater reduction of income, for a period of at least 6 months. This reduction of income must have been the cause of the...
Water damage can result from many different causes: storms, flooding, broken water pipes and lines, leaking washing machines, and more. This can lead to mold and odor problems, and worse. If left unmitigated, water damage can eventually cause structural damage, which can entail significant costs to repair and can even affect a home's value. Prevention is the first defense against water damage. Here are...