Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Conforming Mortgage Limits Rise for 2017

Financial FAQs The Federal Housing Finance Authority, or FHFA, just announced it is increasing the limit for conforming mortgages from $417,000 to $424,100 in most regions of the United States starting Jan. 1, 2017—the first such increase since 2006. This … Continue reading →

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Record Retail Sales, Higher Growth Ahead?

Financial FAQs It looks like Q4 GDP could be higher than the Third Quarter’s initial estimate of 2.9 percent growth. That’s because retail sales and wholesale inventories, both major contributors to growth, are surging. Retail sales jumped 0.8 percent in … Continue reading →

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Will Prez-Elect Trump Now Settle His Federal Racketeering Charges?

Popular Economics Weekly Donald Trump, among his many court battles, has three civil lawsuits that accuse him, his eponymous school, the university’s former president, and an LLC behind the venture of fraud, breach of contract, false advertising and racketeering, a … Continue reading →

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What Is the Future of Interest Rates?

The Mortgage Corner The deficit is moving to the back burner with Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in charge of Washington, and that is causing interest rates to rise quickly. Republicans leaders on Capitol Hill are now papering over divisions … Continue reading →

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What, Now A Trump Recession?

Popular Economics Weekly Economists are already warning that if President-elect Trump’s policies are enacted, such as initiating trade wars, or the wrong tax cuts, or even cutting back on social security and Medicare benefits, we could see another recession, similar … Continue reading →

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Full Employment Reached—161,000 Payroll Jobs

Popular Economics Weekly Average hourly earnings are up 2.8 percent annually, a recovery high. Nonfarm payroll growth was up 161,000 with upward revisions adding a net total 44,000 to September (191,000) and August (156,000). The unemployment rate is down 1 … Continue reading →

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Q3 GDP Growth Fastest In 2 Years

Financial FAQs Third quarter GDP growth was the fastest in two years, aided by a spike in soybean and other U.S. exports and a rebound in the size of inventories companies keep on hand for sale, reports the U.S. Bureau … Continue reading →

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Housing Sales, Prices Continue Skyward

The Mortgage Corner The S&P Case Shiller Home Price Index continues to soar, with Seattle and Portland existing-home prices up double digits in a year, while Dallas and Denver are up some 8 percent annually. Case-Shiller’s national index is within … Continue reading →

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Hillary Clinton, the New FDR?

Popular Economics Weekly Even President Obama, among others, has said Hillary Clinton is one of the most qualified presidential candidates ever. And she has been advocating a new New Deal for America, including tuition-free public universities and colleges, paid maternity … Continue reading →

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Housing Construction Slows

The Mortgage Corner Single-family housing construction rose in September. Though overall starts plunged what looks like a shocking 9.0 percent in September, to a 1.047 million annualized rate, said Econoday. The drop is tied entirely to the volatile multi-family component … Continue reading →

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