Tag Archives: interest rates

Consumer Debt At Record Lows

Posted on November 1, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Reserve just released the Q2 2013 Household Debt Service and Financial Obligations Ratios. The overall Debt Service Ratio decreased in Q2 2013, and is just above the record low set in Q4 2012 thanks to very … Continue reading →

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Mortgage Delinquencies Continue Decline

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate declined in August to 2.64 percent from 2.70 percent in July.   This has in large part to do with lower interest rates, which have declined again because the … Continue reading →

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Case-Shiller Home Prices Take Off

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The July S&P Case-Shiller home price index shows home prices are in full recovery mode. Over the last 12 months, prices rose 12.3 percent and 12.4 percent as measured by the 10- and 20-City Composites in the … Continue reading →

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Housing Starts, Builder Confidence Improve

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Housing made somewhat of a comeback in July and taking into account wet weather on the East coast should be taken as stronger than face value.  Housing starts in July rebounded 5.9 percent after falling 7.9 percent … Continue reading →

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What’s The Fed To Do?

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Why the debate over who should be the next Federal Reserve Chairman? There is a tug of war going on between inflation ‘doves’ and ‘hawks’ within the Fed. The debate is whether inflation is or will be … Continue reading →

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Pending Home Sales Soaring As Well

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Watch out, homebuyers! There may be few homes left on the market if the National Association of Realtors’ May Pending Home Sales Index is any predictor of future sales. This is even though mortgage rates have risen … Continue reading →

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Whither Mortgage Rates?

Posted on June 22, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Ok, the fats in the fire now with the Fed saying it will begin to taper its QE3 purchases that have been holding down mortgage rates by the end of 2013. Rates have been surging since then. … Continue reading →

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Did Bernanke Change His Tune?

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs As we all know by now, Fed Chairman Bernanke seems to have abruptly switched sides in the stimulus debate. He said the purchases of $85 billion in bonds and mortgage securities could begin to be ‘tapered’ by the … Continue reading →

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Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Dilemma Won’t End Soon

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The U.S. Treasury is in a bind. Everyone seems to agree that Fannie and Freddie, wards of the government should be downsized, but how to do it without damaging the housing recovery? Extreme conservatives even want to … Continue reading →

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Housing Affordability Up, Inventories Still Shrinking

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported exceptionally low interest rates helped ensure a slight gain in nationwide housing affordability amid relatively stable house prices in the final quarter of 2012, according to the just released … Continue reading →

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