Credit Reporting 101

In this credit crunch, lending is becoming much more credit-driven and minimum required credit scores of 680+ or 700+ are the norm. Your goal should be to get in the 700 range, but the higher the better. (Credit scores range from 350-850, 850 being the highest one can...

Online Interest Rate Quotes

Every once in a while, a new client or referral will tell me that they saw rates that were lower than what I may be quoting. I appreciate having this conversation because I’m given an opportunity to tell them why. Not why the rates I’m quoting may be...

Interest Rates are DOWN!

The Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac takeover has proved excellent for interest rates.  I’m quoting my clients about a half a percent less than I was just 1 week ago on any given loan product.  Both national and foreign investors are buying mortgage bonds in full force...

Market Movement

Interest rates this week improved due to weak retail sales and disappointing unemployment figures. Mortgage interest rates move depending on how the overall economy is doing and react to economic reports that come out on a regular basis. A general rule of thumb is...

Credit Reporting and How to Avoid Junk Mail

I had a meeting with a client the other day and we were discussing credit reports and how many pieces of junk mail he receives from credit card companies soliciting him to open up new credit cards. Obviously he’s on some list (or lists) because, if you’re not aware,...

Economic Theory: “The Hemline Index”

This is silly, but certainly amusing! The Hemline Index is a theory purporting that skirt lengths and the economy coincide. The shorter the hemline, the stronger the economy; the longer the hemline, the weaker the economy. Check this out… Hemlines hiked up in the...