Category: Real Estate
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How the Federal Reserve’s rate policy affects mortgages
The Federal Reserve lowered its interest rate target three times in 2024. This has many Americans waiting for mortgage rates to fall. But that may not happen for some time. “I think the best case scenario is we’re going to continue to see mortgage rates hover around six and a half to 7%,” said Jordan…
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The Fed cut interest rates but mortgage costs jumped. Here’s why
Homebuyers touring a house with a real estate agent. sturti | Getty The Federal Reserve on Wednesday cut interest rates for the third time in 2024. Despite the move, mortgage rates increased. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage spiked to 6.72% for the week ending Dec. 19, a day after the Fed meeting, according to Freddie…
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We’re buying the recent dips on 2 stocks in the most oversold market in over a year
We’re buying 50 shares of CrowdStrike at roughly $354 each and 25 shares of Home Depot at roughly $390. Following Thursday’s trades, Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust will own 200 shares of CRWD, increasing its portfolio weighting to 2% from 1.5%. The Trust will also own 225 shares of HD, increasing its weighting to 2.5% from…
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The Federal Reserve cuts interest rates by another quarter point. Here’s what that means for you
The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will lower its benchmark rate by another quarter point, or 25 basis points. This marks the third rate cut in a row — all together shaving a full percentage point off the federal funds rate since September. For consumers struggling under the weight of high borrowing costs after…
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After taking morning profits, we’re afternoon buyers of 2 stocks in an oversold market
We’re buying 25 shares of Home Depot at roughly $407 each and 14 shares of Blackrock at roughly $1,041. Following Tuesday’s trades, Jim Cramer’s Charitable Trust will own 200 shares of HD, increasing its weighting to 2.25% from about 2%. The Trust portfolio, used by the CNBC Investing Club, will own 75 shares of BLK…
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Mortgage refinance demand surges 27%, as interest rates drop for the third straight week
Mortgage rates fell again last week, and while the drop wasn’t huge, it was enough to spur current homeowners to look for some savings. The surge in refinances was behind a 5.4% increase in total mortgage demand compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest…
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Federal Reserve is likely to cut interest rates next week. Here’s what that means for you
The Federal Reserve is expected to lower interest rates by another quarter point at the end of its two-day meeting on Dec. 18. That would mark the third rate cut in a row — altogether shaving a full percentage point off the federal funds rate since September. So far, the central bank has moved slowly as they recalibrate policy after…
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Alexander real estate brothers, sibling raped ‘dozens of victims,’ federal indictment alleges
Tal Alexander (L) and Oren Alexander (R). Getty Images Federal prosecutors accused top real estate agents Tal and Oren Alexander and their brother, Alon, of drugging and raping “dozens of victims” over more than a decade. The brothers were arrested in Miami Wednesday on sex trafficking charges related to the alleged assaults. They face charges of…
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‘Unverifiable income’ can limit your mortgage options — here’s how to get around it
Sdi Productions | E+ | Getty Images A number of factors can get your mortgage application denied. So-called “unverifiable income” is one of them. Mortgage lenders want to know if you’re financially capable of paying back the loan. One way they’ll do that is by requesting documents like your federal income tax returns, W-2 and…
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A Florida ‘condo cliff’ is coming as owners deal with fallout from 2021 Surfside collapse
After the deadly collapse of a 12-story condominium tower in the Surfside suburb of Miami, Florida, in 2021, state lawmakers implemented new requirements for older condominiums. Buildings at least 30 years old, like the Champlain tower that fell, have to undergo special inspections, make repairs and gather reserve funds for future maintenance. The deadline is…
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5 housing market predictions for 2025, according to economists
Miniseries | E+ | Getty Images Housing is not cheap — whether you’re buying or renting. In October, the median sales price for a single-family home in the U.S. was $437,300, up from $426,800 a month prior, according to the latest data by the U.S. Census. Meanwhile, the median rent price in the U.S. was…
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More Americans are living in malls, as developers get creative to help ease the housing crisis
In this article MAC Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Say hello to life at the mall. The classic American mall is undergoing a dramatic transformation as real estate developers swap out dying department stores for apartments, ushering in an era where living at the mall could soon become a new norm. Some U.S. developers…
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AI startups are snatching up San Francisco real estate as Gen Z craves office life
Mithrl is among a wave of startups coming back to San Francisco and working in person four days or more each week. Courtesy: Mithrl When Noah Jackson began his search for a new software engineering job at the start of 2024, there was one quality he knew he wanted in his next employer: office culture.…
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Market FOMO? We go to the charts for attractive purchase levels on 2 buy-rated stocks
Feeling shut out of this hot market? Maybe some FOMO — fear of missing out. You’re not alone. The S & P 500 keeps plowing through record highs in the first week of December after November posted the best monthly gains of the year. All that buying, however, has pushed the market into overbought territory,…
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Homebuyer demand for mortgages jumped 6%, as interest rates fell to the lowest level in over a month
Prospective buyers attend an open house at a home for sale in Larchmont, New York, US, on Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. Tiffany Hagler-Geard | Bloomberg | Getty Images Potential homebuyers are responding to lower mortgage rates and a higher supply of homes for sale. That fueled mortgage demand last week, as consumers looking to refinance…
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This factor can get your mortgage application denied — even if you’re a high earner
Fotostorm | E+ | Getty Images If you need to get a mortgage to buy a house, make sure your finances are in order — especially your debt-to-income ratio. Your debt-to-income ratio is all your money debt payments divided by your gross monthly income. It’s the “number one way” lenders measure your ability to manage…
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Here’s what the rise of homeowners associations means for buyers
Sturti | E+ | Getty Images When shopping for a home, many buyers may hope to avoid purchasing a property subject to a homeowners association. But that may be easier said than done. That’s because HOAs are on the rise in the U.S. Therefore it’s important to understand the ins and outs of these organizations…
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How President-elect Donald Trump’s policies may affect investors in these 8 market sectors
Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images As Inauguration Day nears, investors are trying to unravel what booms or busts lay ahead under President-elect Donald Trump. Trump’s campaign promises — from tariffs to mass deportations, tax cuts and deregulation — and his picks to lead federal agencies suggest both risks and rewards for…
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Homebuyer demand for mortgages jumps 12% after first interest rate drop in over 2 months
The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images Mortgage rates dropped last week, and homebuyers jumped off the fence. They drove total mortgage demand up 6.3% compared with the previous week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted index. The average contract interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages with conforming loan balances ($766,550 or…
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Renters struggle to build wealth, report finds. Here’s how they can boost financial well-being
Blackcat | E+ | Getty Images It’s no secret that homeowners often have higher net-worth than renters. But while renters face unique affordability challenges, there are still steps they can take to improve their financial standing. In 2022, the typical renter in the U.S. had a median net worth of $10,400, according to a new…