Tag: market predictions
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Fewer First Time Buyers Affect the Housing Recovery
By many indications, the hosing recovery is still on the upswing. Mortgage rates remain on the low side and homes are available in most markets. So why aren’t first time buyers taking the plunge into homeownership? The answer, according to a new report from RE Insider, is complex, with broader implications for the rebound of…
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Green Mortgages for Eco Friendly Upgrades
In the housing world, green is the new black. Energy saving and eco friendly upgrades to residential and investment properties are not only practical and (eventually) economical, they’re e also trendy, upping a house’s value and its appeal by their very presence. But paying for those green upgrades and getting a return on the investment…
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New Legislation Promises a Holistic Housing Policy
The government’s heavy involvement in housing affairs may be coming to an end – at least if a new bill promising a more “holistic” approach to housing policies becomes law. Now in draft form, the new legislation promises to whittle down the government’s presence in home financing and refinancing to make way for greater privatization…
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Can Better Math Skills Boost the Housing Recovery?
Can something as simple as better arithmetic skills prevent another housing collapse? According to a new study by researchers at Columbia Business School, the answer might be yes. After an extensive survey of mortgage holders both before and after the housing collapse, Columbia’s scholars found that a key predictor of mortgage defaults and foreclosures turned…
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New Tax Changes Target the Mortgage Interest Deduction
It’s that time again, as officials on both sides of the political fence tackle revisions to the tax code with an eye to reclaiming lost revenue and capping or eliminating various deductions and credits. This time around they’re eyeing the venerable mortgage interest deduction, a prized benefit that heads the list of deductions related to…
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Student Loans: A Broken System?
You don’t have to be a student to worry about student loan debt. With most college students finishing school with thousands of dollars n debt, the problem of student debt is rapidly becoming everybody’s problem. Amid wrangling in Washington about legislation to keep interest rates low and loans accessible, some financial experts are pointing out…
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How Does the Federal Reserve Affect You?
Buying a car? Looking for a job? Stocking up at the grocery store? The decisions you make about these things and many more are driven by the actions of the Federal Reserve. Although it seems that shadowy body only matters in the arcane world of high level finance, the Fed is responsible for the ebb…
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5 Ways to Protect Your Money Online
Doing business online – even sensitive financial operations – is quick and easy, though far from safe. Cyber crime costs about $100 billion worldwide each year, and ven the most internet-savvy investor can become a victim of internet scammers and hackers. But a few simple strategies can help keep financial information safe. Use a Single…
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The Shadow Economy: 2 Trillion Invisible Dollars
The Federal Reserve’s plan to wind down its large-scale buyup pf mortgage backed securities appears to be on track for the end of this year. But, as Fed officials continue to warn, the plan’s future is still tied to economic indicators such as job growth and retail growth But there’s another, shadow economy whose largely…
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Investing Lessons From a Food Diva's Downfall
Love her or hate her, it seems you can’t escape her. Celebrity chef Paula Deen keeps on making headlines as she’s dropped by sponsor after sponsor and products bearing her name are yanked from store shelves. Her fall from grace for making racist remarks isn’t just a topic for the tabloids, though. The collapse of…