8 Ways to Secure Your Computer on Public WiFi Connections - Business today is fast moving and most of us work in a mobile environment. We love the proliferation of public Wi-Fi hotspots that let us check emails and go on the internet at coffee shops and other locations outside the home and office. But the truth is, when you're on these public networks, your laptop could become an open book to a hacker sitting out in the parking lot.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of September 24, 2012 - People indeed are astonished at how the housing market has started to recover and last week's data just kept the ball rolling. Builders are busier as housing starts are up 2.3% from July to August. They're now at a 750,000 annual rate, UP 24.5% over August 2011. Housing starts have been rising on an annual basis for the last 11 months and they're now UP 57% from their April 2009 bottom. No wonder builder confidence in September was up for the fifth month in a row, hitting its highest level since 2006.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of September 17, 2012 - Today's home buyers seem to be in the right place at the right time, as our already super low mortgage rates may go even lower. The impetus for this comes from the Fed's announcement last Thursday that they will purchase $40 billion a month of mortgage backed securities guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. This is to keep downward pressure on interest rates to help boost the housing recovery. One observer expects to see "the lowest 30-year rates ever." Smart buyers will no doubt do something about that.
Simple Tricks to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient - As a homeowner, you’re always looking for ways to cut energy costs. Other than a mortgage or rent, your electricity, gas, water, and trash are your most expensive house payment. Not only that, but you’ve got to content with the fact that the more energy you use, the more strain and stress your putting on the environment. So greening and making your abode more energy efficient will help your pocket book and help create a more sustainable way of life.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of September 10, 2012 - One of the key things remaining to be done to achieve a housing market recovery is a return to appreciating prices. Many observers feel prices have stabilized nationally and now we're seeing the first signs of some increases. A national real estate website reports the asking prices for homes for sale were up in August for the seventh month in a row. This put them UP 2.3% versus a year ago, the largest year-over-year gain since the housing downturn began.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of September 3, 2012 - It wasn't that long ago when some pundits were saying hope was all we had in the housing market. But now our hope is being justified by some solid facts. Last Tuesday, the Case-Shiller S&P 500 index of home prices in the 20 largest metros posted a 0.9% gain (seasonally-adjusted) for June. For the month, 18 of the 20 metro areas showed gains; in the last three months, prices were up in all 20. Overall, prices are UP 0.5% compared to a year ago.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of August 27, 2012 - Home prices have certainly been marked down from their highs of a few years ago, and buyers seem to be finally realizing there are some very nice homes out there at some very nice prices. The latest evidence came when Existing Home Sales shot UP 2.3% in July to a 4.47 million unit annual rate. Sales of these homes are now UP 10.4% from a year ago. But those contemplating a purchase should not dally. The median price of an existing home is UP 9.4% over a year ago, the largest gain since the peak in early 2006!
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of August 20, 2012 - Home builders last week showed plenty of evidence they are both hopeful and confident. July new Building Permits came in UP 6.8%, to an 812,000 annual rate. In fact, July saw the most single-family building permits filed since August 2008, the month before the Lehman collapse and the financial market meltdown. Versus a year ago, permits for single-family homes are now UP 23.0%.
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of August 13, 2012 - Some of the actions we're seeing in the housing market should lead us to a better destiny. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported median sale prices for single-family homes posted year-over-year gains in Q2 in 110 of 147 markets. This is up from 74 markets showing annual price appreciation in Q1. The national median sale price of existing single-family homes in Q2 was up 7.3% over a year ago, the biggest annual increase in six years!
Texas Mortgage Market Update - For the week of July 30, 2012 - Last week's housing reports weren't quite the head shot Apple's co-founder referred to, but they still required us to keep the faith. June New Home Sales were down 8.4%, coming in at a 350,000 annual rate. But the trend of a gradual recovery is still there, with new home sales UP 15.1% versus a year ago. The new home median price is down 3.2% versus a year ago, yet the average price is UP 0.3% and the inventory of completed new homes is at the lowest level on record, a 4.9 month supply.
