Existing-Home Sales Jump 5.1% in December, Strongest Pace in Nearly Three Years

Existing-home sales posted a notable year-end rebound in December, jumping 5.1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.35 million , according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). After adjusting for seasonal factors, December sales were the strongest in nearly three years, marking a bro

Bond Buying Announcement Leads Surge in Mortgage Apps

As we reported last week, the announcement that Fannie and Freddie would buy $200bln in mortgage-backed securities led to a precipitous drop in rates last week. For most of Friday, the top tier 30yr fixed rate was at 5.99% for the average lender according to MND's daily mortgage rate index--the lowe

Creating a Home That Fits Your Lifestyle: 5 Design Tips for Everyday Living

Creating a home that fits your lifestyle isn’t about following trends or copying a perfectly styled space you saw online. It’s about designing a home that supports how you actually live, starting with choosing the right type of house for your needs, from busy weekday mornings to slow weekends and ev

How Does Closing on a House Work? 10 Steps to Closing on a House

Key takeaways On average, closing on a home can take anywhere from 30 to 60 days.  The closing process includes mortgage approval, title checks, home inspections, and gathering required documents. Closing day involves reading through and signing paperwork before the title is finally transferred to y