Yesterday, I had the chance to sit down with the fantastic Matt Mosler on the KARK's morning segment, Money Matters. I was able to offer more advice to those caught between renting a home or buying a house. You can watch the interview below and get more information in the rest of the post beneath the video.
The Mortgage Statement
Rent Vs. Buy: June 17, 2013 Interview with Matt Mosler
Tags: choose a mortgage, Rent vs. Buy
If you are about to move to a new area, you need to think about a few things before you sign a lease on an apartment or put a down payment on a mortgage. The decision to buy or rent depends on your current financial situation, your future plans and the lifestyle you want to live. Both options have their own set of benefits and potential drawbacks that should be carefully evaluated.
It's the first week of April and rates have changed, but have not increased. We promise this is not an April Fool's joke! Our 30-year fixed rate has dropped from 3.625 percent to 3.5 percent. Our 20-year fixed rate has fallen from 3.5 percent to 3.375 percent. And our 15-year fixed rate stepped down from 2.750 percent to 2.625 percent.
Mortgage rates have not changed since last week, continuing to stay steady through the month of February.
It's the first week of February and rates have risen since last week. Our 30-year fixed rate rose slightly from 3.25 percent to 3.5 percent, our 20-year fixed rate went up from 3.125 percent to 3.375 percent and our 15-year fixed rate jumped from 2.5 percent to 3 percent. Though rates are now on the uptick, the movement is slow, so you should still have time to take advantage of low rates before they rise too far from their record lows.
If you are still on the fence about refinancing, "there's no point to dilly-dally" said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac's chief economist in a USA Today article discussing the rise in rates and whether or not lower rates are in our future. Read the article to learn more about why rates are rising and why you should be refinancing now rather than later.
Bank of Little Rock Mortgage is also rolling out a new blog to provide our experience and expertise on mortgage finance, written in plain English for you to follow easily. We call it The Mortgage Statement.
Are you interested in seeing if you prequalify for a home loan? We have a quick-and-easy way for you to get prequalified for a mortgage online.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, we would love to hear from you. Just contact us and let us know what you need.
Happy Tuesday,
Scott McElmurry
President & CEO of Bank of Little Rock Mortgage
NOTE: Your mortgage rate can be affected by a number of factors, including your credit score, loan-to-value ratio, your down payment and the loan program you choose. No matter what, we'll always find you the best mortgage loan at the best rate, guaranteed. For more information, visit our Today's Rates page.
Tags: How do I refinance, first-time home buyer, choose a mortgage
KATV Live: A Few Tips for First-Time Home Buyers
Tags: How to buy a home, first-time home buyer, choose a mortgage
For the majority of first-time homebuyers, getting a mortgage is a must. A mortgage, however, can be a complex process for those who don’t do their research. It’s important to know exactly what will be required of you during the mortgage application process, because preparation is one major key to success.
Tags: Get pre-qualified online, first-time home buying, choose a mortgage
When looking for the right mortgage, the most important question to answer is, “Which mortgage type is right for my financial situation?” This means a few things:
Tags: Get prequalified online, first-time home buyer, choose a mortgage