[This is an update to our previous blog post here] Merely moments after being sworn in as our nation’s 45th President, President Trump’s HUD indefinitely suspended the MIP reduction of 25basis points, that was scheduled to begin on January 27th.
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The Department of Housing and Urban Development announced on Monday that they plan to reduce the Mortgage Insurance Premium for FHA mortgage loans. Since 2012, the Federal Housing Administration’s(FHA) Mutual Mortgage Insurance(MMI) Fund has gained $44 billion, and is now 32 basis points above the 2 percent threshold level required by Congress. This is ~$13 billion more …
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CNN recently ran an article explaining why self-made millionaire David Bach has said, “The fact is, you aren’t really in the game of building wealth until you own some real estate.” In his book, “The Automatic Millionaire” Bach writes, “As a renter, you can easily spend half a million dollars or more on rent over …
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The Federal Housing Finance Agency has announced that it is increasing the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgage loans beginning in 2017. A mortgage loan is considered “conforming” when it is eligible to be acquired by Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac. (Mortgages are often sold to Fannie or Freddie so that a lender has the liquidity/money available …
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Benchmark is thankful for all United States veterans and the sacrifices they’ve made for our country. We asked some of our own veterans here at Benchmark to share what makes them proud to have served our great nation. I am proud to have served in the US Navy. Volunteering four years of my life seems …
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Whether you are striking out to your first job after college, or moving your whole family for a job relocation; moving is hard. Here are a few helpful tips to successfully begin adjusting to your new surroundings. Plan Your New Commute Think ahead, and plan the routes you’ll eventually need to follow. Knowing the quickest …
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Even in light of rising home prices, Trulia‘s October 2016 “Rent vs. Buy Report” successfully argues that owning your home with a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage costs less than renting in major US metros, even in high priced areas like Honolulu, HI (which sees 17.4% cost reduction over renting). The highest difference was 53.2% in Miami, FL …
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Most agree that home prices have risen, and are still on the rise. We have written about why this is not like the housing bubble that we saw nearly ten years ago. In some areas, there are not enough homes for sale to meet the demands of home buyers, and prices are driven up organically. see – Low …
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Fall brings changes the colors outdoors, but it doesn’t stop there. Pantone releases their fall colors annually. According to Pantone, this year’s fall color palette represents “a unity of strength, confidence and complexity.” The colors, inspired by “the desire for tranquility, strength and optimism” are led by the Blue family. Each of the individual colors …
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CNBC published an article on their Real Estate blog entitled, “‘Massive’ shortage of appraisers causing home sales delays” Below are a few quotes that summarize the story quickly, in case you don’t have the time or patience to read the article yourself. “The appraisal shortage is massive. You’re seeing significant delays, you’re seeing cost increases, …
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Think Outside The Pumpkin Make your fall pumpkin stand out by decorating the OUTSIDE, rather than gutting it. Not only does this broaden the possibilities to glitter, paint, melting crayons, and more, but it could also prolong the life of your beautiful gourd. Warm Hues + Neutrals = Autumn Environment Bring the autumn indoors by …
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As we are in early September, and most school districts have been in session for at least a week, it’s a good time to pause and reflect. Every year, students begin afresh in a new grade, families return to a routine anchored in a schedule created by the school(s) their children attend, friends are reunited while …
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According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau, new single family home sales in June grew by 3.5%* over May, and 25.4%** over June 2015. The seasonally adjusted annual rate was 592,000 in June, and 572,000 was the revised rate in May. The rate in June …
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“The sudden stop in employment growth rules out any chance of a rate hike from the Fed at next week’s FOMC meeting, particularly now that the UK vote on whether to leave the European Union appears to be going down to the wire,” said Capital Economics Chief Economist Paul Ashworth. (source: Housingwire.com) Britain’s exit from the …
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There has been a lot of talk about the rising value of houses in recent years. While some have expressed concern over another 2008 style housing bubble forming, we have dispelled this notion. While economics is a bit more complicated, most moves are the direct result of what you may have learned in school: supply and …
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Meet Grant Clinton. Grant Clinton is a Loan Originator and Branch Manager in our awesome branch in Houston, TX! We are proud to announce that Grant will be competing as an American Ninja Warrior in the Oklahoma City Qualifier on June 20th! THE OVERCOMER With an outstanding history as a gymnast, Grant Clinton was …
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This post is inspired by: http://ift.tt/1Pfe0zD If you have a small child (or small children), you probably have “too many” bath toys, and would benefit from an easy-access storage system. Better yet, an easy-access storage system that drains automatically. Well, you’ve come to the right place. DIY Bath Toy Organizer This set up is great! Your …
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This post is inspired by: http://ift.tt/1wkcikQ If you rely on a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, you probably don’t keep it a secret. Let’s turn your favorite dish in the cupboard (the noble mug) into a centerpiece of pride! Have you ever wanted to show off your stunning collection of unique mugs? Do you …
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This post is inspired by: http://ift.tt/1PLTQP3 While this may be a project for big dogs, you can certainly adapt the concept to fit your own adorable fur ball! This dog food station nests the food and water bowls into the top, so there is no chance of them being knocked around, or knocked over. Are you …
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