Feb 27th 2013 11:30AM
By Scott Sheldon Mortgage insurance is the dreaded premium on a mortgage payment that consumers hate, and for good reason. It makes the cost of homeownership rise over time, benefiting one group: the investor that owns the loan. Mortgage insurance, also known as private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is an integral part of... Continue Reading »
Oct 4th 2010 3:46PM
FHA annual mortgage insurance premiums will match those of private mortgage insurance companies starting today for all new FHA loans. The annual premium will rise from 0.55 percent to 0.9 percent, which is the same as most private mortgage insurance for loans between 95 percent and 97 percent down. The good news is that... Continue Reading »
Sep 27th 2010 9:53AM
A recent report suggests closing costs on mortgages are skyrocketing, with direct bank fees up nearly 23 percent and third-party fees up more than 47 percent. First, the sort-of good news. The survey isn't measuring actual fees levied on completed mortgages; instead it measures the so-called good-faith estimates of fees... Continue Reading »
Jun 29th 2010 11:50AM
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-0 {width:300px;height:250px;background:black url(http://pthumbnails.5min.com/3418683/170934110_3_300_250.jpg) no-repeat center center;float:left;} The need for more space was what got Kim and Jason Fitzsimmons thinking about buying their first home. They'd been married for a year and... Continue Reading »
Jun 25th 2010 2:18PM
Mike Valdez fits the profile of a savvy first-time homebuyer perfectly. A 34-year-old financial analyst from New Rochelle, N.Y., he and his family had grown sick of living the renter's life. So two years ago he decided to test the market and find a townhouse for his growing family. But despite his financial aptitude, he... Continue Reading »
