President-elect Obama would like to see a strong HUD leading the country out of the housing crisis. But is that realistic?
December 2008
Cash investors can put their money in U.S. Treasuries or passbook savings accounts to earn less than 1 percent annually. Another alternative is to open a CD with a cash-poor bank, and log returns in excess of 3.5 percent.
This current bear is rewriting the rules of investing.
The 30-year mortgage rate dropped for the seventh consecutive week, hitting its lowest level since 1971. This has hit mortgage brokers and lenders with a surge of homeowners and refinance applications looking for a Christmas bonus.
Santa has come early for unemployed workers and troubled homeowners. President Bush recently signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits and a moratorium on home foreclosures. With more jobs being lost every day, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in deep trouble, will this gift last longer than the holidays?
Virginia Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker has a rather positive outlook for 2009, which is actually shared by other economists. If Lacker is right about his forecast for the economy in 2009, it will be cause to celebrate.
Will the Federal Reserve announcement to lower the Fed funds rate lower mortgage rates? Yes.
Financial companies are applying for bank holding company status to diversify and improve their access to cash.
Santa has come early for unemployed workers and troubled homeowners. President Bush recently signed into law an extension of unemployment benefits and a moratorium on home foreclosures. With more jobs being lost every day, and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in deep trouble, will this gift last longer than the holidays?
Virginia Federal Reserve Bank President Jeffrey Lacker has a rather positive outlook for 2009, which is actually shared by other economists. If Lacker is right about his forecast for the economy in 2009, it will be cause to celebrate.
