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Mortgage News
Housing
Stays Strong into New Year |
 Home loan
applications increased in early January, as a weaker-than-expected
December employment report sent interest rates lower. Home loan rates
had been on the rise up until the report, and just as the Fed
announced its decision to "taper" its Bond-buying stimulus
efforts.
Both purchase, as well as refinance loan application volume increased
by 12 and 11 percent, respectively, on a seasonally adjusted basis,
according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. "The drop in rates
was (also) large enough to trigger a pickup in refinance volume,"
said Michael Fratantoni, the MBA's chief economist.
The rise in purchase applications could be a signal of a strong home
buying season this spring. Many in the real estate industry were
concerned that new mortgage rules in effect mid-January would knock
some potential borrowers out of the market. In reality the impact may
be insignificant, considering that 95 percent of mortgages originated
last year would still qualify under the new rules, according to the
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
"Rising home prices, historically low mortgage rates, and
significant pent-up demand will drive a continuing, gradual recovery
in the year ahead," said the National Association of Home
Builders Chief Economist David Crowe.
Confidence among U.S. home builders stuck in January after a bigger
jump in December, according to the NAHB's monthly home builder
sentiment index. The index came in at 56—and with 50 being the
difference between positive and negative, it showed that builders are
still optimistic about housing market conditions.
For existing homes in the market, the National Association of Realtors
reported that sales of previously owned homes climbed 1 percent in
December, following a 4.3 percent drop in November.
The demand for housing and its available supply will continue to
influence the nation's economic health. Stay tuned for the next
Homes & Money in May for another quarterly update.
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Finance News
The
Problems with Paperless Tickets
They're
inconvenient and tough to resell.
By Kaitlin Pitsker, Kiplinger.com
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 In the ongoing
battle to thwart ticket scalpers, promoters are turning to paperless
tickets for some events. Use of the tickets is expected to grow, but
complaints are mounting about cumbersome restrictions that can come
with them.
Here's how they work: To enter a venue with a paperless ticket (which
differs from a traditional electronic ticket in that you can't print
it out or show it on your phone), an event goer must swipe the credit
card used to buy the ticket and show photo identification. Because
tickets are linked to the cards used to buy them, people giving these
tickets as a gift may need to escort the recipients to the gate.
Groups purchasing a block of tickets in one transaction may need to
wait outside until everyone arrives.
Fans who want to resell tickets are likely to face additional
limitations. Resale may be allowed only through the ticket company's
website—or may not be permitted at all. There may also be
restrictions on how much or how little you can charge.
For now, paperless tickets make up only about 1 percent of ticket
sales. But as event promoters and ticket distributors profit from
control of the resale market, the use of restricted tickets will
likely grow, says James D. Hurwitz, a research fellow with the
American Antitrust Institute. Before that happens, several states,
including New Jersey and Massachusetts, are considering legislation
to restrict or ban paperless tickets, and New York requires that
customers be given the option of buying paper or e-tickets.
Check the fine print when purchasing paperless tickets. Some
promoters use restrictive tickets for every seat, while others use
them for only a section of preferred seats. You may be able to
purchase a traditional paper or e-ticket by choosing a seat
elsewhere.
 Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2014 The Kiplinger
Washington Editors. Kiplinger.com.
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Creative
Cuisine
Pizza, Quick and Easy
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It's pizza without the mess, expense, or fattening preservatives. You
can make it vegetarian style, gooey cheese, meat lover or the works,
in about the same time as delivery!
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped onion
- 1/2 cup finely chopped green bell pepper
- 3 cloves garlic, mince 2, reserve 1
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup pitted black olives, chopped or sliced
- 1/8 cup grated fresh Parmesan
- 6 ounces diced fresh mozzarella
- 1 baguette, ends trimmed, sliced diagonally
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
For the sauce, heat oil in a medium ovenproof skillet over medium
heat. Add the onions and bell pepper, cook until onions are almost
translucent, about 5 minutes. Then add minced garlic, oregano, a
pinch of salt and some pepper, 2 minutes. Add the tomato paste and
stir to coat vegetables, 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, simmer 15
minutes on low, stirring occasionally until thickened. Remove from
heat, add olives and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss the baguette slices with olive oil,
lay them on a baking sheet. Bake 7 to 9 minutes until golden. Rub
toast with a whole garlic clove and set aside to cool.
Preheat broiler. Add mozzarella, fresh onions, and meats on top of the
sauce mixture. Broil until cheese has melted and browned, 2 minutes.
Spoon the sauce mixture on top of the baguette slices and you have
Pizza, Quick and Easy!
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Tech
These 4
Apps Save You Money as You Drive |
 With
the four apps we've listed below, driving can be a big money saver no
matter where you're headed!
Automatic -
What can a $100 driving app do for you? Plenty! Automatic has some
amazing features including: monitoring driving habits, suggesting gas
saving changes, vehicle location, engine-system monitoring and
reporting, mileage reporting, and crash assistance. There are no
subscription fees once purchased and the app can be shared with
multiple drivers of the same vehicle.
Trapster -
One way to save money while you drive is avoiding traffic tickets!
Trapster is a free app that lets you participate in a community of
local speed-trap reporters, so you can drive just a little more
carefully around that next bend. But that's not all: Trapster also
alerts you to road hazards and traffic conditions.
Lyft - In need
of a ride? Want to save gas? Want your commute to be more
environmentally friendly? Try Lyft, a new ride-sharing app that helps
you find and schedule rides with other people already going your way.
You can stay a passenger or, after passing a criminal background and
safety check, become a driver yourself.
Waze -
According to the developer, Waze is the world's largest
community-based traffic and navigation app. Waze introduces you to a
network of other drivers in your area who share real-time traffic and
road info, helping to save everyone both time and money on their daily
commute.
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Pet Smarts
8 Things
to Know Before
Buying or Adopting a Pet |
 Pets are
great fun, and can teach you a lot about life. But they also need
care and attention, just like people do. Here are eight things you'll
want to know before you buy or adopt a pet:
1. Do you have the time and energy? If you're at work all day
and the house is empty, perhaps a virtual pet
is more your speed.
2. If you're busy but still really want a dog,
then consider hiring a walker and make sure to choose a dog breed that
isn't needy. Check PetMD's Breedopedia to find one that fits your
lifestyle.
3. Consider your space: A Great Dane in a one-bedroom
apartment is a recipe for boredom, behavior problems, and even health
issues. But it's a fine space to keep a bird.
4. The climate factor: Research animals or breeds suitable for
your local geography, especially for outdoor animals.
5. To pee or not to pee: Training a young pet for your hamlet
may not be
your thing. In that case, consider adopting an older one who is
already housebroken.
6. Chew proof: Make sure your nice things are well out of
reach, and train only with chew-toys. Also keep chemicals and
medicines out of investigative range.
7. Unless you're a breeder: Make sure your pets are spayed or
neutered, take them in to the vet for regular checkups, and keep them
up-to-date on vaccinations. Pets can and do catch things in the
darnedest places.
8. Consider pet health insurance: It's inexpensive and can be a
life-saver. Consult your vet for options.
Source: PetMD.com
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Facts and
Figures
That's
Nuts! |
 March is National
Peanut Month. Here are a few nutty things you may not know about this
popular food:
- Peanuts are the top nut consumed in the U.S. and account for
two-thirds of the snack nut market.
- Americans spend almost $800 million a year on peanut butter.
- The average peanut farm is 100 acres. Just one acre yields enough
peanuts to make 30,000 peanut butter sandwiches.
- The average child will eat 1,500 peanut butter and jelly
sandwiches before he or she graduates high school.
- Peanuts have more protein, niacin, folate and phytosterols than
any other nut, and have no cholesterol.
- The nickname Goober comes from the Congolese word
"nguba," meaning peanut.
- Two peanut farmers have been elected president of the USA: Thomas
Jefferson and Jimmy Carter.
- Grand Saline, TX holds the title for the world's largest peanut
butter and jelly sandwich, weighing in at 1,342 pounds.
- On April 3, 1973, Chris Ambrose, of Clerkenwell, London, set a
world record, eating 100 peanuts, peanut-by-peanut, in 59.2
seconds.
- Women and children tend to prefer creamy peanut butter, while men
opt for chunky style.
Source: National Peanut Board
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In ancient China, Emperors hid
Pekingese dogs in their long sleeves as a last defense in case of
attack. Find out more
about selecting pets in this issue of Homes & Money!
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It's Awards
season! Match the actors and actresses
to the 2014 Oscar-Nominated Best Picture films in
which they star:
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Actors/Actresses
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| 1. |
Barkhad Abdi |
| 2. |
Chris Pratt |
| 3. |
Sandra Bullock |
| 4. |
Bryan Batt |
| 5. |
Leonardo DiCaprio |
| 6. |
Tom Hanks |
| 7. |
Steve Coogan |
| 8. |
Chiwetel Ejiofor |
| 9. |
George Clooney |
| 10. |
Jennifer Garner |
| 11. |
Christian Bale |
| 12. |
Jonah Hill |
| 13. |
Jennifer Lawrence |
| 14. |
Joaquin Phoenix |
| 15. |
Judi Dench |
| 16. |
Matthew
McConaughey |
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Films
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| A. |
"12 Years a Slave" |
| B. |
"American Hustle" |
| C. |
"Captain Phillips" |
| D. |
"Dallas Buyers Club" |
| E. |
"Gravity" |
| F. |
"Her" |
| G. |
"Philomena" |
| H. |
"The Wolf of
Wall
Street" |
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Scroll down to the bottom for
answers
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"If you can't solve a problem,
it's because
you're playing by the rules."
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– Paul Arden
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Your Life Calling:
Reimagining the Rest of
Your Life
By Jane Pauley
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In 2014 every baby boomer will have turned 50, while
simultaneously becoming the longest-living and healthiest generation
in history... and they are sure to leave yet another indelible imprint
on our society.
One of America's most respected broadcast journalists, Jane Pauley,
offers her personal insight on the situation, and shares ways that
Boomers—or anyone attempting to create their own "Act
Two"—can do it even better and more enjoyably than the
first time around. Pauley provides examples from real people, like
Betsy McCarthy, who swapped her executive briefcase for knitting
needles, Gid Pool, who became a stand-up comedian, or Trudy Lundgren,
who is roaming the country out of her RV.
Pauley's wit and storytelling charm come shining through in this
interesting and exciting book, great for anyone who may be asking,
"What next?" Find it today on Amazon Best Sellers. |
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Thank
You
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As always, we wish to thank our
clients who have been kind enough to refer business to us. We
appreciate the opportunity to provide excellent service to your
family, friends, and co–workers.
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Trivia
Answers
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1-C, 2-F, 3-E, 4-A, 5-H, 6-C, 7-G, 8-A, 9-E, 10-D, 11-B, 12-H,
13-B, 14-F, 15-G, 16-D
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