Welcome to the FREEandCLEAR Blog! Our blog offers unique insights on the latest mortgage market news and trends. We also use our blog to shine a spotlight on important topics that are shaping the real estate and mortgage markets including housing affordability, socioeconomic developments and financial literacy. We are always adding interesting features to the FREEandCLEAR Blog so sign up below to receive our Mortgage Market Update and other posts or check back frequently.
FOMC Holds Target Rate SteadyPOSTED: Wednesday December 17, 2014
The Federal Reserve determines monetary policy in the United States, and monetary policy, in turn, is one of the most important factors in determining mortgage interest rates. So when the Federal Reserve speaks, FREEandCLEAR listens closely and passes along our insights to the the FREEandCLEAR community. One of the key tools that the Federal Reserve […]
Mortgage Applications DipPOSTED: Wednesday December 17, 2014
At FREEandCLEAR, we follow the Mortgage Bankers’ Association (MBA) mortgage applications index which measures both purchase and refinance applications for mortgage lenders across the country. An increase in the MBA applications index reflects an increase in mortgage applications while a decrease in the index reflects a decline in mortgage applications. For the week ended […]
Welcome to the New FREEandCLEAR.com!POSTED: Friday December 12, 2014
We are happy to announce the re-launch of FREEandCLEAR! With a new home page, one of the deepest libraries of mortgage videos available online and enhanced navigation functionality, FREEandCLEAR provides mortgage consumers a wider offering of high-quality tools, resources and information to help them master the mortgage process. Highlights of our re-launch include a […]
Mortgage Applications Rebound NicelyPOSTED: Wednesday December 10, 2014
At FREEandCLEAR, we follow the Mortgage Bankers’ Association (MBA) mortgage applications index which measures both purchase and refinance applications for mortgage lenders across the country. An increase in the MBA applications index reflects an increase in mortgage applications while a decrease in the index reflects a decline in mortgage applications. For the week ended […]
Lower Down Payment Requirement Boosts Home BuyersPOSTED: Monday December 08, 2014
Government regulators reduced the required down payment for certain types of mortgages, which should make it easier for first-time buyers to purchase a home. The new regulations, announced by FannieMae, allow eligible first-time home buyers to purchase a home with a down payment of as little as 3% of the purchase price of the property, […]
Purchase Mortgage Applications Bounce BackPOSTED: Wednesday December 03, 2014
At FREEandCLEAR, we follow the Mortgage Bankers’ Association (MBA) mortgage applications index which measures both purchase and refinance applications for mortgage lenders across the country. An increase in the MBA applications index reflects an increase in mortgage applications while a decrease in the index reflects a decline in mortgage applications. For the week ended […]
New Lending Standards Benefit BorrowersPOSTED: Friday November 28, 2014
Lenders are set to implement revised lending standards that should make it easier for borrowers to obtain mortgages. The new standards, agreed to by lenders and industry regulators in October, reduce borrower credit requirements and could also streamline the amount of time it takes to process and close a mortgage. The new standards relax borrower […]
New Home Sales LagPOSTED: Wednesday November 26, 2014
In our effort to cover important trends that affect the mortgage market, FREEandCLEAR keeps a close eye on new home sales, which is the number of newly constructed housing units that are sold in a month. The new home sales figure is reported separately from the existing home sales figure, which is the number of […]