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.
New Home Sales Boom in AugustPOSTED: Wednesday September 24, 2014
In our effort to cover important trends that affect the mortgage market, the 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 […]
Mortgage Applications Return to Downward TrendPOSTED: Wednesday September 24, 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. After an increase in the […]
Don’t use this mortgage calculator if you live in NYC or SFPOSTED: Monday September 22, 2014
FREEandCLEAR launches the Rent Payment Mortgage Affordability Calculator With the average monthly rent in many large cities such as New York and San Francisco exceeding record levels it can be interesting (and a tad bit sad) to understand what size mortgage you can afford based on your monthly rent payment. The FREEandCLEAR Rent Payment […]
Existing Home Sales Decline in AugustPOSTED: Monday September 22, 2014
In our effort to cover important trends that affect the mortgage market, the FREEandCLEAR keeps a close eye on existing home sales, which is the number of previously constructed housing units that are sold in a month. The existing home sales figure is reported separately from the new home sales figure, which is the number […]
Housing Starts Decline in AugustPOSTED: Thursday September 18, 2014
To keep track of the real estate and mortgage markets FREEandCLEAR monitors a lot of statistics including Mortgage Applications, the Housing Market Index, Existing and New Home Sales and Housing Prices. Another key report that reflects the strength of the housing market is the monthly Housing Starts report released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau, […]
FOMC Holds Federal Funds Rate SteadyPOSTED: Wednesday September 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 ReboundPOSTED: Wednesday September 17, 2014
At FREEandCLEAR, we continue to 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. Mortgage application activity […]
Housing Market Index Shows Continued StrengthPOSTED: Wednesday September 17, 2014
The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index is one of the key housing market statistics that we track at FREEandCLEAR. The Housing Market Index incorporates factors such as current and expected new home sales and interest level from potential new home buyers. It is important to highlight that the index focuses on new […]