As promised, last week was heavy on data and on drama. And mortgage rates continued their slide lower. This week, by contrast, is devoid of data and markets are already digesting the Federal Reserve’s surprise 0.750% rate cut this morning. Mortgage rates are falling in response, but not because of what the Fed did as [...]

Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. inspired a nation to change largely through his riveting speeches. Considered one of the greatest orators in United States history, his thoughts on racial equality have been repeated by many speakers throughout the years since his assassination. His skill with words powered King’s nonviolent battle for integration and [...]

Overall, mortgage rates are at their lowest levels since late-2005. Despite rates falling, however, not everyone can take advantage. This is because mortgage lenders started to tighten the guidelines of what they will lend and to whom, also beginning in late-2005. In other words, the chart at right doesn’t apply to all homeowners equally. If [...]

I’m evaluating a multi-media course on blogging from the folks at Simpleology. For a while, they’re letting you snag it for free if you post about it on your blog. It covers: The best blogging techniques. How to get traffic to your blog. How to turn your blog into money. I’ll let you know what [...]

Here's a great story that reminds us to slow downand look around. Take Stock of your life and your business. A young, successful executive named Josh was driving down a neighborhood street. He was talking on his cell phone and going a bit too fast in his brand-new, sleek, supercharged Jaguar XKR. Suddenly - WHUMP! [...]

Only buy or fill up your car or truck in the early morning when the ground temperature is still cold. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the ground the more dense the gasoline, when it gets warmer gasoline expands, so buying in the afternoon or in the [...]

It’s a point that’s always worth repeating: Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve do not control mortgage rates This is particularly relevant today as newspapers, television programs, and market pundits posit that the U.S. is in the midst of a recession. The latest evidence supporting that assertion is that Retail Sales grew at its slowest [...]

For all that’s been said about the proposed Bank of America-Countrywide merger, what’s not getting talked about is how the merger will impact existing Countrywide customers. The short answer is that it won’t. A mortgage (and its corresponding note) is a legal contract between the lender and the lendee, signed on the date of closing. [...]

Markets are welcoming the return of cold, hard data this week. Most of last week was spent making sense of Fed speakers, recessionary fears, and a takeover of the nation’s largest lender. This week, we’ll find out if the recent fears of recession are on target, or overblown. The data deluge starts Tuesday with the [...]

Clipped from NBC’s Today Show, real estate maven Barbara Corcoran talks about preparing your home for sale. As usual, her remarks are spot-on. Some highlights from the 5-minute video: Go online and shop for your own home first Empty your home of two-thirds of the “stuff” Keep your home immaculately clean Corcoran also offers pricing [...]