Desiree Yuzawa's Mortgage Blog

Autumn Home Maintenance Tip

2011-10-13T15:51:46+00:00

Fall has arrived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest!

The limited amount of rain and late September warm weather has blessed us with briliant colorful fall leaves. These leaves will fall shortly and if you have trees close to your house your gutters could be impacted. Plan on taking time, not just once, this fall season to inspect and clean your gutters. Should you fail to do this there

"WHAT GOES UP... MUST COME DOWN?"

2011-06-27T15:28:36+00:00

Gas prices have dropped at the pump lately, but the markets are more focused on movement in the rest of the economy. Here’s a look at where some important economic indicators are headed... and what they mean to you!

Fill ’er up... oil’s down! Late last week, crude oil fell under $90 per barrel after the International Energy Agency (IEA) said it would release 60 Million barrels of oil in the

"SLOW DOWN... YOU MOVE TOO FAST"

2011-06-06T14:51:55+00:00

Maybe the economic recovery is taking acue from these 1960's lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel, as the economic recovery seems to be in a sluggish state at the moment. And while it doesn't leave too many Americans "feelin' groovy," there are some amazing opportunities at hand in housing. Here's what you need to know about the economy and housing industry - along with one sure thing about the

"SLOW AND STEADY?"

2011-05-23T03:26:33+00:00

Last week, the economy appeared to be slowing. But despite the negative economic news, Bonds and home loan rates held steady and were unable to improve further.

Let's look at what happened and what it means...

Housing Starts and Building Permits, which are leading indicators of the new home construction market, both came in below expectations that were already low. If you consider the

Boost Your Brainpower - and Happiness - with 3 Simple Steps

2011-05-16T02:19:47+00:00

It's easy to believe that your intelligence is set, meaning there's no way to "boost" your brainpower. However, many scientific studies have proven the exact opposite. A combination of lifestyle adjustments and mental exercises has been shown to not only increase intelligence, but also to improve general brain health and help prevent disorders associated with aging, such as Alzheimer's disease.

Cutting Through the Confusion Over Inflation

2011-05-07T00:35:24+00:00

Inflation has been in the news a lot lately. But the reports and experts don't always seem to agree on whether inflation is really a concern or not. In fact, sometimes the different reports appear to contradict each other. For example, a couple of weeks ago the Core Producer Price Index (PPI) reported that inflation was slightly hotter than expected. However, the Core Consumer Price Index

US Credit Rating..... Takes a Hit

2011-04-25T15:50:00+00:00

WHEN IT RAINS, IT POOR’S... With the US already facing tough decisions over its national debt, the credit rating firm Standard and Poor's last week cut its credit outlook on the US from stable to negative. Standard & Poor’s also said the US’s AAA credit rating could be cut within two years, if headway isn't made in closing the budget gap. This is important because countries have credit ratings,

FHA Annual Premiums Updated

2011-04-11T17:50:47+00:00

Do you have an FHA buyer who is sitting on the fence waiting for prices to move down? If so, do they know that the FHA annual mortgage insurance premimums are increasing by .25%? This will effect the monthly payment and ultimatly the buyers monthly debt load. Take a look at the chart below for additional details and follow the link to see the benefits of buying.

http://mcedge.tv/169w8l

Lower Payment vs Lower Rate of Interest

2011-04-11T02:37:18+00:00

With interest rates still near historically low levels, an argument can certainly be made for people considering a shorter mortgage term, such as a 15-year fixed rate mortgage. But there are some important factors to consider.

Of course, the greatest benefit of choosing a shorter term is knowing that the mortgage will have a zero balance in 15 years, saving the borrower thousands and

FHA Annual Mortgage Insurance Increasing

2011-02-15T19:13:41+00:00

February 15, 2011

With Mortgagee Letter 11-10, FHA announces an increase to the Annual Mortgage Insurance Premium on standard FHA loan programs and a change that affects case numbers.

Here are the 7 things you need to know about these changes:

1. These changes are effective April 18^th, 2011.

2. The Annual Insurance Premium will increase .25% for standard forward mortgages. The Upfront

Bet your bottom Dollar?

2011-01-24T18:08:31+00:00

These days the more appropriate question is: Where is the bottom of the Dollar? That’s because the US Dollar is starting 2011 in very poor fashion, with its value dropping relative to other currencies.

Let’s take a look at why... and what this could mean for home loan rates!

1. Some of the Dollar’s drop is attributed to the recent strength in the Euro, which has gotten a boost from some

8 Ways to Cut Insurance Costs for Teen Drivers

2011-01-17T17:35:45+00:00

You can prevent your auto premiums from skyrocketing.

By Kimberly Lankford, Kiplinger.com

My 16-year-old son is about to get his license, and I’m afraid of what that might do to our auto-insurance rates. How can we lower insurance costs?

You’re right to be worried -- your auto-insurance premiums are likely to skyrocket when your teenage son starts driving. But a few key moves can help you

Will Home Interest Rates Go Back Down?

2011-01-10T00:50:07+00:00

QUESTION: Although rates are still near historic lows, they have been heading up. So are those unbelievably low home loan rates behind us for good?

ANSWER: There are only a couple things that would bring back the lows that we saw just a couple months ago:

If the Fed’s recent round of Quantitative Easing falls on its face and doesn't meet its mission of creating inflation, boosting

What do you need to do to be successful in 2011? What does success mean to you?

2010-12-28T20:56:09+00:00

As the new year approaches, these are important questions to ask so that 2011 can be as productive and successful as you want it to be. That's why I wanted to share a gift with you this holiday season to help you have your best year yet: Jason Womack's new E-Book called Your Best Just Got Better. The book contains 7 keys to a more productive day and some great exercises to help you determine