Energy Prices Rise 6.1% in Last Year While Food Prices Up 4.4%

On February 17 th the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( BLS ) released the Consumer Price Index for January.  The report for January showed an average 0.2% increase in the cost of goods, which was slightly less than the consensus of 0.3%.  The year-on-year index, or the trailing 12 months, shows an increase of 2.9%.  When looking more closely at the categories, the report shows that many of the prices rose by between 2% and 3% with the exception of food and energy.  These two rose by 4.4% and 6.1% respectively As can be seen, the indexes for food and energy prices are very volatile, they can swing because of a good crop year, changes in the weather, or a decision by OPEC.  Since the prices for such goods often change without regard to demand from consumers, they are left out of some of the CPI calculations.  This “core” inflation indicator is what the Fed watches.  As we can see in the latest FOMC Minutes , the Fed is seeking a modest 2% inflation for the year 2012 (average inflation since the BLS started collecting data in 1913 is just over 3%).  When we look at the change for just the core data (items less food and energy) there was a change of 2.3% for the trailing 12 months ending in January 2012.  As long as the Fed can keep things on track, they should have no problem meeting their goal of 2% inflation. This report, which is released every month, follows the prices of a set basket of goods.  The average change of the cost goods is reported in a month-to-month, and a year-to-year change.  This economic indicator is the most widely used indicator to determine inflation.  By looking at the basket of goods (made up of 40% commodities and 60% services), the BLS can see how the costs of living have changed.  The Fed will then use this information to adjust the monetary policy in order to encourage inflation, or encourage deflation. Besides determining how much buying power the dollar has (if the value of the dollar goes down, inflation goes up) the CPI can give investors and consumers a good picture of what the economy is doing.  In the event of rapid inflation there is too much money available, and the costs of good would be rising to meet the demand.  In the event of deflation, as seen in 2009, there is not enough money is available, and consumers are not able to keep buying and keep the economy moving.  In the event of hyperinflation (a very sharp rise in the price of goods) lending institutions would need to rapidly raise their rates to stay profitable, which would discourage borrowing.  In order to maintain order, and to keep the money moving, while keeping the cost of goods growing at a healthy rate, the Fed monitors the CPI and adjusts the money supply and interest rates as needed.

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Energy Prices Rise 6.1% in Last Year While Food Prices Up 4.4%

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The Pre-Approval Process: Getting “Preapproved” to Buy a House

Whether you are buying your first home or you are a seasoned real estate investor, the process of purchasing real estate can be a stressful time filled with lots of legalese and paperwork, especially as banks and mortgage lenders have instituted tighter lending standards.  The best way to navigate your way through the real estate closing process is to be as prepared as possible and to know as much as you can about each step of buying a home.  For most smart homebuyers, this starts with the pre-approval process. What is the Pre-Approval Process? The pre-approval process should be the first step you take when you begin to consider buying a new home.  Essentially, this step involves getting a bank or mortgage lender to give you a preliminary approval for a mortgage loan.  This is different from pre-qualifying, which is a less formal process. When you go through the pre-approval process, you submit your personal information and financial information to a mortgage lender that you are planning to get a final mortgage from.  Before you do this, you may want to speak to several mortgage brokers or lenders to get some idea of the different terms that they are offering and the different types of loans available.  For most buyers, a 30-year conventional mortgage is the best option for a loan, but you do want to find a lender who can offer you the specific type of financing you are looking for. Once you have found a lender you want to work with, you will be asked to submit many of the same forms you will need to ultimately get final approval for a mortgage.  These forms and documents will include your tax returns and/or your pay stubs, a list of your assets and liabilities, and other information that shows your current financial picture. You will also provide your social security number so the lender can check your credit score. Obtaining Pre-Approval Once you have submitted all of your paperwork and documents, the mortgage lender will review your information and determine if you are qualified to borrow and how much you are qualified to borrow.  Typically, at this stage, the pre-qualification is done simply by looking at your income, your debt and your credit score.  Verification of your income and other more in depth investigation of your finances won’t occur until the underwriters approve your final loan.  If you provide accurate information, however, typically you will be able to qualify for the loan that you pre-qualified for. Why Get Pre-Approved? Preapproval should be the first step in the mortgage process for several reasons. First and foremost, it ensures you don’t waste your time looking at houses you cannot afford.  Second, having pre-approval shows your real estate agent as well as any potential sellers that you are actually a serious buyer and able to qualify for homes you are looking at. Most sellers require some type of pre-approval as a condition of accepting an offer, and if you have pre-approval before you begin looking, you will both save time and have the edge over other buyers who might not be able to show their ability to go through with the purchase transaction.

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The Pre-Approval Process: Getting “Preapproved” to Buy a House

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Disaster Planning – Are You Ready For Job Loss?

Even as the job market shows signs of improvement, a job loss is still a very real possibility for many Americans as companies continue to downsize, “rightsize”, and otherwise shrink their workforces.  When you lose your job loss, it may be several months before you can find a new position due to high unemployment rates.  Even if you never get laid off, you will benefit from thinking about and preparing for the potential loss of your job.  Getting ready for a job loss becomes especially important when you are seeing signs of trouble at your company or when you are warned that the end of your job is near. General Preparation for a Job Loss A job loss often occurs without any warning, so it is a good idea to take certain steps no matter how secure you feel your position is.  First, have an emergency fund that covers between three and six months of your living expenses. This emergency fund should tide you over and allow you to continue making mortgage or rent payments and paying the cost of other necessary expenses until you are able to find a replacement position. If you are the only breadwinner in your family or if your income covers the bulk of the family expenses, it is best to err on the side of caution and make sure your emergency fund will cover at least six months of income.  When family responsibilities are shared, three month is normally sufficient as it is less likely that you and your spouse or significant other will both lose your jobs at the same time.  If you and your spouse work for the same employer, you need a six-month reserve fund. You should have in the back of your mind that you might some day need to get a job again. Constantly look for opportunities to improve your resume, such as taking continuing education courses or earning new certifications.  Even if you do not lose your job, these things can only help you to advance in your current position. Specific Preparation for a Job Loss When you know that the end is near, preparations for the potential loss of your job become even more important and you will need to get serious about trying to ensure your financial viability after a lay-off. The first thing you should do is check into the rules for unemployment and insurance.  Find out if you are eligible based on your work history and determine how much in income you are likely to receive. This will give you a good idea of whether you can meet your basic expenses.  COBRA allows you to extend your health care coverage up to 18 months after losing your job.  You’ll have to pay the full premium, but you’ll still have health insurance and one less thing to worry about. The next step is to start cutting expenses as drastically as you can, or at least looking for ways to do so.  Cut out any unnecessary costs at this time such as the fancy cable television lineup or lunches and dinners out.  Any money that you were spending on unnecessary expenses can be set aside while you are still working to get you through the lean times after the layoff.  Once you have actually lost your job, slashing expenses will help your savings and unemployment money stretch farther.  You can also call your insurance company and look into whether you can get a reduced insurance rate since you will no longer be driving to work once you have been laid off so your car will not be used as often. Starting to network as soon as you know you are going to be laid off is a good idea as well, so you can hopefully shorten the length of time that you are unemployed.  Polish up your resume and reach out to your network of contacts to let them know you will soon be looking, start browsing job boards and consider joining local professional organizations to make contact with people who can help you to get back on the road to being employed.

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Disaster Planning – Are You Ready For Job Loss?

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What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

Keywords: PMI, Private Mortgage Insurance, Mortgage Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is an insurance policy that home buyers are required to purchase in certain cases when getting a mortgage for a home.  Unlike standard insurance policies that protect you from financial loss, PMI is an insurance policy designed to protect the bank in case you default on the mortgage.  The cost of PMI is normally set as a percentage of the mortgage balance and can be an expensive addition to your monthly mortgage bill. When Is PMI Required? PMI is required when you purchase a home and put down less than a 20 percent down payment.  In other words, if you buy a home worth $100,000 and you put down less than $20,000 on the home, you will be required to purchase private mortgage insurance by your bank. You may be able to avoid paying for PMI if you can structure your mortgage into two separate loans as opposed to a single loan for more than 80 percent of the value of your home.  For instance, if you purchased a $100,000 home and only put down $10,000, you would technically have to pay PMI if you borrowed $90,000 in a single loan. To avoid PMI, you might choose instead to borrow $80,000 in a first mortgage and $10,000 in a second mortgage.  This is commonly referred to as an 80-10 loan.  80-20 loans are also a possibility and involve putting down nothing, but these have become very difficult if not impossible to qualify for.  Even 80-10 loans are now more difficult to obtain due to tougher regulations in the mortgage market, but they are still available for people with excellent credit. Why is PMI Required PMI is required to protect the bank or mortgage lender from potential loss.  When you purchase a home, you are supposed to have some of your own money invested in that home.  This is referred to as owner’s equity.  When you have your own money in your home, this protects the bank in several important ways.  First, if property values decline, the value of the home (the collateral for the loan) is less likely to dip below the amount that you owe, resulting in you being underwater on the mortgage.  Second, when you have your own money invested, you are less likely to simply walk away from the mortgage and leave the bank holding the bag if property values do go down. Because owner’s equity is important for the lender’s protection in making the loan, PMI is required when you do not have such equity.  PMI insures the loan and the bank is paid in the event of a default.  It does not protect you as the borrower; you still have to make payments and you can still be subject to a foreclosure action if you do not pay.  Despite the fact that PMI protects only the lender and not the borrower, the borrower is still the one who needs to pay for the cost of the insurance. How Much Does PMI Cost? The cost of PMI is typically set at a percentage of the total amount borrowed. This percentage is between .5 percent and 1 percent of the entire loan amount annually.  Because the cost is quite significant, it is best to avoid PMI whenever possible by saving an adequate down payment before buying a home.

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What is Private Mortgage Insurance?

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U.S. Housing Market Starts Increase in January

Although the U.S. housing market has suffered extreme setbacks in the last few years, there is hope for a turnaround this year.  The U.S. Census Bureau, working with the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, released a recent report citing a 1.5 percent increase in housing starts in the month of January 2012.  The economy and its housing market are seemingly moving in the right direction, albeit gradually, because more builders appear to be putting their labor crews to work, according to Barry Rutenberg , chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The recent increase followed December’s 1.9% drop. The increase in housing starts is most correlated with the multifamily component. Areas that increased in housing starts included the South, the West and the Northeast. On the other hand, however, the Midwest portion of the country saw a significant drop. Although this recent increase in housing starts is a positive indication of a healthy economy, analysts concur that housing starts are especially volatile during the winter and monitoring a five-month moving average is a more reliable indicator of the health of the economy. This data in this report is released nearly three weeks after the end of the previous month.  Nonetheless, this statistic is very descriptive of the economy.  Home buyers will not invest in the long process of home construction if they are not confident that they will be able to pay for the home.  This provides an indication of consumer confidence in terms of their financial stability and the current state of the economy. Home builders that have not yet secured a specific buyer will not initiate the project if they feel that the home will not sell. If home builders are building more homes, this indicates that there is a larger demand for homes. If more homes are built, more construction employees are hired and more money is expended for housing materials, home furnishings, appliances and related expenses. When housing starts increase, stocks for construction companies, mortgage lenders and appliance companies often rise in a direct correlation to the increasing number of homes that are being built. As is typical, when stocks increase, bonds decrease. When housing starts increase, bonds tend to decrease in value. Interest rates are also lowered so that investors will continue to invest in mortgages and construction projects.

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U.S. Housing Market Starts Increase in January

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Weekly Jobless Claims Continue to Decline

Continuing information about the job market suggests a stronger economy is on the horizon for 2012. In the most recent U.S. Department of Labor release , initial jobless claims declined by 13,000 for the week of February 11, 2012 to a total of 348,000 initial jobless claims. The initial jobless claims report collects data on the number of Americans who apply for unemployment benefits during a specific week.  The recent decline follows the continuing decline in initial jobless claims since the most recent week marks the 10th time in the last 11 weeks that initial jobless claims have declined.  Initial jobless claims can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including reactions from the general public to specific types of jobs or layoffs.  Looking at one week’s data may not prove to be a reliable indication of the health of the economy if taken into consideration by itself. In addition to the week’s decline in initial jobless claims, the four-week average of initial jobless claims has also declined by 1,750.  This four-week average provides a better indication of the job market since it is not as volatile a measure as a weekly statistic.  Monthly payroll growth may also be up in addition to a decrease in continuing claims. These pieces of data taken together all indicate an increase in the strength of the economy. A healthy number of initial jobless claims, usually considered by economists to be fewer than 400,000, provides a positive influence on the economy.  When more individuals are employed, consumers are more likely to feel confident in their potential to earn money and will be more likely to sift part of their earnings into the economy through consumer spending.  This analysis is particularly true around the holidays, and even more so after the holidays as retailers promote increased savings and discounted products. Additionally, some businesses may need to clear out inventory to make way for new seasonal items, and they may attempt to entice consumer with better sales. When consumer spending is on the rise, stocks will increase in value as companies see increased profit margins.  Investors will recognize the increase in consumer confidence and the availability of disposable income and will be more likely to invest money into new projects. Although one particular week’s reporting of initial jobless claims is not enough to warrant a positive prospective of the economy, when taking together with other important factors, the recent report points to signs of a healthy economy.

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Weekly Jobless Claims Continue to Decline

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Sacramento CD Rates Survey for the week February 13, 2012

According to a recent Primerates.com survey conducted on February 13, 2012 of Sacramento CD rates offered by the area banks & credit unions, Sacramento’s largest financial institutions offered short-term savers 6 month CD’s with rates between 0.050% at Wells Fargo ( www.wellsfargo.com ) and U.S. Bank National Association ( www.usbank.com ), and 0.300% at Bank of America ( www.bankofamerica.com ). El Dorado ( www.eldoradosavingsbank.com ) has the highest 2-year CD rate, with 0.600% CD, while Union Bank ( www.unionbank.com ) has highest CD rate for 5-year, with 1.500% CD. CD’s are typically insured up to $250,000 by the FDIC. As CD’s mature, banks typically re-price the rates on deposits. Make sure that you track when your CD’s mature so that you can roll them over into new CD’s and keep your money working as hard as possible.   Banks 6 month 1 year 2 year 3 year 4 year 5 year Wells Fargo 0.050% 0.050% 0.330% NA NA NA Bank of America 0.300% 0.350% 0.400% 0.600% 0.850% 1.210% U.S. Bank National 0.050% 0.100% 0.450% 0.700% 1.000% 1.400% Citibank 0.150% 0.250% 0.300% 0.500% 0.750% 1.000% El Dorado 0.250% 0.350% 0.600% 0.950% NA 1.450% Umpqua Bank 0.200% 0.250% NA NA NA NA Union Bank 0.200% 0.300% 0.500% 0.600% 1.010% 1.500%   Rates from banks, thrifts, and credit union were posted on their websites on the date indicated for a $10,000 certificates of deposit meeting the specific holding requirement. Data is believed accurate at time of collection, can change without notice, and will vary. Contact a specific institution for current rates.

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Sacramento CD Rates Survey for the week February 13, 2012

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Portland, OR Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 6, 2012

According to a recent Primerates.com survey of Portland, OR mortgage rates offered by the largest area banks & credit unions, two Portland, OR institutions offered rates below 4.000% on 30-year fixed-rate conforming loans in the Portland area for well-qualified borrowers.  Wells Fargo Bank ( www.wellsfargo.com ) and Umpqua Bank (www.umpquabank.com ) offered rates at 3.875% and 3.750% respectively. Five other institutions offered rates around 4.000%. While most lenders will push one of the three products on the list below, there are other options for the borrower.  The 30-year fixed rate loan is the most popular since it offers the lowest monthly payment.  The trade-off is paying a higher interest rate.  For those who have a better cash flow, the 15-year product may be more suitable.  The 15-year fixed rate loan will allow the borrower to pay more toward principal with each payment, and since it has a lower interest rate the overall amount of money that is paid in interest will be much lower.  While many people steer clear of the 5/1 ARM it is beneficial to some borrowers.  For instance, a person with a smaller loan (usually due to refinancing) may have the cash flow to pay off their ARM in 5 years or less.  This person could save an extra 1% in interest payments over the 15-year product and never worry about the rate adjusting later in the life of the loan. Top Portland, OR Area Banks and Credit Unions As of 30 Yr-Rate 30 Yr- APR 15 Yr- Rate 15 Yr- APR 5/1 ARM-IR 5/1 ARM-APR Bank of America 02/13/12 4.125% 4.276% 3.500% 3.729% 2.750% 3.293% U.S. Bank 02/13/12 4.000% 4.200% 3.250% 3.596% 2.500% 3.528% Wells Fargo Bank 02/13/12 3.875% 4.054% 3.125% 3.438% 2.250% 3.156% JPMorgan Chase 02/13/12 4.125% 4.219% 3.375% 3.538% 2.250% 3.044% KeyBank National 02/13/12 4.080% 4.135% 3.440% 3.538% 2.750% 3.211% Umpqua Bank 02/13/12 3.750% 3.869% 3.125% 3.334% NA NA Bank of the West 02/13/12 4.125% 4.188% 3.375% 3.485% 3.000% 3.304%   Listed rates from banks, thrifts, and credit unions were listed on their websites on the date indicated for conforming loans with 0 points.  Data is believed accurate at time of collection, can change without notice, and will vary based on an individual’s credit history.  Contact a specific institution for current rates.

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Portland, OR Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 6, 2012

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Pittsburgh Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 6, 2012

According to a recent Primerates.com survey of Pittsburgh mortgage rates offered by the largest area banks & credit unions, three Pittsburgh institutions offered rates below 4.000% on 30-year fixed-rate conforming loans in the Pittsburgh area for well-qualified borrowers.  First Commonwealth ( www.fcbanking.com ) and The Northwest Savings Bank (www.northwestsavingsbank.com) offered rates at 3.875% and the Dollar Bank ( www.dollarbank.com ) offered rates at 3.750%. Three institutions offered rates around 4.000% while the PNC bank ( www.pnc.com ) and Fidelity Savings Bank ( www.fidelitybank-pa.com ) offered the highest rates with 4.500% and 4.625% respectively. While most lenders will push one of the three products on the list below, there are other options for the borrower.  The 30-year fixed rate loan is the most popular since it offers the lowest monthly payment.  The trade-off is paying a higher interest rate.  For those who have a better cash flow, the 15-year product may be more suitable.  The 15-year fixed rate loan will allow the borrower to pay more toward principal with each payment, and since it has a lower interest rate the overall amount of money that is paid in interest will be much lower.  While many people steer clear of the 5/1 ARM it is beneficial to some borrowers.  For instance, a person with a smaller loan (usually due to refinancing) may have the cash flow to pay off their ARM in 5 years or less.  This person could save an extra 1% in interest payments over the 15-year product and never worry about the rate adjusting later in the life of the loan. Top Pittsburgh Area Banks and Credit Unions As of 30 Yr-Rate 30 Yr- APR 15 Yr- Rate 15 Yr- APR 5/1 ARM-IR 5/1 ARM-APR PNC Bank 02/13/12 4.500% 4.442% 3.625% 3.629% NA NA Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania 02/13/12 4.000% 4.038% 3.250% 3.317% 2.625% 3.152% Dollar Bank 02/13/12 3.750% 3.900% 2.990% 3.127% 2.480% 3.209% First Commonwealth 02/13/12 3.875% 4.054% 3.125% 3.438% 2.750% 2.899% Northwest Savings Bank 02/13/12 3.875% 3.919% 3.250% 3.291% 3.750% 3.222% ESB Bank 02/13/12 4.000% 4.071% 3.250% 3.374% 3.375% 3.444% Washington Financial Bank 02/13/12 4.125% 4.138% 3.375% 3.396% 3.625% 3.312% Fidelity Savings Bank 02/13/12 4.625% 4.676% 3.875% 3.961% 3.250% 3.134%   Listed rates from banks, thrifts, and credit unions were listed on their websites on the date indicated for conforming loans with 0 points.  Data is believed accurate at time of collection, can change without notice, and will vary based on an individual’s credit history.  Contact a specific institution for current rates.

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Pittsburgh Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 6, 2012

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San Antonio Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 13, 2012

According to a recent Primerates.com survey of San Antonio mortgage rates offered by the largest area banks & credit unions, three San Antonio institutions offered rates below 4.000% on 30-year fixed-rate conforming loans in the San Antonio area for well-qualified borrowers.  USAA Federal ( www.usaa.com ) and Wells Fargo ( www.wellsfargo.com ) offered rates at 3.875% while Compass Bank ( www.bbvacompass.com ) offered the lowest rates with 3.750%. The Bank of America ( www.bankofamerica.com ) and the JPMorgan Chase ( www.jpmorganchase.com ) offered 4.125%. While most lenders will push one of the three products on the list below, there are other options for the borrower.  The 30-year fixed rate loan is the most popular since it offers the lowest monthly payment.  The trade-off is paying a higher interest rate.  For those who have a better cash flow, the 15-year product may be more suitable.  The 15-year fixed rate loan will allow the borrower to pay more toward principal with each payment, and since it has a lower interest rate the overall amount of money that is paid in interest will be much lower.  While many people steer clear of the 5/1 ARM it is beneficial to some borrowers.  For instance, a person with a smaller loan (usually due to refinancing) may have the cash flow to pay off their ARM in 5 years or less.  This person could save an extra 1% in interest payments over the 15-year product and never worry about the rate adjusting later in the life of the loan. Top San Antonio Area Banks and Credit Unions As of 30 Yr-Rate 30 Yr- APR 15 Yr- Rate 15 Yr- APR 5/1 ARM-IR 5/1 ARM-APR USAA Federal 02/13/12 3.875% 4.044% 3.000% 3.313% NA NA Bank of America 02/13/12 4.125% 4.276% 3.500% 3.729% 2.750% 3.293% Wells Fargo 02/13/12 3.875% 4.054% 3.125% 3.438% 2.250% 3.156% JPMorgan Chase 02/13/12 4.125% 4.219% 3.375% 3.538% 2.250% 3.044% Compass Bank 02/13/12 3.750% 3.931% 2.875% 3.137% 2.625% 3.248%   Listed rates from banks, thrifts, and credit unions were listed on their websites on the date indicated for conforming loans with 0 points.  Data is believed accurate at time of collection, can change without notice, and will vary based on an individual’s credit history.  Contact a specific institution for current rates.

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San Antonio Mortgage Rates Survey – Week of February 13, 2012

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