Archive for: October 2007

Since 1848, back when James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill and launched the Gold Rush, people have been settling in California in large numbers.  In 1964, California surpassed New York as the most populous state in the country; 2006 census estimates …

It’s Halloween Week, when seemingly everything around us is scary. Recent news reports have portrayed the housing market as scarier than a busload of zombies, arousing primal fears, but the real truth is that home buyers — that is, people who …

When a home-owner decides to borrow more money on built-up home equity as a second loan rather than refinancing the original loan, it’s referred to as second mortgage. The original mortgage taken out on the property is the primary lien until it’s paid …

Okay, you’ve just moved into your brand new home, and the builder-white walls and neutral floors are staring you in the face.  Room after room of white and beige…your home is one big, blank slate just begging for some vibrancy, personality and contrast.  It’s screaming…give …

What fast-growing city is the second largest banking center behind New York City in the country?  You may be surprised to learn that it’s Charlotte, North Carolina.  Home to headquarters for Bank of America and Wachovia, the nation’s second and fourth largest …

With new home seekers sticking in the Tarheel State at a growth rate of over 10% since 2000, North Carolina now has an estimated population of 8,856,505, exceeding the average growth in the U.S. as a whole.  About one third of …

Ironically, escrow is not a requirement by most lenders in the sub-prime mortgage market. The reason is simple. The majority of sub-prime loans are marketed to less experienced borrowers and loans with lower monthly payments without escrow appear more attractive and are easier …

The city of Columbus, Georgia is located on the western border of the state, 95 miles southwest of Atlanta in Muscogee County. Situated at the end of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River, the city was named after the famous …

With interest-only home loans, borrowers have the option of paying only the interest on their scheduled monthly mortgage payments. With the Interest-only (IO) option, borrowers pay on the principal when it’s convenient for them. Typically, IO options last for a period of five to ten years. Even though the borrower can opt to …

Have you noticed the morning chill in the air?  In Florida, that slight change in temperature is much anticipated and appreciated in my household.  As the long, hot …