GREENWAY BLOG

7 March 2025

MarketMinute | Mortgage apps jumped this week!

The Fed’s most recent Beige Book showed a mixed employment picture and a slight rise in economic activity since mid-January. Unemployment applications fell more than expected last week, indicating the labor market remained stable in February. Payroll processing firm ADP reported private companies added just 77K new workers in January, well below the 148K consensus estimate.  Single-family construction spending rose 0.6% in January. Overall spending, including for multifamily and home...

READ MORE

4 March 2025

Homeowners Insurance 101: Protecting Your Home and Possessions

  Confused by Homeowners Insurance? Here’s what you need to know. Just as you have health insurance to protect yourself and auto insurance for your car, you need the same kind of financial protection when it comes to your home. After all, your home is probably the largest asset you will ever own. Protecting it — and what’s inside — makes sense, but there’s a lot you should know before taking out a new homeowners insurance policy or updating your current coverage. The Basics of Homeowners Insurance: Sometimes called hazard insurance, homeowners insurance protects you financially in the event of damage to your home. You can...

READ MORE

28 February 2025

MarketMinute | Inventory and prices rose in January. Find out what fell

In February, consumer confidence experienced its largest decline since 2021. The drop was blamed on rising inflation and trade war concerns. Initial jobless claims hit their highest level of the year last week, a potential sign of weakness in the labor market. A rise in durable goods orders in January is being attributed to businesses rushing to buy parts and supplies ahead of potential U.S. tariffs.  There were 1.18 million homes for sale at the end of January, an increase of 3.5% from December and...

READ MORE

25 February 2025

Smart Strategies to Reduce Your Mortgage Interest Rate

  How to Secure a Lower Mortgage Rate & Save Big Securing a lower mortgage interest rate can make a huge difference in how much you pay for your home over the long haul. Even a small reduction in your rate can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your loan, allowing you to put more money toward other financial goals. Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or refinancing your current mortgage, there are strategies you can use to secure a better rate. Here are some tips to help you improve your chances and reduce the overall cost of your mortgage.   1. Maintain a Strong Credit Score Lenders reward higher credit scores...

READ MORE

21 February 2025

MarketMinute | What's keeping home builders up at night?

Minutes from last month's Fed meeting showed officials wanted to maintain policy rates amid stubborn inflation and economic uncertainty. Mortgage rates have held steady to begin the year as inflation fears and concerns over a surge in debt issuance have failed to materialize. New jobless claims increased moderately last week, suggesting the labor market remains on solid ground.  The NAHB reports a sharp decline in builder sentiment in February, due to concerns over tariffs, elevated mortgage...

READ MORE