Weekly Mortgage Update

Weekly Update for May 18, 2012

If ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ then ‘fear’ is a bond’s best friend.  The fear factor this week involved both Europe and banks globally.   Worries over Greece pulling out of the Euro, worries over Spain’s banks going under, and the déjà vu of “I don’t know how it happened” regarding Chase’s loss of what now might be 5 billion dollars due to hedge trading, all sent investors running for safety.  As I have said before, I don’t have to pay you as high of rate of return if you are going to give me your money anyway, and so bond traders, including Fannie and Freddie, were able to lower their rates slightly. Keep Spain and Europe on your radar.  A melt down there would pull our economy off its recovery tracks, and that could lower rates even a bit more.

But before you get too excited, Freddie Mac’s survey came in just four 100^ths of a percent lower this week – that’s .0004 lower than last week.  Historical bottom, yes.  Way lower than before, no.  So we are still bumping against a floor that just doesn’t have much give.

And while the buzz about Facebook going public makes me wish I had an IPO of my own, I’m happy to be in the best mortgage lending environment in the past 3 years.  By my way of thinking, you just can’t loose buying a house in today’s market.

This week Freddie Mac’s 30 year fixed rate remains basically unchanged at 3.79% paying .8% in discount points.   Have a great weekend and have your buyers call us so we can get them approved to buy.

Ted Clay
Senior Loan Officer
Senior Loan Consultant
NMLSR # 217991
OK License # MLO01963
Office: 405-341-8644 x 102
Cell: 405-826-1320
Fax: 866-208-5309
tclay@wrstarkey.com
www.TedClay.com
WR Starkey Mortgage, LLP NMLSR # 2146
10 E. Campbell
Edmond, OK 73034

6 Worst Home Improvements

Very interesting article about the 6 worst home Improvements for your money! 

Follow this link to read and save your self some money and heart ache when updating your home for sale. 

Of course, when you're ready to sell, you know who to call!

Lori 
405-537-1910

The Good, The Bad and The Smelly -- Front Load Washers

As I start my Saturday cleaning, I stared down my washer like we were about to fight. Maybe because that's how I feel before I do laundry...EVERY. TIME.

If you're like me you were sucked into the fascination and awesomeness of a front load washer and dryer.

 lowes.com

They looked so pretty and clean and new! And look at that fun storage compartment underneath!

If you're like me again, you started noticing your clothes smell kinda funky. After much worry, and then research, I realized that the very machine that was SUPPOSED to make my cloths smell Gain fresh was actually making them sour and stinky!

What to do, what to do. I bought all the cleaners on the shelves at Target that promised, just throw it in an run a cycle and your machine will be clean!! HAH!

So I will let you in on what I have to do to keep the stink down....at least until I get a new top load!

Let me introduce you to your new best friends...

 

clorox.com

and 

 borax.com

1. Once a day....yes I said *day* I run a clean cycle with one cup of bleach.

2. Once a week, I run a cycle with a cup of bleach and a cup of Borax.

3. I also make a solution out of Borax {follow the instructions on the box} and wipe the rim on the inside of the washer door.  You have to get in all those cracks and crevices. I have had some people tell me they do this between each cycle. I guess it just depends on how stinky it is.

4. After we're done with laundry for a period of time, I leave the door open, and the door that holds the soap and fabric softener open, to let it dry.

5. Lastly, I bought a small fan that I put inside the machine and run it constantly when it's not in used to dry it out completely and keep water from standing in the drum and getting moldy.

It has helped keep the smell down some on our machine, but honestly, I haven't been able to completely get rid of it. I hope you have more luck than me and that these few tips help!

Anybody else have this problem a and decided to go with a new top load? Love your top load? Let me know what brand it is because I'm goin' shopping!