Author: Lending Agent
Key takeaways VA loans offer many benefits such as no down payment or mortgage insurance, easier qualifications and lower interest rates. However, they also have drawbacks such as a required funding fee, property restrictions and potentially less equity to start. Alternatives to VA loans include conventional loans, FHA loans and USDA loans. If you’re an eligible active-duty military member, veteran or surviving spouse, you can use a VA loan — guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — to buy a new property or refinance an existing mortgage. There are plenty of benefits of a VA home loan…
Recent pullbacks in Amazon and Goldman Sachs may provide a golden opportunity for investors, according to Jay Woods of Freedom Capital Markets. The firm’s chief global strategist appeared on CNBC’s ” Power Lunch ” on Thursday, offering his takes on some of the day’s biggest market stories. Here is what he had to say during “Three-Stock Lunch.” Amazon Shares of the dominant e-commerce platform fell almost 4% Thursday, leaving it off 5.5% for the week and on pace for its fifth straight weekly loss on the heels of President Donald Trump’s tariff developments . “We’re afraid of tariffs. We know…
The early part of 2025 has not been kind to semiconductor stocks. The VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) is down more than 9% year to date. Over the past month, it has lost about 11%. This comes in stark contrast to the fund’s performance of the past two years. SMH rallied 38.5% in 2024 and 72.3% in 2023, as investors loaded up on semiconductor stocks to capitalize on the artificial intelligence craze. This year’s moves have led to a bearish chart pattern for the SMH. The fund’s 50-day moving average this week fell below its 200-day counterpart, forming a dreaded death…
If you’re hoping to buy a home in West Virginia, you’ll be in good company: The Mountain State boasts the highest percentage of residents who own their homes — nearly 78 percent — of any state in the country. While the median sale price on a home there is up 4 percent in the past year, there is help to cover the costs. If you’re a first-time homebuyer, consider starting with the West Virginia Housing Development Fund (WVHDF), where you’ll find competitive interest rates on loans and down payment assistance. West Virginia homeownership statistics Median home price, as of Jan.…
You may see conflicting news about mortgage rates today, depending on where you look. Weekly surveys, such as Freddie Mac’s, are showing a fairly big drop from last week. That was indeed the case over the 5 business days of the weekly survey, but that data is now quite stale. More timely rate metrics show the average lender raising rates over the past 3 days. This is no surprise considering bond yields are higher over the same time frame (mortgage rates almost always move the same direction as bonds yields, specifically 5yr and 10yr Treasuries). Rates have moved higher even…
Investors looking for income should block out the “noise” rocking the markets these days — and look beyond traditional fixed-income holdings for attractive yields, according to BlackRock’s Russell Brownback. Concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariffs have caused market volatility and some teetering in the 10-year Treasury yield. However, the underpinnings of the economy are still profoundly solid, he said. “You’ve got a structurally tight labor market. You’ve got a private sector balance sheet that is pristine. You’ve got wealth levels at record highs outright and versus incomes,” said Brownback, head of BlackRock’s global macro positioning team within fixed income. The…
Key takeaways You can make your mortgage payment through your lender’s website or mobile app, in person at a branch location or by calling them. If you’re worried about remembering to make payments each month, setting up automated withdrawals can be a good solution. There are options for paying off your mortgage faster, such as making bi-weekly payments or putting a lump sum payment toward the principal amount. Paying your mortgage on time helps you build equity in your home. Doing so can also improve your credit score and keep you from falling behind on your loan payments. Many lenders…
Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin)/Getty Images If you’re hoping to buy a house in Ohio, you’ve picked a budget-friendly place: The median sales price for a home in the Buckeye State is about $231,000, according to Redfin, which is well below the current national median price tag of $396,900. However, even if it’s relatively affordable, buying a house is still a steep financial commitment – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. If you’re looking for help with the cost of homebuying, programs from the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) can make it more affordable. Ohio homeownership statistics Median home price,…
As you may have heard, international markets have been leading the global performance landscape in 2025. Of the 45 global ETFs we track closely, 22 are up at least 10% year-to-date, and seven have already gained more than 20%. Those are impressive numbers for an entire year—let alone just a few weeks. The key question now is: Are these moves sustainable? And for investors, is it still a good time to buy? While many ETFs have shown remarkable strength, today we’re focusing on the iShares MSCI Germany ETF (EWG) for two key reasons. First, it’s among the top performers, already…
Amid heightened uncertainty from President Donald Trump’s trade war, Barclays screened for companies that are more shielded from tariff volatility. The three major stock market averages are down more than 2% so far this week as U.S. tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico took effect and those on China were raised. Stocks have seesawed daily as Trump administration officials and foreign leaders continue to talk through the tariffs and negotiate their exact conditions. With this in mind, Barclays built a list of stocks it believes are the most insulated from tariff barrier headwinds. All are rated overweight at the…