Three ways to boost retirement confidence (at MarketWatch) - I know, I know, we’re starting to sound like a broken record, or MP3 player. But researchers are once again sounding the alarm that Americans are not saving enough for retirement.
Remodeling activity is on the rise, architects say (at MarketWatch) - Instead of playing the trade-up game, more homeowners are staying in their homes, upgrading kitchens and baths and building additions to accommodate their needs instead of moving into a bigger house, but there are also some early signs of an improving real-estate market, according to a new survey of architecture firms.
More people skipping mortgage to pay credit cards (at MarketWatch) - U.S. consumers are starting to look like a frugal, debt-fearing lot as they pay down billions of dollars in credit-card obligations. But an alarming trend is emerging: A small but growing number of people are skipping mortgage payments in favor of paying their credit-card bills.
Is it time to give up your adjustable-rate loan? (at MarketWatch) - Low mortgage rates over the past year have inspired many Americans to refinance their home loans, but some eligible borrowers haven’t made the leap. Often, that's because they have an adjustable-rate loan with an even lower rate than is currently available for a fixed-rate mortgage.
How lenders decide whether to modify a mortgage (at MarketWatch) - If lenders deny loan-modification applications for homeowners with negative cash flow, how is it possible for anyone to get approved? Lew Sichelman details the five criteria lenders use in deciding on a loan modification.
Mortgage applications for home purchases fell 7% (at MarketWatch) - The volume of mortgage applications filed last week fell a seasonally adjusted 1.2%, compared with the week before, due to a drop in applications for mortgages to purchase a home, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Wednesday.