Analytics
By Mark Lieberman, Five Star Institute Economist | 05/17/2012
First time claims were unchanged at 370,000 for the week ended May 12 after the number of initial claims filed for the previous week was revised upward, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists had expected initial claims would decrease to 365,000. The Labor Department had initially reported 367,000 claims filed for the week ended May 5. The revision turned that report to an increase of 2,000 from a previously reported decline of 1,000. Continuing claims – reported on a one week lag – increased 18,000 to 3,265,000.
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By Abby Gregory | 05/16/2012
Colorado-based RE/MAX is being recognized for the expertise and efficiency of its agents. According to statistics from the 2012 REAL Trends 500 survey and the RIS Media Power Broker Report, RE/MAX's agents were the most productive in the business during 2011.
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By Krista Franks Brock | 05/16/2012
Home sales in Connecticut rose on an annual basis in March for the third month in a row, according to data released Wednesday by The Warren Group. The same report revealed that single-family home sales in Connecticut rose on a quarterly basis for the first time since the second quarter of 2010. Single-family home sales rose more than 5 percent in the first quarter of this year to 4,157 from 3,950 in the same quarter last year. Conversely, median prices declined 6.5 percent over the first quarter of the year in Connecticut, slipping from $230,000 in the first quarter of last year to $215,000.
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By Ryan Schuette | 05/16/2012
A rash of new concerns in debt-saddled Europe drove investors to U.S. Treasury debt, keeping mortgage rates at all-time lows and leading mortgage application volume to tick up 9.2 percent. The Mortgage Bankers Association recorded an 8.7 percent increase in applications for the Market Composite Index on a seasonally unadjusted basis. Analysts credit an upset in Greek elections last week with the rush by investors to U.S. Treasury debt, with policymakers in the Mediterranean country likely seeing elections next week.
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By Mark Lieberman, Five Star Institute Economist | 05/16/2012
Housing permits dipped in April for the first time in four months, the Census Bureau and Department of Housing and Urban Development reported jointly Wednesday but housing starts improved. Both indicators remained far above year-earlier levels. The month-over-month increase in starts in April appeared still larger because of a downward revision to March's report. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg expected permits to drop month-over-month and starts to increase over the same time.
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By Ryan Schuette | 05/15/2012
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage reached a new all-time low Tuesday as concerns grew that Greece would leave the euro zone in a disorderly way. Real estate Web site Zillow found the loan at 3.59 percent, down from 3.65 percent last week, the lowest rate recorded by the company since it began tracking interest rates for mortgages in April 2008. This is down from a previous all-time low of 3.65 percent recorded in May. Mortgage rates zigzagged lower across many states, falling 14 basis points in Massachusetts and 11 basis points in Texas.
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By Abby Gregory | 05/15/2012
In New York and Florida, sellers appear to be gaining an advantage in the marketplace. According to data Manhattan Miami Real Estate, both states demonstrated significant pricing increases during the first quarter.
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By Abby Gregory | 05/15/2012
Morrison & Foerster has announced a new partner in the firm's financial services group. The company has added Thomas J. Noto to the division, which specializes in finance-related regulatory, litigation, and transactional practices for Morrison & Foerster.
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By Mark Lieberman, Five Star Institute Economist | 05/15/2012
Builder confidence jumped five points in in May to 29, its highest level since the same month in 2007, the National Association of Home Builders said Tuesday. Economists had expected the index to edge up to 26 in May. The month-over-month increase was the largest since April 2009. The total index in May was up 13 points from May 2011, the strongest year-over-year gain since April 2004. All three components of the index – current sales, sales six months out and buyer traffic – showed strong increases in May.
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By Ryan Schuette | 05/14/2012
A fresh round of concerns that Greece may leave the euro zone sent U.S. stock markets into a dizzying tumble Monday. After some lift in recent weeks, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 125.25 points to close by end of day at 12,695, along with shares for the nation’s four largest lenders. The deal reportedly involves a Syriza, a leftwing bloc opposed to further austerity measures that may parlay slashes to Greek social services for $170 billion in bailout funds under a package jointly agreed-to by the European Union and International Monetary Fund.
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