BUSINESS
By Mark Kollar and Mark Kollar,Knight-Ridder News Service | March 22, 1992
CHICAGO -- The dramatic rise in U.S. housing starts during February shows that consumers were rushing to take advantage of a relatively low interest rate environment, economists said.Also, good weather conditions and expectations that first-time home buyers may receive tax credits increased demand in the housing industry, they said.The Commerce Department Tuesday said housing starts rose 9.6 percent in February to a seasonally adjusted 1.304 million units, the highest level since March 1990.
BUSINESS
By Marilyn Geewax and Marilyn Geewax,Cox News Service | August 18, 2007
WASHINGTON -- For most of this decade, buyers of homes and businesses enjoyed "easy" credit, allowing them to get low-interest loans with few questions asked. Suddenly, credit has become "tight." That means people with spotty credit records are no longer getting mortgages, the largest home borrowers are paying higher interest rates, and some corporate buyouts are in jeopardy. The changes have spooked financial markets, sending the benchmark Dow Jones industrial average last week more than 1,000 points below the record 14,121.
BUSINESS
By Ross Hetrick and Ross Hetrick,SUN STAFF | November 10, 1995
Spurred by attractive interest rates and improved consumer confidence, new-home sales in the Baltimore region were up 16 percent to 2,259 units during the third quarter -- the third consecutive quarterly increase, according to a housing market profile released yesterday by Legg Mason Realty Group Inc."Those low rates are making homes more affordable," said Harvey N. Singer, the group's senior vice president. "People have been wanting to buy houses."The survey, which tracks new-home sales in subdivisions of 20 or more houses in Baltimore and five surrounding counties, showed the biggest growth in townhouse sales, which grew 30.8 percent during the quarter compared with the same period a year ago.Detached-house sales were up 15.5 percent, and sales of multifamily units, such as condominiums, were down 9.5 percent, the survey said.
BUSINESS
By Andrew Leckey and Andrew Leckey,Tribune Media Services | March 22, 2009
When it comes to the duration of fixed-income investments, many experts advise investors to keep it short. Interest-rate yields are likely to remain stuck at low levels for a while. Once the economy starts to recover, however, inflation can be expected to revive and bring with it higher interest rates. That's why, experts say, you shouldn't lock in today's rates for too long. "Most people feel - and we agree - that at the back end of this recession there will be pressure on interest rates to move higher," said William Hornbarger, fixed-income strategist for Wachovia Securities.
BUSINESS
By Lorraine Mirabella and Lorraine Mirabella,SUN STAFF | March 6, 1996
Low mortgage interest rates and financial assistance packages encouraged homebuying in February, boosting sales in the Baltimore area by 9 percent, the Greater Baltimore Board of Realtors said yesterday.For the month, 852 homes sold, compared with 781 during the same period a year ago. The average sales price fell 4 percent to $118,729, the board said. "The market has remained steady throughout metropolitan Baltimore and is certain to continue in the next months," said Adam D. Cockey Jr., president of the Realtors' board.
NEWS
May 24, 2013
Republicans and Democrats appear to agree on at least one thing: that the United States is facing a STEM (science, technology engineering and math) crisis. In his most recent State of the Union address, President Barack Obama declared that he wants to "reward schools" that focus on STEM classes, for they are "the skills today's employers are looking for to fill jobs right now and in the future. " And as far to the other end of the political spectrum as you can get, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas deemed May 6-12 to be the first ever "Celebration of STEM Education Week in Texas.