Rates Are Still Hot...To Match Last Week's Weather

Last Monday evening we had to sleep in our living room under the ceiling fan, with the French doors open to the ocean breeze to escape the heat! I really enjoyed the rest of the heat last week though. This morning I woke up to rain…what is going on with our weather?

Thankfully at least interest rates are still hot! Rates are still hovering at/near record lows… these are quotes for 45 day locks:

Up to $417,000
Ranging from 3% for 5/1 ARM to 4.25% 30 year fixed

$418,000 to $729,000
Ranging from 3.375% for 5/1 ARM to 4.375% for 30 yr fixed

True Jumbo loans (over $729,000)Ranging from 3.875% for 5/1 ARM to 5.375% for 30 yr fixed

Remember rates and fees/costs depend on occupancy, property type, loan-to-value and credit scores. The rates shown above all assume a one point origination fee plus costs, but may be more or less depending on loan size.



GERMANY

I had to bid adieu to my son Kenny who left Saturday afternoon for the Brandenburg University of Technology to study Architecture in a Graduate school program. His program is located in Cottbus, but they will be traveling to a number of different locations in Europe during his two years there! He was accepted less than two weeks ago, so it was a hectic time for him to say the least. He drove cross-country with all his belongings from Vermont, stopping to visit his sister Katie in Ann Arbor, and in Boulder to see old friends on his way.

After a brief two days here in the OC, he flew to Berlin and arrived Sunday evening, when he took a train to meet new university friends. His biggest packing challenges were whether to bring his tripod for his video camera, and which books to discard.

I hope he enjoys the food there…I was expecting Kenny on a trip through Germany in 1986, and to this day just the thought, much less the smell of sausage and sauerkraut makes me nauseous.


I learned of his university acceptance while on a Mexican Riviera cruise with my mother, who celebrated her 85th birthday on-board. We had a wonderful and relaxing trip complete with lovely dinners, and made new friends from Great Britain who sat at our dining table. We really enjoyed the Salsa & Salsa excursion in Mazatlan where we learned to make authentic Mexican salsas, guacamole, and margaritas AND learned to dance the salsa. (Well, mom didn’t dance, but I took a brief lesson) You can find out more about the classes with Two Dancing Chefs on www.salsaandsalsa.com . They have just opened classes at another venue in Cozumel. They are also on Facebook under Salsa Mazatlan Mexico.

Our Cruise was with Carnival and they did a great job, so I’d highly recommend them. Waiting until September we didn’t have many children on-board, but there were adults of all ages-- which was nice. My mother played in a bridge tournament during our days at sea which kept her busy and I kept her busy in-port at Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan.

More next time on the Battle of the Paddles...