Blog Posts by Elizabeth Trotta

Mortgage rates remain at record lows. Rates have been pressured for weeks -- a good thing for those who are trying to refinance and are fortunate enough to be able to take advantage of them -- with no sign of change.

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage ticked slightly down to another record low, 3.78 percent, and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages remained unchanged from last week at 3.04 percent.

[Click here to find mortgage rates in your area.]

It's been a constant debate between the housing bulls and bears as to whether the bottom is in and if (and at what pace) things are starting to perk up. There have been a few interesting twists. For one, the effects of the European debt crisis on Treasury and mortgage rates cannot be ignored.

"Continuing negative developments in the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, particularly in Greece and Spain, as well as the recent French elections, which have shifted political power in a manner that will likely show less support for European austerity, helped push

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Best Buy is finally making headlines for something other than executive liaisons and serving as Amazon's showroom -- sort of.

Shares of the beleaguered electronics retailer added 2% after hitting a new 52-week low yesterday. Earnings seemed to spell some relief, but then again, analysts don't exactly seem convinced.

In an earnings release earlier today, the company said first-quarter profit fell about 26%, but topped Wall Street expectations.  Sales rose 2.1%, beating estimates, but if you factor out an extra selling week, it was a miss, says Piper Jaffray analyst Peter Keith, who kept a neutral rating on the stock.

The company has begun the search for a new CEO. It said Monday that the board's search committee chose Spencer Stuart to spearhead efforts to find its next chief executive.

In the meantime, it will pay interim CEO Mike Mikan a biweekly salary based on annual compensation of $3.3 million -- a mix of $1.1 million in base salary and $2.2 million in the company's short-term

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The lengths hospitals and the debt collectors they enlist are willing to go to in order to collect the money they are owed have fallen under the spotlight, as Americans ponder how far is too far. With the Supreme Court's decision on the Affordable Care Act -- specifically the mandate that everyone would be required to purchase health insurance -- still looming, it's a touchy topic for hospitals groping for a working financial model.

The Huffington Post revisited the topic this week with an account of a 62-year old man at Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, Minn. While he was "feeling kind of out if it," a hospital employee reportedly entered his room, asked him if he wanted to pay (in what is described as an insistent manner), brought him his pants so he could get his wallet out of his pocket, took his card and charged him $493.60 before returning it.

This is not unheard of. Unsavory debt collection practices by Accretive Health, a heavyweight in the collection of medical debts,

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What exactly is 'just right' when it comes to your gadgets? If the various rumors are true, Apple (AAPL) is hard at work at a smaller iPad, a larger iPhone -- and a larger yet iPhone market.

Rumors of an iPhone with a larger screen  began bubbling again yesterday as Apple has reportedly readied itself to begin ordering said screens for its flagship product from suppliers in South Korea and Japan.

Apple is working with several screen makers on the new phone, including South Korea's LG Display (LPL), Japan's Sharp Corp. and Japan Display Inc, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter. The i-everything company is expected to roll out the larger, four-inch screens with the iPhone 5, which analysts believe is slated for the fall. [Click here for the WSJ story]

Meanwhile, Apple is rumored to be prepping to debut the so-called iPad mini during the second half of 2012,  according to CNET, which cited a Taiwan news outlet Liberty Times. Apple has

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Here we go again. The average fixed rate 30-year mortgage fell to 3.79% this week, yet another record low, according to data from Freddie Mac. That's down from 3.83% the week prior, and marks the third straight week of fresh lows.

The 15-year rate edged just slightly lower to 3.04%, from 3.05%, also a new record low.

[Click here to find mortgage rates in your area.]

The low rates come amid signs of improvement in housing -- declining foreclosures and delinquencies, and increases to housing starts and the NAHB housing index -- and would be a nice touch for those looking to refinance, although many have struggled to take advantage.

An array of weekly and monthly data have been closely watched as economists look for affirmation of a trend -- be it improvement or continued distress -- and as homeowners and prospective buyers wrestle with regional realities, which vary greatly. When it comes to rates, some of the factors hitting home are originating further away.  The economic turmoil in

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The great housing debate continues, and this is another week for the bears. That is, unless you are looking to refinance at a lower rate and not among those caught up in the backlog of demand.

The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit a new record low, again, of 3.83% for the week ending May 10, down just a tad from 3.84%, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB). The 15-year averaged lower as well, at 3.05%, down from 3.07%.

[Click here to find mortgage rates in your area.]

The latest data mark the second straight week of record low rates. Rates touched 4% briefly earlier this spring but have yet to return as a string of economic concerns weigh. (Track the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate, per Freddie Mac, in the chart below.)

"Following April's weaker than expected employment report, and the French and Greek election results raising concerns over the stability of the Euro currency zone, long-term Treasury bond yields declined allowing fixed mortgage rates to ease to

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It seems every week an economist declares a housing bottom, and yet the data are mixed, leaving the topic open for debate -- among other economists, the press, passionate homeowners, prospective homeowners and want-to-be ex-homeowners in all manner of financial positions.

And the bull vs. bear debate will go on tomorrow when Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB) releases its latest data on mortgage rates.

Rates have recently fallen to record lows again after a brief spell touching 4% this spring. Forget what's going to happen with home prices for a minute (one of our readers' favorite -- or least favorite depending on how you look at it -- topics). If you already own a home with a mortgage, lower rates are clearly a good thing if you're able to refinance to your advantage. But therein also lies a problem for many.

CreditSesame.com says its data "show homeowners are costing themselves an average of $4,788 a year because they don't own the best loans they're qualified for." According to a spokesperson,

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Good news for prospective homebuyers, bad news for those looking for signs of economic life in housing: Mortgage rates hit new record lows last week, thanks to underwhelming growth and economic concerns.

We've been following the weekly rates as the housing bulls and bears continue to declare bottoms and not-bottoms.  Freddie Mac said Thursday the 30-year mortgage rate fell for a second week, to 3.84%, down from its previous all-time record low of 3.87% on February 9. The 15-year fixed average also fell to a new all-time low of 3.11%.

[Click here to find mortgage rates in your area.]

The 30-year rate hit a recent high of 4.08% in March but has been unable to top 4% since. Last year at this time, it averaged 4.71%.

"Signs of slowing economic growth and inflation remaining subdued allowed yields on Treasury bonds to ease somewhat and brought most mortgage rates to new all-time record lows this week," said Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac, noting the

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