August 1, 2023

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Here is what you'll find in this month's Two Cents Monthly...

• Words to live by
• Mortgage Corner
• Easily track mortgage rates
• Streaming channel updates for August
  
• Open House Trivia
• Protect your smart home from hackers
• Hanging heavy pictures
• August easy dinners
  

Reply back and let me know which article caught YOUR eye!

WORDS TO LIVE BY

Florida Today

"The Fed just hiked mortgage rates!!!"

(Don't panic, this isn't true!)

Many people confuse rate increases made by the Fed (to the fed funds rate) with an increase in mortgage rates.

However, that's not the case.

Why is that?

The simple answer is that the Fed rate hikes are intended to slow down the economy and hopefully curb inflation. The Fed does not set mortgage rates or any other consumer rates, but all of those rates are affected by the Fed's rate hikes.

When markets anticipate the Fed will raise rates, mortgage rates do move higher, but months in advance of actual rate hikes. Remember when rates moved higher in June? That was when markets anticipated that a July Fed rate hike was likely, and reacted. Once the Fed actually raised rates last week, markets had already anticipated the hike and it had been factored into current mortgage rates.

If you'd like me to take a look at your situation and see what rates are available to you, reach out anytime. I'd love to help you.

Contact me today if you want to talk more about getting prequalified for a new home purchase, or if you'd like me to run some numbers for you to see if refinancing makes sense. or if email is easier.

WANT TO KEEP TRACK OF MORTGAGE RATES?

Sign up for my Weekly Rate Forecast!

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or refinancing and want's to get the most up-to-date information not just on where rates have been but where they are going, sign up for my Weekly Mortgage Rate Forecast email.

Get it at the beginning of each week, and unsubscribe at any time.

http://www.weeklymortgagerateforecast.com/wrf-signup

WHAT TO WATCH

Everything Coming to Netflix, Disney+, Max & Other Streaming Services in August 2023

August is finally upon us and every major streaming service has big plans for their subscribers in the month ahead. The start of a new month always means new content, and August is no exception. All of the major streaming services have released their complete August schedules. Netflix, Disney+, Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu, and Prime Video all have a ton of new content in store for the month ahead.

Read More»

OPEN HOUSE

Welcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that already knew precisely how much old houses cost. We’ll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price.

Can you do it?

Today’s home is in Union, Maine, and was built in 1820. The only thing more impressive than this house still standing after 200+ Maine winters is its lush landscaping. You’ll feel like you’re wandering around the Secret Garden. Amenities include:

• 4 beds, 4 baths
• Private access to Lermond Mill Pond. Lermond.
• In-law suite

How much for this old house?

Scroll down to the bottom to see the answer...

Camden Coast Real Estate

PROTECTING YOUR SMART HOME

6 Ways to Protect Your Smart Home From Hackers

Because smart home devices rely on wireless connections to function, they are exposed to remote attacks by default. This is why smart homes have become hacking targets in recent years. So, how are smart homes hacked, and how can you protect your own smart home from being exploited by malicious actors?

Read More»

HOME TIPS FOR EASIER LIVING

How to Hang a Heavy Picture

We’ve all done it. We put a nail in the wall, hang up a picture, and stand back to see our accomplishments. But then… whoosh! The picture falls and the frame splits. What happened? Upon closer inspection, the nail we had so confidently hammered into the drywall has shifted and is now at a downward angle.

Verdict? The picture was too heavy, so the weight pulled the nail through the drywall until… down went the picture—CRASH!

To avoid such disasters, here are some tips on hanging heavy pictures to drywall.

Read More»

OPEN HOUSE ANSWER

Did you guess $680,000?

See the full listing here

YUMMY RECIPES

Wildly Delicious Weeknight Dinners For August

No matter how old we get (and how long we've been out of school), August will always feel like the end of summer. It’s true, it might stay hot through September (and you better believe we’ll be eating outside as long as we can), but we'll always feel like August is THE month to savor the last dregs of the season.

Join us as we try and eat as much summer produce as we can (pies! cocktails!), stay out of our hot kitchens as often as possible, and put innovative spins on the recipes we’ve enjoyed all summer long (what else can we make on the grill?). We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this August—one for every day of the month, and then some.

Good Eats»