Michael Inkman

Fairway Independent Mortgage Corp.

  • Home
  • About
    • About Michael
    • Accessibility Statement
  • Types of Loans
    • Reverse Mortgages
    • 203K Rehab Loans
    • Get Pre-Approved
    • Conventional
    • FHA Loans
    • Jumbo Mortgage Loans
    • USDA Home Loans
    • VA Loans
  • Resources
    • First Time Buyer Tips
    • First Time Seller Tips
    • Loan Checklist
    • Loan Process
    • Loan Programs
    • Home Purchase
    • Home Refinance
    • Home Inspection
    • Home Appraisal
    • Mortgage FAQ
    • Mortgage Glossary
  • Reviews
    • Google Reviews
    • Read Reviews
    • Leave a Review
  • Get Pre-Approved
  • Contact

How To Maximize Those Awkward Spaces In Your Home

May 7, 2013 by Michael Inkman Leave a Comment

How To Maximize Awkward Spaces In Your HomeIn almost every Austin home, there are awkward spaces that are difficult to utilize.

Especially in older houses, there are rooms, closets and nooks that once had a purpose that is now outdated.

So before you try to cover it up or fill it with junk, take a look at the smart solutions below to see how you can revitalize those problematic spaces and turn them into something useful.

The Space Under The Stairs

While this is likely to be more of a hiding spot for dust-bunnies than teenage wizards, it is valuable space that you don’t have to board up. Use it for storage!

Create custom storage cabinets, or if it’s near the kitchen, build in a wine refrigerator or display shelves for china.

You could also build in a coat or shoe closet if the stairs are in the front entryway.

The Bedroom Too Small For A Bed

You might have an office that sometimes needs to be used as a bedroom or a bedroom that could fit a bed and nothing else.

If these issues strike a chord, then you might want to invest in a Murphy bed.

These space-saving inventions allow you to use a small space for another purpose during the day, and then miraculously have a place to sleep at night.

The Unused Closet

Especially in an older home, you’ll run across closets that just don’t make sense. If you don’t need it for storage, then turn it into something creative, such as a small library or toy room.

Take off the door, add adjustable shelves, build a comfortable cushioned bench and install attractive lighting. Now you and your family can curl up for story time in your new book nook.

Or put in a desk or countertop, an office chair and table lamp and use it as an office nook that can be closed off when you’re not using it.

Don’t write off awkward spaces in your home as lost causes. With a little ingenuity, hard work and smart design, you can create a useful area that everyone in your family can use and enjoy.

Filed Under: Around The Home Tagged With: More Storage, Small Bedrooms, Small Closets

Fannie and Freddie

May 6, 2013 by Michael Inkman Leave a Comment

Big changes may be ahead for the mortgage markets. Today, the head of the Mortgage Bankers Association stated today that he feels that federal policy makers should merge the Mortgage Backed Securities issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae in an effort to begin replacing the Government Sponsored Entities (GSEs) and coming up with one new company. Regulators say that merging the two could begin the transition toward a much larger mortgage market overhaul. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Financial News

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 6, 2013

May 6, 2013 by Michael Inkman Leave a Comment

What's Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week May 6 2013Mortgage rates fell last week and approached or reached record low levels.

According to Freddie Mac, the average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) fell from 3.40 percent to 3.35 percent. Average rates for a 15-year FRM moved from 2.61percent to 2.56 percent.

Average rates for a 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) fell to 2.56 from last week’s average of 2.58 percent Discount points for last week’s mortgage rates ranged from 0.7percent for 30 and 15 year FRM loans to 0.5 percent for a 5/1 ARM.

Rock-bottom mortgage rates can offset the impact of rising home prices.

Last Week Was A Strong Showing For The US Economy

Last week’s economic news provided further indications of economic recovery, with housing related reports contributing to overall confidence in a stronger economy.

Highlights of last week’s news include:

Monday: Pending home sales moved up to 1.50 percent in March from February’s -1.07 percent. This reading also surpassed Wall Street’s forecast of 0.90 percent for March.

Tuesday: The Case-Shiller Home Price Index for February reported that the national average home price had increased by 9.3 percent year-over-year between February 2012 and February 2013. By comparison, the average national home price between January 2012 and January 2013 increased by 8.1 percent year-over-year. Rising home prices are contributing to the economic recovery, but in some areas demand for homes exceeds supply, which also contributes to rising home prices.

Wednesday: The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) issued its scheduled statement after its meeting concluded. Committee members noted signs of an improving economy, and cited housing markets as a leading contributor to the recovery. The FOMC statement also indicated that economic conditions were not sufficiently improved for the FOMC to change or cease the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing policy. The Fed’s goal for its current quantitative easing program is keeping long-term interest rates including mortgage rates low.

Thursday: The weekly Jobless Claims Report brought better-than-expected news with new jobless claims coming in at 324,000, less than the expected reading of 345,000 new jobless claims and also higher than the previous report’s reading of 342,000 new jobless claims.

Friday: The Bureau of Labor Statistics issued its monthly “Jobs Report,” which consists of the Non-farm Payrolls Report and the national Unemployment Rate. Again new jobs added exceeded expectations for April with 165,000 jobs added against expectations of 135,000 new jobs added. April’s reading also surpassed the March reading of 138,000 new jobs.

The unemployment rate dropped to 7.5 percent as compared to a consensus of 7.6 percent and last month’s reading of 7.6 percent. To put this reading in perspective, the FOMC has targeted an unemployment rate of 6.5 percent as a benchmark for adjusting its current policies including quantitative easing.

What To Look For This Week

This week’s economic events include latest Jobless Claims report on Thursday. It will be interesting to see if this week’s reading will be lower than last week’s reading of 324,000 new jobless claims.

On Friday, the Federal Budget will be released; this could influence financial markets depending on what programs and services are cut or reduced.

Filed Under: Mortgage Rates Tagged With: Economy, Financial News, Mortgage Rates

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 209
  • 210
  • 211
  • 212
  • 213
  • …
  • 219
  • Next Page »

Michael Inkman

Contact Michael


michael@michaelinkman.com
Mobile: (214) 762-4659
NMLS #152707

FIMC Logo

Connect with Me

Browse Articles By Category

Quick Links

  • About Michael
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Blog

The content on this website is written by Michael and reflects his opinion, and not the opinion of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation.

Texas Consumer Complaint and
Recovery Fund Notice

Third Party FIMC: bestmortgageblog.com
Equal Housing Lender
Company NMLS #2289
For licensing information, go to: www.nmlsconsumeraccess.orgPrivacy Policy | Terms of Use
Complaints may be directed to: (877) 699-0353 or Email us: customerservice@fairwaymc.com.

Office Location


4201 Marsh Lane
Carrollton, TX 75007

Copyright © 2025 · Powered by MySMARTblog

Copyright © 2025 · Genesis Sample Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in