Key takeaways An appraisal determines a home’s fair market value, while an inspection evaluates its condition. Lenders require appraisals for mortgage approval, but inspections are optional (though highly recommended). Appraisals protect lenders, while inspections protect buyers. Both help buyers ma

Bonds End Flat After Front-Running The Decent Data We absolutely hate the term "front-running" because it can be perceived as connoting some measure of clairvoyance on the part of the bond market. To be clear, that's not the contention here. Rather, we noted that bonds were trading somewhat optimist

Mortgage lenders set rates around 10am ET every day, but the bond market dictates the day to day changes, and bonds were on the move throughout the overnight trading hours. Granted, the movement wasn't extreme, but much like yesterday, it suggested a bit of optimism heading into this morning's main