This 30-second video posted to YouTube and shows a home's electric meter running backwards after installing solar panels.

The meter runs backwards because the home is putting more power into the electric grid than it is taking out for itself.

With energy costs expected to rise sharply this winter and the costs [...]

Easy come, easy go.

There was a strong rally Monday afternoon in the mortgage bond market. It was sudden and furious, mostly coming on in the last 60 minutes of trading.

When markets closed, mortgage rates for conforming home loans were grazing their lowest levels in nearly two years.

It lasted overnight and [...]

In a holiday-shortened trading week, mortgage rates finished the week slightly improved.

But, because many traders had left early for Thanksgiving, matching buyers and sellers at any given price proved to be an exercise. Mortgage rates bounced wildly as a result.

Between now and the New Year, expect the same volatility. Fewer market [...]

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae are quasi-government agencies in that they are publicly-owned, but overseen by the government.

The purpose of Fannie and Freddie is to make sure that money is available to homeowners that want home loans.

Neither lends to consumers directly, though; you'll have to talk to your loan officer for [...]

In a holiday-shortened week with no major economic data releases, expect worries about the credit markets and speculation about holiday shopping to take center stage.

Last week was a mixed bag for the economy and mortgage markets responded in kind. Rates were relatively unchanged.

The news started with Wednesday's Retail Sales report. In showing [...]