Fall back: Change clocks, change smoke alarm batteries

We set our clocks back on Sunday November 2, 2014 at 2:00am 

We set our clocks back on Sunday November 2, 2014 at 2:00am - See more at: http://www.dulceridder.com/home.asp#sthash.CWfg9jd2.dpuf

We set our clocks back on Sunday November 2, 2014 at 2:00am - See more at: http://www.dulceridder.com/home.asp#sthash.CWfg9jd2.dpuf

We set our clocks back on Sunday November 2, 2014 at 2:00am - See more at: http://www.dulceridder.com/home.asp#sthash.CWfg9jd2.dpuf

This weekend marks the end of daylight saving time and the beginning of standard time, with residents setting their clocks back one hour. The time change occurs officially at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2.
It’s that time of year again, time to change your clocks and change the batteries in your smoke alarms. Set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed on Saturday, Nov. 1, and while you’re at it, please take a few minutes and change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, then you can rest easy knowing your loved ones are being protected.
According to the national statistics, 75 percent of fire deaths in residences occur in homes that either do not have smoke alarms or do not have working smoke alarms.
It is the cheapest insurance to safeguard you and your family in the event your home has a smoke or fire condition. Bottom line, a working smoke alarm greatly increases your chance of surviving a house fire.
Smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm tips:
• At a minimum, install a smoke alarm and a carbon monoxide alarm outside each sleeping area.
• It is also prudent to install smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in each bedroom/sleeping area.
• Install smoke alarms on each level of your home including the basement.
• If your alarms are plugged into an electrical outlet, don’t forget to change the back-up batteries if they have them.
• If you have children consider purchasing the smoke alarms with recordable voice announcements.
• If you or someone in your home is hearing impaired, there are specialized smoke alarms systems available.
• Make sure all the alarms are linked so that when one goes off they all go off.
• Test your smoke alarms once a month.
• Clean smoke alarms by vacuuming them. This removes dust and bugs that can cause them to malfunction.

Average US 30-year mortgage rate at 3.97 percent

 Oct. 16, 2014.

WASHINGTON — Average U.S. mortgage rates tumbled this week. The 30-year loan hit its lowest level since June 2013 as Treasury bond yields marked new lows amid concern over global economic weakness.

It was the fourth straight week of declines for mortgage rates, making it more affordable to borrow to buy a home.

Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday that the nationwide average for a 30-year loan dipped to 3.97 percent from 4.12 percent last week. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, fell to 3.18 percent from 3.30 percent.

Mortgage rates often follow the yield on the 10-year Treasury note. The 10-year note traded at 2.13 percent Wednesday, down from 2.34 percent a week earlier. It traded at 2.11 percent Thursday morning. Bond yields rise when bond prices fall.

Treasury yields have dropped sharply on expectations that the world's economic sluggishness could force the Federal Reserve to delay interest rate increases.

The deepening concern over the health of the world economy, and worries that global weakness could slow the U.S. economy and hurt corporate profits, played into the dizzying swoon Wednesday on Wall Street. Investors fled stocks and poured money into bonds. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 460 points in afternoon trading, all three U.S. stock indexes were in negative territory for the year, and the so-called fear index spiked.

Mortgage rates have fallen even though the Federal Reserve appears set at the end of this month to end its monthly bond purchases, which are intended to keep long-term borrowing rates low. Yet Fed officials have indicated that they will continue to hold shorter-term rates at near-zero levels until there are signs of rising inflation.

At 3.97 percent, the 30-year rate is down from 4.53 percent at the start of the year and at its lowest point since the week of June 20, 2013, when it was 3.93 percent.

To calculate average mortgage rates, Freddie Mac surveys lenders across the country between Monday and Wednesday each week. The average doesn't include extra fees, known as points, which most borrowers must pay to get the lowest rates. One point equals 1 percent of the loan amount.

The average fee for a 30-year mortgage was unchanged from last week at 0.5 point. The fee for a 15-year mortgage also remained at 0.5 point.

The average rate on a five-year adjustable-rate mortgage dropped to 2.92 percent from 3.05 percent. The fee was steady at 0.5 point.

For a one-year ARM, the average rate fell to 2.38 percent from 2.42 percent. The fee held at 0.4 point.  Associated Press