Secondary Market

Americas Insurance Company is making the grade, earning an A from Demotech, Inc. The company recently announced its decision to award Americas Insurance with the prime financial stability rating.

Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates finding yet another record low. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.56 percent (0.7 point) this week, down from 3.62 percent the previous week. At the same time last year, the 30-year loan averaged 4.51 percent. This week marks the fourth month that the 30-year average has stayed below 4 percent. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also fell, averaging 2.86 percent (0.7 point), a drop from 2.89 percent last week. A year ago, the 15-year fixed averaged 3.65 percent.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance fell 26,000 to 350,00 in early July, reaching the lowest level since March 2008, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The prior week's total was revised up to 376,000 from the originally reported 374,000. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had expected a modest decline to 375,000 initial claims. Continuing claims ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô reported on a one-week lag ├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔé¼┼ô fell 14,000 to 3,304,000 from the prior week's 3,318,000, revised from the originally reported 3,306,000.

Radio icon Don Imus and his wife, Dierdre, have listed their Connecticut property for $19.9 million. RealEstalker reports that Imus has taken the waterfront estate on and off the market multiple times, dating from 2009, and when it was originally put up for sale, the Greco-Georgian property carried a much higher price tag of $30 million.

In Mexico City, an architectural masterpiece has hit the market. Equestrian estate Cuadra San Cristobal, which was made famous by its award-winning designer, Luis Barragan, was recently listed for $12.3 million.

Downturns in economic confidence hasn├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ót shaken consumers├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ó optimism in the housing market, Fannie Mae├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós National Housing Survey for June showed. According to the survey, the average home price expectation rose to 2 percent in June, up 0.6 percent from May and the highest recorded value since the survey began two years ago. In addition, 35 percent of respondents expect that home prices will go up in the next year, the highest level recorded since the survey├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós inception. Thirty-seven percent of respondents said they think mortgage rates will go up in the next 12 months.

Aite Group is speaking out on contemporary issues in the commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) marketplace. The company's senior analyst, John Jay, recently released his statements in response to a New York Times article evaluating the potential impact of pre-crisis commercial loans.

MountainSeed Appraisal Management, LLC, is targeting the commercial market with the launch of a new evaluation program. According to MountainSeed, the tool will make it easier for appraisers to extend commercial valuations to smaller lenders.

In Montana, a real estate tycoon is looking to divest himself of a luxury, lakeside estate. Donald G. Abbey has listed his famed Whispering Rock property for $78 million, making it the fifth most expensive home for sale in the U.S.

In Maryland, Sunrise Senior Living, Inc., is taking advantage of the recent refinancing boom. The real estate company has announced changes to its loan for Bethesda's Fox HIll assisted living community, noting that Sunrise has opted to refinance the existing mortgage.