FYI: Business
BY Staff and Wire reports
Friday, November 30, 2012
11/30/12 at 2:41 AM
Boomtown Awards given by TYPros
Tulsa's Young Professionals recognized local businesses and individuals for their work in the Tulsa region on Thursday at its second annual Boomtown Awards.
Brian Paschal, executive director of TYPros, and Kate Hoback, 2012 chair of TYPros, helped conduct the event, which was held at the Mayo Hotel's grand ballroom.
TYPros honored individuals or businesses in nine categories, based on the areas of interest and development of the TYPros work crews. The winners were:
The People People Award, This Land Press; Visionaries Award, Lance Franczyk; Recruiters Award, NORDAM; Inclusives Award, Risha Grant; Advocates Award, KRMG; Take-Charge People Award, KIPP Tulsa; Green Team Award, Marilyn Ihloff; Social Ignitors Award, Libby Auld; and Big Picture People Award, Guthrie Green.
Mortgage rate stays near record low
Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages stayed close to record lows this week, a trend that has made home buying more affordable and helped the housing market recover.
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year loan edged up to 3.32 percent. That's close to last week's rate of 3.31 percent, the lowest on records dating to 1971.
The average on the 15-year fixed mortgage ticked up to 2.64 percent from 2.63 percent last week, also a record low.
The average rate on the 30-year loan has been below 4 percent all year. It has fallen further since the Federal Reserve started buying mortgage bonds in September to encourage more borrowing and spending.
Low mortgage rates have helped lift home sales this year. The National Association of Realtors on Thursday said that its index measuring the number of people who signed contracts in October to buy homes jumped to nearly its highest level in almost six years.
Home prices also have increased, which makes consumers feel wealthier and more likely to spend. And builders are more confident that the market will improve and have started more homes.
Lower rates also have persuaded more people to refinance. That typically leads to lower monthly mortgage payments and more spending.
