As we approach the Christmas and the end of 2016, I am reminded to be thankful for all this year has brought me. It has been a record year for my mortgage practice with a personal best in volume. I can only attribute this to my referral partners who put their trust in me with their home buying clients. The success of 2016 is also supported by the efficiency of the processing staff I work with. Their dedication to closing purchase transactions on time is second to none. S

Last week the U.S. central bank has decided to raise interest rates with the potential to raise them up to 3 more times in 2017. According to the Wall Street Journal, “Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen emphasized she would take a wait-and-see approach before deciding how to respond to Mr. Trump’s emerging economic agenda.” Ms. Yellen went on to say, “Our decision to raise rates should certainly be understood as a reflection of the confidence we have in the progress the economy has