Geopolitical headlines have had a dramatic impact on the markets this summer. The U.S. Treasury Department and the European Union imposed further sanctions on Russian business, while a Malaysian jet was shot down over the Ukraine. And further unrest in the Middle East has left markets jittery.

When news reports such as these are released, they generally cause a flight-to-safety into the U.S. Bond market. "Flight-to-safety" is defined by investors moving their capital away from riskier investments (like Stocks) to the safest possible vehicles (like U.S. Treasury Securities and Bonds), usually triggered by uncertainty in the financial or international markets.

Why is this significant? If the news from overseas continues to be negative or uncertain, this could provide a boon to the Bond markets. And since home loan rates are tied to Mortgage Bonds, if Bonds improve, home loan rates would improve as well.

In housing news here at home, Housing Starts remained gloomy in June, as they declined by 9.3 percent from May to an annual rate of 893,000, well below expectations. This was the slowest pace in nine months, led by a drop in single-family homes and apartments. Building Permits, a sign of future construction, also fell below expectations. And according to reports from research firm CoreLogic, home price appreciation is also cooling off to more normal levels when compared to the high figures seen last year.

There was some good news for housing, as the National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index reported its first optimistic reading this year of 53. Readings above 50 indicate that builders see conditions as good, making this a long awaited improvement!

What is the bottom line? While the housing sector has shown signs of recovery overall, activity has leveled off and some readings this year continue to be disappointing.

The good news is that home loan rates remain attractive compared to historical levels, and now is a great time to consider a home purchase or refinance. As always, please let me know if you have any questions!

• Before you start driving, don't idle with the air conditioning (AC) running.
• Turn on the AC only after you begin to drive and after airing out the cabin briefly with the windows rolled down.
• Roll your windows down at low speeds, and only use AC at highway speeds.
• Don't use the AC more often than needed, and don't set the temperature lower than you need.
• Park in the shade or use a sunshade so the cabin doesn't get as hot.
• Always read your owner's manual! Most manuals explain how the AC system works, and how to use and maintain it efficiently.
• For plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles, pre-cool the cabin while plugged into the charger.

For even more tips on fuel economy, visit the U.S. Department of energy's website fueleconomy.gov.

Question: Do you know what services are supposed to be free under the Affordable Care Act?

Answer: Under the Affordable Care Act, services related to preventative care—including annual physicals, colonoscopies, flu shots, mammograms and many vaccinations—should be covered by your insurer, even in plans with higher deductibles.

If your doctor is out of network, or your plan existed prior to passage of the law on March 23, 2010, check with your carrier to be sure there isn't an exception.

The best thing to do is keep accurate records of doctor visits, and carefully read any claim statements sent by your insurance carrier. If you suspect something is incorrect, contact your insurance company immediately. And never pay a bill out-of-pocket (or sign anything from a care provider) before checking with your carrier whether it's covered or not.

Source: Bottom Line Health