Slowdown in Home Sales New Normal

By Mike Colpitts A slowdown in home sales during what is usually the hottest time of the year for home buying activity just may be the new normal in real estate. The erratic ups and downs the residential market is suffering are setting home sales up for a long recovery process with a series of… Continue reading Slowdown in Home Sales New Normal

Majority Affected by Foreclosures

The crisis is hitting home. An overwhelming majority of respondents to a new Housing Predictor poll say they are directly affected by the foreclosure crisis in their own neighborhood. The survey found that 74% of all those who took part in the online survey from all 50 U.S. states said they think the foreclosure crisis… Continue reading Majority Affected by Foreclosures

Real Estate Crash of the Century

By Kevin Chiu The real estate market is under going the crash of the century and there’s no bottom of the market developing in the hardest hit areas of the U.S. The housing market alone has suffered more than 7-million residential foreclosures since the crisis started, and like a bottomless pit home prices are declining… Continue reading Real Estate Crash of the Century

Mortgage Interest Rates Surge Higher

Mortgage interest rates surged higher as Treasury bond rates moved above 3% in reaction to the end of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve. The rate on a fixed 30-year mortgage rose to 4.60%, a hike from an average of 4.51% last week, according to Freddie Mac. The rates on other home mortgages also moved… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Surge Higher

Shadow Inventory Halts Economic Recovery

By Kevin Chiu The shadow inventory of homes and other real estate is holding an economic recovery back from fully developing, according to a study by credit firm Equifax. As many as six million residential properties make up the inventory of homes not yet officially foreclosed by lenders, but left in limbo to rot in… Continue reading Shadow Inventory Halts Economic Recovery

Homeowners Crisis Builds New Wave

By Matt Weidner I’m a soldier, a street fighter, an attorney battling foreclosures on behalf of homeowners at the ground level, in the trenches, in courtrooms all across Florida. Let me save you the suspense and get right to the point. Things are worse than they’ve ever been and they are only going to get… Continue reading Homeowners Crisis Builds New Wave

Space Shuttle End May Kill Town

By Mike Colpitts Nervousness and uncertainty send jitters through the community of Titusville, the Florida home to the U.S. Space Shuttle program for more than 30 years. Ronald Reagan was president of the United States when this community led the venture into outer space. But the hub for space science exploration is ending its presence… Continue reading Space Shuttle End May Kill Town

Foreclosure Freeze Proposed

By Mike Colpitts An Ohio member of Congress has proposed a resolution that would enact a temporary freeze on foreclosures across the U.S. similar to the Great Depression. The proposal would enact a moratorium on all residential foreclosures. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) offered the resolution before the House Financial Services Committee. The proposal asks President… Continue reading Foreclosure Freeze Proposed

Mortgage Modifications Fail to Deliver Recovery

By Mike Colpitts The Obama administration’s program to modify homeowner’s mortgages at risk of foreclosure is being criticized for being the worst failure since the administration faced the financial crisis. Only 730,000 mortgage holders have received permanent modifications, less than a quarter the president had promised. President Barack Obama launched the program in March 2009… Continue reading Mortgage Modifications Fail to Deliver Recovery

Justice Department Sues Largest U.S. Mortgage Insurer

By Mike Colpitts The largest U.S. mortgage guarantee company, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation (MGIC) is being sued by the Justice Department for violating the Fair Housing Act for allegedly discriminating against women on paid maternity leave. The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania against the mortgage insurer and… Continue reading Justice Department Sues Largest U.S. Mortgage Insurer