Category: 2011 Housing Market

Housing Watch Index Shows Improving Trends

By Kevin Chiu Starting today Housing Predictor debuts a new real estate index. Housing markets that make the new “Watch List” are being monitored closely for changing economic conditions in the near future as a result of at least two improving economic trends. Some of the markets on the list have already been forecast to… Continue reading Housing Watch Index Shows Improving Trends

Real Estate at Pennies on the Dollar

By Kevin Chiu California real estate investor Simon Volkov says stick it to the bank, and buy real estate at pennies on the dollar purchasing single family homes at wholesale prices. Volkov is a foreclosure and tax property note specialist, who urges investors to take advantage of the distress in the current marketplace to ring… Continue reading Real Estate at Pennies on the Dollar

Flood Insurance Reform to Raise Rates

By Mike Colpitts Legislation being debated to reform homeowners federal flood insurance would renew the program for five years, and is likely to raise the rates on insurance premiums to over come the $18.3-billion deficit facing the National Flood Insurance Program largely due to damages paid as a result of hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.… Continue reading Flood Insurance Reform to Raise Rates

Tiger Woods Moves Out of Orlando

By Mike Colpitts Until his fall from grace with the public explosion of his sexual escapades, Tiger Woods was Orlando, Florida’s second best known resident right behind Mickey Mouse. Now Woods is departing Orlando for the east coast side of Florida and his departure is barely being noticed. Woods is moving into a newly renovated… Continue reading Tiger Woods Moves Out of Orlando

Underwater Homeowner Relief Program Extended

By Kevin Chiu As the housing relief programs implemented by the Obama administration come under attack in Congress, the refinancing program administered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to help underwater homeowners is being extended in efforts to aid more upside down homeowners. The underwater relief program has become a vital component in the Obama… Continue reading Underwater Homeowner Relief Program Extended

Home Price Direction Fact and Fiction

By Kim Olson Home prices have been moving in one direction in most areas of the U.S. and that isn’t comforting homeowners. It’s a fact that most areas of the nation are seeing more home sales but only because prices have come down so much because of foreclosures, and other bank-assisted sales. What can prospective… Continue reading Home Price Direction Fact and Fiction

Mortgage Fraud Led By California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage fraud is blamed for trillions of dollars in failed loans in the U.S., especially in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona, where incidents have been the highest and foreclosures make up the largest volume of troubled homeowners, according to federal authorities. But state and federal law enforcement agencies are encountering major problems… Continue reading Mortgage Fraud Led By California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada

Bankers Oppose Mortgage Retention Proposal

By Kevin Chiu Six federal agencies are proposing a rule that would require banks and mortgage companies to retain at least 5% of the mortgages they make, and not sell them to the investment market to hedge against credit risk. But the proposal is being opposed by the banking industry as part of the Dodd-Frank… Continue reading Bankers Oppose Mortgage Retention Proposal

Mortgage Rates Drop to Record Low

By Kevin Chiu Mortgage interest rates dropped to the lowest levels since last November on signs that the U.S. economy is weakening further, and is likely to move into another official government defined recession. The housing market in many states throughout the country is already dealing with an economic depression, and has been for more… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Drop to Record Low