By Mike Colpitts Only about half of all homeowners would qualify to buy a new mortgage under current more restrictive mortgage lending guidelines. In the U.S. 54% of homeowners with a mortgage would qualify to put 20% down from the sale of their present home, according to Core Logic, which researches the mortgage industry. The… Continue reading Half of Homeowners Qualify for New Mortgage
Category: 2011 Housing Market
New U.S. Mortgage System Lost in Wasteland
By Mike Colpitts The new home builders association released a proposal to redesign the U.S. housing finance system, which would eventually wipe-out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the nation’s giant mortgage lenders. The National Association of Home Builders proposal is similar to others that have been offered by industry groups lost in a wasteland for… Continue reading New U.S. Mortgage System Lost in Wasteland
Law Firm Settles in Robo Signing Scheme
By Kevin Chiu A Florida law firm is the first in the U.S. to agree to pay a settlement in the rapidly expanding robo signing scheme for reportedly mishandling foreclosures. The law offices of Fort Lauderdale based Marshall C. Watson, which handled one of the largest volumes of foreclosures for Freddie Mac until the government… Continue reading Law Firm Settles in Robo Signing Scheme
Wall Street Bankers Should Be Prosecuted, Survey Shows
In an over-whelming show of support Americans want those responsible for sending the U.S. economy into a massive downturn prosecuted by federal authorities, according to a new opinion poll. The finding was determined through the latest Housing Predictor poll, which surveyed visitors over Wall Street bankers actions related to the near freeze of the U.S.… Continue reading Wall Street Bankers Should Be Prosecuted, Survey Shows
Mortgage Rates Jump Higher Amid Unrest
By Kevin Chiu Pressured by unrest in the Middle East and fallout over disasters in Japan, mortgage rates jumped higher during the week as lenders became increasingly concerned about world finance markets, according to Freddie Mac. The average rate on a fixed 30-year mortgage had a jump of .05 basis points to an average of… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Jump Higher Amid Unrest
New Homebuilders Brighter Future
By Kim Olson With the real estate market soft many homebuilders, especially large corporate homebuilders are still struggling. Real estate analysts say that the recovery will continue to be slow through 2011, and may in fact be a bit longer. Inventory of newly built homes is still high, with pending and closed sales down. Prices… Continue reading New Homebuilders Brighter Future
Trump Should Hang it Up for President
By Kevin Chiu It was a decisive poll. Apparently Americans have seen enough of Donald Trump. A huge percentage surveyed say they don’t want to see “The Donald” run for U.S. President and he should hang it up. Nearly two out of three or 64% polled said the real estate billionaire should not run for… Continue reading Trump Should Hang it Up for President
FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge
By Mike Colpitts A surge in home buying activity is expected to develop as a result of the Federal Housing Administration’s announcement that it will increase charges to home buyers for upfront mortgage fees. The cost of mortgage insurance premiums will rise by 75 basis points April 1st. The increase translates to $750 for every… Continue reading FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge
Making Money in Real Estate
By Kevin Chiu Real estate has long been the preferred method of safe investing for reliable returns on investors’ money backed by a tangible asset. Not all real estate investing is low risk or will automatically yield high returns as many investors learned during the real estate bubble. But making money in real estate has… Continue reading Making Money in Real Estate
Tight Rental Market Squeezes Tenants
By Mike Colpitts A lack of rental housing for the first time in years in the multi-family residential market is sending the rental market into a recovery. Vacancy rates fell to the lowest level in 2010 in more than four years as a leading rental advisory firm forecasts higher rents in 2011. Witten Advisors, a… Continue reading Tight Rental Market Squeezes Tenants