Mortgage Rates to Stay Near Record Lows

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage rates, hovering at record lows for nearly three weeks, should remain close to their all-time low levels for most of at least 2012. That’s the evaluation of Housing Predictor analysts after reviewing rate levels and the challenges the U.S. economy is facing. In an effort to keep mortgage rates low and… Continue reading Mortgage Rates to Stay Near Record Lows

Home Sales to Soar in 2012

By Mike Colpitts Home sales are already picking up in many areas of the U.S. and are forecast to increase even more in 2012 as pent-up buyer demand plays a critical roll in the housing market recovery. Improving market conditions in the Mid-West and Upper Northern regions of the country are expected to spread into… Continue reading Home Sales to Soar in 2012

Big 55 U S Housing Markets in Recovery

Chill the bubbly. More U.S. cities are forecast to inflate in home values in 2012 than in the past five years as communities in fifteen states move towards more stable housing markets with increasing home sales and higher values. These 55 cities are from states all over the nation and they have the ingredients to… Continue reading Big 55 U S Housing Markets in Recovery

Lawmakers Expand Role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

By Mike Colpitts Instead of reducing their role in the U.S. mortgage market as lawmakers assured voters, Congress has increased the government’s part in the home mortgage market, and is expected to keep a major portion of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae under government control for at least a decade. Under the agreement to extend… Continue reading Lawmakers Expand Role of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae

Riskiest Real Estate Bet in 2012

By Kevin Chiu Vacation destination housing markets like Honolulu, posh Hilton Head, South Carolina or beautiful Miami Beach have challenges of their own, and they may be the real estate industry’s riskiest bet in 2012. Each hold traditional housing markets with year-round residents, but the condominium and vacation homes that are sought by vacationers and… Continue reading Riskiest Real Estate Bet in 2012

Money Trail Triggered Real Estate Collapse

By Mike Colpitts Following mostly decades of the appearance of propriety at the highest levels of U.S. government, an ugly money trail from special interest groups leads to members of Congress, which triggered the real estate market collapse. It’s been more than a year-and-a-half since President Barack Obama signed financial reform legislation into law. But… Continue reading Money Trail Triggered Real Estate Collapse

Real Estate Recovery Hard to Fathom

By Kevin Chiu Sometimes it’s hard to fathom. But there isn’t going to be a full-fledged recovery from this real estate crash for many years to come. For some reason a lot of people want to believe that things will somehow mercifully get better—and get better fast – like over night. Some areas of the… Continue reading Real Estate Recovery Hard to Fathom