Category: Economic Crisis

Mortgage Company CFO Sentenced to 5 Years

By Ryan Jackson The former chief financial officer of one of the nation’s largest mortgage companies, Taylor, Bean and Whitaker, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for his role in a $2.9 billion fraud scheme that led to the failure of the company, and cost hundreds of investors millions of dollars. Delton de… Continue reading Mortgage Company CFO Sentenced to 5 Years

Half of US Homes Underwater

A newly released survey shows that more than half of all U.S. homes with a mortgage are underwater or owe more on their homes than the current value of their property. The study is the strongest indicator yet that efforts made by the Obama administration are doing little to aid U.S. homeowners in the worst… Continue reading Half of US Homes Underwater

Watch Dog to Audit Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae

By Mike Colpitts The chief U.S. government watch dog, the Office of Inspector General, will conduct a full audit of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae’s procedures to sell-off foreclosures. The announcement was included in a government white paper released without fanfare last week. The nation’s mortgage giants have been bailed out by tax payers in… Continue reading Watch Dog to Audit Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae

FDIC Bank Failures Decline

By Mike Colpitts Only 24 U.S. banks have failed so far and had to be closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation this year, the largest decline since the financial crisis started in 2008. The FDIC attributed the lower number of bank takeovers to an improving economy and an unwinding of bad mortgage debt. “This… Continue reading FDIC Bank Failures Decline

Half of Homeowners Spend $75,000 on Housing Expenses Annually

By Mike Colpitts Nearly half of U.S. homeowners with a mortgage spent $75,000 or more on housing expenses in 2010, according to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. The staggering amount represents 49.2% of homeowners with a mortgage in 2010, the most current government figures available. The just uncovered statistic shows just home many… Continue reading Half of Homeowners Spend $75,000 on Housing Expenses Annually

Shadow Inventory Declines, But Still Looms

By Mike Colpitts The shadow inventory or the number of homes that lurk uncounted by banks and other mortgage lenders in the abyss of the troubled housing market is shrinking as banks offer more troubled homeowners, including landlords short sales for the first time since the U.S. housing crisis started. Estimates of the shadow inventory,… Continue reading Shadow Inventory Declines, But Still Looms

Home Mortgage Debt Drops $1.2 Trillion

By Mike Colpitts Home mortgage balances have dropped $1.2 trillion since the start of the U.S. financial crisis in 2008, according to Equifax. The deleveraging of mortgages has come as a result of the record breaking U.S. foreclosure crisis and consumers paying down household debt. Home mortgage losses taken by banks and investors, including institutions… Continue reading Home Mortgage Debt Drops $1.2 Trillion

Jobs Data Weakens Real Estate Market

By Ryan Jackson Three straight months of weak employment growth is likely to slow the recovery in the U.S. real estate market since job growth is the biggest indicator of future home sales. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2% Friday as a result of businesses failing to hire more workers. The disappointing news added to… Continue reading Jobs Data Weakens Real Estate Market

Mortgage Rates Dip to New Record Lows

By Mike Colpitts For the second consecutive week, worries over the U.S. economy and the European debt crisis sent financial markets and Treasury bonds lower. The drop in Treasury yields directly sent mortgage rates to new all-time record lows. The 30-year fixed rate loan hit 3.83%, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed mortgage has… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Dip to New Record Lows