Mortgage Interest Rates Drop on Japan Fears

By Mike Colpitts Interest Rates on home mortgages dropped as a result of investor worries over the disaster in Japan and fears of contagion over financial markets falling across the world. Mortgage rates showed a drop across all types of loans offered to home borrowers, according to Freddie Mac. The average rate on a 30-year… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Drop on Japan Fears

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

Mortgage Interest Rates Barely Budge Amid Middle East Uprisings

By Kevin Chiu Mortgage rates barely budged rising a single basis point to 4.87% on a fixed rate 30-year mortgage as uprisings in the Middle East disrupted financial markets, but did little to move rates this week, according to Freddie Mac. Concerns over Middle East uprisings, especially in Libya and growing tensions in Saudi Arabia… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Barely Budge Amid Middle East Uprisings

Mortgage Company President First Sentenced in Financial Crisis

By Mike Colpitts More than three years after the financial crisis erupted on Wall Street, a New Jersey based mortgage company president is the first person to be sentenced to federal prison in the government’s efforts targeting criminals in the financial crisis. The sentence was imposed as a result of a major conspiracy to defraud… Continue reading Mortgage Company President First Sentenced in Financial Crisis

Victims of a Reverse Mortgage

Part 2 Mandatory HUD counseling required for reverse mortgages does not protect or help the borrower. The counseling is never done with the final figures of the contract, which changes absolutely everything, including the terms, disclosures, costs and fees, the amount of funds (money) to the borrower and most of all the ability to understand… Continue reading Victims of a Reverse Mortgage

Expecting Huge Penalties, Banks Want More Money Down

By Kim Olson Gone are the days when you could “put nothing down” to get a home mortgage. Lenders are pushing for bigger down payments, and want more money down, forcing borrowers to rethink just how much house they can afford. The developments come as the nation’s largest mortgage lenders, Bank of America, Wells Fargo… Continue reading Expecting Huge Penalties, Banks Want More Money Down

Regulator Confirms Banks Broke Laws in Robo-Signing

By Kevin Chiu Banking regulators are in the process of determining how mortgage servicing companies and banks will suffer for breaking laws in the foreclosure robo-signing scandal, according to the head of the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency. The charges have been a financial and public relations catastrophe for banks and mortgage companies… Continue reading Regulator Confirms Banks Broke Laws in Robo-Signing

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Reduced in Housing Plan

By Mike Colpitts The role of the nation’s two mortgage giants, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae will be reduced under the long awaited housing finance reform plan proposed by the Obama administration. The proposal will also slash the amount of government-backed mortgages that are guaranteed and is intended to more widely open the market to… Continue reading Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae Reduced in Housing Plan

Revolt Grows as More Homeowners Stop Paying Mortgages

By Mike Colpitts Millions of homeowners are living in their homes without paying mortgages as more mortgage holders revolt against banks and mortgage servicing companies in America’s growing foreclosure crisis. Some mortgage borrowers are trying to work with banks and mortgage companies. Others have tired over the hassles it takes to work with lenders to… Continue reading Revolt Grows as More Homeowners Stop Paying Mortgages

Four States Cities Lead Foreclosure Crisis in 2010

By Mike Colpitts Four states cities accounted for 19 of the top 20 metropolitan U.S. foreclosure centers in 2010 as the foreclosure crisis gained momentum in the majority of the nation, despite moratoriums put in place by five major national lenders, according to RealtyTrac. California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona cities accounted for the most foreclosures.… Continue reading Four States Cities Lead Foreclosure Crisis in 2010