Category: Economic Crisis

The housing crisis, while putting a tremendous strain on Shared Ownership Communities like Condominiums, Co-Ops and Homeowner Associations has also opened attractive investment opportunities. However, investing in an SOC is not identical to buying other property, and you may want to consider the potential problems they pose before you make that seemingly unbeatable deal. SOCs… Continue reading Shared Ownership Communities Pose Problems

By Kevin Chiu The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating at least three Wall Street investment banks for fraud related to the collapse of the real estate market and individuals associated with the banks, according to SEC officials. The investigations are part of a new SEC unit started to investigate banking fraud blamed for the… Continue reading Banking Fraud Tied to Real Estate Collapse

In a major effort to energize the housing market new home builders are aggressively offering buyers incentives to get into the market. The home buyers federal tax credit expires April 30th, and the last thing builders want to see is a slump in home sales as a result. Builders are offering free options and upgrades,… Continue reading New Home Builders Try to Energize Housing Market

Despite nearly $2-trillion in government funded bail outs to improve the housing market, nearly 1 out of 3 homeowners are afraid of losing their homes to foreclosure. The startling revelation was determined through Housing Predictor’s latest opinion poll. Economic hard times combined with high unemployment in most of the U.S. have left millions of mortgage… Continue reading Poll Shows Nearly One in Three Afraid of Foreclosure

By Mike Colpitts How should we solve the U.S. mortgage crisis? That’s the BIG question White House officials are starting to ask representatives of the lending industry, academic experts and consumer groups in efforts to come up with a plan to reform the nation’s troubled mortgage giants, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Obama administration… Continue reading White House: How Do We Solve Mortgage Crisis

By Kevin Chiu Foreclosure notices jumped almost 19% in March from the previous month, and ended the quarter a full 7% above the last quarter of 2009, according to the monthly Realty Trac report. The surge in foreclosures starting the process to be repossessed by lenders indicates a major rise in the number of homes… Continue reading Foreclosures Surge Higher in March

The government’s mortgage modification program is on track to produce up to 4-million loan modifications, according to White House officials. The plan started to aid the ailing home market has prompted banks that are not part of the program to modify mortgages, gaining traction towards a housing recovery. The efforts are likely to result in… Continue reading Housing Recovery Gains Traction

By Mike Colpitts Multiple foreclosure properties mortgaged by investors contribute to more than a third of all homes being foreclosed, according to a new study conducted by Housing Predictor. The crisis is leading investors who once bought the property in hopes of turning a profit to increasingly call bankers to ask for mortgage modifications and… Continue reading Multiple Foreclosures Slam Home Market

By Kevin Chiu The foreclosure crisis has produced a ripple effect across the U.S. economy, triggering downward pressure on home prices and the national economy. But for the first time in its history, Housing Predictor is lowering its foreclosure forecast. As the first real estate research firm to forecast the crisis, indications are strong enough… Continue reading Foreclosure Crisis Forecast Cut