Freddie Mac Unloads Foreclosures Paying Closing Costs

By Mike Colpitts Troubled mortgage giant Freddie Mac is making a new effort to unload its bloated inventory of foreclosed homes paying home buyers closing costs. The government backed lender, which has been bailed out by tax payers at a cost of more than $148-billion with its sister lender Fannie Mae is making the offer… Continue reading Freddie Mac Unloads Foreclosures Paying Closing Costs

Home Remodeling Shows Rebound

By Mike Colpitts Home remodeling is moving into a rebound as spring flowers begin to bloom. The National Association of Home Builders Remodeling index reached 46.5 in the first quarter, marking its highest level since 2006, and the Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies is predicting remodeling to rebound in 2011. Retail sales at… Continue reading Home Remodeling Shows Rebound

Home Sales Forecast to Grow

By Kevin Chiu Home sales, the bread and butter of the U.S. real estate market are forecast to grow by 125,000 to 200,000 additional residential units by the end of 2011 over last year. The increase, projected by Housing Predictor is due to near record low mortgage rates and the lowest home prices in many… Continue reading Home Sales Forecast to Grow

Foreclosures Fall Seven Straight Months, But Still at Crisis Level

By Kevin Chiu Hampered by internal bank and mortgage servicing company delays, foreclosure notices fell to a 40 month low in April, declining 9% from the prior month and 34% from a year ago. The slowdown represented the seventh straight month of delays in the foreclosure crisis as a result of the moratorium put in… Continue reading Foreclosures Fall Seven Straight Months, But Still at Crisis Level

Disaster Housing Relief Provided in 8 States

By Mike Colpitts As anxieties rise with the floodwaters along the mighty Mississippi River and residents flee for higher ground, the U.S. government is gearing up for the largest disaster aid commitment it has ever made. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already dedicated funds to help disaster victims in eight states, including immediate foreclosure… Continue reading Disaster Housing Relief Provided in 8 States

Real Estate Brokerage Helping Thousands Monthly

By Mike Colpitts A small real estate brokerage is waging a war against foreclosures, helping thousands of homeowners’ monthly by training real estate agents to coordinate short sales and get troubled homeowners out of their problem plagued mortgages. “We’ve directly assisted tens of thousands of homeowners,” said First Coast Realty Associates broker Mike Linkenauger. “We… Continue reading Real Estate Brokerage Helping Thousands Monthly

Foreclosures Pose Clear and Present Danger

By Mike Colpitts Editor A clear and present danger is challenging the U.S. and it’s not the stuff that politicians in Washington, D.C. drudge up to drive fear emotionally charging the masses to sway public opinion. It’s the reality of our times — 7 million foreclosures that have already been formally repossessed by the banks,… Continue reading Foreclosures Pose Clear and Present Danger

Hawaii Passes U.S. Toughest Foreclosure Law

By Kevin Chiu Hawaii lawmakers followed hard hit Nevada to become only the second state in the nation to approve one of the toughest foreclosure consumer aid laws in the U.S., passing the bill as the legislature closed its latest session. Senate Bill 651 is touted as a windfall for consumers, requiring mortgage lenders to… Continue reading Hawaii Passes U.S. Toughest Foreclosure Law

U.S. Home Sales Rise as Prices Fall

By Mike Colpitts Home sales rose during the first quarter of the year in 49 states as home prices fell in most areas of the U.S. from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median price of a home fell in 118 of 153 metropolitan statistical areas the organization tracks. Existing… Continue reading U.S. Home Sales Rise as Prices Fall

Interest Rates Fall Four Straight Weeks

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage interest rates fell for the fourth straight week to the lowest level of the year as an over supply of homes on the market pressure lenders’ to keep rates low to draw more buyers back into the market. The rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage had a fall of 0.08… Continue reading Interest Rates Fall Four Straight Weeks