U.S. May Dump Homeowner Aid

By Mike Colpitts Little government aid is available to homeowners struggling to hold on to their homes caught in the grip of economic hardship, according to a leading attorney who is spearheading legal action against seven of the nation’s largest banks in the foreclosure crisis. Attorney Philip Kramer, whose firm Kramer-Kaslow of Calabasas, California has… Continue reading U.S. May Dump Homeowner Aid

Win a Condo Raffle for Charity

By Kevin Chiu A Twin-Cities man thinks he’s found a way to buck the tough real estate market and attract attention to sell his condominium, despite the sluggish marketplace, and William Panzarella is doing it all in the name of charity. The Minneapolis condo owner has teamed up with a real estate agent to raffle… Continue reading Win a Condo Raffle for Charity

Mortgage Qualifying Standards Tighten

By Kevin Chiu Qualifying for a conventional home mortgage has gotten tougher in the fallout of the financial crisis, but Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae requirements show that obtaining a conventional mortgage has gotten much tougher even before Congress implements changes as part of the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act. The average credit score approved for… Continue reading Mortgage Qualifying Standards Tighten

Huge Drop in Realtor Membership

By Mike Colpitts Slammed by the real estate crash, the National Association of Realtors membership has dropped 21% since 2006 when real estate agents and brokers began to realize markets were heading down to just 1.06-million members, according to a real estate survey conducted annually. Real estate agents and brokers are also finding that the… Continue reading Huge Drop in Realtor Membership

Mortgages Jump Higher as Rates Drop

By Kevin Chiu The volume of applications for home mortgages jumped higher for the week as mortgage rates dropped, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The composite index, a figure compiled from both new purchase applications and refinances jumped 8.2%. Refinancing led applications as homeowners with mortgages they were trying to get a lower rate… Continue reading Mortgages Jump Higher as Rates Drop

Victorian Will Sell Itself on Internet

A Victorian-era home built in 1886 may just sell itself marketed on the Internet, despite being located in a town of just 106 residents in Eastville, Virginia. The home was lived in by three families before being converted to a bed and breakfast. The residence boasts 3,500 square feet with some of the lowest property… Continue reading Victorian Will Sell Itself on Internet

Refinances Rebound on Rate Drop

By Kevin Chiu Refinancing home mortgages rebounded higher following a drop in mortgage interest rates last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The move came after rates on conventional loans dropped for the first time in a month. The rate on a fully executed 30-year fixed mortgage declined to 4.76% from 4.80 the prior… Continue reading Refinances Rebound on Rate Drop

Interest Rates Fall Slightly

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage interest rates fell slightly on 30-year fixed rate loans to 4.78% from the previous week, according to Freddie Mac following bond yields as weak economic conditions and declining home prices drove rates lower. The fall in interest rates was only 0.02 from last week, but kept the bellwether rate well below… Continue reading Interest Rates Fall Slightly

Record $1 Billion Real Estate Auction

By Mike Colpitts A leading real estate auction company will put $1-billion in commercial property and notes up for auction, marking a new record for the largest real estate auction in U.S. history. The Las Vegas event illustrates the enormity of the real estate auction business selling-off assets for banks and mortgage service companies handling… Continue reading Record $1 Billion Real Estate Auction

7 Things Homeowner Associations Won’t Tell You

By Mary Klein Purchasing a home that is part of a homeowners association can involve issues that most homeowners would never think of providing pros and cons. The small print in the rules and regulations that are part of signing up for an association when you purchase a home can be lost in the sea… Continue reading 7 Things Homeowner Associations Won’t Tell You