By Kevin Chiu A new law that forces banks to pay up delinquent homeowner association fees, could signal the beginning of a national movement. The new state law, known as the Distressed Community Association Relief Act was signed by Florida Governor (R) Charlie Christ and is intended to help condo and homeowner associations that are… Continue reading New Law Forces Banks to Pay Up
Category: Housing Market
Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Charges Record 1200 Perpetrators
By Mike Colpitts The U.S. Justice Department has charged more than 1,200 perpetrators with mortgage fraud in a major nationwide crackdown involving more than $2.3-billion in losses, stemming from the real estate collapse leading to the foreclosure crisis. The sweep represents the largest crackdown yet by law enforcement against perpetrators of white collar crime in… Continue reading Mortgage Fraud Crackdown Charges Record 1200 Perpetrators
Foreclosures Eclipse Record in 2009
A record 2.8–million U.S. properties had foreclosure filings filed against them in 2009, representing a 21% increase in the number over the previous year and 120% above 2007, according to RealtyTrac’s annual year-end report. The history breaking numbers closely match the Housing Predictor foreclosure forecast, which calls for a total of 17-million foreclosures in the… Continue reading Foreclosures Eclipse Record in 2009
Housing Recovery Led by Five States
A housing recovery is developing in five states, despite a slowdown in home sales as a result of the federal home buyers’ tax credit expiration. The states are leading the U.S. housing market out of its long lasting record downturn and are forecast to experience housing inflation for the rest of 2010. Two of the… Continue reading Housing Recovery Led by Five States
Buying a Home after Foreclosure
By Lindsey Hadwin Of the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis, many dream of buying a home again. As a result of more than 19.2-million vacant homes nationally, securing a mortgage in the future is possible in less time than ever before. Re-establishing creditworthiness can provide a key to… Continue reading Buying a Home after Foreclosure
Mortgage Rates and Home Buyers Decline
By Cheryl Reams Mortgage rates declined seven-one-hundredths of one percent this week to hover near the record low at an average of 4.72% on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, while the number of home buyers applying for mortgages also dropped. It is unlikely rates will get lower any time soon. The number of homeowners… Continue reading Mortgage Rates and Home Buyers Decline
BP Oil Spill Devastation Grows in Gulf of Mexico, Relocations Expected
By Kevin Chiu and Mike Colpitts Destin, Florida – The devastation that the BP oil spill is producing to the Gulf of Mexico is at least the size of all five Great Lakes as America’s greatest environmental disaster. It is likely to force hundreds of thousands of residents to relocate their homes to other areas… Continue reading BP Oil Spill Devastation Grows in Gulf of Mexico, Relocations Expected
Future Foreclosure Notices Drop, While Final Foreclosures Rise
By Kevin Chiu An increase in home refinancing, mortgage modifications and bank work-outs led to a possible drop in future foreclosures with a decline in formal notices of default in May. The decrease marked a seven percent decline for the month and accounts for a 22% drop from year ago levels. But bank repossessions for… Continue reading Future Foreclosure Notices Drop, While Final Foreclosures Rise
Countrywide Settlement in Homeowners Overcharging Scam
By Cheryl Reams Failed mortgage lender Countrywide Mortgage, once the nation’s largest home lender, has agreed to pay $108-million in fines to the Federal Trade Commission for scamming homeowners in foreclosure out of excessive fees. The Countrywide settlement comes more than two years after the FTC charged the failed lender with collecting excessive fees from… Continue reading Countrywide Settlement in Homeowners Overcharging Scam
Credit Unions Gain Mortgage Business
By Kevin Chiu Credit unions are attracting more business from conventional banks and mortgage lenders in the wake of the financial crisis, as bankers lose customers as a result of loose lending practices and distrust with the foreclosure of millions of homes. Risky mortgage lending practices, in which many banks turned a blind eye to… Continue reading Credit Unions Gain Mortgage Business