By Mike Colpitts Led by a jump in conventional mortgage applications, home purchases rose for the second week in a row signaling a positive turn for the U.S. housing market, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly index. Pushed by record all-time low mortgage rates, buyers turned out to take advantage of the historically low… Continue reading Home Purchases Jump Two Weeks
Category: Housing Market
Mortgage Rates Drop to Historic Lows
By Mike Colpitts In a record breaking move, mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level in U.S. history this week as rates paid for Treasury bonds pushed rates lower. The rate on a conventional 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell to an average of 3.79%, four basis points below last week’s all-time record low, according to… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Drop to Historic Lows
Higher Credit Score or Else No Mortgage
By Mike Colpitts A federal study is finally showing what millions of Americans applying for mortgages have known for months. A 720 credit score on the Fair Isaac Credit Index (FICO) is likely to get home mortgage applicants a loan. Anything under that level is probably going to be rejected, according to a new study… Continue reading Higher Credit Score or Else No Mortgage
Home Sales Jump in April
By Mike Colpitts Existing home sales jumped for the first time in three months in April, rising 3.4% to a seasonally adjusted rate of 4.62 million units, and are 10% higher than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. Home prices also showed some improvement. However, homes listed on the market for… Continue reading Home Sales Jump in April
Shock Hits with Fannie Mae Profit
By Ryan Jackson Mortgage giant Fannie Mae reported a profit for the first time since it was taken over in a forced government seizure four years ago. The first quarter profit may be a shock to bankers who depend on the mortgage financier, but does little to replace the $116 billion the government has spent… Continue reading Shock Hits with Fannie Mae Profit
State Launches $75 Million Home Demolition Program
By Mike Colpitts Ohio has lead the nation demolishing homes that have been left abandoned in hard hit neighborhoods in the U.S. real estate collapse. The state’s attorney general is now taking the program to an aggressive new level to demolish up to an estimated 100,000 vacant homes. The funds for the program are provided… Continue reading State Launches $75 Million Home Demolition Program
Home Foreclosure Purchases Push Prices Higher
By Mike Colpitts Strong demand for lower priced foreclosure homes held by banks (REOs) and the nation’s giant mortgage lenders by purchasers is starting to send values of all other homes higher, according to real estate research firm Clear Capital. The Truckee, California based data firm said home prices are still losing ground over the… Continue reading Home Foreclosure Purchases Push Prices Higher
Banks Fight Foreclosure Initiative
By Mike Colpitts A ballot initiative that would force banks to provide proof of ownership before foreclosing on a home is facing a major legal fight in court by bankers, who want to kill the citizen initiated proposal before it makes the ballot. Two big banking associations are battling against the initiative from being placed… Continue reading Banks Fight Foreclosure Initiative
Housing Index Shows Upward Trend
By Mike Colpitts Home prices declined an average of less than one-percent in the U.S. on a year to year basis through the end of March, according to a heavily watched housing price index indicating an upward trend for the marketplace. The CoreLogic index showed that prices were down 0.6% from one year ago, including… Continue reading Housing Index Shows Upward Trend
Pest Problems Bug Homeowners Early
By Ryan Jackson An over-whelming majority of homeowners are experiencing pest problems as a result of warmer weather in much of the U.S., according to a new study. Nearly half had problems with ants, while other bugs, including spiders and flies were most common. The study was conducted by Home Team Pest Defense, the third… Continue reading Pest Problems Bug Homeowners Early