Reeling from a major decline in home prices, New Jersey homeowners are hoping that the worst of the real estate crash is over. But a massive inventory of foreclosures that have not yet been formally taken back by the banks sit vacant waiting as part of the shadow inventory to be accounted for by lenders.… Continue reading 2012 New Jersey Housing Market
Category: Housing Market
Another $100-Billion Underwater Housing Loss
By Kevin Chiu Politics is a strange and nasty business and the business of walking the fence during this election year is increasingly damaging the U.S. economy. In order to help mend the economy, the U.S. will eventually make the tough but inevitable decision to cut principal on underwater mortgages, and take an estimated $100… Continue reading Another $100-Billion Underwater Housing Loss
2012 Nebraska Housing Market
Nearly five years after the housing market in the U.S. collapsed the sting of the market crashing is barely felt in Nebraska. Home prices never hit double-digit appreciation in any market in the state, saving it from the foreclosure crisis and an economy that became unhinged. With unemployment levels at one of the best rates… Continue reading 2012 Nebraska Housing Market
Mortgage Rates Jump on Fewer Applications
By Mike Colpitts Banks and mortgage companies raised mortgage rates on new borrowers this week as the demand for new home loans and refinancing sunk, according to Freddie Mac. The rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage saw a jump to 3.98%, a tenth of one-percent higher than last week. The rate was at… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Jump on Fewer Applications
Mortgages Get More Expensive
By Mike Colpitts Congressional budget tightening has resulted in the loss of the homeowners’ mortgage insurance federal tax write-off. The loss means that homeowners holding millions of mortgages will lose the ability to take hundreds of dollars a year off their income taxes. The write-off is a crucial loss for teetering homeowners struggling to pay… Continue reading Mortgages Get More Expensive
Home Sales Rebound Sharply
By Kevin Chiu Pushed by record low mortgage rates and home prices that have fallen drastically from their peak highs, home sales are experiencing sharp rebounds in the Northeast and Midwestern regions of the U.S., according to the National Association of Realtors. Existing home sales jumped 10.7% to an annualized pace of 620,000 units in… Continue reading Home Sales Rebound Sharply
SEC Charges Bank CEO with Misleading Investors
By Mike Colpitts Almost five years after the housing market collapse, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a bank CEO with misleading investors about growing problems over its real estate loan portfolio. The SEC said BankAtlantic Bancorp CEO Alan Levan made misleading statements in public filings and earnings calls in order to hide the… Continue reading SEC Charges Bank CEO with Misleading Investors
Real Estate Investment Fund President Pleads Guilty
By Mike Colpitts The organizer and former president of a real estate investment fund pled guilty to defrauding investors in nearly a $10-million scam of two large apartment complexes and his investment fund. The plea could result in as long as 30 years in prison for the former funds president. Thomas B. Evans, 47, of… Continue reading Real Estate Investment Fund President Pleads Guilty
Feds Launch Mortgage Task Force Investigation
By Mike Colpitts More than three years after announcing he would launch a federal task force to investigate the mortgage crisis, President Barack Obama has finally launched a federal probe into the U.S. largest financial institutions. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who pulled his state out of the 50 state robo-signing investigation, sent subpoenas… Continue reading Feds Launch Mortgage Task Force Investigation
Underwater Refinances Show Jump
By Mike Colpitts The Obama administration’s long criticized Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP) showed a major improvement last week, pushing refinances for underwater homeowners higher, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. “Although total application volume dropped on an adjusted basis relative to last week, refinance volume remains high, with survey participants reporting that the expanded… Continue reading Underwater Refinances Show Jump