Declining Foreclosures Bring Better Times

By Mike Colpitts Foreclosure activity declined 25% in the nation’s most populated state, California from one year ago in July, but the Golden State holds the distinction of having more foreclosures than any other. In fact the two highest foreclosure states, which are California and Arizona, are down in foreclosure filings. Nevada, which had been… Continue reading Declining Foreclosures Bring Better Times

Formal Foreclosures Fall 21 Straight Months

By Mike Colpitts Formal foreclosures fell for the 21st straight month in July as repossessions on U.S. residential properties ran into additional snags. Lenders completed 53,654 foreclosures during the month, a 1% fall from June and a 21% drop from a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. Bank owned REO activity also fell on an annualized… Continue reading Formal Foreclosures Fall 21 Straight Months

Home Price Appreciation Jumps 2.5% for Year

By Mike Colpitts For the fourth straight month home values have increased in appreciation across the U.S., according to real estate research firm CoreLogic. Prices increased 2.5% in June compared to a year ago in the 100 largest metro areas the company tracks. On a month-over-month basis, including foreclosure and short sales, home price appreciation… Continue reading Home Price Appreciation Jumps 2.5% for Year

Cities, States Respond to Foreclosure Crisis

By Mike Colpitts Since the federal government has only tried piece-meal solutions to resolve the housing mess cities and states across the U.S. are making their own changes to get the foreclosure crisis under control. New laws to help consumers have been passed in nearly three dozen states. San Bernardino County, California hard hit by… Continue reading Cities, States Respond to Foreclosure Crisis

Effort to Block Bulk Wholesale Home Sales Launched

By Mike Colpitts An effort to block the bulk wholesale home sales of foreclosed property held by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to investors at cheaply discounted prices is being launched by an unlikely member of Congress, a Californian Republican. Rep. Gary Miller, a 14-year GOP incumbent in a battle to retain his House seat… Continue reading Effort to Block Bulk Wholesale Home Sales Launched

Mortgage Delinquencies Jump

By Mike Colpitts Homeowners in trouble on their mortgages jumped as more homes joined the long line of defaults in May showing another sign the U.S. economy is weakening, according to real estate analytics company Lender Processing Services. The slim 1.1% monthly jump in defaults is a troubling sign for the  U.S.  housing market, still… Continue reading Mortgage Delinquencies Jump

Foreclosures Jump Resumes After Robo-Signing Slowdown

By Mike Colpitts Foreclosure starts rose for the first time in more than two years in May, signaling a resumption of formal bank repossessions of homes with mortgages in default after months of slower foreclosures. Initial filings were lodged against 205,990 U.S. residential properties, according to RealtyTrac. The increase accounted for a 9% hike in… Continue reading Foreclosures Jump Resumes After Robo-Signing Slowdown

States Rip Off Foreclosure Victims

By Mike Colpitts Almost $1-billion targeted to victims of banking foreclosure fraud is being ripped off from foreclosure victims to be used to pay for other programs for states facing serious financial deficits. The nation’s largest five banks agreed to pay a $25 billion settlement as part of their agreement to settle allegations of illegal… Continue reading States Rip Off Foreclosure Victims

Recovery Pushes Foreclosures Lower 3 Months

By Mike Colpitts In a sign the U.S. housing market is on the road to recovery, foreclosures dropped for the third month in a row in April, despite a traceable increase in repossessions along the eastern U.S. coast. Initial notices of default were filed against 188,780 residential properties, the lowest since July 2007. Final bank… Continue reading Recovery Pushes Foreclosures Lower 3 Months

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