By Mike Colpitts Failures by Congress and President Barack Obama to reach a deal on the U.S. economic budget is likely to trigger a massive hike to skyrocket mortgage interest rates, sending rates up at least 1 to 2½% within just a few short days following an impasse. The sudden rise in rates would essentially… Continue reading Mortgage Rates to Skyrocket on Economic Budget Failure
Category: Mortgage
MERS Orders Foreclosure Halt
By Mike Colpitts The electronic mortgage registration company at the center of the robo signing scandal has ordered a halt to foreclosures in an effort to protect itself from legal problems in the growing foreclosure crisis. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) has issued a new policy on its website advising members not to foreclose or… Continue reading MERS Orders Foreclosure Halt
Underwater Homeowners Refinancing Bill Gains Momentum
By Mike Colpitts Millions of underwater homeowners could be helped under a bill that is gaining momentum in the U.S. Senate. The bill, authored by California Senator Barbara Boxer, would remove barriers that have halted millions of upside down homeowners from refinancing their homes. “The Helping Responsible Homeowners Act” would order government backed mortgage giants… Continue reading Underwater Homeowners Refinancing Bill Gains Momentum
Treasury Bonds Nudge Interest Rates Higher
By Mike Colpitts Lower rates paid on U.S. Treasury bonds sent mortgage rates higher this week as legislators in Washington, D. C. argued over an agreement on the national budget limit going into the August 2nd deadline. Rates on 30-year fixed rate loans averaged 4.55%. The 15-year fixed rate loan remained the same as a… Continue reading Treasury Bonds Nudge Interest Rates Higher
Mortgage Relief Extended for Unemployed
By Kevin Chiu Mortgage servicers will be required to forgive a year’s worth of mortgage payments under new guidelines proposed by the Making Home Affordable Program offered by the Obama administration. The adjustment to the FHA program will be provided to unemployed homeowners at risk of foreclosure trying to stay in their homes looking for… Continue reading Mortgage Relief Extended for Unemployed
Home Lending Slows Despite Mortgage Rate Drop
Mortgage applications dropped for the third straight week, despite a decline in interest rates demonstrating a slowdown in home lending led chiefly by a drop in refinancing, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. The decline in interest rates saw the contract rate on a 30-year fixed rate mortgage decrease to 4.55% from a higher 4.69%… Continue reading Home Lending Slows Despite Mortgage Rate Drop
Real Estate Broker Pleads Guilty in Straw Buyer Scheme
By Mike Colpitts A former real estate broker pled guilty to fraud charges in relationship to a mortgage scheme that involved more than $12 million in mortgages, straw borrowers that operated over a course of seven years and real estate investors. The plea was entered after federal prosecutors worked out a deal with Alexander O.… Continue reading Real Estate Broker Pleads Guilty in Straw Buyer Scheme
Mortgage Interest Rates Fall
By Mike Colpitts Weak unemployment figures and the lowest bond rates in months drove mortgage interest rates significantly lower for the first time in a month, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage had a fall to average 4.51% from 4.60% a week ago. The bench mark 30-year mortgage reached the same rate… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Fall
Slowdown in Home Sales New Normal
By Mike Colpitts A slowdown in home sales during what is usually the hottest time of the year for home buying activity just may be the new normal in real estate. The erratic ups and downs the residential market is suffering are setting home sales up for a long recovery process with a series of… Continue reading Slowdown in Home Sales New Normal
Mortgage Interest Rates Surge Higher
Mortgage interest rates surged higher as Treasury bond rates moved above 3% in reaction to the end of quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve. The rate on a fixed 30-year mortgage rose to 4.60%, a hike from an average of 4.51% last week, according to Freddie Mac. The rates on other home mortgages also moved… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Surge Higher