Mortgage Rates Jump 3 Straight Weeks

By Kevin Chiu Mortgage rates jumped higher for the third straight week as home buyers became skittish about making purchase decisions amid international unrest and doubts about the U.S. economy, according to Freddie Mac. The jump in interest rates on the bench mark 30-year fixed rate loan moved ever closer to 5% at 4.86%, five… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Jump 3 Straight Weeks

Mortgage Interest Rates Drop on Japan Fears

By Mike Colpitts Interest Rates on home mortgages dropped as a result of investor worries over the disaster in Japan and fears of contagion over financial markets falling across the world. Mortgage rates showed a drop across all types of loans offered to home borrowers, according to Freddie Mac. The average rate on a 30-year… Continue reading Mortgage Interest Rates Drop on Japan Fears

Chain Reaction Slams World Housing Markets

By Mike Colpitts The world financial system is in a chain reaction collapse and if drastic changes aren’t implemented, the structure of the world’s economy will be changed forever, according to economist Lyndon LaRouche, who ran for U.S. President eight times, more than any other candidate for the nation’s highest office. “I said that in… Continue reading Chain Reaction Slams World Housing Markets

Back Slapping Has Little Housing Market Impact

The self congratulatory back slapping the Obama administration is giving itself for efforts made in the nation’s housing market crisis is making little impact on the market, and nobody else is crediting the administration. The government’s data shows progress on the real estate market overhang and shows home sales are rising, but little help when… Continue reading Back Slapping Has Little Housing Market Impact

Home Purchases Stall as Refinancing Grows

Applications for new home mortgages dropped as shopping for homes came to a stall last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. However, refinancing increased to the highest level since last year. The seasonally adjusted purchase index fell 4% from the previous week, while refinances rose 0.9% to hit the best threshold since December. The… Continue reading Home Purchases Stall as Refinancing Grows

Half of Homeowners Qualify for New Mortgage

By Mike Colpitts Only about half of all homeowners would qualify to buy a new mortgage under current more restrictive mortgage lending guidelines. In the U.S. 54% of homeowners with a mortgage would qualify to put 20% down from the sale of their present home, according to Core Logic, which researches the mortgage industry. The… Continue reading Half of Homeowners Qualify for New Mortgage

New U.S. Mortgage System Lost in Wasteland

By Mike Colpitts The new home builders association released a proposal to redesign the U.S. housing finance system, which would eventually wipe-out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, the nation’s giant mortgage lenders. The National Association of Home Builders proposal is similar to others that have been offered by industry groups lost in a wasteland for… Continue reading New U.S. Mortgage System Lost in Wasteland

Mortgage Rates Jump Higher Amid Unrest

By Kevin Chiu Pressured by unrest in the Middle East and fallout over disasters in Japan, mortgage rates jumped higher during the week as lenders became increasingly concerned about world finance markets, according to Freddie Mac. The average rate on a fixed 30-year mortgage had a jump of .05 basis points to an average of… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Jump Higher Amid Unrest

New Homebuilders Brighter Future

By Kim Olson With the real estate market soft many homebuilders, especially large corporate homebuilders are still struggling. Real estate analysts say that the recovery will continue to be slow through 2011, and may in fact be a bit longer. Inventory of newly built homes is still high, with pending and closed sales down. Prices… Continue reading New Homebuilders Brighter Future