Category: 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

FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge

By Mike Colpitts A surge in home buying activity is expected to develop as a result of the Federal Housing Administration’s announcement that it will increase charges to home buyers for upfront mortgage fees. The cost of mortgage insurance premiums will rise by 75 basis points April 1st. The increase translates to $750 for every… Continue reading FHA Hike Triggers Home Buyers Surge

Making Money in Real Estate

By Kevin Chiu Real estate has long been the preferred method of safe investing for reliable returns on investors’ money backed by a tangible asset. Not all real estate investing is low risk or will automatically yield high returns as many investors learned during the real estate bubble. But making money in real estate has… Continue reading Making Money in Real Estate

Tight Rental Market Squeezes Tenants

By Mike Colpitts A lack of rental housing for the first time in years in the multi-family residential market is sending the rental market into a recovery. Vacancy rates fell to the lowest level in 2010 in more than four years as a leading rental advisory firm forecasts higher rents in 2011. Witten Advisors, a… Continue reading Tight Rental Market Squeezes Tenants

Mortgage Hiring Frenzy Expected

By Mike Colpitts New government imposed regulations in the mortgage industry are expected to drive a hiring frenzy of mortgage professionals even after the industry lost more than 10,000 jobs in February, according to the Labor Department. Demand for new regulatory compliance analysts, accountants, internal auditors and financial analysts is expected to drive the hiring… Continue reading Mortgage Hiring Frenzy Expected

New Normal in Real Estate Arrives

By Kevin Chiu Like a delivery truck motoring up the driveway the “New Normal” in real estate has arrived packaged as a surprise. You can let it get you down, or make sure that you protect yourself and your family from the financial hand-cuffs that the New Normal may deliver. Real estate economists and analysts… Continue reading New Normal in Real Estate Arrives

Baby Boomers Help Kids Buy Homes

By Kiesha Joseph Baby Boomers, the generation of Americans who are now between 45 and 66, are excited to be helping their children purchase homes. Born between 1946 and 1965, boomers have been a driving force in the U.S. economy for more than 30 years. Boomers are using what they’ve earned over the years to… Continue reading Baby Boomers Help Kids Buy Homes