By Kevin Chiu U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is frustrated with bankers and mortgage servicing companies, and he might even be bordering on being angry with his former colleagues in the banking industry. Geithner’s clear stated frustrations are leading to growing speculation in Washington, D.C. that the Obama administration may be moving closer to forcing… Continue reading Obama Moving Closer to Force Banks to Modify Mortgages
Category: Mortgage
Majority Intend to Buy Real Estate Soon
Almost 2 out of 3 respondents to the latest Housing Predictor opinion poll say they plan on buying a home or other real estate in the next two years, apparently feeling that the bottom of the housing market is falling into place. The large majority of respondents feel more confident about real estate values rising… Continue reading Majority Intend to Buy Real Estate Soon
Low Mortgage Rates Strengthen Home Market
By Kevin Chiu Mortgage interest rates remain near historic lows, despite rising .04% in the last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, providing strength to the nations home market. Many banking analysts expected rates would rise when the Federal Reserve halted buying mortgage-backed securities to strengthen the economy. However, a sampling of ten major… Continue reading Low Mortgage Rates Strengthen Home Market
Former Goldman Sachs Banker May Save Millions from Foreclosure
A former Goldman Sachs banker has launched an innovative company that may save 5 to 7 million mortgage borrowers from foreclosure. The private company works to negotiate with under water homeowners in an effort to reduce the number of mortgage holders who willingly walk away from their upside down mortgages. Loan Value Group, a Limited… Continue reading Former Goldman Sachs Banker May Save Millions from Foreclosure
Real Estate Agent Rebates Commissions
A new online start-up is basing its marketing plan on rebating real estate agent commissions to buyers, and it’s planted the concept by launching the program in the Garden State. New Jersey home buyers can get up to $15,000 back as a rebate from real estate agents commissions. www.HomeBuyerRebate.org was started as the pilot program… Continue reading Real Estate Agent Rebates Commissions
Fannie Mae Cuts Mortgage Guidelines to Help Borrowers
By Mike Colpitts Former homeowners who have lost their homes in a short sale or signed them back to the bank may get a break from Fannie Mae to buy a new home. The mortgage giant has cut mortgage guidelines, reducing the time to obtain a new mortgage from four years for troubled mortgage borrowers… Continue reading Fannie Mae Cuts Mortgage Guidelines to Help Borrowers
Home Sales Major Rise Shows Stronger Market
By Kevin Chiu Prompted by the federal home buyer tax credit, low mortgage rates and lower home prices home re-sales rose 6.8% in March after three straight months of declines, according to the National Association of Realtors. The rise in sales demonstrates a stronger housing market moving into the historically most active season of the… Continue reading Home Sales Major Rise Shows Stronger Market
Happy Real Estate News Goes Mobile
A new mobile phone application is placing all of its emphasis on happy real estate news. The “Happy Real Estate News” application is a tool for real estate agents and brokers to show potential buyers and sellers that local markets are “not as bad as gloom and doom reports would have you believe,” according to… Continue reading Happy Real Estate News Goes Mobile
Shared Ownership Communities Pose Problems
The housing crisis, while putting a tremendous strain on Shared Ownership Communities like Condominiums, Co-Ops and Homeowner Associations has also opened attractive investment opportunities. However, investing in an SOC is not identical to buying other property, and you may want to consider the potential problems they pose before you make that seemingly unbeatable deal. SOCs… Continue reading Shared Ownership Communities Pose Problems
Banking Fraud Tied to Real Estate Collapse
By Kevin Chiu The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating at least three Wall Street investment banks for fraud related to the collapse of the real estate market and individuals associated with the banks, according to SEC officials. The investigations are part of a new SEC unit started to investigate banking fraud blamed for the… Continue reading Banking Fraud Tied to Real Estate Collapse