Bureaucratic stumbling blocks and red tape have hampered the government’s mortgage modification plan, helping only a small number of Americans stay in their homes, Treasury Department officials acknowledged. The Obama Administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) has permanently modified only 66,000 homeowner mortgages from more than 4-million that may be eligible for the plan. Another… Continue reading Mortgage Modifications Lag
Category: Sales
Slow Ride to New Paradigm in 2010
Slow Ride to New Paradigm in 2010 By Kevin Chiu Mortgage rates are creeping upward. The sale of foreclosed properties is slowing as bankers catch up with the record volume of homes in default. Money markets remain tight, and the volume of home sales has slowed as a result of government incentives that were expected… Continue reading Slow Ride to New Paradigm in 2010
Short Sale Madness
Distressed home sales in which the lender cooperates to cut the amount of principal owed are likely to increase in 2010, but the number of “short sales” is unlikely to have any real impact on the housing market, according to a new Housing Predictor study. The small number of short sales that are actually approved… Continue reading Short Sale Madness
Treasury Keeps Housing on Life Support
In a massive action to keep the housing market on government life support, the Treasury Department pledged to provide unlimited financial assistance to the largest insurers of home mortgages, troubled Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The move, announced on Christmas Eve with members of Congress already on their way home out of Washington, D.C. for… Continue reading Treasury Keeps Housing on Life Support
Markets on the Mend in Time for Christmas
By Kevin Chiu It’s the season of comfort and joy, Christmas trees and Santa Claus flying down the chimney. All of us wish for World Peace. We hope for a New Year that will be better than 2009 when the World’s financial system nearly blew up on Wall Street. In the face of all the… Continue reading Markets on the Mend in Time for Christmas
Housing Affordability Hits New Highs
The two oldest indexes on housing affordability have reached new highs, indicating low interest rates, lower home prices and the first time home buyers tax credit are improving sales. Lower housing prices have produced a rush of cash strapped investors to purchase homes and are knocking out many first time buyers, who are trying… Continue reading Housing Affordability Hits New Highs
The Big Fix in the Housing Mess
By Mike Colpitts The housing market is starting to show signs of mending from its deflationary cycle. The Fed’s move to hold interest rates at or near 0% for an extended period of time and other actions being orchestrated are moves to fix housing and get the economy back on track. Low interest rates aren’t… Continue reading The Big Fix in the Housing Mess
Return to 60s Home Prices
By Kevin Chiu Who could deny lyrics like, “I love you, yea, yea, yea?” It was the heyday of the Beatles. Andy Griffith was walking his beat in Mayberry. Donna Reed made primetime television fun and the Hippie era made life interesting. The 1960’s have a memorable nostalgia in Americans hearts– The good ol’ days… Continue reading Return to 60s Home Prices
Beware of False Bottoms in Housing
By John Hines Economist Euphoria can be a dangerous emotion. Economic intricacies are tough enough for even the most practiced of economists to read in real estate markets. But the worst recession since the Great Depression is pointing to a longer downturn yet in housing. A new economy is slowly emerging from the catastrophe of… Continue reading Beware of False Bottoms in Housing
How Contract Abandonment is Helping Restore the Real Estate Market
Leave Morality Out Of It: How Contract Abandonment Is Helping Restore Reality to The Real Estate Market By Jared H. Beck, Esq. Beck & Lee Business Trial Lawyers Miami, Florida “Ditching Condo Deal May Have Been Smart.” That recent headline from the Palm Beach Post announced what many who bought condo units in the preconstruction… Continue reading How Contract Abandonment is Helping Restore the Real Estate Market