Home Sales Fall Amid Growing Fears

By Kevin Chiu Existing home sales fell a slight 2.2% in May, but sales remain at a higher level than a year ago alleviating some fears about the housing market, according to the National Association of Realtors. The monthly report also showed a fall in the number of homes listed for sale, signaling an improving… Continue reading Home Sales Fall Amid Growing Fears

Hard Sell in Obama Housing Scorecard Debut

The White House is coming out with a hard sell to put its best face on the housing market in efforts to improve market conditions and win back voters, introducing a monthly scoreboard on the nation’s housing market. From the start, the program seems to be more like it’s out of the Roosevelt Great Depression… Continue reading Hard Sell in Obama Housing Scorecard Debut

Flooded Counties Outsource Foreclosure Sales

By Kevin Chiu As the foreclosure crisis hits its peak, counties across the country are flooded with default filings. Many can’t keep up with the record volume as county recorder offices drown in the massive onslaught. Especially hard hit counties are taking foreclosure sales off the courthouse steps, outsourcing them to auction services online. Some… Continue reading Flooded Counties Outsource Foreclosure Sales

Housing Recovery Likely as Home Sales Rise

Applications to purchase home mortgages increased for the week marking the first rise in home sales since the federal government’s tax credit expired, indicating that a housing recovery is possible nationally as sales improve, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Refinancing also shot up. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume,… Continue reading Housing Recovery Likely as Home Sales Rise

Buying a Home after Foreclosure

By Lindsey Hadwin Of the millions of Americans who have lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis, many dream of buying a home again. As a result of more than 19.2-million vacant homes nationally, securing a mortgage in the future is possible in less time than ever before. Re-establishing creditworthiness can provide a key to… Continue reading Buying a Home after Foreclosure

Mortgage Rates and Home Buyers Decline

By Cheryl Reams Mortgage rates declined seven-one-hundredths of one percent this week to hover near the record low at an average of 4.72% on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage, while the number of home buyers applying for mortgages also dropped. It is unlikely rates will get lower any time soon. The number of homeowners… Continue reading Mortgage Rates and Home Buyers Decline

Mortgage Rates Barely Budge

By Cheryl Reams Mortgage rates on a conventional 30-year loan barely budged from last week, rising a slim one-hundredth of one percent to 4.79% on average, according to Freddie Mac. Applications for home loans also slowed. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is the barometer of mortgage rates, remaining at or near its lowest level for… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Barely Budge

Home Sales Slow as Mortgage Rates Drop

By Cheryl Reams Even as mortgage rates drop home sales slow, according to data from top real estate industry research. The sale of homes tracked through the Mortgage Bankers Association weekly report showed a 27.1% drop in mortgage purchase applications over the past four weeks. The decrease was just 4% from last week, but indicates… Continue reading Home Sales Slow as Mortgage Rates Drop

Home Sales Higher On Tax Credit Incentive

By Cheryl Reams Home buyers motivated by expiring federal tax credits drove existing home sales 7.6% higher in April to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.77 million units, topping analysts’ projections, according to the National Association of Realtors. The increase in sales of single family homes, condos and townhouses pushed the associations heavily watched annual… Continue reading Home Sales Higher On Tax Credit Incentive

America’s Richest Home Market Rebounds

Once the home of wild Hippie partying, America’s richest home market is making a come back in luxury housing sales. Marin County, California just north of the scenic Golden Gate bridge is America’s richest housing market based on highest average net worth and it’s seeing a revival in luxury home sales. As Marin rebounds from… Continue reading America’s Richest Home Market Rebounds