By Kevin Chiu Mortgage relief for unemployed homeowners at risk of foreclosure is included in the sweeping financial reform act expected to be signed by President Barack Obama. The aid is aimed at helping millions of homeowners who have been thrown out of work by the troubled economy. Members of Congress agreed to spend $1-billion… Continue reading Financial Reform Act Includes Mortgage Relief to Aid Millions
Category: Statistics
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
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
Mortgages Rates Drop Lower
Mortgage rates dropped this week another seven-one-hundredths of a point to an average of 4.84% down from last week on a conventional 30-year home mortgage, according to Freddie Mac. The national average was just two-one-hundredths of a point above year ago near record low interest rates. Mortgage rates have hovered at or below the 5%… Continue reading Mortgages Rates Drop Lower
Title Insurance Policies Show Housing Market Improving
The cost of insuring the title to real estate is declining as a result of falling home prices, according to the largest trade organization of title officers. But the American Land Title Association says a rise in title insurance policies show housing markets are improving. The industry trade group reported a 4.5% decrease in the… Continue reading Title Insurance Policies Show Housing Market Improving
Real Estate Mortgage Rates Lowest in Year as Refinances Surge
Real estate mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level in a year to below 5%, according to Freddie Mac’s mortgage market survey. A 30-year conventional rate home mortgage was just seven-one-hundredths of a point higher than a year ago driving a surge in refinances. Refinances increased to 57.7% of applications, marking more than an 8%… Continue reading Real Estate Mortgage Rates Lowest in Year as Refinances Surge
New FHA Guidelines Eliminate Possibility of Success
By Gary A. Poliakoff, Ryan Poliakoff and Kevin Chiu Plagued by the real estate crisis that is likely to top that of the Great Depression, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has implemented a new set of lending standards in efforts to clear the glut of millions of vacant and unsold condominiums across the country. However,… Continue reading New FHA Guidelines Eliminate Possibility of Success
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
Record 19.2 Million U.S. Homes Vacant
A record 19.2 million U. S. homes are vacant, representing the highest number of residential properties that are vacant of all-time, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The figure represents 14.5% of all the homes in America. The dismal figure was issued as part of the Census Bureau homeownership quarterly survey for the first quarter… Continue reading Record 19.2 Million U.S. Homes Vacant
Upgrade in U.S. Housing Forecast
High unemployment is the biggest obstacle to the U.S. housing markets recovery as fewer people qualify to buy homes, but the imposing obstruction is being helped by a series of government programs and a private company working with some of the nation’s biggest mortgage lenders to keep homeowners in their homes. As a result, Housing… Continue reading Upgrade in U.S. Housing Forecast