Declining Foreclosures Bring Better Times

By Mike Colpitts Foreclosure activity declined 25% in the nation’s most populated state, California from one year ago in July, but the Golden State holds the distinction of having more foreclosures than any other. In fact the two highest foreclosure states, which are California and Arizona, are down in foreclosure filings. Nevada, which had been… Continue reading Declining Foreclosures Bring Better Times

Home Sales & Prices Jump

By Mike Colpitts Sales of existing homes and national median prices jumped in July to reach a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million housing units after declining in June, according to the National Association of Realtors. Record low mortgage rates, which bottomed out in July and lower housing prices coupled with pent up demand… Continue reading Home Sales & Prices Jump

Condo Closes at Record $24.6 Million

A combination of condo units at the St. Regis Bal Harbour condominium development in Miami Beach, Florida has sold to set a record $24.6-million sales prices. It’s the largest transaction to close at the luxury development, which opened just this last January and the second largest deal in Miami history. Considered as one-unit, the deal… Continue reading Condo Closes at Record $24.6 Million

Underwater Refinancing Program to Expand

By Ryan Jackson A larger number of underwater homeowners with mortgages hoping to take advantage of all-time record low mortgage rates may be able to refinance under a program that is scheduled to be expanded by the U.S. government. An estimated 1.3 million homeowners have already refinanced through the government’s Relief Refinance Mortgage Program, which… Continue reading Underwater Refinancing Program to Expand

Mortgage Rates Claim Another Record

By Mike Colpitts Driven by record low mortgage rates, the U.S. housing market is beginning to show signs of improvement as consumers search for discount priced homes. The 30-year fixed rate loan, 15-year fixed mortgage and the 5-year ARM all hit new all-time record lows this week to push hesitant buyers off the fence. The… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Claim Another Record

1.5 Million Over 50 Lost Homes to Foreclosure

By Mike Colpitts More than 1.5 million U.S. homeowners over the age of 50 lost their homes to foreclosure as a result of banks and Wall Street developing the mortgage crisis, according to a study by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). The study surveyed mortgage loan data for 2007 through 2011. The study… Continue reading 1.5 Million Over 50 Lost Homes to Foreclosure

Mortgage Delinquencies Improve 20%

By Mike Colpitts Mortgage delinquencies have improved more than 20% since the height of the U.S. housing market downturn almost two years ago, according to data obtained from Lender Processing Services. Loan delinquencies declined to 7.14% in July, a drop from a record 9.37% of mortgages in October 2009 at the height of the collapse.… Continue reading Mortgage Delinquencies Improve 20%

Mexican Drug Money Fuels Cash Purchases

By Mike Colpitts Mexican drug cartels have slowly moved money out of banks and other hiding places and into U.S. real estate investments. Federal investigators are hunting for people investing billions of dollars of drug money in the U.S. real estate market, including huge sums of cash in Florida, Texas and California. Cash purchases fuel… Continue reading Mexican Drug Money Fuels Cash Purchases