Research Firm Says Real Estate Stabilizing

By Mike Colpitts Almost six years after the U.S. housing market began its collapse, one of the nation’s largest real estate research firms says the housing market is making strides towards stabilizing and may be close to a bottom of the market. CoreLogic analysts say the U.S. housing market “is transitioning to more stability in… Continue reading Research Firm Says Real Estate Stabilizing

Jobs Data Weakens Real Estate Market

By Ryan Jackson Three straight months of weak employment growth is likely to slow the recovery in the U.S. real estate market since job growth is the biggest indicator of future home sales. The unemployment rate rose to 8.2% Friday as a result of businesses failing to hire more workers. The disappointing news added to… Continue reading Jobs Data Weakens Real Estate Market

Mortgage Rates Dip to New Record Lows

By Mike Colpitts For the second consecutive week, worries over the U.S. economy and the European debt crisis sent financial markets and Treasury bonds lower. The drop in Treasury yields directly sent mortgage rates to new all-time record lows. The 30-year fixed rate loan hit 3.83%, according to Freddie Mac. The 30-year fixed mortgage has… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Dip to New Record Lows

One-Third of US Homeowners Underwater

By Mike Colpitts Nearly one out of three homeowners with a mortgage are underwater or owe more on their homes than they are presently worth, according to new research by Zillow economists. The figure represents almost 16 million U.S. mortgage holders struggling to pay home loans. However, foreclosure is not imminent for most underwater homeowners,… Continue reading One-Third of US Homeowners Underwater

Mortgage Rates Fall Four Straight Weeks

By Ryan Jackson Key mortgage rates fell for the fourth straight week as consumer interest to take out mortgages slowed because of the holiday weekend. The average rate on a fully executed 30-year fixed rate mortgage dropped to 3.91%, the lowest in the history of the Mortgage Bankers survey. Economists attribute the drop in rates… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Fall Four Straight Weeks

Former Police Officers in Group of 26 Pleading Guilty in Fraud Scheme

By Mike Colpitts Four retired Las Vegas police officers and two real estate agents are among a group of 26 people who have pled guilty to federal charges related to a major fraud scheme involving a dozen Nevada condominium complexes. Federal prosecutors say the conspiracy was bank rolled with more than $8 million funneled through… Continue reading Former Police Officers in Group of 26 Pleading Guilty in Fraud Scheme

Survey Shows Time to Buy Real Estate

A large majority of respondents to a new Housing Predictor survey say now is the time to buy real estate, despite uncertainty over the U.S. economy. Nearly two-out-of-three surveyed said it’s time to buy a home or other real estate now. Only 38% said the current economic environment makes it too risky to take the… Continue reading Survey Shows Time to Buy Real Estate

Healing Real Estate Market Behind the Numbers

By Ryan Jackson The bread and butter of the housing market, single family home sales rose just 3% in April to 4.09 million units, according to the National Association of Realtors. Although the increase represents an improvement for the U.S. housing market, it shows a healing upturn in the pace of sales going into the… Continue reading Healing Real Estate Market Behind the Numbers

Owner Financing Grows in Popularity

By Mike Colpitts Faced with a tight mortgage market, owner financing is growing in popularity as more homeowners market their homes to benefit new owners. But misconceptions over the easy availability of homes financed by their current owners keep many wannabe buyers from making home purchases. U.S. banks offer mortgages under tightly regulated criteria to… Continue reading Owner Financing Grows in Popularity