Housing Czar Delays Decision on Underwater Mortgages

By Mike Colpitts The chief administrator of the U.S. agency overseeing the nation’s giant mortgage lenders stopped short of offering aid to underwater mortgage holders with principal reductions in a speech in Washington D.C., Tuesday morning, delaying any decision on the matter for the time being. Acting Federal Housing Finance Agency director Edward DeMarco, who… Continue reading Housing Czar Delays Decision on Underwater Mortgages

Chinese Drywall Damage Tops 100,000 Homes

By Mike Colpitts Attorneys are working on a class action settlement with the makers of Chinese drywall that has damaged or destroyed more than 100,000 U.S. homes. But the drywall, which has been used in the construction of homes since as early as 2001 may soon be outlawed in the U.S. Homeowners in at least… Continue reading Chinese Drywall Damage Tops 100,000 Homes

Former Bank CFO Pleads Guilty to Fraud

By Mike Colpitts The former chief financial officer of one of the U.S. largest mortgage banking operations has plead guilty to committing bank fraud and lying to federal investigators in a $2.9 billion scheme that drove Taylor, Bean & Whitaker and Colonial Bank out of business. Delton de Armas may receive up to 10 years… Continue reading Former Bank CFO Pleads Guilty to Fraud

Housing Peaks at 60% Deflation

By Ryan Jackson Nevada has led the U.S. in foreclosures for more than five years straight and it has also suffered the highest loss in average housing deflation, according to an audit conducted by Housing Predictor. With Las Vegas at the center of action, Sin City has sustained 62 months as the nation’s foreclosure capital… Continue reading Housing Peaks at 60% Deflation

Mortgage Rates Jump to New High

By Mike Colpitts Borrowing rates for home mortgages jumped above 4.00% for the first time since last October on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, hitting 4.08% this week, the highest they have been in six months, according to Freddie Mac. The jump in rates was driven by higher returns being paid for U.S. Treasuries to investors… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Jump to New High

Attorney General Appoints Monitor in Bank Settlement

By Mike Colpitts In an effort to protect consumers from additional fraudulent behavior by banks, the California attorney general has appointed an independent monitor to oversee the nation’s five largest banks performance in $18 billion worth of benefits that will be split up between homeowners. Attorney General Kamala Harris announced the appointment of University of… Continue reading Attorney General Appoints Monitor in Bank Settlement

Mortgage Rates Creep Higher

By Mike Colpitts Despite the Federal Reserve’s best efforts to keep mortgage rates low, conventional home loan borrowing rates are slowly climbing. The hike in rates is developing because of higher yields being paid for U.S. Treasuries combined with improving economic news. The upward trend in rates is developing as better economic news about the… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Creep Higher

Mortgages Pull Back as Rates Rise

For the second week in a row applications for home mortgages declined, led by a drop in home refinancing. A 4.6% pull back in refinances demonstrates the softer mortgage market, which seems likely to repeat a year similar to last year of slower activity, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association survey. A hike in mortgage… Continue reading Mortgages Pull Back as Rates Rise

Underhanded Banking Tactics in Full Swing

By Ryan Jackson Unethical tactics used by banks and lender mortgage servicing companies to get homeowners to leave their homes are still being used, despite new guidelines issued to banks as a result of the $25 billion agreement between the nation’s largest five lenders and state attorney generals, according to the founder of an online… Continue reading Underhanded Banking Tactics in Full Swing