By Mike Colpitts Pushed by higher yields paid for U.S. Treasuries, mortgage rates jumped for the fourth straight week as mixed economic news sent investors scurrying to the bond market for more secure investments. The rate on the fixed 30-year mortgage rose four basis points to average 3.66% from 3.62% a week ago. The Freddie… Continue reading Pushed by Treasuries, Mortgage Rates Jump
Mortgage Delinquencies Drop Two Straight Months
By Mike Colpitts Mortgage delinquencies fell for the second consecutive month in July and are down 11% for the last year, signaling a major improvement for the U.S. housing market, according to Lender Processing Services. Loans that are 30 days or more past due made up just 7.03% of home mortgages. The decline in late… Continue reading Mortgage Delinquencies Drop Two Straight Months
Mortgage Rates Surge 2 Straight Weeks
By Mike Colpitts The lowest mortgage rates in history are behind us, at least for the time being. Rates surged higher for the second week in a row as U.S. Treasuries jumped over hopes the Eurozone will reach an agreement on a bail-out. The 30-year fixed rate loan jumped to average 3.59%, a four basis… Continue reading Mortgage Rates Surge 2 Straight Weeks
Trio Pays $5.3-Million in Refinancing Scam
By Ryan Jackson A mortgage broker and two owners of three nursing homes have agreed to pay $5.325-million to resolve allegations in a mortgage refinancing scam to the federal government. In exchange for the financial penalty, federal prosecutors will not pursue criminal charges against the trio. The settlement is part of the federal government’s crackdown… Continue reading Trio Pays $5.3-Million in Refinancing Scam
Extra U.S. Tax on Homes Likely
By Mike Colpitts A U.S. tax on the sale of high end homes is likely to go into effect at the beginning of 2013 unless lawmakers do the unlikely and approve new federal tax guidelines. Bush era capital gains tax cuts expire in January, raising the long term rate on profits made from real estate… Continue reading Extra U.S. Tax on Homes Likely
Double Digit Appreciation Threatens Recovery
By Mike Colpitts Double digit housing appreciation being experienced in some of what were the hardest hit U.S. housing markets threatens to de-stabilize prices, add to consumer doubts about the economy and threatens the housing recovery, according to an analysis of cities that have experienced wild appreciation over the past few months. Higher home values… Continue reading Double Digit Appreciation Threatens Recovery
Higher Home Values Forecast in 85 Cities
As the recovery of the U.S. housing market gains traction, higher home values are forecast to develop by the end of 2012 in 85 cities, according to Housing Predictor analysts. The upturn in home prices is especially evident in many of the hardest hit states. The growing trend of home price inflation is developing strongly… Continue reading Higher Home Values Forecast in 85 Cities
5 States Sustain Half of Foreclosures
By Ryan Jackson Nearly half of all foreclosures in the U.S. were in the five hardest hit states in the nation during June, with California, Florida and Michigan sustaining the highest number of failed mortgages, according to real estate research firm CoreLogic. Texas and Georgia also suffered major losses in terms of foreclosed properties. Combined,… Continue reading 5 States Sustain Half of Foreclosures
Formal Foreclosures Fall 21 Straight Months
By Mike Colpitts Formal foreclosures fell for the 21st straight month in July as repossessions on U.S. residential properties ran into additional snags. Lenders completed 53,654 foreclosures during the month, a 1% fall from June and a 21% drop from a year ago, according to RealtyTrac. Bank owned REO activity also fell on an annualized… Continue reading Formal Foreclosures Fall 21 Straight Months
U.S. Decision Adds 750,000 Foreclosures
By Kevin Chiu The decision of the Obama Administration’s chief housing czar to reject principal mortgage reductions to underwater homeowners at risk of foreclosure is another blow to the U.S. housing market, and will result in at least 750,000 additional foreclosures, according to a Housing Predictor analysis. The heated debate over forgiving mortgage principal is… Continue reading U.S. Decision Adds 750,000 Foreclosures