Robo-Signing Settlement Stalls

By Kevin Chiu The CEO of one of the U.S. biggest banks charged with illegal foreclosure practices leading to the robo-signing scandal says mortgage servicers and state attorney generals are stalled in negotiation talks to reach a settlement. JP Morgan Chase chief executive officer Jamie Dimon says that negotiations are held up over an agreement… Continue reading Robo-Signing Settlement Stalls

Homeownership Drops by Largest Amount Since Great Depression

By Jeanne Roberts It’s probably no surprise that the number of individuals owning homes has experienced its biggest drop since the Great Depression, an epoch usually defined as the decade between 1929 and 1939. The figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau, and show that the rate of homeownership fell to 65.1% in April 2010,… Continue reading Homeownership Drops by Largest Amount Since Great Depression

Thousands Protest Against Bank of America

By Kevin Chiu Protestors staged a massive demonstration and sit-in at Bank of America’s Boston headquarters Friday evening to protest the unfair lending practices the nation’s largest bank has used against homeowners. Dozens of families facing foreclosure were among the estimated 3,000 people carrying banners, banging drums and confronting the lender for its role in… Continue reading Thousands Protest Against Bank of America

Jumbo Mortgage Cut Makes Little Impact

By Kevin Chiu Reduced loan limits on jumbo mortgages cut Saturday had little immediate affect on home purchases or mortgage financing, and little real impact is expected by many lenders. Jumbo mortgages are being offered by lenders, despite the loss in government purchases. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) cut mortgage limits on loans it purchases… Continue reading Jumbo Mortgage Cut Makes Little Impact

Local Banks May Hold Recovery Key

By Mike Colpitts The banks that didn’t get the U.S. into the financial crisis may be the avenue to help the housing market, according to the National Association of Realtors president. Local community banks may hold the key to the nation’s future for home mortgage lending. “Buyers may be able to find more favorable credit… Continue reading Local Banks May Hold Recovery Key

U.S. Expects Riots to Develop From Economic Downturn

A large majority of those surveyed expect the economic downturn to result in riots in the U.S. as factions so desperate for better times vent their anger in violence, according to a Housing Predictor poll that was just completed. High unemployment has sent an estimated 45-million Americans to the job line, and millions of others… Continue reading U.S. Expects Riots to Develop From Economic Downturn

Tax Free Real Estate Purchases Climb

By Mike Colpitts Boosted by lower real estate prices and growing volatility in financial markets, investors are increasing their purchases of tax free real estate investments. Investors are moving away from investing in equities in the stock market and other financials in growing numbers due to a chorus of concerns, including insider trading, automatic machine… Continue reading Tax Free Real Estate Purchases Climb

Foreclosures Forecast to Hit 15 Million Homeowners

By Kevin Chiu The foreclosure crisis has produced an overpowering series of affects across the U.S., destroying businesses, taking away livelihoods, tossing millions of homeowners out of their homes and pressuring home prices in the over-whelming majority of neighborhoods lower. The crisis, first forecast by Housing Predictor almost five years ago as the first real… Continue reading Foreclosures Forecast to Hit 15 Million Homeowners

Baby Boomers Caught in Real Estate Bust

By Kevin Chiu Baby boomers searching for a new home are going through increasing difficulty finding the right home for what they can afford, and many are finding they don’t have the equity they thought they had in order to move into another home in the first place. Some 77-million Americans are classified as baby… Continue reading Baby Boomers Caught in Real Estate Bust