Home Buying

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  • Struggling Homeowners Take on Roommates

    About.com Home Buying / Selling
    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    In order to reduce expenses, some cash-strapped home buyers are teaming up with a friend to buy a home together as tenants in common instead of buying as a single person. Personally, I think most single people are better off trying to qualify for a home on their own and taking on a roommate in a rental capacity rather than in a co-owner capacity. The reason is if it's your home, it's your rules. If you own a home with another person, you've got to make compromises. Plus, taking on a roommate can help make your mortgage payment more affordable . . . read more about Roommates. More Articles by…

  • JUST HOW RICH IS ROMNEY?

    Business and financial news - CNNMoney.com
    27 Jan 2012 | 5:44 pm
    Exactly how much is Mitt Romney worth? Hard to say.

  • Record Low Interest Rates and Recovering Economy Positive Trends for Atlanta ... - PR Leap (press release)

    "HOME BUYING" - Google News
    28 Jan 2012 | 2:03 am
    Record Low Interest Rates and Recovering Economy Positive Trends for Atlanta PR Leap (press release)COM) January 28, 2012 - (Atlanta, GA) With the Federal Reserve's recent announcement that interest rates will be kept low through 2014, the current low mortgage rates home buyers are enjoying should stay firm and boost home buying activity.and more »

  • Home-buying invasion to continue

    Home Buying News
    28 Jan 2012 | 5:08 am
    The number of mainlanders acquiring homes in Hong Kong will continue to rise this year, when they are expected to account for a quarter of the money spent buying flats.

  • Builders Commend White House Focus on Helping Homeowners

    RISMedia » Today’s Top Story – Consumer
    susanne
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:31 pm
    The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends President Obama for offering proposals in the recent State of the Union address to help families stay in their homes and stanch foreclosures, and is urging policymakers to take additional actions to …
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    About.com Home Buying / Selling

  • Struggling Homeowners Take on Roommates

    26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    In order to reduce expenses, some cash-strapped home buyers are teaming up with a friend to buy a home together as tenants in common instead of buying as a single person. Personally, I think most single people are better off trying to qualify for a home on their own and taking on a roommate in a rental capacity rather than in a co-owner capacity. The reason is if it's your home, it's your rules. If you own a home with another person, you've got to make compromises. Plus, taking on a roommate can help make your mortgage payment more affordable . . . read more about Roommates. More Articles by…

  • Buying Before Dumping Your Short Sale Home

    24 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    I get calls from a lot of underwater sellers who ask about buying a new home before selling a short sale. It's a perfectly reasonable question. Sellers want to know if they should buy a home while their credit is still good and before they do a short sale. Seems to make sense to a lot of people. But it's not as easy as one may think because there are basically 3 ways to buy before a short sale, two of which automatically disqualify a seller from buying. The first thing to think about is why would a short sale lender let you do a short sale if you could qualify to buy a new home? . . . read…

  • How Long Should a Seller Wait for Offer Acceptance?

    22 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    You can't put off offer acceptance or rejection. I realize that sellers would prefer to have the luxury of a little bit of time to think about an offer and ponder its significance. The amount of money a seller nets can make a huge difference and has a bearing on future plans. It's a big deal to sell a house. Sellers might need to discuss the ramifications of an offer with other family members. But it's also a big deal to the buyer. Buyers don't want to wait very long to get an answer. The longer a buyer waits, the more anxious a buyer becomes. Plus, if a seller drags her feet, a buyer might…

  • How to Buy a Cheap Foreclosure

    19 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    Buyers tend to lean toward checking out foreclosures for one reason and one reason only, and that is to buy a cheap foreclosure. Because it's the cheap price on that foreclosure that makes up for the hassle of dealing with the bank, the asset manager, the confusing bank addendums and the foreclosure bank's 'as is' policy. At least in theory that's how it's supposed to work. But not every foreclosure is a cheap foreclosure. I'm seeing movement, though, toward banks pricing their foreclosures more in line with the comparable sales. Of course, many of those comparable sales are, no surprise…

  • It Might Be Smart to Rent Out a House That You Can't Sell

    17 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm
    If you can't sell your home, it might be a good time to think about whether it's smart to rent out a house. If you ask an agent, he or she might try to talk you out of it. That's because most agents are not in the property management business. So, if they don't sell your house, they won't make any money. But, in some markets, it might make more sense to rent out the house instead of selling it. Of course, if you're waiting for the market to turn around, it could take a long time for the market to recover. I figured out that if homes were to theoretically appreciate annually at a conservative…
 
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    "HOME BUYING" - Google News

  • Record Low Interest Rates and Recovering Economy Positive Trends for Atlanta ... - PR Leap (press release)

    28 Jan 2012 | 2:03 am
    Record Low Interest Rates and Recovering Economy Positive Trends for Atlanta PR Leap (press release)COM) January 28, 2012 - (Atlanta, GA) With the Federal Reserve's recent announcement that interest rates will be kept low through 2014, the current low mortgage rates home buyers are enjoying should stay firm and boost home buying activity.and more »

  • Buying home now cheaper than renting - Herald Scotland

    27 Jan 2012 | 9:09 pm
    Telegraph.co.ukBuying home now cheaper than rentingHerald ScotlandIt also said higher costs related to moving home such as stamp duty and estate agent fees have also added to the overall cost of home buying. The mortgage rate for a new borrower has been reduced to an average of 3.63% in 2011, from 5.75% in 2008, Home owners £1200 better off a year than those who rentTelegraph.co.ukPlunging mortgage charges and house prices mean owning a home is cheaper than Daily MailBuying cheaper than renting as market turned on its head downScotsmanMyFinances.co.uk -Express.co.ukall 223 news…

  • Home-buying invasion to continue - South China Morning Post (subscription)

    27 Jan 2012 | 9:00 pm
    Home-buying invasion to continueSouth China Morning Post (subscription)The number of mainlanders acquiring homes in Hong Kong will continue to rise this year, when they are expected to account for a quarter of the money spent buying flats. Data compiled by Midland Realty shows individual mainlanders spent HK$62.3 billion

  • Remax Real Estate Concepts - Lincoln Journal Star

    27 Jan 2012 | 1:11 pm
    Remax Real Estate ConceptsLincoln Journal StarRE/MAX Real Estate Concepts provides a wide range of real estate services and utilizes the most current technology, processes and systems to assist you with all of your home buying and home selling needs.RE/MAX was founded in 1973 by Dave and Gail and more »

  • Choices available for home buyers! - Moneycontrol.com

    27 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am
    Moneycontrol.comChoices available for home buyers!Moneycontrol.comRisk is high - All is not so well in under construction home buying though. There have been cases where builders could not complete the housing complex and buyers lost the money. Real estate sector is full of such stories where the builders could not
 
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    Home Buying News

  • Home-buying invasion to continue

    28 Jan 2012 | 5:08 am
    The number of mainlanders acquiring homes in Hong Kong will continue to rise this year, when they are expected to account for a quarter of the money spent buying flats.

  • Buying homes 'cheaper than renting'

    28 Jan 2012 | 12:53 am
    Average monthly mortgage payments for a three-bedroom house in Scotland was 510 in December 2011, 6% lower than the average monthly rent of 540 paid on the same property type.

  • Buying now cheaper than renting, Halifax says

    28 Jan 2012 | 12:53 am
    Buying a house is now much cheaper than renting, mortgage lender Halifax has claimed, in a remarkable turnaround from three years ago when the soaring property market priced out all but the wealthiest buyers.

  • Plunging mortgage charges and house prices mean owning a home is...

    27 Jan 2012 | 8:39 pm
    If you own your home you are now almost 1,400 a year better off than someone renting, a study revealed yesterday.

  • Home Buyers: On Appraisals, Follow The Money?

    27 Jan 2012 | 4:34 pm
    The new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is working on a real estate issue that gets to the core of the agency's purpose: Bringing clarity and better disclosures about the often opaque and costly fees that home buyers, sellers and refinancers are hit with at closings.
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    RISMedia » Today’s Top Story – Consumer

  • Builders Commend White House Focus on Helping Homeowners

    susanne
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:31 pm
    The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends President Obama for offering proposals in the recent State of the Union address to help families stay in their homes and stanch foreclosures, and is urging policymakers to take additional actions to …

  • Look for Continued Housing Market Recovery in 2012

    susanne
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pm
    The end of 2011 brought good news on the nation’s economic front, with unemployment in December falling to its lowest level in three years and the economy adding 200,000 jobs during the same month. Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of …

  • Success Strategies: 4 Quick Ways to Be More Productive

    susanne
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:45 pm
    If being connected 24/7 was supposed to make our lives easier, the business world didn’t get the memo. Most American professionals just can’t shake the end-of-the-day feeling that they didn’t get enough done. So day after day, they find themselves …

  • Miami Home Sales Break Record in 2011

    beth
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:04 pm
    Regional Spotlight—Miami home sales set a new record in 2011, exceeding transaction levels during the height of the real estate boom in 2005, according to the 26,000-member MIAMI Association of REALTORS® and the Southeast Florida Multiple Listing Service (SEFMLS). Total …

  • Finding the Positives in Economic and Housing Conditions in 2012

    susanne
    22 Jan 2012 | 12:05 pm
    While 2011 was clearly a challenging year, there is a lot to be positive about looking ahead. Economically, while buffeted by natural disasters and fiscal policy indecisiveness at home and a European sovereign debt crisis abroad, the U.S. economy was …
 
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    RISMedia » Today’s Marketplace

  • Remodeling Market Index Rises to Five-Year High

    susanne
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:02 pm
    Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. Released yesterday, the RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter …

  • Builders Commend White House Focus on Helping Homeowners

    susanne
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:31 pm
    The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends President Obama for offering proposals in the recent State of the Union address to help families stay in their homes and stanch foreclosures, and is urging policymakers to take additional actions to …

  • Look for Continued Housing Market Recovery in 2012

    susanne
    25 Jan 2012 | 3:57 pm
    The end of 2011 brought good news on the nation’s economic front, with unemployment in December falling to its lowest level in three years and the economy adding 200,000 jobs during the same month. Dave Liniger, chairman and co-founder of …

  • Real Estate Trend: More Buyers Pay In Cash

    susanne
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:38 pm
    In another sign that investors are more important to residential real estate markets than ever, nearly one out of three home sales in December went to buyers who paid all cash. In fact, so many investors are winning sales with …

  • Rand on Real Estate: Individual Investor Searches for Next Big City

    beth
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:12 pm
    A caller from Manhattan talks about the complete turnaround that Harlem has experienced over the past 10 years. Now he wants to find the next city poised for gentrification. Is Detroit the next turnout city? Greg Rand (@gsrand), …
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    First Time Home Buyer Blog

  • FHA Escrow Refund and Mortgage Escrow

    4 Jan 2012 | 3:05 pm
    Have you sold your home and paid off the FHA mortgage loan? Then you may have an FHA Escrow Refund coming. Find cool information on how you can get your refund.

  • FHA Streamline Refinance Loan

    4 Jan 2012 | 2:36 pm
    What is a FHA Streamline Refinance Loan? This is a special refinancing program that cuts down on the amount of paperwork required of homeowners to refinance.

  • FHA Reverse Mortgage - HUD Program

    4 Jan 2012 | 1:11 pm
    How can a reverse mortgage benefit me? Find out how the HUD program works. This is the coolest of the FHA home mortgages for homeowners that are 62 and older who want to use the equity in their home.

  • FHA Mortgage Insurance Costs - Premium

    4 Jan 2012 | 11:56 am
    What are the FHA mortgage insurance costs? Zero in on what those costs are and the advantages of FHA PMI.

  • FHA Closing Costs for Home Loan

    2 Jan 2012 | 2:02 pm
    What are FHA closing costs? One of the unique things about these closing costs is it can be financed into your FHA loan so you can have very little upfront cost.
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    Maryland Real Estate Authority

  • Researching Dunkirk Real Estate

    Maryland Real Estate
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:17 am
    Before you buy or rent a house, it’s always a good idea to do some research on the neighborhood. Nowadays, many people surf the Internet for all kinds of information, and the Washington Post provides an online Neighborhood Guide so you can learn more about various locations in Maryland. Let’s use this Neighborhood Guide to take a look at Dunkirk real estate. In the Overview page, you will find relevant information on Dunkirk demographics, real estate, transportation, and nearby neighborhoods. According to the data, the average home sold price in Dunkirk is $297,064 and the…

  • Maryland Real Estate Home Improvement Tips Part 2

    Maryland Real Estate
    25 Jan 2012 | 4:16 am
    In Part 1 of the Home Improvement Tips, we touched on the Budget and Hiring a Contractor. Today, we will look at some common home improvement mistakes that are to be avoided. Self-Expression Many home owners have a creative streak and they think of their home as the perfect canvas where they can “paint” their masterpiece. While it’s always good to express yourself, it doesn’t make much financial sense to make a highly personal imprint on your home. What’s “perfect” for one person may not be quite so acceptable to another person. In this…

  • Maryland Real Estate Home Improvement Tips Part 1

    Maryland Real Estate
    23 Jan 2012 | 3:32 am
    Do you know that home improvement can be addictive? It’s understandable because home owners want to create the best home possible, and many times, they get carried away, investing heavier and heavier into the project. When you undertake a home improvement project, it’s important to keep your eye on the final outcome, and consider how the additions or renovations can add to the value of your property. Here are some essential home improvement tips to help you along.   Determining the Budget Before anything else, determine how much you are prepared to spend on the project. The…

  • Buyer’s Advantage in Maryland Real Estate

    Maryland Real Estate
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:20 am
    Everybody knows that the recession has caused the prices of homes to stagnate, resulting in a rather bleak real estate landscape for home sellers. On the other hand, the situation presents fantastic opportunities for home buyers. Since interest rates are lower, prices of homes are stable or lower, and income needed to qualify for home mortgages has fallen drastically, the advantage clearly swings to the side of home buyers. According to the Washington Post study, homes have become more affordable across the State of Maryland. In 2011, there are only two Zips that require an income…

  • How Much Maryland Real Estate Can You Afford?

    Maryland Real Estate
    18 Jan 2012 | 3:17 am
    Perhaps, you have been thinking about owning your own home, and you have started to look at some property listings around the area, trying to find the perfect property. Certainly, the hunt can be quite exciting, especially for first-time home owners but without the right focus, you may be wasting time and money. Before anything else, it’s important to know how much home is affordable to you. Here’s a very simple way to make the calculations. Almost all home owners buy their property by acquiring mortgages, and the loan amount is determined by income, debt, expenses, among other…
 
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    Mortgage Blog | Mortgage Information & Tips | Mortgage101 Blog

  • Obama Administration Ramps Up Aid for Troubled Homeowners

    Amber Nelson
    27 Jan 2012 | 4:29 pm
    In an attempt to help more underwater homeowners, the Obama administration announced Friday plans to expand its current refinance program by encouraging more participation from mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Under the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, banks have received incentives to lower principal on loans for borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth. Currently, about 20 percent of all American homeowners fit into that category. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, now under government conservatorship, hold many of those mortgages however, and have been…

  • Principal Write-downs Too Expensive for Fannie, Freddie

    Amber Nelson
    24 Jan 2012 | 12:28 am
    As lawmakers put pressure on mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make principal write-downs on underwater loans, the regulator for the two firms sent a letter to Washington on Friday making clear how expensive that plan would be. More than 20 percent of all U.S. homes have negative equity at this point, according to mortgage data company CoreLogic, for a combined equity deficit of $750 billion. Borrowers in this situation often choose to default, even when they could keep up with the payments. Beyond foreclosure problems, this widespread issue keeps borrowers stuck in…

  • Existing Home Sales Post Third Monthly Gain

    Amber Nelson
    20 Jan 2012 | 11:15 pm
    In a potentially hopeful sign for the U.S. housing market, sales of existing homes rose in December for the third straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors. Total sales grew 5.0 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 4.61 million homes last month, from November’s downwardly revised 4.39 million rate. Compared with December 2010, sales were up 3.6 percent. Sales as a whole in 2011 rose 1.7 percent to 4.26 million from 4.19 million in 2010. NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun viewed the latest figures with a very optimistic eye. “The pattern of home…

  • Transcripts: Fed Failed to See Housing Market Warning Signs

    Amber Nelson
    16 Jan 2012 | 4:17 pm
    Even though there were indications that the housing bubble was unsustainable, the Federal Reserve made little effort to look into the issues during 2006, according to recently-released transcripts from the Fed’s meetings. Granted, it is always difficult to foresee major shocks to the system, housing prices in the U.S. had not fallen since 1991, and it certainly seemed like that they would continue to rise indefinitely. Yet, there were warning signs. According to a Forbes article: “Heated Congressional hearings had already focused on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s risky…

  • Reuters Poll: Home Prices to Stabilize This Year

    Amber Nelson
    13 Jan 2012 | 4:21 pm
    This year will finally be the end of five years of U.S. home price declines, according to a recent poll from Reuters. The panel of 23 economists and analysts believe the S&P/Case-Shiller home price index during 2012 will not change from it current position. While homeowners certainly would rather hear predictions of price gains, a bottoming-out is better than another year of price drops. This latest forecast is more upbeat than November’s when economists though that prices would fall 0.3 percent this year. “I think we are seeing stabilization, but unfortunately it’s…
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    ForSaleByOwner.com: Blog

  • What the NAR Doesn't Get About FSBO's

    27 Jan 2012 | 10:37 am
    This week’s topic is the NAR data correction. The NAR counts any agent involvement in a sale as an agent-assisted sale – even when a by-owner seller simply uses an agent to get a listing onto the local multiple listing service, and identifies as a by-owner seller. In fact, the NAR's own 2011 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers proves that alternative agencies are making significant inroads: • 25% of sellers list with agents that "list the home on the MLS and perform few is any additional services" -- precisely the model offered by ForSaleByOwner.com • 30% of sellers list with…

  • 5 Killer Sources for Figuring What Your House is Worth

    26 Jan 2012 | 11:10 am
    This week we’re taking a look at the National Association of Realtors’ sweeping statistical correction. If you can’t trust the NAR’s statistics on home sales, who can you trust? Plenty of folks. First, mortgage market giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spin off bushels of statistics from their mortgage databases. They even offer a handy home-price calculator by metropolitan market (more than 300 of ‘em!) so you can see how your home value has changed. (This provides a useful tool for pricing your home and defending that price with appraisers and to buyers when…

  • The Truth Behind the NAR's Data Correction

    25 Jan 2012 | 10:52 am
    For years, the National Association of Realtors statistical reports had been drifting out of touch with reality. Finally, under increasing pressure from critics, on Dec. 21, the NAR released a sweeping statistical correction: from 2007 to 2010, an average of 14% fewer houses actually sold, compared to prior NAR reporting. This week’s ForSaleByOwner.com blogs will parse some of the details in the NAR’s report, explored more fully in our Education section. The NAR downplayed it statistical missteps by emphasizing the corrected statistics were national, and of course, real estate markets are…

  • It's Going To Be Harder to Hire a Good Contractor

    19 Jan 2012 | 9:36 am
    Last fall's lift in home sales has just delivered an unexpected side effect: remodeling is off to a surprisingly strong start to 2012. The Harvard Joint Center on Housing tracks remodeling activity, and today released its latest report, documenting the uptick. JCH attributes this to the high number of lower-end houses sold in late 2011. Those houses apparently needed work, and now. Investors, who have been buying distressed houses wholesale, aren't wasting any time fixing up those properties so they can be rented or resold. Here's what that means for you: If you are thinking of buying a run…

  • Less is More, A Lot More, for Today's Buyers

    13 Jan 2012 | 10:10 am
    Less house means less money...and less hassle, less cleaning and less maintenance. According to the Chicago Tribune, home buyers are getting very practical. They're zeroing in on their needs and quickly eliminating their 'wants' as they seek to get the most for their money. Here's a summary of most-wanted and least-wanted amenities. You're in luck if your house already has the most-wanted. If your house has the least-wanted, consider how staging can reposition those spaces as most-wanted. What buyers want: First-floor flex rooms that can be used for dining, exercise, games or a home office…
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    Mortgage News Daily

  • MBS RECAP: 1/27/2012

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryMBS Live : MBS RECAP Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-22 : +0-06 FNMA 4.0 105-19 : +0-04 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-01 FNMA 5.0 107-30 : -0-02 GNMA 3.5 105-03 : +0-04 GNMA 4.0 107-23 : +0-02 GNMA 4.5 109-07 : -0-02 GNMA 5.0 110-24 : -0-08 FHLMC 3.5 103-16 : +0-06 FHLMC 4.0 105-11 : +0-03 FHLMC 4.5 106-08 : +0-00 FHLMC 5.0 107-14 : -0-02 Pricing as of 4:03 PM EST Afternoon Market Updates A recap of MBS Market Updates provided by MND Analysts and streamed live to the MBS Live Dashboard . 2:28PM : ALERT: MBS Hit Day's Highs, Underperforming TSYs in Low Volume The day,…

  • Mortgage Rates Improve For a 3rd Straight Day, Nearing All-Time Lows Again

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:52 pm
    Posted To: Mortgage Rate WatchMortgages Rates continued their march into better territory today, capping a 3 day effort of improvement following Wednesday's FOMC Announcement. At this point, rates have not only solidified their re-entry into 3.875% Best-Execution levels, but some lenders are once again competitively priced at rates below that (for detail on "best-execution," READ THIS POST ). That said, we've seen a high degree of stratification over the past 3 days as lenders have responded to the bond market rally at different paces. When we say that rate offerings are more stratified,…

  • AG Holder Announces Structure of MBS Fraud Unit

    Jann Swanson
    27 Jan 2012 | 12:36 pm
    Posted To: MND NewsWireThe formation of the Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group tasked with investigating mortgage fraud is now official. The new office, which will be part of the Administrations Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF) was first announced by President Obama in his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. At a press conference this morning (video below), Attorney General Eric Holder along with Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Director of Enforcement Robert Khuzami and New York Attorney…

  • MBS End Week Near All Time Highs, But Benchmark Rally Momentum is Slowing

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:55 am
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryThe trading day is rapidly growing uneventful and charts suggest that quite a few market participants already have one or more feet out the door for the weekend. The only real pop of volume and volatility was seen around this morning's GDP report, which was generally a mild boon to bond markets. Consumer Sentiment was close enough to consensus as to have been a non-event and everything since then has been even less so. Trading ranges are narrowing... Stocks and Bonds are following each other to a greater extent... and Volumes are rapidly dwindling... Unless something…

  • MBS MID-DAY: 1/27/2012

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:19 am
    Posted To: MBS CommentaryMBS Live : MBS MID-DAY Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-18 : +0-02 FNMA 4.0 105-17 : +0-02 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-00 FNMA 5.0 108-01 : +0-01 GNMA 3.5 104-31 : +0-01 GNMA 4.0 107-21 : +0-00 GNMA 4.5 109-06 : -0-03 GNMA 5.0 110-30 : -0-02 FHLMC 3.5 103-12 : +0-02 FHLMC 4.0 105-09 : +0-02 FHLMC 4.5 106-09 : +0-01 FHLMC 5.0 107-17 : +0-01 Pricing as of 11:04 AM EST Morning Market Updates A recap of MBS Market Updates provided by MND Analysts and streamed live to the MBS Live Dashboard . 10:15AM : Fed's Dovish Dudley Says Recovery to Slow in 2012 RTRS – Fed’s…
 
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    mortgage news - Google News

  • Schneiderman: Objection resolved in mortgage deal - Wall Street Journal

    28 Jan 2012 | 4:30 am
    ABC NewsSchneiderman: Objection resolved in mortgage dealWall Street JournalAP ALBANY, NY — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says there's been a resolution of one major objection to a proposed settlement between US states and the nation's biggest mortgage lenders over deceptive foreclosure practices.Justice unit to probe mortgage-backed securitiesNorth County TimesHolder Announces Working Unit on Mortgage-Backed Bonds FraudBusinessWeekDetails on intensified plan to root out mortgage-securities fraud Philadelphia InquirerCNN -San Francisco Chronicleall 862 news…

  • Tight-Fisted Mortgage Lenders Pressure Home Sales - WITN

    28 Jan 2012 | 2:18 am
    Southern Daily PressTight-Fisted Mortgage Lenders Pressure Home SalesWITNMortgage rates are at rock-bottom lows, making houses more affordable than they have been in decades. Yet home sales last year fell to the lowest levels since the government began keeping records in 1963. One big reason: mortgage bankers have gotten a Analysis: Banks expect to spend less on bad mortgagesReutersAttack of the zombie mortgagesMSN MoneyAnalysis: Banks expect to spend less on bad mortgages (NEWS.GNOM.ES)NEWS.GNOM.ES (press release)Banktech -Southern Daily Pressall 30 news articles »

  • Chicago-based Commercial Mortgage Firm Sets 100% Growth Goal for 2012 - San Francisco Chronicle (press release)

    28 Jan 2012 | 2:02 am
    Chicago-based Commercial Mortgage Firm Sets 100% Growth Goal for 2012San Francisco Chronicle (press release)Clopton Capital, a Chicago commercial mortgage provider is setting the aggressive goal of expanding by 100% in size and profit over the course of 2012. Clopton Capital, a Chicago commercial mortgage provider is setting the aggressive goal of expanding and more »

  • Condo buyers frustrated in hunt for FHA mortgages - The Seattle Times

    27 Jan 2012 | 11:14 pm
    Condo buyers frustrated in hunt for FHA mortgagesThe Seattle Times(January 27, 2012, by Rncher) MORE CHICAGO — Buying a condominium is getting trickier for anyone who wants to put down only 3.5 percent and have the government insure their mortgage. The issue isn't just the borrower's financial wherewithal.and more »

  • US loosens mortgage aid requirements - Palm Beach Post

    27 Jan 2012 | 8:04 pm
    eCreditDaily.comUS loosens mortgage aid requirementsPalm Beach PostBy Kimberly Miller Investors with rental properties and homeowners struggling to pay their mortgages because of other debt can now qualify for federal aid under radical changes to the Obama administration's main foreclosure prevention plan.Obama administration bolsters homeowner lifelineReutersHAMP Loan Program Expands, Too Little Too LateHuffington PostHAMP Mortgage-Mod Rules Eased, More Write-Downs EyedeCreditDaily.comNewsMax.com -PolitiFact -National Mortgage Professional Magazineall 100 news…
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    The Mortgage Lender Implode-O-Meter (main list & news)

  • DOER ALERT: Wells Fargo this is Unnecessary, Unreasonable and Unthinkable

    27 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm
    "When you're dealing with a family that has lived in their home and been a part of their community for 15 years... who have raised four children in that home... and has contacted you because the father in that family who works for the school district has been seriously injured in a work-related auto accident and placed on workers comp... right after his wife lost her SECOND JOB (that's right, she works two jobs), and they have a special needs child, a beautiful daughter who is autistic... you KNOW you are dealing with VERY RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE, right?"

  • Hamptons Home Prices Fall 13% as Buyers Balk

    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm
    ``Home prices in New York's Hamptons, the beachside retreat of financiers and celebrities, declined 13 percent in the fourth quarter from a year earlier as buyers opted for less-expensive properties.''

  • Bank of America halts refi operation, says move is temporary

    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm
    Bank of America has stopped originating cash-out home-refinance loans. The new policy went into effect last week. And the Charlotte, N.C.-based bank has suspended all mortgage refinancing activity that allows homeowners to convert equity in their homes to cash. ... BofA spokesman Terry Francisco confirmed the policy when contacted by the Charlotte Business Journal, a sister publication of The Business Review. However, he says the change is only temporary. He says the bank has seen a "tremendous surge" in refi applications since a new federal policy took effect Jan. 17. That policy allows…

  • Mitt Romney Benefits From Tax Loophole Most Investors Oppose, Poll Finds

    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm
    "Two-thirds of global investors say that the tax break on carried interest -- a loophole that allows private equity managers to pay a lower tax rate on the interest on certain forms of income -- is unjustified, according to a Bloomberg poll of more than 1,000 investors."

  • BREAKING: Silver Miner To Buy Into Sprott's PSLV; Start Holding Silver In Lieu Of Cash

    26 Jan 2012 | 6:00 pm
    Update 2: In fact it was First Majestic; Endeavour did something different (held back inventory). Here it is straight from First Majestic's Todd Anthony (again, via Jim Willie): From: Todd Anthony [mailto:todd@firstmajestic.com] Sent: Friday, January 27, 2012 11:33 AM Subject: RE: Todd Yes, that is correct. First Majestic invested $10M in PSLV in the recent offering and was the only miner to do so. Endeavour Silver held back inventory which is what Eric has been repeating. Two different things. Regards, Todd Anthony Investor Relations Manager First Majestic Silver Corp Update: Max Keiser…
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    Mortgage News

  • FDIC Losses Almost $1 Billion On YTD Bank Failures| Problem Bank List

    28 Jan 2012 | 2:42 am
    Various statistics prove that regulators are allowing hopelessly insolvent banks to remain open. The banks closed so far during 2012 have been in much worse shape than those closed during 2011.

  • Tennessee Shocked By Two Large Bank Failures | Problem Bank List

    28 Jan 2012 | 1:02 am
    Until today, the State of Tennessee, had seemed isolated from the banking crisis. For almost a decade, there were no banking failures in Tennessee, with the last one occurring on November 8, 2002. Tennessee's luck came to an abrupt halt today with the closing of two banks -

  • Minnesota Bank Fails Under Bad Loans | Problem Bank List

    28 Jan 2012 | 1:01 am
    Minnesota, which had only two banking failures during 2011, got off to a fast start for 2012 with the closing of a small locally owned community bank.

  • 62 Year Old Bank Fails In Jacksonville, FL | Problem Bank List

    28 Jan 2012 | 12:59 am
    First Guaranty Bank and Trust Company of Jacksonville, Florida, the oldest bank in Jacksonville, was closed today by state regulators. First Guaranty Band and Trust was a family owned bank with a 62 year history. Inexplicably, according to the Bank's website ... (more)

  • Billion Dollar Bank Failure In Tennessee | Problem Bank List

    28 Jan 2012 | 12:57 am
    Tennessee Commerce Bank, Franklin, TN, with $1.2 billion dollars in assets, was closed today by state regulators. The failure of Tennessee Commerce is the largest banking failure of the new year and comes in a state that is a stranger to bank failures. Prior to today, the last banking failure in Tennessee was on...
 
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    Mortgage Video & Blogging Community

  • Home Affordable Refinance Program Update Harp 2 Bay Area San Francisco California March 2012

    Wendy Werdmuller
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:10 pm
    Copyright © 2008 This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint: 624cb81189efdcd150e488ea1962984f)

  • Guidelines for Purchasing a 3 to 4 Unit Property with FHA Financing in Alameda, CA

    Wendy Werdmuller
    27 Jan 2012 | 2:06 pm
    Copyright © 2008 This feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. The use of this feed on other websites breaches copyright. If this content is not in your news reader, it makes the page you are viewing an infringement of the copyright. (Digital Fingerprint: 624cb81189efdcd150e488ea1962984f)

  • 4 Easy Steps to HARP Program Refinance Bliss for Upside Down Florida Home Owners

    Chris Brown
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:17 pm
        Pick-Your-HARP-Lender: The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) Mortgage Program Requirements and Rates.   Why is the simple so frequently made complex?  This is the question I seem to be getting from other underwater home owners.  Other?  Yes.  I am one of them.  Until recently, there has not been a program for those of [...]

  • 8 Year Fixed to 30 Year Fixed. You Can Choose Your Loan Term In San Jose

    Rich Iacovetta
    20 Jan 2012 | 2:06 pm
      Did you know you can choose your loan term in San Jose, California? Usually mortgage banks will offer you a standard 30 year fixed or 15 year fixed mortgage, but did you know you can customize your purchase or refinance loan option for the term that you want on your San Jose house?  Let’s say you [...]

  • Chamberlin moves VA and FHA Mortgage Loan business to Oak Harbor

    Fred Chamberlin
    17 Jan 2012 | 5:41 pm
    I have moved to Oak Harbor Washington from Eugene/Springfield Oregon for Pinnacle Mortgage Planning . I am a government specialist and have been working in the mortgage loan business for over 20 years. I specialize in VA Guaranteed Home Loans and FHA Insured Loans.
 
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    MBS Commentary

  • MBS RECAP: 1/27/2012

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    MBS Live: MBS RECAP Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-22 : +0-06 FNMA 4.0 105-19 : +0-04 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-01 FNMA 5.0 107-30 : -0-02 GNMA 3.5 105-03 : +0-04 GNMA 4.0 107-23 : +0-02 GNMA 4.5 109-07 : -0-02 GNMA 5.0 110-24 : -0-08 FHLMC 3.5 103-16 : +0-06 FHLMC 4.0 105-11 : +0-03 FHLMC 4.5 106-08 : +0-00 FHLMC 5.0 107-14 : -0-02 Pricing as of 4:03 PM EST Afternoon Market Updates A recap of MBS Market Updates provided by MND Analysts and streamed live to the MBS Live…

  • MBS End Week Near All Time Highs, But Benchmark Rally Momentum is Slowing

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 11:55 am
    The trading day is rapidly growing uneventful and charts suggest that quite a few market participants already have one or more feet out the door for the weekend.  The only real pop of volume and volatility was seen around this morning's GDP report, which was generally a mild boon to bond markets.  Consumer Sentiment was close enough to consensus as to have been a non-event and everything since then has been even less so.  Trading ranges are narrowing... Stocks and Bonds are following each other to a greater extent...  and Volumes are rapidly dwindling...  Unless…

  • MBS MID-DAY: 1/27/2012

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 10:19 am
    MBS Live: MBS MID-DAY Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-18 : +0-02 FNMA 4.0 105-17 : +0-02 FNMA 4.5 106-25 : +0-00 FNMA 5.0 108-01 : +0-01 GNMA 3.5 104-31 : +0-01 GNMA 4.0 107-21 : +0-00 GNMA 4.5 109-06 : -0-03 GNMA 5.0 110-30 : -0-02 FHLMC 3.5 103-12 : +0-02 FHLMC 4.0 105-09 : +0-02 FHLMC 4.5 106-09 : +0-01 FHLMC 5.0 107-17 : +0-01 Pricing as of 11:04 AM EST Morning Market Updates A recap of MBS Market Updates provided by MND Analysts and streamed live to the MBS Live…

  • The Day Ahead: GDP, Consumer Sentiment, and Euro Headline Potential

    Matthew Graham
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:56 am
    Volume in the overnight session was just under recent averages but respectable overall.  10yr Treasuries rose as high as 1.9681 after a relatively strong Italian debt auction.  Beyond that, there was no major driver of trade as it seems bond markets have opted to shy away from overly aggressive bullish breakouts and are perhaps waiting for this morning's GDP, next week's NFP, or resolution to Greek bond-swap talks that may come some time in between.  MBS are opening 2-3 ticks lower; S&P futures just slightly higher, but generally followed bond markets overnight. The world…

  • MBS RECAP: 1/26/2012

    Matthew Graham
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:19 pm
    MBS Live: MBS RECAP Open MBS Live Dashboard FNMA 3.5 103-14 : +0-13 FNMA 4.0 105-14 : +0-08 FNMA 4.5 106-23 : +0-06 FNMA 5.0 107-31 : +0-06 GNMA 3.5 104-29 : +0-15 GNMA 4.0 107-20 : +0-10 GNMA 4.5 109-08 : +0-08 GNMA 5.0 110-32 : +0-08 FHLMC 3.5 103-08 : +0-13 FHLMC 4.0 105-07 : +0-09 FHLMC 4.5 106-07 : +0-07 FHLMC 5.0 107-15 : +0-06 Pricing as of 4:03 PM EST Afternoon Market Updates A recap of MBS Market Updates provided by MND Analysts and streamed live to the MBS Live…
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    Mortgage Fraud Blog - Perp Walk

  • Closing Attorney Admits Role in Mortgage Conspiracy

    27 Jan 2012 | 12:26 pm
    Kimberly S. Daise, Miami, Florida, an attorney, pled guilty on January 11, 2012, in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme relating to a property in the Versailles development in Wellington, Florida. 

  • Woman Sentenced for Mortgaging Property She Didn't Own

    27 Jan 2012 | 9:15 am
    Bonnie Sweeten, 40, Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 100 months in prison for fraud schemes in which she stole in excess of $600,000 from her employer and family members including mortgaging a property she did not own.

  • Real Estate Agent Admits Role in $6M Mortgage Fraud Scam

    27 Jan 2012 | 2:46 am
    Rodney T. Riddle, 44, Cincinnati, Ohio, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to submitting fraudulent mortgage loan applications to secure $6,971,870 from lending institutions as part of a mortgage fraud scheme.

  • Mortgage Fraudster Serving Sentence Admits Hiring Hit Man

    26 Jan 2012 | 9:18 am
    Aaron Hand, 40, plead guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Murder in the First and Second Degrees for conspiring to murder a witness who testified against him at his 2010 trial, at which he was convicted of masterminding a $100 million mortgage fraud.

  • Foreclosure Rescuers indicted for Fraud

    26 Jan 2012 | 2:55 am
    Philip Villasis, 41, and Ray D. Gata, 56, both of Chesapeake, Virginia, were indicted by a federal grand jury on nine charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for their roles in a foreclosure rescue scam involving straw buyers.
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    Structure Tech Home Inspections » Blog

  • Three ways to prevent your remodeling project from taking forever to complete

    Mike Otto
    24 Jan 2012 | 10:25 am
    Often I run into people who tell me that remodeling projects seem to drag on forever. And ever. And even a little bit more. My friend Terri lives in Chicago. She started a kitchen remodel in June 2011. It was supposed to be a two month project. As of November 2011, she still can’t use her kitchen. She and her partner are having to eat out every night – which is getting to be tiresome for a couple that loves to cook. I was just talking with my friend Heather Nemer last Thursday. She was bemoaning the fact that her contractor, who was a friend of the family, was taking three weeks to get…

  • Why the relief valve at the water heater is leaking, and what to do about it

    Reuben Saltzman
    22 Jan 2012 | 6:45 am
    When a temperature and pressure  (T&P) relief valve at a water heater leaks, it’s usually a simple fix; just replace the valve.   These valves cost less than $15, and replacing the valve is a very basic job – just drain some water out of the water heater, remove the discharge tube, and replace the valve.  No big deal. Unless it starts leaking again. If a recently replaced T&P relief valve starts leaking again, it probably means that the relief valve is only doing it’s job; it relieving excess pressure in the water heater.  When this happens, the fix gets a little…

  • How to prevent your outside faucets from freezing

    Reuben Saltzman
    17 Jan 2012 | 4:56 am
    Most homeowners who live in cold climates know it’s important to ‘winterize’ the outside faucets to prevent them from freezing, which can destroy the faucet or lead to a burst pipe.  The problem is that many people don’t quite get it right – winterizing the outside faucets in the fall seems like a simple thing to do, and it seems like it should be straightforward and easy, but there are a few tricks you need to know to make sure all the water is out. Garden hoses - First and foremost, disconnect your garden hose from the outside faucet.  If you leave your…

  • This home inspector’s love affair with flashlights

    Reuben Saltzman
    10 Jan 2012 | 4:48 am
    Why are home inspectors obsessed with flashlights?  It’s probably because flashlights are one of the few tools that home inspectors just absolutely couldn’t do an inspection without, and it’s the only tool that keeps getting better and better every year.  Now please excuse me while I geek out. Every time I get a new flashlight, I swear to myself that it’s the last flashlight I’ll ever need, and nothing could ever top it. The I’m-in-love-with-my-new-flashlight glow seems to wear off around the second month of ownership… but even sooner if I have the misfortune of…

  • My search for an out-of-state home inspector, part two: comparing inspection reports

    Reuben Saltzman
    3 Jan 2012 | 5:09 am
    In searching for a home inspector for out-of-state family members buying a home, I ended up comparing dozens of home inspector web sites, trying to separate the great home inspectors from the hacks.  It wasn’t difficult to find qualified home inspectors, but finding someone who I thought was a great home inspector was much more difficult.   As I mentioned at the end of my blog about finding an out-of-state home inspector, it all came down to comparing sample home inspection reports. Reading sample home inspection reports is the best way to compare home inspectors, short of actually…
 
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    U.S. Inspect Blog

  • What's Wrong With This Picture? Temporary Roof Repairs

    Bill Zoller
    27 Jan 2012 | 1:45 pm
    Answer:  Improper Roof Repair, Roof Replacement Needed Chasing an elusive roof leak... Roof leaks are problematic in that they can travel long distances from entry or source to the point they are observed. I believe from seeing the amount of "repair square footage" present, this is one of those leaks that hasn't been totally eliminated yet; and further attempts at repair are not likely to correct the issue. Anytime an inspector finds attempts at leak repair such as this, it will be designated on the inspection report as temporary, with a recommendation for proper replacement of…

  • Technical Jargon: Ventless Gas Fireplaces

    Bill Zoller
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:49 am
    The term 'ventless' or 'vent free' pretty much sums up the most important attribute of a natural gas or propane burning appliance one might purchase for a secondary home heating need. Ventless heating products come in a variety of types; heaters, fireplaces, inserts, stoves, and log sets. The common component of any of these types is the non-existant chimney, flue, or vent. The appliance is designed to remove oxygen from the air and create or combust flames, in turn, producing heat. Their function is constantly being monitored by an ODS (Oxygen Detection Safety) sensor and their efficiency…

  • Technical Jargon: Double Tapping

    Bill Zoller
    26 Jan 2012 | 9:02 am
    Double tapping in electrical jargon is defined as adding wires at fuse or breaker connections for the purpose of increasing the number of circuits available to the electrical system. Electrical code (NEC) does not allow this practice and is classified as a safety issue, unless such breaker is intentionally designed for connecting more than one wire at a time. If the breaker is designed for more than one wire connection it will  normally be indicated as such on the breaker. What is acceptable is to disconnect one of the wires and move to or install an unused breaker of corresponding…

  • It's a New Year! Are You Thinking Garage Sale?

    Bill Zoller
    25 Jan 2012 | 12:40 pm
    Anytime of the year is probably a good time to have a garage sale, yard sale, or moving sale unless of course you live in Williston, N.D. where the winter temps can be pretty extreme! However, with the beginning of this New Year 2012, I've heard many conversations and references to 'cleaning out stuff!". Okay, I'm with ya'! What better way than to organize a garage sale. Whether you're preparing to move or just reorganizing, here are a few ideas to consider if you're ready to put the sale in motion: Begin early. Many yard sales advertise 8am start. I can assure you if you say "7am", you'll…

  • Radon Testing Options - A Video

    Phil Halpin
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:38 pm
    In honor of Radon Action Month we're adding a few more short and sweet videos about Radon to the Video Library in our Agent Resource Center. We already defined Radon, and how it can kill you, so this one drills down into the testing options. Feel free to reuse on your blogs and websites.   This one minute video lays out the options you have for testing for Radon and goes over the pros and cons of each approach.
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    Approved Advisor

  • Unemployment Rate – December 2011

    admin
    24 Jan 2012 | 2:14 pm
    Because Housing and Jobs are so closely related, it is important to watch for changing trends in the Unemployment level. The chart below displays current levels of Unemployment by state. This information will be updated monthly. You might also like:Unemployment data across US – October 2011 Because Housing and [...]

  • Bank of America Suspends New Cash-out Refinance Applications

    admin
    20 Jan 2012 | 9:44 am
    Elevated refinance volume prompts decision Refinance activity is so busy that Bank of American Home Loans has made the decision to turn off the spigot for cashout refinancing. It’s the second time in four months that such a move has been made. From the end of 2011 until last week, inquiries for refinance loans [...]

  • Freddie Mac: Mortgage Rates Hit New All Time Record Low

    admin
    19 Jan 2012 | 10:47 am
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: McLEAN, VA — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing average mortgage rates changing little amid mixed economic data. Regardless, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage edged down slightly to 3.88 percent to a new all-time record low marking the [...]

  • November Housing Starts Increase – Highest Annual Rate Since April 2010

    admin
    20 Dec 2011 | 11:27 am
    November Housing Starts Housing starts for November rose 9.3% to 685,000. The highest annual rate since April 2010. Leading the way was multi-family units, rising 32.2%. Single-family units saw an increase of 2.3%. Over the last year, housing starts are up 24.3%. The Housing Starts report measures the number [...]

  • Freddie Mac Weekly Mortgage Rate Survey – “All Time Record Low”

    admin
    15 Dec 2011 | 9:36 am
    30-YEAR FIXED-RATE MORTGAGE MATCHES ALL-TIME RECORD LOW AT 3.94 PERCENT McLEAN, VA — Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS), showing average fixed mortgage rates at or near their all-time lows. The 30-year fixed matched the average all-time record low of 3.94 percent, and a new [...]
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    #1 Mortgage Magazine | Compare Mortgages | Mortgage News | Remortgage News

  • Reminder on Stamp Duty holiday

    Ben Wilkie
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:08 am
    Estate agents have issued a reminder to first time buyers that the Government’s holiday on Stamp Duty Land Tax will come to an end in two months’ time, on Saturday 24th March 2012. Wendy Evans Scott, president of the NAEA said: “With only two months remaining, first time buyers must act quickly to avoid paying [...]

  • Mortgage lending continues to grow

    Ben Wilkie
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:06 am
    Gross mortgage lending in December was an estimated £11.7 billion, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. This represents a 12 per cent drop from £13.2 billion in November but a 12 per cent rise from December 2010 (£10.5 billion). December was the fifth month in a row of higher year-on-year lending. Lending totalled an [...]

  • YBS expands buy-to-let offering

    Ben Wilkie
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:04 am
    Yorkshire Building Society has extended the geographical reach of its buy-to-let proposition to cover loans on suitable properties across England and Wales. The move represents the next step in the Society’s staged entry into the market and is accompanied by a review to the lender’s criteria. The Yorkshire entered the buy-to-let market in August 2011, [...]

  • Tide turning in rental sector

    Ben Wilkie
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:02 am
    An easing in the demand for rental property and a rise in the numbers of tenants struggling to meet their monthly rent payments signals that the rental market may be softening, new research from the Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) suggests. According to ARLA’s latest research, in Q4 2011 just over half (55 per [...]

  • Millions cutting back on fuel and food bills to pay mortgage

    Ben Wilkie
    24 Jan 2012 | 4:00 am
    More than one in five people (22 per cent) have spent less on gas and electricity to help pay their rent or mortgage in the last 12 months, and just over one in three (34 per cent) have spent less on food, according to a new survey from Shelter. The results from the YouGov survey [...]
 
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    VA Home Loan Centers

  • New Regulations May Harm Borrowers Who Seek A Loan Modification

    admin
    26 Jan 2012 | 2:23 pm
    San Diego, CA January 26, 2012 VA loan regulations may be too restricitve for those seeking relief. VA Home Loan Centers announces new updates to the loan mod regulations may be too restrictive to provide adequate assistance for those seeking assistance with their VA loans. The Department of Veterans Affairs has enacted temporary changes to the administrative law governing federal VA home loan modification. VA Home Loan Centers comprehends that the intention of the short-term regulation reform was to allow loan servicers direct authority to modify VA loans in their portfolios. This adjustment…

  • VA Home Loan Centers Announces 2012 $0 Down VA Loan Limit Update

    admin
    25 Jan 2012 | 5:54 pm
        High cost areas see adjustments to the Government VA Home Loan Program in 2012. Although VA loan limits for most areas will remain unchanged, reductions to the $0 down maximum Veterans home loan eligibility are expected to affect some borrowers. Current homeowners looking to refinance and first-time home buyers who apply for VA loans in America’s most sought-after cities may be concerned about the changes. VA Home Loan Centers disclosed the 2012 $0 down VA home loan limits today. Barring any congressional action, the new $0 down VA loan limits will be implemented on January 1,…

  • Loan Modification Administrative Law Update

    admin
    25 Jan 2012 | 1:34 pm
    VA Home Loan Centers Excerpt From The Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 244 / Rules and Regulations SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VA Loans Statutory Background Under 38 U.S.C. chapter 37, VA guarantees loans made by private lenders to veterans for the purchase, construction, and refinancing of homes owned and occupied by veterans. Regulatory Background On February 1, 2008, VA published in the Federal Register (73 FR 6294) a final rule that extensively revised 38 CFR part 36 to modernize procedures for servicing VA-guaranteed home loans. A new subpart F was added to include § 36.4815, which…

  • San Diego Branch of VA Home Loan Centers Seeking Full Time Team Members

    admin
    6 Jan 2012 | 9:06 pm
      San Diego VA loans provider creating jobs for disabled vets and local jobless citizens. Actions seek to create national economic development. San Diego, California December 13, 2011 VA Home Loan Centers (VA HLC), a facilitator of VA Loan transactions, unveiled its plan to contribute to both the local and national economies. As part of this plan, VA HLC will embark upon its goal of creating full time employment. The plan also allows for an expansion of certain services designed to stimulate economic recovery such as approving VA loans after bankruptcy, foreclosure or short sale.

  • VA Home Loan Applications Unaffected by Reduction In US Credit Rating

    admin
    2 Jan 2012 | 8:50 pm
      VA Home Loan Centers is happy to announce loan applications for veterans won’t be compromised by US credit downgrade. August 23, 2011 VA Home Loan Centers recently announced that VA home loan applications have not been impacted by Standard & Poor’s decision to reduce the AAA rating of the US. In fact, according to VA Home Loan Centers’ Chief Loan Steward, Philip D. Georgiades, VA Refinance applications are up 21%. Standard and Poor’s announced August 5th that the United States’ credit rating was downgraded a notch. The decision came after the summer-long debt and…
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    Collier Stevens | Chartered Building Surveyors & Party Wall Specialists | London & Kent

  • Planning a Loft Conversion? – Party Wall Agreements

    Steven Way
    26 Jan 2012 | 3:23 am
    If you plan to do building works that may affect a party or structure (a ceiling for instance) between you and a neighbour then the provisions of the Party Wall act may apply. For a loft conversion this will almost certainly be the case if you live in a terraced or semi-detached house. A typical loft conversion incorporates a dormer on the rear or side of the house and the insertion of some structural steelwork to support both the new floor and the dormer. Usually the steelwork spans from the flank wall to the party wall in a semi-detached house and from party wall to party wall in a terraced…

  • Buying a House? Our Top Tips – Sash Windows

    Steven Way
    22 Jan 2012 | 6:38 am
    Double hung timber sash windows look great on older or period homes but they can be draughty and offer poor thermal performance, assuming you want to keep them and not replace them with modern double glazed units[we wouldn’t unless they look the part!] then there are a number of things to keep you eyes open for when you are viewing, all of these defects will reduce the life and performance of the window and require expenditure to correct - You need to check the sash cords are present, if they are pull them without opening the window – you should feel the weight on the end.  If you…

  • Download Templates for Party Wall Notices

    Steven Way
    20 Jan 2012 | 12:26 pm
    For quite a while we have provided free Party Wall Notice Templates at our sister site partywallsurveyors.co.uk, these are now available on our main Collier Stevens site. You can get them here, or complete the registration form below. Once registered [it’s free and you’re not signing up to hundreds of emails, newsletters etc] you can download any or all of the following notices as required by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996: Section 1 – Line of Junction Notice Section 3 – Party Structure Notice Section 6 – Adjacent Excavation Notices These notices are provided free of charge for your…

  • The vendors reduced the price by £10k … best £500 I’ve spent!

    Steven Way
    18 Jan 2012 | 2:50 am
    So just before Christmas we carried out at building survey on a small, late nineteenth century terraced house on the Kent coast, it needed some work as it had been lived in by an elderly occupant.  There was an extension that appeared to have been constructed in the 1950s and although not pretty it provided space for a better kitchen and bathroom and what was apparent is that other work had been carried out at around that time. During our inspection we noted that the roof the addition was of corrugated asbestos cement and that combined with the age of the extension set our surveying antenna…

  • Last Week We Noticed… Insulation, Japanese Knotweed & Book Shelves

    Steven Way
    19 Nov 2011 | 6:30 am
    The RICS are consulting for new Information Paper which aims to help valuers and consider the implications of Japanese Knotweed – an invasive plant feared for its damaging effects and ability to grow through masonry, concrete and we suspect kryptonite.
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    Mortgage Blog

  • Tips for Financing Your New Home

    guest
    13 Jan 2012 | 11:53 am
    Purchasing your first home comes with many exciting changes and new financial commitments, in addition to taking on a new mortgage. Making the leap from renting a house to owning your own home may be intimidating at first, but it doesn’t have to be. One of the most important things to do in order to maintain a financially feasible lifestyle is to create and stick by a budget religiously. This will ensure that you are able to pay for your mortgage and any additional financial commitments that may accompany this massive financial commitment. If you are looking for something more, here are…

  • Buying a Home in Atlanta

    Matthew
    2 Dec 2011 | 3:32 pm
    Atlanta, Georgia is an incredibly desirable place to live, with a nearby airport, a means of ground transportation as well as tropical climate and a deep, cultural history. The availability of build-able land in Atlanta enables home buyers to find virtually any kind and price of housing they desire. When searching for a home in Atlanta, there are a few things to keep in mind. Knowing how much you can afford and the type of home you want should always be at the top of your list. Once you’ve found a home that suits your needs, you need to make an offer. Sometimes this process can go on if…

  • What is a HUD Home

    Matthew
    15 Nov 2011 | 11:20 am
    What is a HUD (Housing and Urban Development) Home? An HUD home is a residential property recovered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a result of a foreclosure on an FHA-insured mortgage loan. HUD then offers the property for sale to recover some of the loses on the foreclosure claim. Who is eligible for a HUD home? Anyone is eligible for a HUD home as long as you have cash or can qualify for a loan. HUD homes are initially offered to people who are buying the home as their primary residence, often referred to as owner-occupant purchasers. Following the priority…

  • Mortgage Application Checklist

    Matthew
    14 Nov 2011 | 11:40 am
    Applying for a mortgage means more than filling out an application. No matter where you apply for a mortgage loan, you will need to assemble most of the following documentation to support your application. 1.Applications Forms: Uniform Residential Loan Application (Form 1003), fully completed and signed by all borrowers Borrower’s Certification & Authorization Application or Appraisal / Credit Report Fees 2.Information About Your Property: Copy of the fully signed Sales Contract or Binder of Sale (Purchase Only) Copy of the Deed to the Property (Refinance Only) Copy of…

  • What To Do If You Are In Debt

    Matthew
    11 Nov 2011 | 5:23 pm
    There’s one common theme that seems to be running through the veins of households and that is that as many as 60% are drowning in debt.  So what can you do if you are in debt? The reason so many people are in financial trouble is really quite simple.  Our modern day world encourages us to spend and with credit so easily available we have become spending addicts.  Now we can buy now pay later and never miss a step. Before you decide to make the major decision of going into bankruptcy which will ruin you financially and cause you to loose everything there are some things you can do. Give…
 
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    United Bilt Homes Blog

  • Homebuilders in the Headlines

    Rebecca
    24 Jan 2012 | 3:07 pm
    We’ve been seeing homebuilders in the headlines a lot recently. Homebuilders, the news tells us, are still depressed, or worried, or — our recent favorite — “Homebuilders Less Pessimistic.” Like, even when there’s good news, homebuilders are still pretty dismal. We’re assured that homebuilding will hit bottom this year, or maybe in 2013. How should this dreary news affect you if you’re thinking of building a house this spring? It might be important to investors considering buying stock in the homebuilding industry, but it shouldn’t affect…

  • Your Home Builder’s Financial Security

    Rebecca
    19 Jan 2012 | 5:34 pm
    Building a home involves a lot of thought about financial security. Your home can help create financial security for you. Getting a loan can make you wonder if you’re financially secure enough to qualify. The commitment of building a home can make you feel more secure — or challenge you to think about whether you’re ready for that secure, settled feeling. You may not ever think about how financially secure your home builder is. You should, though. A home builder that’s not financially secure may cut corners on the quality of materials. They may not be able to get…

  • It’s All About the Closets

    Rebecca
    17 Jan 2012 | 6:41 pm
    At a recent custom home builder’s trade show, a house designed by a closet company won the Critic’s Choice prize. There were 27 highly specialized closets — excuse us, organizational systems — in this house, and perhaps not much room for anything more. The designers envisioned a busy family living here, and figured that plenty of shelves and cubbyholes would make their lives more peaceful. United-Bilt Homes is not a closet company, but we know the importance of closets, as you can see from the floorplan of the Huntington, one of our most popular homes for busy…

  • Louisiana Tech Red Beans & Rice

    Rebecca
    12 Jan 2012 | 4:51 pm
    Louisiana Tech Red Beans & Rice 3 Cups of Dried Red Kidney Beans 9 Cups of Water (3 cups for every cup of beans) 2 Large Onions (Chopped) 1 LB of sliced sausage (I like the Eckridge brand) 1 Clove of Garlic ¼ cup of chopped parsley 1 Tablespoon of liquid shrimp and crab boil (this is the secret) Add a little Tabasco and salt to your liking as needed. Basically you combine the above ingredients. Bring to rolling boil and then simmer for 2 to 3 hours. Your house will smell wonderful. You will know when it is ready as the beans will soften and the mixture thickens. Serve over rice. I always…

  • Communicating with Your Home Builder

    Rebecca
    10 Jan 2012 | 9:21 am
    When you get ready to build a house, you spend a lot of time talking to realtors, sales associates, and other people who work mostly with people. Once the work begins, you find yourself talking with your builders and contractors: people who work mostly with wood, metal, and wires. Communication can get more complex. Not only are your builders likely to use different words from the words you use (hint: “uh, you know that dohickey on the, well, the inside of the door?” is not the correct name for anything), they may also be more direct in their speech. They’re the experts,…
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    Hands On Home Buyer

  • Buying A House so You Can Have a Garden? Why Wait?

    Pamela
    27 Jan 2012 | 6:44 am
    I ask every first home buyer I meet: “Why do you want to buy a house?” I hear lots of reasons. But the most common one? “Because I want a yard so I can garden.” Who says you need to own a house to garden? It’s not too early to think about gardening in 2012. [...]

  • Bad, Enh, and Good Ways for First Home Buyers to Save Money

    Pamela
    26 Jan 2012 | 6:57 am
    No one ever has too much money when they buy their first house. Search the web and you’ll find thousands of ideas to increase your savings. Here are a few quick tips to beef up your savings to buy a house. Sell, Beg, Borrow, and Steal to Get Money to Buy a House Some of [...]

  • Shared Equity Homeownership – Is it a Good Idea for You?

    Pamela
    25 Jan 2012 | 7:23 am
    When most people sell their house for a profit, they keep all the proceeds. In shared equity homeownership, however, the seller keeps only some of the appreciation. Why would anyone do this? And is it something you should consider? What is shared equity homeownership and why did it start? Glad you asked. In some parts [...]

  • 5 Signs You Have Too Much Debt to Afford to Buy a House

    Pamela
    24 Jan 2012 | 6:33 am
    Yes, I know you dream of a house of your own. And it feels like you’ll never be able to pay off your debts. But if you’re already stressed by your existing debt, why do you want to add to it? If You Can’t Pay Your Debts, Why Do You Think You Can Afford a [...]

  • City Water vs Well Water: What’s the Difference?

    Pamela
    23 Jan 2012 | 5:40 am
    You turn on the tap. Water comes out. Let up the stopper and soapy water disappears down the drain never to be seen again. What could be easier? Does it matter if you have city water and sewer or a private well and septic system? First Home Buyer’s Primer on Water You can’t live without [...]
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