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Gina Ragusa
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February 27, 2012 at 2:55 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage Rates
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After nearly a month at a record low, 30-year fixed mortgage rates inched upward as signs of a rebounding housing market dominate the news.
While the rise was slight, the increase is being taken as an indication that the housing market may be on an upward swing. Freddie Mac reports that the 30-year fixed loan rate increased from 3.87% last week to 3.95%. Rates on the 15-year fixed loan only eked upward from 3.16% last week to 3.19% today.
Fueling the positive attitude toward the housing market is a report that the percentage of borrowers who are delinquent in their loans is decreasing and that new home construction is showing signs of life.
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Full Coverage|
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February 13, 2012 at 4:42 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Foreclosure and Bankruptcy
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In response to rising costs, banks are now offering foreclosure bound homeowners as much as $35,000 cash incentive to go for the short sale instead of continue to struggle directly into foreclosure.
The practice of short selling a home has become more popular in the wake of the mortgage bust only a handful of years ago. Until recently, many strapped homeowners just opted for foreclosure, unable to make mortgage payments or sell their home.
Unfortunately, foreclosure has a negative effect not only on the homeowner, but it can be extremely expensive for the lender, especially with the bounty of foreclosures currently haunting the market.
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Full Coverage|
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February 08, 2012 at 5:18 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Foreclosure and Bankruptcy
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Not all 50 states are keen to the deal aimed at providing mortgage loan relief to approximately one million underwater homeowners. Currently 40 states have signed on to the proposal that could provide up to $20,000 in principal mortgage relief but other states continue to hang back.
The deal is between five of the country’s largest banks and federal and state officials that could produce up to $25 billion in mortgage relief for qualified homeowners if all 50 states come to an agreement. This is the largest amount dedicated to housing relief since the housing bubble burst.
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Full Coverage|
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January 30, 2012 at 10:28 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage News
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While big bank and regulator negotiations continue, government officials have assembled a comprehensive mortgage meltdown task force.
On Friday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced the formation of the "Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group" aimed at developing new mortgages for those who are still struggling and buying and selling mortgages to distribute the risk.
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Full Coverage|
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January 25, 2012 at 8:02 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage Refinance
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During last night’s State of the Union address, President Obama acknowledged continued concern for the housing market by proposing a mortgage refinance plan that would save homeowners $3,000 a year on their mortgage.
The President said that there would be, "No more red tape. No more runaround from the banks." Adding that, "Responsible homeowners shouldn't have to sit and wait for the housing market to hit bottom to get some relief."
According to the Associated Press, the proposal is a new arm to the recently renovated Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP 2.0). Instead of only allowing borrowers with government-backed mortgages to refinance, those who financed through private lenders would also qualify.
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Full Coverage|
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January 24, 2012 at 8:38 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Foreclosure and Bankruptcy
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Regulators and government officials continue to slug it out with the big banks, trying to come to a resolution surrounding improper mortgage procedures that occurred last summer.
An astounding eight million U.S. homeowners have faced foreclosure since the market went bust and some lenders, in their haste to process foreclosures failed to verify information on the documents and even practiced “robo signing” where unauthorized employees signed documents.
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Full Coverage|
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January 19, 2012 at 10:30 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage News
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CoreLogic’s MarketPulse report released on January 18, indicated that 2012 could be the year the housing market finally starts to rebound. Some factors influencing predictions include improved unemployment figures, low mortgage rates and the rash of affordable homes.
Signs of life are everywhere. The Mortgage Bankers Association say that loan applications rose 23% last week and mortgage refinance activity swelled to 26.4% the week ending January 13.
The MBA says that this is the highest level since early August, as applications for new mortgages increased by 10.3% week over week.
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Full Coverage|
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January 12, 2012 at 12:31 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage News
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The government’s plan to reduce the number of abandoned, foreclosed homes in neighborhoods across the country may provide positive gains for the housing market.
In an effort to get the housing market back on track the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Treasury Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are behind a strategy to sell government-owned (Fannie Mae and/or Freddie Mac backed properties) foreclosures in bulk to investors with the goal of transforming the properties into rentals.
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Full Coverage|
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January 05, 2012 at 9:50 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Mortgage News
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Why 2012 is the year to finally buy a home or refinance your loan.
If your New Year’s Eve fortune cookie advised you to enter (or re-enter) the real estate market, it may be time to listen. Although rates have held tightly at historically low levels, impossible lending criteria and appraisals have made it difficult for the average consumer to obtain a mortgage.
However, with the dawn of a new year a light is being shed on the real estate and mortgage market that gives, “striking while the iron is hot” new meaning. Finally, consumers are seeing more opportunity to refinance or purchase a home today versus what they experienced over the past few years. Why?
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Full Coverage|
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January 02, 2012 at 9:36 PM
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By:
Gina Ragusa
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Personal Finance
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In a last minute decision, the Senate decided to tap into Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae resources to fund the latest payroll tax cut and unemployment benefit extension.
Senate Democrats and Republications had sparred for months about how to help an economy still on life support. Democrats considered funding a one-year payroll tax cut and unemployment benefit extension by imposing an income tax surcharge on income over $1 million. On the other side, Republicans were gunning to reduce the federal workforce and freeze its pay.
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Full Coverage|
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