- Where to watch, rate, get inspired by Super Bowl ads4 February 2012, 10:59 pm
An American tradition A long held American tradition that attracts more television viewers than the Super Bowl game is Super Bowl commercial watchers, as brands spend big dollars to make a big impression on the biggest advertising day of the year. Everyone becomes a critic and evaluates their favorite television ads, some preferring the creative, others the beautiful, yet others [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News ...
- Facebook calls you an active user even if you don’t use the site4 February 2012, 10:21 pm
Facebook’s dictionary raises eyebrows This week, Facebook filed their long awaited Form S-1 Registration Statement with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, targeting a $5 billion initial public offering (IPO) under the ticker “FB” as most guessed it would be. The rush to file was quickly spotted with technologist Paul Allen pointing out that investors will be most interested [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail ... - iPad app boosts productivity, saves professionals’ time4 February 2012, 5:57 am
Boosting productivity with an iPad app Sometimes taking and creating effective notes, plans, and documents requires more than just typing on a computer. Some find it easier to understand or formulate ideas when they have more freedom to create, draw, notate, and even scribble. The obvious solution is to do all of your note-taking and document formation and creation on [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News at AGBeat... - Business templates, videos for small business pros4 February 2012, 5:45 am
Knowledge is power Creating your first startup or small business can be an exciting and stressful experience, whether you’ve been in the business world for a while or you’ve just started out. The truth is, you probably have a lot to learn about how to run a business, where to begin, and how to keep it afloat in a tough [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News at AGBeat... - City may pull accounts from Wells Fargo for foreclosure abuses4 February 2012, 5:15 am
Foreclosure abuses In light of increasing reports of foreclosure abuses, the city government of Berkeley, California is considering pulling their $350 million out of all of their Wells Fargo accounts in exchange for a financial institution they deem less abusive and more consumer-friendly, according to the Oakland Tribune. This week, the Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to begin the discovery [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG ... - Android dominates market, mobile use going mainstream4 February 2012, 4:56 am
More phones are Androids A new comScore report notes that in the three month period ending in December 2011, Samsung was found to be the top handset manufacturer overall with 25.3 percent market share and Google Android increased to 47.3 percent of all smartphone operating systems, approaching the 50 percent mark nearly a year ahead of what was originally projected. [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News at AGBeat... - Apple Quicktake digital camera concept4 February 2012, 4:22 am
Genius digital camera concept From designer Joseph Dumary, known for his concept designs like the PlayStation 4, LaCie Mouse HDD concept and the Xbox Prestige, comes a new technology concept design for what he and others hope is the next generation of innovation in Apple accessories and devices. Dumary notes, “Imagine returning to a new era of digital camera. Apple [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News at AGBea... - Google takes steps to remove malware in Android Market3 February 2012, 10:15 pm
Android security In the last year, Google has taken heat for their Android Market being vulnerable to viruses and malware as their open attitude towards app developers sharply contrasts the closed door, approval-required Apple app environment. According to Google, device activations rose 250 percent year over year and the total number of app downloads from the Android Market surpassed 11 [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet m... - Glassdoor’s new Facebook feature boosts professional networking3 February 2012, 5:36 pm
Difficult to obtain connections Pursuing career goals means something different to each person. For some, it may mean that they just need to move up a few positions with their current company. For you, it can mean that you have to start the job search all over again, as your professional goals may involve another company or industry entirely. If [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG PartnerGet more News at AGBeat... - 15 gorgeous upholstered headboards – interior design trends3 February 2012, 5:14 pm
Beauty in the bedroom Whether upgrading your home, staging a home for sale, or simply looking for design inspiration, upholstered headboards are one of 2012′s hottest design trends, but we’re not talking your average headboard, we’re talking creative fabrics, textures, and sizes. We’re talking headboards that take up the entire wall or are so soft, you can’t help but to [...]Your missed calls are missed opportunities. Don't miss another with Better Voicemail AG ...
- Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 28 – February 34 February 2012, 5:29 pm
A quick rundown of the important real estate news from the week of January 28 – February 3, by the numbers: 8.3% – U.S. unemployment in January, the fifth straight month that unemployment has dropped. All together, 243,000 jobs were added in January, 100,000 more than economists had expected. 1.3% – Drop in home prices month-over-month [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 28 – Fe... - How We Improved Our Facebook Ad’s CTR by 2,000%3 February 2012, 4:44 pm
Recently we started running some split tests for our Facebook real estate marketing ads, and one of the ideas we tried is known as the “Where In” campaign. In other words, this is a way to pull in traffic via Facebook by displaying an advertisement that portrays a local landmark, which visitors can guess at [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. How We Improved Our Facebook Ad’s CTR by 2,000%... - Even Note Investing Has Guru Traps3 February 2012, 4:19 pm
Our education in any business is infinite, and my passion in note investing has given me the opportunity to meet with some amazing people in the note business and I actively look for new information to perfect my craft. Currently I receive daily newsletters and publications on the concept of note investing, some of which [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Even Note Investing Has Guru Traps... - Investment Property Valuation: Residential vs Commercial2 February 2012, 6:30 pm
A man and his realtor walk down the street and the man says “Realtor, I want to buy that house,” pointing to a beautiful 3 bedroom 2 bath home, “What should I offer?” The realtor responds, “Well, I’ve looked at the comparable sales in the neighborhood and it looks like another 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Investment Property Valuation: Residential vs Commercial... - Real Estate Investment Schools of Thought Vary – As Does Their Mileage2 February 2012, 1:25 pm
Many years ago a guy in his early 40s called for an office appointment. He’d invested in his first small income property, and was troubled by the advice his 70 year old dad had offered. In fact, there was tension between them about what investment strategies the younger man should employ. Dad, we’ll call him [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Real Estate Investment Schools of Thought Vary – As Does Their Mileage... - Know The Flood Zone Before You Buy1 February 2012, 7:05 pm
Today I learned a valuable lesson about the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the flood zone designation from our municipal tax database. I’ve known not to rely on the square footage or even the number of bedrooms listed in the tax assessor’s database, but I’ve always assumed that the flood zone designation was accurate. I have [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Know The Flood Zone Before You Buy... - Bulk Sales of GSE Foreclosures Begin1 February 2012, 3:42 pm
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today invited investors interested in purchasing pools of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and FHA foreclosures in the nations hardest-hit metropolitan areas with the requirement they rent them for a period of year to pre-qualify. The new bulk sales program, under discussion since August, will begin with a pilot program [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bulk Sales of GSE Foreclosures Begin... - Foreclosure Update: Happier Days on the Way for Judicial States1 February 2012, 1:03 pm
America has become a nation of two foreclosure realities: judicial states, where judicial review is required for every foreclosure, and non-judicial states. Both have their processing problems, but delays in judicial states are setting new records and impacting local real estate economies. December data from Lender Processing Services (LPS) paints a picture of increasingly clogged [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Foreclosure Update: Happi... - What’s Going on in REO World?31 January 2012, 2:33 pm
Crazy, crazy, crazy. One of the agents in my office recently got an assignment for an REO. How exciting!. Agents love REO assignments, and this wasn’t his first. Here’s the crazy part: When I was going over the paperwork, I noticed that the property had been foreclosed upon by the lender in 2008. I couldn’t believe it, so [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What’s Going on in REO World?... - If I were designing a Real Estate Investing Course31 January 2012, 1:33 pm
Please Note this is just an outline of a sample course and I am not selling or promoting anything. I am simply frustrated by the lack of straight forward, simple to understand real estate investing courses. I was so frustrated that I took some time on my yearly vacation to design an eight-hour program that [...]This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. If I were designing a Real Estate Investing Course...
- Home repairs: Which jobs come first?3 February 2012, 10:27 am
Lean times call for budgetary triage. But while you should clearly opt for orthodontics before Disneyland, the choice is tougher when it comes to home maintenance.... - Finally, a foreclosure settlement (Maybe)3 February 2012, 10:21 am
States have until late Monday to agree to the latest draft deal aimed at relieving homeowners struggling with mortgages bigger than their home's value.... - Mortgage rates hit another new low2 February 2012, 6:40 pm
Just one day after President Obama detailed a proposal to enable millions of homeowners to refinance to record-low mortgage rates, those rates notched another record.... - Mortgage probe unveiled as foreclosure talks loom2 February 2012, 5:35 pm
President Obama's latest probe into the mortgage meltdown will have more power than past efforts, and federal officials say it won't derail a possible $20 billion settlement for underwater and foreclosed homeowners.... - Obama proposes new home loan refinancing plan1 February 2012, 7:28 pm
The Obama administration on Wednesday detailed its latest plan to help millions of homeowners refinance their mortgages to today's historically-low rates.... - REITs to avoid1 February 2012, 3:18 pm
Investors are racing into REITs that promise higher yields than equity REITs. But be forewarned, the higher yields of these other types of real estate vehicles come with very real risks.... - Don't rush into REITs1 February 2012, 3:15 pm
You'd think that investors would be leery of companies that own and manage commercial real estate. Vacancy rates remain elevated in office buildings and shopping centers. Except for apartment buildings, rents really haven't grown at all in four years. And given the possibility that the global economy may retrench yet again, things could still get worse before they get better.... - Become your kid's mortgage lender1 February 2012, 10:40 am
Between slumping prices and low mortgage rates, it's a good time to look for real estate bargains. But thanks to tightened lending standards, legions of young would-be homebuyers aren't exactly in a position to take advantage of the opportunity. That's where their parents come in: One in three first-time buyers received either a gift or a loan from their families to help buy a home in 2011, according to the National Association of Realtors.... - Top 10 turnaround towns1 February 2012, 1:02 am
Florida's cities were some of the hardest hit by the housing bust, but now they are leading the charge back. Of Realtor.com's top 10 turnaround towns, eight are in the Sunshine State.... - Home prices post steep decline31 January 2012, 10:26 pm
Home prices posted a steep, month-over-month drop in November, falling 1.3%, according to the latest S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city report. Prices fell in 19 of the 20 cities the index covers....
- Middle-Of-Nowhere Mansions2 July 2010, 3:48 pm
Ultra-high-end homes are on the market for tens of millions in Door County, Wis., and other unexpected spots. What are they doing there?... - The New Homebuyer Tax Credit Won't Die --Should It?1 July 2010, 9:04 pm
The government has given buyers using the credit another three months to close sales, and the initiative is being imitated on a smaller scale by states and private companies. But some think the market would be better off if we laid it to rest for good.... - The World's Most Expensive Cities For Expats28 June 2010, 4:01 pm
A new study reveals the cities that cost the most for foreign-based companies and individuals....
- HUD ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL $31.5 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME SENIORS3 February 2012, 12:07 pm
WASHINGTON - Hundreds of very low-income senior citizens will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $31.5 million in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funding announced today (see attached list) will help non-profit organizations in five states produce additional accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly.... - HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR ALABAMA STORM VICTIMS2 February 2012, 12:07 pm
WASHINGTON-U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Alabama and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms, straight-line winds and flooding last month.... - HUD SECRETARY ANNOUNCES DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR UTAH STORM VICTIMS2 February 2012, 12:07 pm
WASHINGTON-U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Utah and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes following severe storms in November and December.... - TEMPORARY DISASTER PROGRAM FOR VICTIMS OF HURRICANES IKE AND GUSTAV TODAY - REMAINING FAMILIES GIVEN MORE TIME TO TRANSITION31 January 2012, 12:07 pm
WASHINGTON - A rental assistance program that temporarily housed nearly 20,000 families who were displaced by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008 officially ends today with only 3,500 households still enrolled in the program. To help these families find permanent housing solutions, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will provide $28 million to convert eligible families to its Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program.... - HUD AWARDS $20 MILLION IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES STABILIZE NEIGHBORHOODS HARD-HIT BY FORECLOSURE31 January 2012, 12:07 pm
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $20 million in technical assistance funding to 12 organizations that will, in turn, help local communities across this country stabilize neighborhoods hard-hit by foreclosure through HUD's Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)....
- 39 Republican senators challenge Cordray CFPB recess appointment3 February 2012, 10:40 pm
A group of 39 republican senators filed an amicus brief to join a court challenge of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director recess appointment. read more... - New FHA standards will increase Ginnie Mae prepayment risk3 February 2012, 10:13 pm
The Federal Housing Administration's recently announced plans to tighten its standards for approving lenders will increase prepayment risks for investors who own Ginnie Mae-back securities, analysts at Barclays Capital say. read more... - Illinois to use another $55 million to rehab vacant homes3 February 2012, 9:37 pm
The state of Illinois will launch a $55 million pilot program to finance the rehabilitation of previously foreclosed homes and help potential homebuyers purchase them. read more ... - NY loans weigh down multifamily CMBS performance3 February 2012, 8:14 pm
Multifamily loans backing commercial mortgage-backed securities are performing better than expected, but remain weighed down by the influence of rent-stabilized properties in New York, a Fitch Ratings report said Friday. read more... - Slow going for covered bond legislation3 February 2012, 6:56 pm
The latest legislation looking to establish a regulatory framework for a U.S. covered bond system to finance mortgages is being bogged down due to conflicts in the tax code. read more... - Suit against Goldman Sachs over RMBS obtains class-action status3 February 2012, 6:25 pm
A pension fund suing Goldman Sachs for selling investors $698 million in high-risk, mortgage-backed securities obtained class-action status this week. read more ... - NY AG sues big banks, MERS for mishandling foreclosure documents3 February 2012, 5:36 pm
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit Friday against three of the nation's biggest banks and Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems over allegedly fraudulent foreclosure actions. read more... - Housing adds little to employment growth3 February 2012, 5:23 pm
The January employment gains, the strongest since April, are partly due to healthy payroll additions in construction, but recent data on housing construction and starts suggest residential construction contributed little. read more... - FDIC seeks comment on stress test proposal3 February 2012, 5:11 pm
The FDIC is seeking comments on a proposed rule under the Dodd-Frank Act that would require covered banks to conduct annual stress tests. read more ... - Senate adds Fannie, Freddie bonus ban to Stock Act3 February 2012, 5:02 pm
The Senate agreed to a resolution that would stop executive bonuses at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, attaching the measure to a larger congressional insider-trading bill. read more...
- Housing is economy's elephant in the room3 February 2012, 8:48 pm
Commentary: President's real estate proposals 'will be without effect'read more... - Should leads go to buyer's agents or listing agents?3 February 2012, 8:23 pm
Letter to the Editorread more... - Tips for replacing air ducts in slab foundation home3 February 2012, 6:14 pm
Multiple broken joints may require rerouting system overheadread more... - Mortgage help for homeowners with hospitalized child3 February 2012, 5:53 pm
Bankers group to support charity in 3 new US locationsread more... - IRS crackdown on identity theft3 February 2012, 5:36 pm
Real Estate Tax Talkread more... - Mortgage rates probe new lows2 February 2012, 8:19 pm
Eight out of 10 loan applications are for refisread more... - Listing syndication debate heats up2 February 2012, 8:04 pm
Philadelphia-based broker defends Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.comread more... - Presidential hopefuls' housing plans compared2 February 2012, 6:47 pm
Varied approaches to Fannie and Freddie, MID, foreclosuresread more... - Secrets to working with foreign homebuyers2 February 2012, 6:10 pm
Tapping the international buying poolread more... - Top 10 U.S. real estate hotspots for international house hunters2 February 2012, 6:00 pm
Florida is top state, Las Vegas the No. 1 cityread more...
- MERS, Banks Sued by New York State; MERSCORP Responds3 February 2012, 8:44 pm
Three major banks and Virginia-based MERSCORP, Inc. and its subsidiary Mortgage Electronic Registrations Systems (MERS) were sued Friday by the state of New York. The suit, filed by the state's Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, charges that the creation and use of a privately national electronic registration system, MERS, "has resulted in a wide range of deceptive and fraudulent foreclosure filings in New York state and federal courts, harming homeowners and undermining the integrity ... - Geithner Outlines Accomplishments, Future of Financial Reform3 February 2012, 7:45 pm
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told the Financial Stability Oversight Council that the financial system is getting stronger and safer and that much of the excess risk-taking and careless financial practices that caused so much damage has been forced out. However, he said, "These gains will erode over time if we are not able to put our full reforms into place." He outlined the basic framework has been laid, with new global agreements to limit leverage, rules for managing the failure of... - HOPE NOW Conference Focused on Military Families, Mediation3 February 2012, 7:40 pm
HOPE NOW, the voluntary private sector alliance of mortgage industry stakeholders, recently concluded a two day conference in Washington which focused on assistance to military homeowners and foreclosure mediation. One group of servicers, investors, and housing counselors met with regulators, investors, and members of the military to discuss ways of reaching military families facing foreclosure because of their unique situation which includes Permanent Change of Station and other issues. ... - Reports Continue to Show Home Price Declines2 February 2012, 10:22 pm
CoreLogic and Lender Processing Services (LPS) have each released their most recent Home Price Indices. CoreLogic's HPI covers December; LPS's covers the month of November. Here is a quick review of each. LPS found that the average home price for transactions during November was $199.000, down 0.6 percent from the October average. This is the fifth consecutive month that this index has declined. Preliminary information on December sales indicates that the HPI might have l... - Homeowners Continue Shift Away from Cash-Out Refinancing2 February 2012, 9:14 pm
Homeowners who refinanced their homes during the fourth quarter of 2011 either refinanced for about the same amount or actually brought cash to the table according Freddie Mac. Fewer than 15 percent of those who refinanced during the quarter increased their loan amount by 5 percent or more. This is the lowest percentage of "cash-out" borrowers in the 26 years that Freddie has been tracking the statistics. During those 26 years covering 1985 to 2010 the average percentage of cas... - SEC Names Ex-Credit Suisse Employees in Subprime Fraud Scheme2 February 2012, 2:01 pm
Four former investment bankers and traders from the Credit Suisse Group were charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Wednesday violating multiple sections of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 while trading in subprime mortgage bonds. The indictments allege the four engaged in a complex scheme to fraudulently overstate the prices of $3 billion of the bonds during the height of the subprime credit crisis. The four are Kareem Serageldin, the group's former global head... - White House Details Housing Plans1 February 2012, 9:22 pm
Saying that the housing crisis struck right at the heart of what it means to be middle class, President Barack Obama has begun to flesh out the housing-related proposals he made in his State of the Union speech last Tuesday. He spoke this morning at Falls Church, Virginia about his housing plans, some pieces of which have already been put into effect by the Departments of Justice (DOJ), Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in the eight days since they were first announced. The... - The State of the Mortgage Industry According to MBA1 February 2012, 8:53 pm
The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) provided its annual assessment of The State of the Mortgage Industry in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Michael Young, MBA Chairman said that the states that have been hardest hit by the housing crisis are and will continue to deal with the aftermath but there are signs that in much of the nation 2012 will bring a recovering market. One bright spot, Young said, is that the turmoil in the single family market has actually helped the multi-famil... - Oregon Joins Servicer Settlement1 February 2012, 7:17 pm
The Attorney General of Oregon announced today that he will join in the so-called 50-state Attorneys General settlement with five major financial institutions that operate the large servicing organizations. The settlement arose out of a multi-state investigation of alleged improprieties the servicers' management of delinquent loans and foreclosures. Attorney General John Kroger said in a prepared statement that "The Oregon Department of Justice is deeply committed to protecting cons... - Watch Live Now: President Obama Speech on Refi Plan / Housing1 February 2012, 4:06 pm
Watch the speect live - click read more link below. In his State of the Union address, President Obama laid out a Blueprint for an America Built to Last, calling for action to help responsible borrowers and support a housing market recovery. While the government cannot fix the housing market on its own, the President believes that responsible homeowners should not have to sit and wait for the market to hit bottom to get relief when there are measures at hand that can make a meaningful diff...
- January Unemployment Falls to 8.3 Percent3 February 2012, 4:57 pm
January Unemployment Falls to 8.3 Percent By Christopher Rugaber, Associated Press, Feb 3, 2012 In the most impressive surge for the job market since the middle of last decade, the United States added 243,000 jobs in January, far more than economists...(read more) ... - What Obama’s Housing Plan Means for You2 February 2012, 4:32 pm
What Obama’s Housing Plan Means for You By Sara Kehaulani Goo, Washington Post, Feb 1, 2012 Many people are wondering about President Obama’s refinance plan, announced Wednesday, and a new program that would try to make thousands of vacant...(read more) ... - Home Prices Drop in November for Third Straight Month31 January 2012, 4:41 pm
Home Prices Drop in November for Third Straight Month By Derek Kravitz, Associated Press, Jan 30, 2012 Home prices fell for a third straight month in November in nearly all cities tracked by the Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller home-price index...(read more) ... - Freddie Mac Bets Against American Homeowners30 January 2012, 7:46 pm
Freddie Mac Bets Against American Homeowners By Jesse Eisinger, ProPublica and Chris Arnold, NPR News Jan. 30, 2012 Freddie Mac, the taxpayer-owned mortgage giant, has placed multibillion-dollar bets that pay off if homeowners stay trapped in expensive...(read more) ... - In Florida town hit hard by foreclosures, neither GOP candidates nor Obama getting much love27 January 2012, 6:17 pm
In Florida town hit hard by foreclosures, neither GOP candidates nor Obama getting much love By Associated Press, The Washington Post, January 26, 2012 LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. — At Our Daily Bread Food Pantry, the conversation often centers on real estate...(read more) ... - Foreclosures made up 20 pct. of home sales in 3Q26 January 2012, 7:16 pm
Foreclosures made up 20 pct. of home sales in 3Q By Alex Viega, The Associated Press, January 26, 2012 LOS ANGELES — Foreclosures made up a smaller slice of all U.S. homes sold in last year's third quarter, as banks delayed placing properties...(read more) ... - RealtyTrac: Several economists missed the mark with 2011 projections25 January 2012, 5:25 pm
RealtyTrac: Several economists missed the mark with 2011 projections By Kerri Panchuck, HousingWire, January 24, 2012 Every new year brings predictions on how the economy is expected to fare, especially in terms of home sales, prices and gross domestic...(read more) ... - Bank Foreclosure Deal Reviewed by States as Delaware Drops Out24 January 2012, 5:05 pm
Bank Foreclosure Deal Reviewed by States as Delaware Drops Out By David McLaughlin, Bloomberg, January 24, 2012 State attorneys general reviewed a proposed settlement with banks over foreclosure and mortgage- servicing practices that negotiators are pressing...(read more) ... - Foreclosures: America's hardest hit neighborhoods23 January 2012, 5:04 pm
Foreclosures: America's hardest hit neighborhoods By Les Christie, CNNMoney, January 23, 2012 NEW YORK — The housing collapse has dramatically changed the nation's foreclosure landscape. Bill Designed To Help Homeowners Facing Foreclosure...(read more) ... - Spread Favors 49ers In the Foreclosure Bowl21 January 2012, 4:00 pm
Super Bowl XLVI Analysis: Spread Favors 49ers In the Foreclosure Bowl By Joel Cone Staff Writer It took 17 weeks of regular season play to determine the four playoff teams fighting it out in the NFL postseason for the right of passage to what is likely...(read more) ...
- Real Estate Investor Conference – BiggerPockets Style2 February 2012, 6:45 pm
Are you ready for a real estate investment conference that is not on big sell and spam fest? Are you tired of every speaker from the stage pitching their product instead of teaching you? Well, your conference has arrived. Josh Dorkin and the crew over at BiggerPockets is putting on a truly amazing conference on [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Real Estate Investor Con... - New Home Sales Remain Anemic in 201131 January 2012, 2:28 am
The new home sales data was released and the results are less than stellar. For 2011, there were only 302,000 new home sold nationwide. For perspective, in the South the numbers were the lowest since 1966, and that is the good news. In both the Northeast and the West, sales were the worst in recorded [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.New Home Sales Remain Anemic in 201... - House Windows Melting A Toyota Prius25 January 2012, 6:42 pm
Typically when you think of a battle between a house and a Prius, you add a dose of a drunk driver and a garage and you are done… But not today. It looks like that super efficient windows are reflecting so much energy onto a car parked in Southern California that it is melting the [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.House Windows Melting A Toyota Prius Related pos... - Top 10 States With Highest Down Payment8 January 2012, 4:25 pm
When buying a home, one of the key components is the down payment. Back a few years ago when the housing bubble was hitting it’s peak, there were no money down loans floated out there, but those are ancient history. Now you need hard money to make the loan. Lending Tree commissioned a study and [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Top 10 States With Highest Down Pay... - When Should A Real Estate Professional Tell Someone To Walk Away From Their Mortgage?16 December 2011, 2:15 pm
As real estate professionals, your goal is a healthy and vibrant real estate marketplace. Lots of selling and buying of homes is a good thing, as is a healthy credit report and sufficient cash on hand by your buyers and large amounts of home equity with your sellers. But if the last few years has taught us [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.When Should A Real ... - Home Sales Really 20% Less – NAR Changing 5 Years of Home Sales Data14 December 2011, 2:49 am
According to CoreLogic the number of homes sold as reported by the National Association of Realtors could be off by 20% over the past 5 years. Heads should roll, but they probably will not over this. The National Association of Realtors said a benchmarking exercise had revealed that some properties were listed more than once, [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Home Sale... - Thanks Barney For Everything2 December 2011, 1:17 pm
Might as well go visit your good buddy Christopher Dodd in Ireland. Original here. Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Thanks Barney For Everything No related posts.Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Thanks Barney For Everything No related posts.... - Why No Word on Huge Bonuses At Freddie and Fannie16 November 2011, 8:01 pm
Questions arise over the bonuses being paid to Freddie and Fannie Executives. Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Why No Word on Huge Bonuses At Freddie and Fannie Related posts: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Why... - Real Estate Trends of the Baby Boomers9 November 2011, 12:36 am
A rather lengthy but very interesting infographic from Coldwell Banker on how Baby Boomers are looking at real estate as they hit their golden years. What caught my eye is how the younger baby boomers look at real estate differently than the older part of the generation… See a larger version here at the Coldwell [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Real Estate Trend... - Top 10 Most Popular Cities For Real Estate Searches13 October 2011, 8:43 pm
One of the key indicators on where people are looking to move, or more accurately dreaming of moving, these days involves internet searches. Realtor.com has come out with it’s results for September and Chicago is leading the way. So if you are looking to sell your home in one of the top 10 markets you [...]Thanks for reading this post. If you would like to see more articles like this, please come visit The Real Estate Bloggers. where it was originally published.Top 10 Most Popular Cities F...
- The House a Storm Built4 February 2012, 2:11 am
When violent winds knocked down trees and damaged their home, a Minnesota couple seized the opportunity to start over.... - Checking Out Continuing Care Communities3 February 2012, 5:32 pm
Though convenient, continuing care retirement communities are costly. Here's how to cut the risk.... - Romney's Stance Hits Home3 February 2012, 4:07 pm
Romney stands by his position that the government should stay out of the national housing mess and let the market "hit the bottom." But in hard-hit North Las Vegas, Nev., the implications are clear.... - A Space for Kidding Around3 February 2012, 4:48 am
This full-floor loft in the Flatiron area is the epitome of 'kid friendly' with a large playroom that houses an indoor swing, a climbing wall in one of the bedrooms and lots of open space.... - Anna Kournikova Sells in Miami3 February 2012, 4:04 am
Anna Kournikova sells in Miami, Nobu Matsuhisa Buys in Los Angeles and a Kauai beachfront home asks $24 million.... - A Modest Home for Palm Beach2 February 2012, 11:24 pm
This 2,286-square-foot house, built around 1925, has no garage but does boast original details like pecky cypress ceilings, handblown stained-glass panes in the powder-room door and Cuban tile floors.... - Plots & Ploys: Touchdown Before Kickoff2 February 2012, 9:43 pm
Regardless of whether the New York Giants or the New England Patriots win Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, a prohibitive favorite has emerged: Indianapolis-area hotels.... - Mortgage Plan Draws GOP Opposition2 February 2012, 7:21 pm
Obama is betting his latest proposal to aid the housing market will fare better than earlier efforts, despite congressional opposition.... - Elegant English House2 February 2012, 3:42 pm
This partially moated seven-bedroom home in eastern England probably dates back originally to the 15th century.... - Mountain Retreat2 February 2012, 3:13 pm
This four-bedroom mountain retreat, with natural stone from Montana and oak ceilings, is in Truckee, Calif., near Lake Tahoe, and is part of a development with a golf course and access to a ski lift....
- Romney focuses on Obama, Gingrich on Romney in NV
(AP)3 February 2012, 11:35 pm
AP - A confident Mitt Romney accused President Barack Obama of failing to do enough to create jobs as he campaigned Friday ahead of GOP presidential caucuses this weekend in a state with sky-high unemployment and foreclosure rates. Newt Gingrich, who is fighting for a respectable showing here, rolled out a fresh line of criticism by comparing the former Massachusetts governor to Obama.... - New York sues banks over electronic mortgage system
(Reuters)3 February 2012, 10:54 pm
Reuters - New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Friday sued three major U.S. banks, accusing them of fraud for using an electronic mortgage database that resulted in deceptive and illegal practices.... - NY's Schneiderman sues banks in foreclosure effort
(AP)3 February 2012, 10:53 pm
AP - New York's attorney general on Friday accused some of the nation's largest banks of deceit and fraud in using an electronic mortgage registry that he said puts homeowners at a disadvantage in foreclosures while saving banks over $2 billion.... - Goldman to face mortgage debt class-action lawsuit
(Reuters)3 February 2012, 5:37 pm
Reuters - Goldman Sachs Group Inc was ordered by a federal judge to face a securities class-action lawsuit accusing it of defrauding investors about a 2006 offering of securities backed by risky mortgage loans from a now-defunct lender.... - Analysis: Obstacles high for more mortgage prosecutions
(Reuters)3 February 2012, 2:09 am
Reuters - Despite the determination of President Obama to take Wall Street to court for the financial crisis, prosecutors face an uphill struggle to win more convictions like the two they scored on Wednesday against former Credit Suisse Group AG mortgage traders.... - Homebuilders see stable housing market ahead
(AP)3 February 2012, 12:54 am
AP - The CEOs of some of the nation's biggest homebuilding companies said Thursday that they feel the housing market has stabilized.... - Rate on 30-year mortgage falls to record 3.87 pct.
(AP)3 February 2012, 12:01 am
AP - The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage fell this week to a record low, the ninth time that has happened in the last year. Even with the cheapest rates in history, the housing market remains depressed.... - Woman who stole mortgage money and gambled it away, gets prison
(Reuters)2 February 2012, 11:02 pm
Reuters - A former foreclosure counselor who gambled away more than $300,000 she stole from her upstate New York clients was sentenced on Thursday to six years in federal prison.... - Illinois accuses mortgage firm of robosigning
(Reuters)2 February 2012, 7:24 pm
Reuters - The attorney general in Illinois on Thursday sued a mortgage document firm and said it filed "faulty" documents with local governments in a rush to process mortgages and foreclosures.... - Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance
(AP)2 February 2012, 3:25 pm
AP - Mortgage rates for the past 52 weeks, at a glance...
- FHA has raised the monthly mortgage insurance premiums22 February 2011, 10:26 pm
HUD/FHA has just recently changed their monthly mortgage insurance.... - Government Mortgages May Get Pricier, Harder to Come By14 February 2011, 11:26 pm
Government loans, such as those backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHA, are slated to get more expensive and harder to qualify for, assuming changes recommended by the Treasury are implemented. The agency released their recommendations for a complete overhaul of the mortgage market today, essentially calling for less attractive government-backed mortgages to [...]... - The Best Policy on Locking in Interest Rates…11 February 2011, 7:20 pm
Consider the following three things when deciding whether or not to lock in your mortgage interest rate: Lock in your rate as soon as you know you have a good deal in front of you, and you know roughly when you can close (30 to 60 days should be the longest lock period). Lock it [...]... - JP Morgan Chase Debacle Highlights Need to Safeguard American Service Members26 January 2011, 4:09 pm
America’s service members sacrifice a great deal to keep America safe. That’s one of the reasons they enjoy some special protections against foreclosure and mortgage default through the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. Someone apparently forgot to tell officials at JP Morgan Chase, the nation’s second-largest mortgage bank. The finance giant overcharged thousands of military members [...]... - Are 30% Down Payments on Mortgages In Our Future?21 January 2011, 3:54 am
The top mortgage lender in the country has called for borrowers to come up with 30% down if they want to avoid higher mortgage rates and more restrictive lending tied to the “risk retention” requirements related to the Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Essentially, the government wants to ensure that [...]... - Appraisal Group Offers Tips for Prospective Home Buyers19 January 2011, 6:03 pm
The appraisal process can prove frustrating and time consuming for scores of prospective home buyers. In turn, many appraisers have gotten a bad rap in recent months. To help consumers better understand the process and the role of appraisers, the Appraisal Institute recently published a list of tips. Based in Chicago, the Appraisal Institute is [...]... - Am I SAFER today as a result of the SAFE Act of 2008?12 January 2011, 8:08 pm
The Secure and Fair Enforcement for Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 (called the SAFE Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008) is being made the rule of the lending land even as we speak. Are you safer as a result? The SAFE Act of 2008 is a form of legislation that has been batted around in Washington [...]... - PMI Companies Halt Fannie Mae’s Change on Gifted Down Payments6 January 2011, 11:03 am
Mortgage giant Fannie Mae has been busy with more changes. In a world of tighter lending, it’s nice to see changes designed to ease the home buying process. In a recent change, Fannie Mae announced they will allow homebuyers to use gifts for their entire down payment regardless of the amount. This recent change allows [...]... - Mortgage Definition: FHA Kiddie Condo Loan5 January 2011, 5:45 pm
The FHA Kiddie Condo Loan is great for parents who have kids going to college.... - Conventional Loans – Pricing Adjustments April 20113 January 2011, 4:25 pm
Conventional loan adjustments for April 2011 making conventional rates more expensive....
