Don’t Believe The Hype
I have received numerous calls, emails and questions asking about the “new refinance program” that President Obama mentioned briefly in his speech Tuesday night. While the concept sounds great, it is important to note that specifics were not discussed, except for charging a fee to “the big banks” to offset the cost. Even that requires more clarification.
For Sale By Owner or Realtor
FSBOs (For Sale By Owner) are getting a lot of publicity lately and their numbers are increasing. The question remains: selling what may be the most expensive asset in your portfolio, should not be taken lightly.
Winter Forecast For Housing Looks Great!
In normal times, the winter months may sometimes be considered the “off-season” when it came to selling a home (unless you were in a warm climate). I think that we can all agree that these are not normal times, and selling a home this time of year actually makes sense!
Choices, Tips and More
Last year was a record for changes in rules and legislation in real estate and lending. One industry veteran surmised that in 2011, there were as many changes as there were working days in the year. That is close to 300!
Five Housing Predictions For 2012
No one really knows what the future holds, but studying tends and data can allow some insight into the beyond. Here are my thoughts for housing and lending in the New Year.
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Don’t Believe The Hype
I have received numerous calls, emails and questions asking about the “new refinance program” that President Obama mentioned briefly in his speech Tuesday night. While the concept sounds great, it is important to note that specifics were not discussed, except for charging a fee to “the big banks” to offset the cost. Even that requires more clarification.
For Sale By Owner or Realtor
FSBOs (For Sale By Owner) are getting a lot of publicity lately and their numbers are increasing. The question remains: selling what may be the most expensive asset in your portfolio, should not be taken lightly.
Winter Forecast For Housing Looks Great!
In normal times, the winter months may sometimes be considered the “off-season” when it came to selling a home (unless you were in a warm climate). I think that we can all agree that these are not normal times, and selling a home this time of year actually makes sense!
Choices, Tips and More
Last year was a record for changes in rules and legislation in real estate and lending. One industry veteran surmised that in 2011, there were as many changes as there were working days in the year. That is close to 300!
Five Housing Predictions For 2012
No one really knows what the future holds, but studying tends and data can allow some insight into the beyond. Here are my thoughts for housing and lending in the New Year.
Five Things That Could Affect Housing in New Year
Several research firms have recently declared that housing has hit bottom in many areas and is recovering. However, there are many things conspiring independently and in tandem that could affect housing.
HARP 2 Or Not To HARP 2
With as many as 11,000,000 homeowners estimated to be underwater, any solution to help should be met with huge consumer demand. December 1st was the official date for the new program but , as with most government programs, not all of the ducks were in a row.
Homebuyers Should Remain Confident
The COO of one of the largest private mortgage insurance firms is scheduled to testify in front of Congress in an attempt to increase the already bloated FHA mortgage insurance premiums. FHA has it’s own mortgage insurance, and they just increased it dramatically several months ago.
Underwater On Your Mortgage? You’re Not Alone… (VIDEO)
Freedmont Mortgage CEO Carl Delmont explains what it really means to be underwater on your home investment, plus the silver lining for today’s real estate market.
Twisting, Turning and Hoping
Well, it is only a week but given the past few years, a week of positive news is most welcome. Sure, there are still plenty of negative things to focus on, but let’s focus on the positive. Hopefully, it becomes a trend!
When It Comes To Lending, Buy The Steak, Not The Sizzle
Flood Insurance expired over the weekend leaving some homebuyers in limbo. Over 5 million homeowners and businesses have flood insurance policies but Congress has not extended the program. Last time Congress snoozed on this, it was a 2 month lapse! If it isn’t approved retroactively, current policy owners are affected too. Housing needs Congress to help, not a hiatus.
Falling Short?
There are a number of programs designed to help homeowners and homebuyers that are involved with homes having values less than the mortgage owed. The million dollar question is “Do they work”? Not all do but utilizing the right professionals can improve your chances of not falling short.
Factoring Energy Costs When Underwriting A Mortgage
This week, Sens. Michael Bennet (D-Col.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) are the co-sponsors of the Sensible Accounting to Value Energy Act. The idea is to force lenders making government backed mortgages – Fannie, Freddie, FHA, to include the estimated monthly energy costs into the equation when underwriting a loan.
Will Harp Help?
As expected, The President announced that Fannie and Freddie would redesign their HARP program to become more accessible to underwater homeowners. Affectionately dubbed HARP 2, the announcement is getting a lot of fanfare. Critics, however, argue that while some can be helped, many will still be left in the dark to fend for themselves.
Pockets Of Hope
With Obama’s new plan to help homeowners owing more than their home’s value attracting a lot of press, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at some cities and see how they fare in today’s economy. I utilized data from several sources, so this is not scientific-just opinion.
Why This Holiday Season May Be The Best Time To Buy Or Sell A Home
Now is the time of the year when many people add to their already hectic lives and simply respond, “Call me after the New Year”. Though it seems counter-intuitive, now is a great time to buy or sell a home.
Black Friday, Underwater Loans, and More
When it comes to Black Friday, there are a number of things to take into account. First, is safety. The allure of a perceived bargain can make otherwise rational people acct irrationally. Make a list of what you actually want or need rather than buying what you perceive as a bargain.
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