The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced on Monday morning new rules that will allow many more "underwater" homeowners — who owe more than their properties are worth — to refinance at today's ultra-low rates. Read more on upside down mortgage help...
Bill Seeks 1-Year Cap on Foreclosure Deficiencies
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives December 13, 2011 aims to limit and standardize the timeframe that a mortgage company can go after a home owner following a foreclosure for deficiency judgment. Read more about the cap on foreclosure deficiencies...Energy Costs Expected to Rise This Winter
As the temperature outside drops, those thermostats inside get cranked. It's getting costlier for home owners to heat their home, particularly if they rely on oil during the winter heating season. The cost of heating a home with oil is expected to increase 10 percent this year to $2,535, on average, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Read more on energy costs this year...
FHA Loan Limits Restored
The NAR exposed that the U.S. House and Senate restored FHA loan limits to the level they were at before they were allowed to expire at the end of September. Read more about the FHA Loan Limits...
Housing Affordability in King County, the best in 17 years!
Thanks to declining prices and record-low interest rates, houses in King County are more affordable now than they've been in at least 17 years, a new score card says. Read more about the affordability in King County.
Keeping Houses from Fogging and Mold Information
Excessive moisture and humidity inside the home can lead to and mildew problems during winter months. The chilly air outside can have an effect on the windows inside your home, when this indoor humidity comes in contact with the cold glass. The condensation that forms on your windows can cause them to fog up, causing further mold complications and affecting the aesthetics of your windows. Read more about dehumidifying your house...
5 Home Buying Myths
Overall, today's home buyers tend to be fairly knowledgeable about the real estate market, but there are still a few points of confusion in the process, a new survey by Zillow of 1,000 potential home buyers finds. Read more about home buying myths...
Are Banks Getting Better on Short Sales?
Are short sales getting easier? Some home owners are reporting that banks are now not only more willing to consider a short sale, but are even offering incentives to complete a short sale. For example, a home owner in Chicago says his lender approved his short sale and then gave him a $20,000 check after the deal was finalized for selling the home as a short sale instead of letting it sink into foreclosure. Read more on short sales...
Is Your Home Winter-Proof?
Don't let your home get the winter blues. As the cold weather approaches, home owners can do the following maintenance checks to ensure their properties are ready for the winter months. The real estate Web site Zillow offers some of the following tips: read more on winterizing your home...
FHFA announces new program to help 'underwater' homeowners
When Will REO Sales Finally Reach the Peak?
We still may not be at the peak of the foreclosure market as HousingWire reports: We may not see the peak until 2013 and foreclosure sales are expected to reach 1.48 million properties by 2013.
However, with the surge, "we do not expect to see anywhere near the downward pressure on home prices that we had back in 2008, since the expected percent changes in liquidation volumes are so much smaller," the HousingWire analysts said. Read more here...
NAR: Government Plays Valuable Role in Homeownership
The government has always supported homeownership because of the benefits for individuals and families plus it strengthens communities and is a vital part of the nation's economy. This is according to the National Association of Realtors.
The NAR President-Elect Moe Veissi outlined the association's recommendations for housing finance reform before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.Read more about government's role in homeownership...
2 Important Factors in Judging Neighborhoods
With home prices dropping, the majority of buyers on the market now are investing in neighborhoods that may have the potential of holding their value over time. How it the buyer to know this without a local real estate agent to assist them or have the information necessary to make an informed decision? - What are the 2 ways to tell?
Highest Housing Affordability in 20 Years
According to Realtor Magazine the housing affordability in this country is the highest it's been in over 20 years. This is directly from the National Association of Home Builders and the Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index. - Read more here...
More Banks Offer Incentives to Unload REOs
Banks facing high inventories of REOs are turning to financial incentives in the hopes of accelerating sales of these often vacant, deteriorating properties. Read more on market reports...
