MHProNews.com has learned that legislation introduced in the Senate Thursday would create a process ending in the privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The remnants would be turned over to the private sector in a decade. The Mortgage Finance Act of 2011, sponsored by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), would …
The Mortgage Bankers Association reports Mortgage applications are on the increase over the week previous. The Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 2, 2011 shows a 12.8 percent rise. “Coming out of the Thanksgiving holiday, applications increased significantly as mortgage rates dropped to their lowest levels in …
A CNNMoney article by Joshua Steiner and Allison Kaptur warns prospective real estate investors that the rosy 2012 forecast for the housing market has two pronounced thorns. The first is less than five percent of the mortgage purchase volume is in the hands of private investors. Support for the housing …
Amber and Kristopher Monte are pleased to announce the arrival Nov. 21, 2011, of their newborn son, River Edward Monte, weighing in at 7.5 lbs, 20 inches long. Amber Monte is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Investment Property Group, a private real estate investment firm that owns and operates …
OriginationNews reports seriously-delinquent mortgages (90 days or more out) through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) increased October over Sept. by 0.03 percent to nine percent, the highest number since Feb. 2010. FHA-endorsed single-family loans declined in October three percent from the previous month, to $15.7 billion, and lending to homebuyers …
HousingWire reports Radar Logic, which tracks home values in 25 metropolitan areas, says while home prices fell 4.4 percent for the year ending September 2011, the survey shows home sales increased 15.4 percent in those markets year-over-year in Sept., the largest gain for the month of Sept. since 2003. Michael …
NationalMortgageNews states the robo-signing scandal has led to such a tight pipeline in the foreclosure process that only 10,000 a month are being processed by FHA (Federal Housing Authority)-approved servicers, but that will clear as the agency pays for a surge on defaulted loans. FHA paid $14.9 billion in fiscal …
CanadaNewswire reports Killam Properties, Inc., of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada has closed its public share offering of 3,256,000 shares at $10.75 per share, resulting in gross proceeds of $35 million. Killam intends to use the proceeds for future acquisitions, to pay off indebtedness, and general corporate expenses. The underwrites are …
At the “State of the Manufactured Housing Industry” Congressional Field Hearings in Danville, Virginia, Nov. 29, members of the House Congressional Subcommittee on Housing, Insurance, and Community Opportunity heard from a variety of persons in the MH arena. Henry Czauski, Acting Deputy Administrator for the Office of Manufactured Housing programs, …
MH Field Hearing Yields HUD, MHI, Industry, and Resident Viewpoints Read More
HousingWire reports the New York Federal Reserve says consumer indebtedness fell by 0.6 percent in the third quarter as mortgage balances and credit card limits continued declining. Total consumer debt dropped from $11.72 trillion in Q2 to $11.66 trillion the quarter recently ended. Bankruptcies fell 18.8 percent from Q3 2010, …
CNNMoney reports from Bankrate the 30-year fixed rate mortgage (FRM) dropped 0.01 percent this week over last week (Nov. 14-18) to 4.02 percent. The 15-year FRM also fell 0.01 percent to 3.37 percent during that same period. The 5/1 adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) rose to 2.97 percent from 2.96 percent. …
HousingWire reports Freddie Mac’s seriously-delinquent mortgage rate inched up 0.03 percent in October over Sept. to 3.54 percent. Meanwhile, the multi-family delinquency rate dropped to 0.31 percent from Sept.’s 0.33 percent. The overall mortgage portfolio at the government-sponsored enterprise (GSE) fell at an annualized rate of 5.22 percent last month. …
HousingWire reports the Federal Reserve says the ongoing tepid housing market continues to suppress economic recovery. Minutes from the Nov. 1-2 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) suggest more “policy accommodation” may be needed to spur the economy.Tight credit, lack of new household formation, and depressed job and …
NationalMortgageNews reports the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) says the 12 national banks under regulatory orders to reform their mortgage servicing and foreclosure methods are making progress. Having agreed to the review in April, the banks have streamlined procedures for guiding struggling homeowners through the loan modification …
HousingWire reports a bill reinstalling higher conforming loan limits for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) was singed into law Friday morning, Nov. 18, by President Obama. Both the House and Senate had passed the bill by over a two-thirds majority on Thursday. The FHA can now insure loans up to …
Curbed reports from Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards that Forest City Ratner is finalizing plans to build the world’s largest modular housing unit, divided between affordable rental housing and market rate rentals. The 32-story tower, the first of three residential edifices built in this development that will include a professional basketball arena …
If Ratner Quells Labor, Finds Financing, Modular Housing will Rise Read More
MarketWatch says in an interview with Cathy Baron Tamarz, the CEO of his own company, Business Wire, Warren Buffett reiterates that those earning over $1 million should pay the same percentage in income taxes as middle-class Americans. Noting it is class warfare, he said, “My class has won. You’ve seen …
RealtorMag reports a survey of 1,000 adults by Move Inc. reveals 27 percent of respondents say they plan to buy a home in the next two or three years, but only two percent intend to buy within 12 months. 23 percent are delaying the purchase over concerns for the real …
HousingWire reports that the heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will face questions from Congress regarding the bonuses they received last year. Fannie CEO Michael Williams and Freddie CEO Charles “Ed” Haldeman each earned a base salary of $900,000 but according to the Securities and Exchange Commission filings, received …
Bonuses for GSE Heads Topic of Congressional Hearings Read More
Yahoo!Finance reports A.M. Best Co. has upgraded Standard Casualty Company’s financial strength rating to A-(Excellent) from B++ (Good) and its issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb”. Standard had been downgraded Sept. 17, 2010 because of the financial uncertainly of its parent company, Palm Harbor Homes. Palm Harbor and five …
