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, …
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reports the U.S. Department of Commerce says sales of new, single-family homes increased 1.3 percent in October, marking the best monthly sales pace since May, 2011. “Today’s report is right in line with our forecast for modest and gradual improvement in sales activity …
The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) reports U.S. House of Representative member Barney Frank (D-Mass) has decided to not seek re-election after serving 32 years in Congress. MHARR’s communique says, “Our industry is losing a loyal congressional ally who worked across the aisle to champion the Federal Manufactured …
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. …
IndyStar reports existing home sales in Central Indiana rose 13.2 percent in October over the same month last year. The Metropolitan Indianapolis Board of Realtors (MIBOR), which covers a 13 county metro area, said the 1,735 homes sold last month mark the fourth straight month sales have grown. Sales of …
Sales of Existing Homes Climb in Indianapolis Area Read More
Omaha reports Rod Tompkins, who operates Heritage Homes in Wayne, Nebraska, in the northeast part of the state, says business is picking up and he plans to add 16 production workers to the current roster of 64. The maker of custom modular homes and apartments says the biggest demand is …
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 John Burns Real Estate Consulting says the excess housing vacancy level reached 3.2 million dwellings in 2009, and has fallen to 2.4 million units, but that will take 3-4 years to occupy. Despite the push by government and industry for more loan modifications, John Burns shows 72 percent …
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 …
Uticaod reports from New Hartford, New York, just west of Utica, the town has issued more permits for manufactured housing this year than in the previous two years combined. There have been only seven permits for site-built homes this year. Noting the 31 permits for MH, New Hartford town Codes …
IndyStar reports new home building permits for October in Indianapolis increased 16 percent over last October, according to the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis (BAGI). Of the 269 permits issued in this nine-county area, 103 were for Hamilton County, an upscale suburban area just north of the city, which registered …
Inching Along in Indy: Building Permits Rise and Fall Read More
The National Association of Home Builders reports builder confidence rose in November three points to 20 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) for newly-built single family homes. Building on a three point increase from October, the HMI is at its highest point in 18 months. NAHB Chief Economist …
NOLA reports from Louisiana that Knauf, the German supplier of faulty Chinese drywall, is set to settle litigation with homebuilders to reimburse them for remediating homes built with the sometimes toxic building product. During the housing boom, and following the hurricanes of 2004-2005 (including Katrina), the U.S. had to import …
TheTownTalk reports from Alexandria, Louisiana, that a planned multi-family, modular housing development was blocked at a city council meeting by residents concerned that property values would fall and crime would increase. The council was considering a proposal to change the zoning from agricultural to multi-family to allow for the housing. …
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 …
In a column by Bill Dunkleberg, Philly reports the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve met with the Federal Reserve of Atlanta and the Kauffman Foundation to discuss employment. They determined while the gross domestic product (GDP) is the same as 2007, the reason unemployment is so high is …
Fed Led Conference Denotes Economic Problems, Recovery Uncertain Read More
Following up on a story we published Oct 21, 2011, about the oil boom and subsequent housing shortage in Williston, ND, ArgusLeader reports neighboring South Dakota is reaping benefits from the black gold rush driving the economy. Custom Touch Homes in Madison and Superior Homes in Watertown have contracts to …
In the SantaMariaTimes, Ron Faas, lobbyist for the Northern Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team, says Santa Barbara (CA) County’s long-planning division has drafted a manufactured-home park closure conversion ordinance that the Board of Supervisors had requested. Noting the importance of local ordinances to assure the availability of low cost …
CBSLocal reports from Van Nuys, California, the 89 year-old estranged father of actress Jodie Foster may be looking at cell bars instead of his daughter’s films. Lucius Fisher Foster III allegedly took $5,000 from 20 people in the San Fenando Valley and promised them a low cost modular home, stalling …
