While President Obama’s re-election will likely thwart hopes of altering Dodd-Frank or the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau), a more immediate concern is the possibility that the U.S. Treasury Dept. may have to bailout the Federal Housing Administration’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund, according to nationalmortgagenews. A Romney administration would likely …
A tax break that gives homeowners the opportunity to save thousands may expire by the end of the year unless it is renewed by Congress. CNNMoney informs MHProNews the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 protects homeowners from having to pay income taxes on the portion of their mortgage …
HousingWire reports median single-family home prices rose in 120 out of 149 metro areas, up significantly from the 39 metros that recorded price increases a year earlier, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Showing the strongest year-over-year increase for single family homes since Q1 2006, the national median …
Bloomberg tells MHProNews the Dollar Index, which tracks American currency against that of six of our trading partners, rose 0.3 percent to a seven-week high on the news of President Obama’s re-election, a sign of a weakened dollar. The index hit 80.83 after touching 80.92. Investors are concerned the president …
According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI), the number of U.S. markets showing consistent improvement increased by 22 to 125, Oct. to Nov. Based on employment, housing permits, and house prices for at least six consecutive months, markets qualifying for the list grew …
HousingWire reports Core Logic’s Sept. 2012 home price index (HPI) indicates national home prices increased five percent on a year-over-year basis. This represents the largest year-over-year increase since July 2006, and the seventh consecutive month of annual home prices increase. Oct. 2012 home prices, including distressed sales, are expected to …
BusinessWire informs MHProNews JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. is purchasing MetLife Bank, N.A.’s approximately $70 billion mortgage servicing portfolio as MetLife continues to divest itself of its bank holding company structure, a move it began in 2011 when it decided to no longer sell residential mortgages. MetLife Bank President Jim Rose …
The CalgaryHerald tells MHProNews the provincial government of Alberta, Canada has taken the first step towards making warranty coverage for new homes in the province mandatory, a move that could add up to $2,000 to the price. The New Home Buyer Protection Act would cover manufactured and modular homes, single-family …
As the result of damage inflicted by Hurricane Sandy, President Obama issued a disaster declaration for specific counties in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York, as well as the Mashantucket Pequot Indian Reservation in Connecticut. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is offering disaster victims whose homes were …
Based in Santa Monica, Calif., Living Homes has introduced three low-cost modular homes ranging in size from 1,300 to 2,200 square feet, priced from $200,000 to $320,000. JetsonGreen informs MHProNews Cavco Industries, Inc. is building the homes with strict environmental concerns that follow a LEED Platinum level program—-cork floor, energy-efficient …
MHProNews has learned from Investors D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI), has received lending commitments from five additional banks that will provide an unsecured line of revolving credit of $600 million, which could be extended to one billion given certain conditions and the availability of additional funds. Horton is the nation’s largest …
President Obama signed disaster declarations for 13 states and the District of Columbia in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, according to nationalmortagenews. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are offering forbearance on loans to borrowers affected by Hurricane Sandy, and Freddie says its servicers can suspend eviction and foreclosure proceedings for …
Tracking the residential mortgage applications through a composite index and covering some 75 percent of all residential applications, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says new mortgage apps fell five percent for the week ending Oct. 26 on the heels of falling 12 percent and four percent the two previous weeks, …
Standard & Poor’s Case/Shiller Index reports in HousingWire U.S. home prices nudged up 0.9 percent in August over July in 19 of the 20 metro areas surveyed. Overall, the ten-city composite index saw an annual price increase of 1.3 percent, while the 20-city composite climbed two percent over last year. …
According to data from the Warren Group, NationalMortgageNews reports the sale of single-family homes increased eight percent in Sept. over Sept 2011 in Massachusetts, equaling 3,791 homes last month. Although median prices slipped to $277,000 for the state, 13,861 properties were sold during the third quarter, 2,000 more than the …
In reporting on the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee (MHCC) meeting Oct. 23-25, 2012, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) says the federal manufactured housing program as administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the authority of the MHCC have deteriorated to a new low. …
According to Chip Case, professor emeritus of economics at Wellesley College and senior fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, the mortgage interest deduction will be on the table after the election as well as other tax reform issues. As WindowFilmMag informs MHProNews, after 44 months housing starts finally …
CNNMoney informs MHProNews the tripling of short sales in the last three years has led to banks being overloaded with requests, which has spawned a mortgage fraud called “flopping.” An underwater borrower gets the lender to agree to a short sale. The seller then “doctors” the house with offensive smells, …
Based on data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau, the National Association of Home Builders NAHB) reports new single-family home construction rose 5.7 percent in Sept. to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 389,000 units. This marks the best sales rate in 2 1/2 years. NAHB Chief Economist David …
NASDAQ reports in a TV interview this morning, Oct. 24, on CNBC, Warren Buffett says the housing market has turned a corner and home construction is improving, and he expects Berkshire businesses tied to that industry to pick up. Despite the global economy slowdown, the Oracle of Omaha says the …
