Jan 5th 2012 1:30PM
Most of Washington's initiatives to staunch the flow of foreclosures glutting the housing market have been woefully inadequate. (We're looking at you, HAMP, HAFA and HARP). But a new idea put forth by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke might actually make a dent in the bank-owned backlog: Allow renters to move into... Continue Reading »
Mar 3rd 2011 11:59AM
Federal banking regulators are pushing for 20 percent down payments, according the Wall Street Journal. You see, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 -- the name which draws guffaws of cynical amazement among those who know what Chris "Friend of Angelo" Dodd, pictured left, and Barney "My... Continue Reading »
Mar 1st 2011 4:45PM
California has hit a record for buyers striking all cash deals for houses, particularly on the ultra-high end. Apparently, some 31 percent of all buyers in California paid cash -- and the higher up you go in the price category, the greater that percentage. For example, 62.2 percent of people buying homes worth at least $5... Continue Reading »
Dec 24th 2010 8:00AM
Looking back on 2010, the year in real estate was, in a word, terrible. Property values continued to fall, foreclosures rose, and even the lowest interest rates in 50 years seemed to have little positive effect on the property market. For U. S. real estate, 2010 was the year of failed government intervention where nothing... Continue Reading »
Nov 5th 2010 5:24PM
Interest rates can't stay low forever -- but mortgage watchers now expect rates under 5 percent for the next year, thanks in part to "quantitative easing," the latest scheme from the Federal Reserve to stimulate the economy. The average rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage was just 4.23 percent with a 0.8 percent... Continue Reading »
