Posts with tag refinancing

Refinancing a mortgage has become a popular option for current homeowners in the last year or so, as mortgage rates have held steady at well below 4 percent for some time. However, new data show that in general, the number of people who also use the refinancing opportunity to shorten their loan terms is shrinking. In the... Continue Reading »

By Jeff Brown Terrific news! Home equity lending is increasing! OK, maybe it's not a world-changing event. But an uptick in home equity loans is more evidence that the housing market is strengthening. And it gives another loan option to homeowners who still do have equity despite the plunge in home prices after the... Continue Reading »

Applications for U.S. home mortgages surged last week as demand for refinancing rose to the highest level in more than three years, driven by a drop in interest rates to yet another record low, data from an industry group showed on Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association said its seasonally adjusted index of mortgage... Continue Reading »

By Les Christie While millions of struggling homeowners have had to jump through all sorts of hoops trying to refinance their mortgages, Michelle and Bob Irwin barely had to lift a finger. This summer, the couple received a letter from JPMorgan Chase, their mortgage servicer, informing them that it was going to slash... Continue Reading »

By Jon Prior JPMorgan Chase went from fast-tracking foreclosures to rubber stamping and pre-approving some borrowers for refinances and even principal reduction. The five largest mortgage servicers signed a $25 billion deal with federal prosecutors and 49 state attorneys general in March to settle foreclosure abuses and... Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, urged the public to "get on the phone, send an email, tweet," and... Continue Reading »

The refinancing market is hot right now. Last week, applications were up by more than 10 percent. But even if you can get approved by a lender--which is no easy task these days--that doesn't mean you should take whatever deal the bank offers you. "Today Show" real estate expert Barbara Corcoran has some strong advice,... Continue Reading »

This may fall under the category of "too much of a good thing," but there is growing sentiment that the historically low interest rates on mortgages are actually fueling the stagnation of the housing market. By keeping rates low, the hope was that more people would be motivated to buy homes. And when that didn't happen,... Continue Reading »

Oddly, the best way to deal with being upside down on your home mortgage may be to just go out and buy a second house. As housing values spiral down and people increasingly owe more on their loans than their homes are worth, many start to look longingly at a different house -- perhaps something smaller and cheaper and... Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON -- Today's record-low mortgage rates are out of reach for millions of U.S. homeowners who would benefit from them most. One in four homeowners with a mortgage -- 11 million people -- owe more than their home is worth. These "underwater" borrowers have virtually no shot at refinancing. Their plight is a drag on... Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON -- Seeking to circumvent congressional opposition, President Barack Obama will promote a series of executive branch steps aimed at jumpstarting the economy this week, beginning with new rules to make it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages. An administration official said the housing initiative... Continue Reading »

Mortgage rates are at record lows and should stay that way as long as economic reports continue to be disappointing, according to Bankrate.com, which tracks mortgage rates weekly. However, if you've been thinking about refinancing, you should act quickly. If mortgage rates rebound, they could do so fast, according to... Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON -- Mortgage rates have reached their lowest levels in six decades, making this the best time in most Americans' lives to buy or refinance a home. For people who qualify, today's rates could save thousands of dollars a year. Yet most people can't take advantage. Half of would-be buyers say they'll never save... Continue Reading »

Despite record low mortgage rates, mortgage applications fell 4.9 percent for the week ending Sept. 2, according to an industry trade group. The Mortgage Bankers Association said Wednesday that its market composite index -- a measure of mortgage loan application volume -- fell 4.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis... Continue Reading »

The loan modification programs have been a joke. You have a house that has tanked in value and the best the banks can come up with is a plan where they sort of delay what you owe long enough for you to get back on your financial feet -- if that -- based on the flawed logic that the housing market is certain to improve in... Continue Reading »