All posts tagged "housing"

Is 2015 the year to buy or sell your home?

(Housing News) If you own a home or are thinking of buying, you should know the factors that give you an advantage...

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2014 REALTORS Conference and Expo: hot topics

(Housing) Realtors are tasked with being up to date on endless information, and attending the annual REALTORS Conference and Expo is a...

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Housing market update: who is buying and selling in 2014?

(Housing News) The National Association of Realtors has issued a major annual report outlining who is in the market, how they're buying...

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Mom faces jail time for an overgrown yard

(Housing News) If you've been avoiding doing your yard work, this story may have you reconsidering.

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Spiders bleeding from walls, illegal Code of Ethics & a brand acquisition

What’s going on in real estate? Over on Realuoso.com, there is a lot going on, and if you’re not subscribed to the...

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Entire town of Swett, South Dakota for sale for only $400k

(Housing News) Swett, South Dakota is a tiny town that you can own for the low price of $400k, but what all...

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Jobs, housing numbers raise fears that the economy is decelerating

(Economic News) There are mixed reports on the health of the economy, but a new Transwestern briefing pulls together some of the...

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Top 10 most rapidly recovering housing markets in U.S.

(Housing News) Housing is recovering in America at an uneven pace, with these 10 large and 10 small cities recovering at a...

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Zillow launches Mortgage Pre-Approval tool: a win for the entire industry

(Housing News) Zillow has launched a new pre-approval tool which claims to be the first of its kind. How does this benefit...

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Business News

Where are the 10 best downtowns right now?

(Business News) The best downtowns in the world have a certain je ne sais quoi, an energy, a vibe. Livability.com has compiled...

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Opinion Editorials

How does Move win by losing a top realtor.com exec?

(Editorial) Move, Inc. has lost two top executives, and most are calling this a win for their competitors, but perhaps this is...

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Home prices stagnate, but is housing in any trouble?

(Housing News) Home prices fall again very slightly, but does this spell a rough winter or a long term problem? Two economists...

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Existing home sales take a dive, world does not end

(Housing News) Existing home sales dipped in January, and prices continue to climb, bringing a mixed bag of news. But what is...

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Dwellory: like evolving LinkedIn profiles for houses

(Real Estate Tech) Dwellory has launched for homeowners, giving every house a public timeline just like a LinkedIn profile does for professionals.

Foreclosure activity sharply increased in January

(Housing News) Foreclosure activity shot up in January, driven in part by a sharp increase in post-holiday foreclosure starts.

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Completed foreclosures fell 24 percent in the last year

(Housing News) Foreclosures have been a sore spot for the housing market, but 2013 was a turnaround year, with levels dipping dramatically.

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How Millennial homeowners affect the housing market

(Housing News) Millennials have a different set of priorities when they are making purchases, especially housing, so what do they want, and...

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The top 10 hottest housing markets in 2014

The top ten hottest housing markets for 2014 have a few surprises on the list, and aren't concentrated just on the coasts.

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How the CFPB’s new HUD-1 closing disclosure forms fall short

CFPB was created by the Obama administration in 2011 to protect consumers, and immediately sought out ways to "bubble-proof" America, starting with...

Mortgage application volume falls as housing struggles to recover

Accounting for the Veteran's Day holiday, mortgage applications actually fell for the week, but there is a silver lining when it comes...

Builder confidence held back by appraisals, building costs

Builder confidence has improved this year, but recent housing hiccups are holding the new home construction sector back.

Housing affordability dips as “perfect storm” hits

Housing affordability is on the decline, according to the National Association of Home Builders who points to two major factors holding back...

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What are the top challenges affecting real estate?

The real estate sector has been on a wild roller coaster ride in the last decade with the highest of highs and...

Federal court affirms MERS’ role in chain of title

In yet another court, the role of MERS in the chain of title has been affirmed, and despite heated criticism, they're racking...

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Real estate executives are cautiously optimistic about housing

Housing has been a complicated sector in recent years with home prices and sales on the rise, yet lending remains tight and...

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Completed foreclosures down 39% from last year

(AGENT/GENIUS) - Completed foreclosures have fallen dramatically in the last year, with 2.3% of all homes with a mortgage now in foreclosure...

Why pending home sales continue to decline

(AGENT/GENIUS) - The National Association of Realtors data reveals that pending home sales have fallen not only for the month, but for...

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How can mortgage fraud increase, decrease at the same time?

According to CoreLogic, the improving market plays a major role in mortgage fraud, as it improves and declines simultaneously.

National housing market cooling down, could benefit overheated markets

As the housing market cools down, Zillow notes that some markets are on the brink of a bubble and could benefit from...

Home flipping takes a nosedive, yet profits skyrocket

Although political uncertainty continues to impact housing in various ways, home flipping is on the decline, despite profits being higher nationally.

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Mortgage applications rise despite government shutdown

Mortgage applications are up this week, but continued economic uncertainty is making many nervous about the housing recovery.

Mortgage delinquency rates improve dramatically

As part of a broader economic recovery, mortgage delinquency rates have fallen substantially, according to a new report.

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Housing recovery slowdown apparent in asking prices, rents

Housing is still struggling to recover, but a slowdown in gains is grabbing the attention of analysts who are watching the hiccups...

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Electric vehicle charging stations required in new homes in one city

In a move some call innovative while others refer to it as wishful thinking, one city has made it illegal to sell...

Home prices continue improving but at a slower pace

Home prices have been improving this year, giving many hope that the sector is in recovery mode. The pace is slowing, but...

City nears seizure of underwater mortgages, invoking eminent domain

The City of Richmond gets a small victory on the path to making real the plan to seize underwater homes under eminent...

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What to do when a short sale doesn’t close on schedule

Whether a veteran or a newbie, there is no guarantee that a short sale transaction will close on time, so here is...

Couple fined for refusing to rent to African Americans

For refusing to rent to African-Americans, HUD has found a New Jersey couple guilty and has fined them $21,000 for their various...

Could rising mortgage rates hamper a housing recovery?

Sensitive from the aftermath of a housing crash, the industry is looking for positive and negative signs regarding the recovery. How will...

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52% of homeowners plan a home improvement this fall

With over half of all homeowners planning to make changes to their home this year, what is trending and why?

Shortage of buildable lots: holding back housing recovery?

As the nation begins the slow march toward a housing recovery, all obstacles are put under a microscope - land availability for...

Foreclosure mills run rampant, justice may be imminent

If you follow the money at several major foreclosure mill firms, the abuses being discovered at various levels are astounding. One state...

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As predicted, pending home sales take a hit in July

Pending home sales fell in July, but according to the nation's largest trade group, pending sales have stayed above year-ago levels for...

City of Fort Worth demolishes another wrong address

This summer, it was discovered that the City of Fort Worth had demolished the wrong address, and it appears that within 24...

Home sales improve in July as prices, interest rates rise

Home sales continue to improve despite the challenges of increasing prices and interest rate jumps. Fewer distressed sales account for some of...

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Calm down, you’re not getting a $1 home in Gary, Indiana

Gary, Indiana is now known as the home of the $1.00 houses through a special government program, but calm down, you are...

Home prices see strongest gain in over seven years

Continuing to strengthen, home prices saw tremendous annual gains in the second quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors.

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Mortgage applications rise slightly after weeks of falling

Mortgage applications improved this week, but not enough to have gained any lost ground. There is a silver lining, however...

Critics warn against city’s plan to use eminent domain on underwater mortgages

The mayor of Richmond, California announced a plan to invoke eminent domain in an effort to stave off foreclosures, but critics are...

Mortgage applications continue to slide, sales will follow

For the seventh consecutive week, mortgage application volume fell, indicating sales may stutter in coming months.

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City invoking eminent domain on underwater houses

Local governments in California are known to launch experiments, but invoking eminent domain on underwater mortgages is raising questions and eyebrows across...

Home prices rise 12.2%, homeownership hits 18 year low

Homeownership levels and home prices are changing as the housing sector begins the slow road to recovery, but great uncertainty remains due...

Dispelling myths about the mortgage interest deduction

The mortgage interest deduction has been debated in recent years and could soon be cut, but there are many myths that surround...

Pending home sales slip, NAR blames interest rates

NAR reports that while pending home sales have fallen slightly for the month, annual gains continue to improve. Mortgage interest rates and...

New home sales surge to a five-year high

New home sales surged dramatically in June and saw the highest annual improvement since 1992 - welcome news for one of the...

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Why prefabricated housing is trending across U.S.

Prefabricated housing has been around for years but is increasing in popularity - let's take a look at what is happening in...

Home sales and prices see healthy gains, challenges remain

As the volume of distressed sales slides, prices are improving more rapidly, and while sales slid for the month, they are up...

City of Fort Worth demolishes the wrong house

The City of Fort Worth and one homeowner are reeling from the recent demolition of the wrong home.

NAR, NABH urge Congress to modify PATH Act draft

The Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners (PATH) Act is currently being considered by a Congressional committee, drawing fire from housing trade groups.

Housing recovery is a myth thanks to private equity firms

The housing recovery is a myth and analysts celebrating gains are overlooking and often ignoring the long term role that private equity...

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Builder confidence in the market spikes in July

In another sign pointing to housing beginning its slow road to recovery, builder confidence improves for the third consecutive month.

mortgage rates, mortgage bankers association

CoreLogic: shadow inventory shows sharp decline

Driven by delinquency rates, shadow inventory levels are improving dramatically, and improving at an accelerated pace as housing begins its slow but...

Court rules Fannie, Freddie exempt from transfer taxes

Real estate transfer taxes are the subject of a heated court battle in Michigan, with a higher court ruling that Fannie Mae...

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List of improving housing markets has temporary hiccup

Although the number of markets that are considered to be improving fell 3.0 percent for the month, NAHB data supports that the...

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Mortgage delinquencies see biggest year-to-date drop since 2002

New loans can roll in all day, but if mortgage delinquencies accompany them, housing doesn't see gains. Fortunately, a new LPS study...

Trulia: home prices still rising, what’s next?

Home prices continue to rise and while this is good news for homeowners, two questions remain - will sales follow and will...

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Home prices are up 12.2 percent for the year

A new report has unveiled the 15th consecutive month of improving home prices, and it looks like the trend will continue this...

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Private pre-MLS Facebook forum embraced by agents

Launched by an independent broker, a new pre-MLS forum has launched on Facebook and grown so rapidly it may be pushed into...

Construction spending hits four year high, led by housing

As construction spending improves, particularly private residential spending, the talking heads are already out crying that improvements are flat and interest rates...

Pending home sales at highest level in 7 years

Today's pending home sales data reveals several bright spots in housing as the nation begins feeling a recovery that is slowly but...

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Mortgage interest rates rise, application volume dips

Mortgage interest rates are increasing, and overall application volume is dipping, but while refinance applications decline, new purchase applications are actually improving.

Hellacious landlord duo gets over four years in prison

Kip and Nicole Macy made their tenants' lives a living hell to force them out, and when they finally landed in hot...

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Housing affordability gap is widening in America

The housing affordability gap is widening in America, which Trulia says could result in people considering relocation to more affordable markets.

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Pending home sales jump 10.3% in one year

Pending home sales make minor gains for the month but substantial gains for the year, marking a slow but steady pace as...

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Mortgage application volume falls 8.8 percent in one week

Losing gains made in weeks prior, mortgage application volume fell substantially this week, led by a massive dip in refinance applications while...

Home prices surge 10%, highest annual increase in 7 years

Confirming other recent reports, home prices have jumped more than any other month since the summer of 2006, marking that the residential...

Zillow’s realistic look at the negative equity rate

The negative equity rate is improving and will continue, according to Zillow, but many homeowners are financially stuck in their homes, contributing...

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Opinion Editorials

Calm down, “zero down loans” isn’t a cuss word

Zero down loans are on the rebound on a small scale, but is it really such a horrible thing for the housing...

Builder confidence up, sense of urgency among buyers

Builder confidence is improving, and buyers are feeling urgent, but more than half of all builders still lack confidence in all areas...

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Zero down mortgages making a comeback?

Zero down mortgages are blamed by some for contributing to the downfall of housing, but some lenders are not requiring a down...

Trulia: home prices trending relative to job growth

As the employment situation in America shows signs of improvement, even slight, housing is seeing a boost in the form of home...

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Hurricane Sandy victims got two more weeks added to hotel stay program

After contentious push back and even a lawsuit, Hurricane Sandy victims who were supposed to leave the hotel stay program now have...

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Top 25 most profitable markets for flipping houses

Flipping houses can be a lucrative endeavor, but the housing crash left a stigma on the process. Perhaps this time around, more...

S&P/Case-Shiller: home price increases beat expectations

Home price increases continue according to all indices, many beating expectations - welcome news for a sector hard hit by the recession.

HARP doing well, HAMP still an embarrassment to nation

HARP and HAMP are two government programs developed to help improve housing after the sector was crushed by the recession, and the...

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Court rules that MERS meets definition of beneficiary

MERS, once blamed for the entire housing crash, is now being affirmed by judges - could more courts and more states rule...

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Independent foreclosure review checks usually only $300

Independent foreclosure review checks are finding their way into the hands of Americans wrongfully foreclosed upon, most commonly for $300 which some...

Mortgage application volume continues to increase

Although inventory levels remain tight, more buyers are hopping into the market as revealed by the mortgage application volume for new loans,...

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Housing inches closer to the pre-recession normal

From a bird's eye view, housing is improving as new home sales and housing prices improve, delinquencies fall, and the sector inches...

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Existing home sales slip: tight inventory, dip in cash buyers

Existing home sales fell for the month as inventory levels remain tight, but this has led to improving home values and dramatically...

California sues Standard & Poor’s for $4 billion

As the housing crash comes to a close and more legal settlements are finalized, more lawsuits are emerging like an entire state...

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Homeowner regrets: most wish they’d gone bigger

With current housing conditions, buyers are forced into making quick decisions, which can lead to homeowner regrets. What regrets do current homeowners...

Mortgage application volume levels hit two-year high

Mortgage application volume is up across the board, offering yet another hopeful sign for the housing sector.

Housing giving off mixed signals: are we recovering or not?

Housing has been a tricky industry to read, as economists fail to agree on where we are in the recovery process. Here...

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Court affirms MERS role in chain of title is valid

MERS, once blamed for the entire housing crash, is now being affirmed by judges - could more courts and more states rule...

Builder confidence slides as material costs jump

Builder confidence slumps as the sector finds itself frustrated by rising costs for materials, labor issues, and perpetually tight lending conditions, making...

Housing: crisis over, or is another bubble on its way?

Housing has been a tricky sector, with signs of improvement while signs of failure continue to emerge as the industry bounces at...

Short sale buyers want discounts: is it possible?

Everyone loves a good discount, and everyone knows that short sales go for less than a traditional resale home, but is it...

Construction jobs rise faster than national employment

Construction jobs are doing well as predicted, and with various factors coming into play, both new home construction and remodeling levels reveal...

Home construction levels soar to four year high

Home construction hit a high note in February, but what other factors will lead housing into a healthy recovery?

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Property values 42% better near public transportation

A new joint study between the NAR and APTA reveal that property values are considerably better when near public transportation with high...

Pricing Nation forecasts individual property values

Pricing Nation is a Boston-based startup that claims to know the future of each home's value, and it's going nationwide.

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Home values see second largest annual gain since 2006

Home values continue to rise, but rents are not matching the pace. Housing continues to be challenged, but Zillow asserts the sector...

Edward DeMarco under fire, will he soon be replaced?

Edward DeMarco has taken heat for years in his role leading the FHFA, but the White House could try again to nominate...

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Buying now cheaper than renting in most housing markets

Trulia reports that buying is cheaper than renting in most major metro areas, but tight lending conditions remain a challenge to housing's...

Housing jobs boosting national economic recovery

The growth of housing jobs is more than double the national employment growth rate, which could continue to improve and outpace other...

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Foreclosure inventory in judicial states three times non-judicial states

While foreclosure inventory levels and delinquency rates are improving nationally, how a state handles the foreclosure process has a strong impact on...

Housing inventory shortages continue, could soon ease

Housing inventory levels remain tight in America, but two real estate media companies assert that the shortage could ease this year as...

Completed foreclosures rise 10.5 percent in January

The state of foreclosures is improving, despite a setback in January that was easy to predict would hit, given various foreclosure freezes...

Pending home sales up, mortgage application volume down

Pending home sales rose in January, but forward-looking indicator mortgage application volume fell, so is housing improving?

Mortgage delinquency, foreclosure rates on the mend

Mortgage delinquency rates improved substantially in the final quarter of 2012, but judicial states are performing far differently than non-judicial states.

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Solutions to breaking the cycle of LGBT homelessness

Social issues are not the only ones faced by the LGBT community, but two housing communities have opened to address the specific...

Homeowner initiatives coming to a screeching halt

Homeowner initiatives were a highlight of President Obama's recent State of the Union address, but opposition notes the Federal Housing Authority is...

Builder confidence slides after months of improvement

Builder confidence has continued to improve, but has just had a setback, and although small, it could result in some slight forecasting...

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An Obama State of The Union finally addresses housing

In past years, President Obama has either failed to mention housing during his State of the Union address, or simply glossed over...

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CoreLogic: economy about to face multiple mini-cliffs

Through the lens of housing, the economy looks to improve, but CoreLogic says that with continued uncertainty in light of delayed sequestration,...

Housing market to improve in 2013, CoreLogic reports

After finding the bottom of the market in 2012, most economists agree with CoreLogic that housing is set to see healthy improvements...

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Housing related searches on Google grew 253% over past 4 years

In a joint report, Google and the National Association of Realtors have unveiled housing search trends for the modern buyer.

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Housing starts down 20.7% in Northeast, up 11.6% in the South

Housing start and permit data are being skewed by mixed regional performance and by the single family and multi-family sectors out of...

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Federal judge approves $25 billion mortgage settlement

Although it was expected that the federal judge would approve of the terms reached in the $25 billion mortgage settlement, it wasn't...

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Wells Fargo, NAHB alters forecast for new home sector

Although the new home construction business has major challenges ahead, the sector is showing signs of life - so much so that...

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U.S. migration report: top growing cities and states

By measuring migration patterns of families moving, U-Haul's annual report names the top growing cities and states, with Nashville, TN jumping from...

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Real estate index shows rising number of markets improving

While the real estate market continues to struggle, there are hot spots of improvement in nearly every state across America - the...

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Most Americans unaware of mortgage modification programs

Although so many mortgages are underwater, most Americans are unaware of the modification programs available to the public in the form of...

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Home values continue sliding, silver lining is rising rents

The values of homes continue to fall, rents continue to rise, with performance varying nationally. Zillow's new reporting points out the silver...

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Details of $26B mortgage settlement now made public

America's five largest mortgage servicers settled with the government in their largest civil suit, second only to the tobacco settlement decades ago....

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Fannie Mae asks taxpayers for another $4.6 billion

The continuing bailout Mortgage giant, Fannie Mae reported today a loss of $2.4 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, pointing to...

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Taxpayers pay $47 million in legal fees for Fannie, Freddie

Losses to legal costs The Office of Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is reporting today that legal fees...

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Opinion Editorials

The REO problem is worse than you think

How REOs are killing the market This week an asset manager contacted me to get pre-listing information on a house about to...

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Obama housing plan helps its one millionth homeowner

Housing plan helps one million The U.S. Treasury Department reported today that since the Obama administration launched their foreclosure prevention program in...

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S&P sued by Illinois AG for allegedly fraudulent ratings

S&P’s allegedly fraudulent ratings Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has filed a lawsuit against Standard & Poor’s (S&P), alleging fraudulent role in...

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Fannie, Freddie principle reductions would cost taxpayers another $100B

The FHFA stands firm The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac told lawmakers in a...

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