Lending Standards: Are They Actually Loosening?
In a recent story on MSN Money titled, Mortgage Borrowing Is Getting Easier, it was revealed that: “Credit is not raining down on would-be borrowers, but it will be a bit more accessible this year.” The article bases it findings on the Federal Reserve’s January Survey of Loan Officers. Dan Greene of the Daily Mortgage [...]
FHFA extends HARP to 2015
FHFA extends HARP to 2015 The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) recently directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to extend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) by two years to Dec. 31, 2015. The program was set to expire Dec. 31, 2013. In addition, FHFA will soon launch a nationwide campaign to inform homeowners about [...]
Two Additional Experts Upgrade their Pricing Forecast
As reported last week, several analysts had upgraded their projections for home price appreciation in 2013. A few days later, the Wall Street Journal revealed that two additional analysts had also upgraded their forecasts. Zelman & Associates “Ivy Zelman, chief executive of research firm Zelman & Associates, said Wednesday she was now expecting prices to [...]
Homes Are Flying Off the Market
Bloomberg Businessweek; by Karen Weise This is, many people will tell you, a “Big Week for Housing Data” as a deluge of new statistics come out about how housing markets fared in February. Amid the flood of figures, one overlooked data point is crucial in understanding the state of the market right now. The housing [...]
3 Financial Reasons to Buy a Home NOW!
We are going to look at the three financial reasons to buy a home now instead of waiting: prices are rising at an accelerated rate, interest rates are increasing and rents are skyrocketing. Prices Are Rising at an Accelerated Rate The price of a home is the major consideration when deciding whether or not it [...]
What’s Up with the Housing Inventory?
It’s All About Supply and Demand Definitions of Supply and Demand: Dictionary.com In classical economic theory, the relation between these two factors determines the price of a commodity. This relationship is thought to be the driving force in a free market. As demand for an item increases, prices rise. When manufacturers respond to the price increase [...]
How to Get Help With Your Down Payment
Home buyers throughout California now have access to a new tool that will tell them if they’re eligible for any down-payment assistance programs. Some buyers view coming up with a down payment – the amount of money borrowers have to provide when making a large purchase, such as a home – challenging. Often, lenders require [...]
