Mortgage originations plunged 10.1 percent from November to December, continuing a decline from 2011’s September peak. At the same time, loans originated over the last two years have proved to be some of the best quality originations on record.
By: Steve Cook; Thu, Jan 26, 2012
Support for homeownership is greater in states whose median home value is higher than the national average, according to a new national survey of homeowners.
First-time home buyers are an ever-shrinking segment of the real estate market. In December, The percentage of first-time buyers tied the lowest level ever recorded in the National Assocition of Realtors’ Realtors Confidence Index this year at 31 percent of the market.
By: Steve Cook; Wed, Jan 25, 2012
In his State of the Union speech last night, President Obama announced he will push for legislation that will significantly expand the newly revised HARP program that allows underwater homeowners who are to refinance at today’s historically low rates.
Sales are typically slow in winter, but this January is proving especially sluggish for luxury homes even though sales for all existing homes have increased through the last three months of 2011.
In another sign that buyers are having an increasingly difficult time getting mortgage financing, nearly one out of three home sales in December went to buyers paid all cash.
By: Steve Cook; Mon, Jan 23, 2012
British buyers who are angry at their estate agents, property lawyers or mortgage brokers now can take out their frustrations on Web site by firing them out of a giant cannon at buildings for sale, with the chance to get their mortgage or rent paid for six months.
By: Steve Cook; Thu, Jan 19, 2012
Is an oversupply of housing units the real reason that America is suffering from low prices? Is the glut is so serious that it will plague local housing markets and depress home values for a number of years to come?
By: Steve Cook; Wed, Jan 18, 2012
Americans in their thirties have seen their homeownership rates decline more over the past decade than either younger or older owners.
December home sales unexpectedly rose 5.7 percent over November, ending the year with the 6th consecutive month to show a year-over-year sales increase. Sales were 1.1 percent higher than a year ago, RE/MAX reported.
By: Steve Cook; Mon, Jan 16, 2012
This year will be a tale of two cities. Local employment created by economic growth will drive housing market recoveries, and those markets that create more jobs will see property values and rents improve faster than others that don’t.
By: David Lereah; Wed, Nov 9, 2011
It’s more important than ever that real estate agents deliver value to consumers who have a negative view of real estate due to the real estate bust and are also empowered with a range of real estate information available on the World Wide Web.
By: David Lereah; Tue, Jun 28, 2011
The nation’s housing sector is having trouble lifting itself out of the enormous hole it has been in since the real estate bust began several years ago.
By: David Lereah; Mon, Apr 18, 2011
The U.S. housing sector is struggling to gain upward momentum…
By: David Lereah; Sun, Jan 9, 2011
As we begin the New Year, let’s look back before looking forward. Not since the Great Depression has America experienced such economic and financial deterioration in such a relatively short period of time.
By: David Lereah; Thu, Sep 9, 2010
Now that the homebuyer tax credit is no longer able to prop up home sales, risks facing the housing market are heavily weighted to the downside.
By: David Lereah; Fri, Apr 9, 2010
Housing activity has slipped considerably during these past several months but help may be on its way. A primary obstacle to a long term housing recovery has been a lack of hiring. But recent gains in the job market portends favorably for a needed boost in housing demand.
By: David Lereah; Wed, Mar 17, 2010
Looking forward, expect downward pressure on home values, as measured by the Case-Shiller index, due to mounting foreclosures, supply imbalances and relatively weak housing demand.
By: David Lereah; Thu, Mar 4, 2010
Housing activity is sputtering even though there are government subsidy programs in place to support housing demand.
By: David Lereah; Wed, Feb 10, 2010
At a cursory glance, the U.S. economy is improving, while the status of the housing market remains uncertain.
By: David Lereah; Mon, Feb 1, 2010
It is painfully clear that the number one obstacle preventing a complete housing recovery is the foreclosure crisis.
Written by: editor Fri, Jan 27, 2012
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