Can this HARP be saved?
Let's see if the new, improved home refinance program goes any further toward pumping life into the stagnant housing market. On Monday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, the government agency that controls Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, announced an overhaul of the controversial Home Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP, that is designed to ease rules
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Tagged borrowers, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, loan, Mortgages, Refinance
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Foreclosure deal coming soon
After a year of discordant negotiations, a settlement is said to be imminent between U.S. states and the nation's largest mortgage lenders that would allow the banks to walk away from America's foreclosure mess for a reported $25 billion.
Reuters quotes sources close to the negotiations who say an agreement could be reached by the end
Buy a house, get a visa
How bad is the housing market in the United States? So bad, that two senators -- a Republican and a Democrat -- have joined forces to push a bill that would offer visas to foreigners who spend $500,000 buying homes in the States.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Mike Lee
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Tagged foreigners, home sales, housing market, Mortgages, Visa
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Buy a house, get a visa
How bad is the housing market in the United States? So bad, that two senators -- a Republican and a Democrat -- have joined forces to push a bill that would offer visas to foreigners who spend $500,000 buying homes in the States.
The bill was co-authored by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Mike Lee
Posted in Mortgages
Tagged foreigners, home sales, housing market, Mortgages, Visa
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Mortgage help falls short
Remember back in 2009, when President Barack Obama introduced the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP, by touting its goal of helping 3 million to 4 million borrowers keep their homes? The program has actually provided mortgage relief to fewer than a million to date.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Treasury Department statistics show the government
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Tagged homeowners, mortgage, Mortgages, program
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Pay off your mortgage?
During times of economic instability and employment uncertainty, many people wonder if they should pay off their mortgage, especially as they get closer to retirement.
One rule of thumb used to be (all rules of thumb seem to be under scrutiny these days) that if you could get a better real rate of return in the
QE3 still an option
After numerous unsuccessful attempts to help jump-start the economy, some Fed members still seem to think that pumping more money into the bond market will help solve our problems.
Twice, the Fed has decided to print money and go on a bond-buying spree to help save the economy. Twice, the programs -- QE1 and QE2 --
Government exiting mortgage biz
As the housing crisis drags on, the government is seeking to ease out of the mortgage business and let the private sector take control. That worries some analysts who don't want to see any more potential setbacks in a recovery.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two largest mortgage companies, have had their troubles since the
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Tagged Fannie Mae, Freddie, mortgage, Mortgages
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Protests and winning back trust
The mortgage banking industry wants to win your trust back. Lenders and servicers realize their reputation is tainted but they say they are determined to reverse that.
That was a common theme among lenders who spoke during the first day of the Mortgage Bankers Association, or MBA, annual meeting in Chicago. Many in the crowd of more
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Tagged bankers, mortgage, Mortgages, protesters
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Protests and winning back trust
The mortgage banking industry wants to win your trust back. Lenders and servicers realize their reputation is tainted but they say they are determined to reverse that.
That was a common theme among lenders who spoke during the first day of the Mortgage Bankers Association, or MBA, annual meeting in Chicago. Many in the crowd of more
Posted in Mortgages
Tagged bankers, mortgage, Mortgages, protesters
Comments Off on Protests and winning back trust