The Mortgage Reports : Today's Mortgage Rates & Strategy

Foreclosed Homes Finally “Spreading Out” Across All 50 States

Dan Green — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:57:16 PST

Buying a foreclosed home? Spring 2012 may be your best chance yet. A combination of aggressive legislation and low mortgage rates have left today's market ripe for value.

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30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages Losing Favor With Homeowners; 15-Year Fixed Gaining

Dan Green — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:26:23 PST

Last quarter, 1 in 4 conforming mortgage applicants ditched their 30-year mortgage for a 15-year fixed. There are good reasons why, too.

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REO-To-Rental Program to the Housing Market Rescue?

Rob Chrisman — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 04:11:31 PST

A program to dispose of large blocks of REO could help clearing out home inventory which, in turn, would benefit the U.S. economy as a whole.

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How To Cancel Your FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums (MIP)

Dan Green — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:29:02 PST

How FHA mortgage insurance works, and how to cancel your monthly MIP requirement. Depending on your loan type, the rules for FHA MIP cancellation vary.

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Shadow Inventory Weighs Down Housing Market

Rob Chrisman — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:26:12 PST

U.S. homeowners have lost an estimated $7 trillion in home equity since 2007. That's the equivalent of 28 million homes losing $250k each!

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Single-Family Housing Starts : The Market Is In Slow, Steady Recovery

Dan Green — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:28:43 PST

New data proves what REALTORS® have known for months. The housing market bottomed September 2011. It's since made slow, steady growth.

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Are Mortgage Applicants Forced Into 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages?

Rob Chrisman — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 20:44:13 PST

In 2011, 17% of refinanced mortgages featured “other length” loans, according to the MBA. The majority were 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed.

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Surging Homebuilder Confidence Puts Home Buyers On The Clock

Dan Green — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:55:28 PST

Want to know where the housing market is headed? Talk to the guys on the street. No one knows housing like homebuilders and builders say 2012 will be blowout.

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The Psychological Link Between Housing And Jobs

Dan Green — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:36:00 PST

If the housing's recovery will be closely tied to jobs, then 2012 purchase market is about to heat up.

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Green Mortgage Program In Jeopardy

Rob Chrisman — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:17:30 PST

The viability and future of PACE -- an energy improvement-related mortgage program -- is in jeopardy.

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HARP Program : The Complete HARP II Eligibility Requirements

Dan Green — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:01:36 PST

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) is revamped and extended. There are no LTV requirements and fewer loan fees. It's a complete refinance overhaul.

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Plunging Mortgage Rates Lower Mortgage Payments 13% In One Year

Dan Green — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 06:56:29 PST

Mortgage rates are down more than 1% in the last year and mortgage payments are down 13%. The "break-even point" on today's mortgages comes relatively quickly -- even after accounting for closing costs.

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$25B Mortgage Foreclosure Settlement Expected To Affect Home Prices

Rob Chrisman — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:49:37 PST

The $25 billion mortgage settlement deal is expected to flood the housing market with low-cost properties, which would cause a near-time decline in home prices.

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Mortgage Definition : Escrow Real Estate Taxes And Homeowners Insurance

Dan Green — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:35:44 PST

Homeowners that let lenders collect and pay their real estate taxes and insurance bills tend to get lower rates and lower fees. Here's how escrows work, and how you can use them to your advantage.

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The $25 Billion Mortgage Servicing Settlement : Does It Bring Closure?

Rob Chrisman — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:28:17 PST

For the mortgage industry, the $25 billion servicing settlement clears up uncertainty, but no one predicts an end to the troubles and legal fees.

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$35,000 : The Going Rate To Get Someone Out Of Their Home?

Rob Chrisman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:12:47 PST

Banks have started to offer more than $35,000 in cash to delinquent homeowners so that they can sell their properties for less than they owe.

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FHA Streamline Refinance Changes : Banks To Stop Verifying Income, Job, And Credit

Dan Green — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:01:02 PST

In a huge win for FHA homeowners, the FHA will exclude Streamline Refinances from its "Compare Ratios". In response, expect banks to open the FHA Streamline Refinance floodgates. You'll get a "true" FHA underwrite going forward -- no verification of income, job or credit required.

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Mortgage Insurers Give Fannie Mae Permission To Speed Up Short Sale Timelines

Rob Chrisman — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:14:45 PST

Fannie Mae has been given the authority to proceed with a short sale or complete a deed in lieu of foreclosure by five mortgage insurers, without needing to secure their approval.

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The Cash-In Mortgage Refinance : Bring $1,000, Save $1,718

Dan Green — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:30:04 PST

With Freddie Mac's published mortgage rates now sub-4 percent, homeowners are doing what it takes to refinance into today's low mortgage rates -- even if it means bringing some cash to closing.

Click for the complete post : The Cash-In Mortgage Refinance : Bring $1,000, Save $1,718.

The FHA Has Programs For Homeowners In Need — But Will They Work?

Rob Chrisman — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:06:26 PST

The FHA has many programs to offer lenders and borrowers, but many lawmakers and industry professionals are unsure if the FHA is up to yet another challenge of this scale.

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