Why 2014 is the year to get out of debt
“When it comes to your personal finances, 2014 may be your best chance to take advantage of low interest rates and get out of debt — before it really starts costing you.”
Private sector adds more jobs than expected in December
“(Reuters) – U.S. private employers hired staff at the fastest pace in 13 months in December, data from a payrolls processor showed Wednesday, burnishing expectations that similar figures due later in the week from the government will confirm the U.S. economy was gathering steam at the end of last year.”
U.S. mortgage applications edge up in latest week: MBA
“(Reuters) – Applications for U.S. home mortgages edged higher in the latest week, rebounding from a 13-year low set at the end of last year, an industry group said on Wednesday.” New FHFA chief reverses course on
Fannie, Freddie loan-fee hikes
“(Reuters) – The U.S. regulator for Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB) and Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB) on Wednesday instructed the two taxpayer-owned mortgage finance companies to delay the increase in fees on government-backed loans that the agency announced last month.”
New regulator Watt signals shift in U.S. housing policy
“(Reuters) – Mel Watt, who was sworn in on Monday to head the agency that regulates mortgage finance firms Fannie Mae (FNMA.OB) and Freddie Mac (FMCC.OB), has signaled a new approach to U.S. housing policy that will put more of an emphasis on ensuring access to credit.”
Commercial Mortgage Lender Appetite Expected to Exceed that of Borrowers in 2014
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2014) — Commercial and multifamily mortgage lending is expected to increase in 2014, as lenders’ appetites to place new loans grow even stronger, according to a new Mortgage Bankers Association survey of the top commercial and multifamily mortgage origination firms.”
Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2014) — Mortgage applications increased 2.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 3, 2014.”
Wells Fargo Creates SWAT Team to Keep Loans In-House: Mortgages
“Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC:US), the largest U.S. home lender, has assigned about 400 underwriters to originate mortgages for the bank to hold, with as many as 40 percent of those loans likely to fall outside government guidelines taking effect this week.”
New mortgage rules protect American dream: Column
“Let me tell you a common story I hear. It starts with a woman in 2005 or 2006 who took out a mortgage to buy her first home. After two years, her teaser interest rate expired. Her monthly payments doubled so she could no longer afford them.”
Investor & Lender Changes Continue; Freddie & Fannie: Golden Gooses?
“Teach your children about taxes: eat 30% of their ice cream.” They’ll also learn something about percentages. If 30% of cities have rebounded to pre-2007 levels, even I can deduce that 70% have not, but…is this late breaking news? “Higher mortgage rates, tight lending standards and price increases driven by a limited supply of homes for sale are discouraging some prospective buyers.” Apparently.”
Mortgage Grader lands patent for lender, broker compliance technology
“As lenders and brokers search for solutions to ensure they are not violating new lending rules due out this week, one company is building a compliance technology to keep the industry in check.”
Americans build larger, more costly homes
“Newly built single-family homes in the United States are getting bigger, costlier to build and more expensive, according to the National Association of Homebuilders. This news comes on the heels of news that home prices climbed 11.8% between November 2012 and November 2013.”
HEMET: Alleged squatter thwarts Christmas short sale
“When Scott and Tammy Laffin got a call from their real estate agent, they expected to hear the long-awaited news that their Hemet short sale home passed inspection from the buyer and would close escrow at Christmas.”
“Equity investors typically play real estate through real estate investment trusts (REITs), which have done very well for quite a while – until recent Taper talk brought the prospect of rising interest rates into focus.”
The Benefits of Investing in Commercial Real Estate
“What little known investment should people be turning to more often?What little known investment should people be turning to more often?”
Real Estate Matters | What home sellers can expect in the market this year
“A year ago, we saw far fewer “For Sale” signs. And this year, there are even fewer.”
“Real estate ranked as one of the worst-performing categories of 2013. In a year when the S&P 500 returned 32 percent, real estate funds gained 1.6 percent, according to Morningstar. Rising interest rates have contributed to the weak showing. Real estate and other dividend-rich sectors often sink when rates rise. Investors tend to sell dividend stocks and shift to fixed income as bond yields become more competitive.”
“For years, the commercial real-estate industry has lagged behind other industries when it comes come to embracing cutting edge Internet technology to provide old services in a new way.”
Burbank to Brookline Soar in Suburb Shift: Real Estate
“Clarion Partners LLC, a real estate owner overseeing almost $30 billion, made millions buying Manhattan office buildings and towers in Seattle and Houston after the U.S. property crash began six years ago. It’s now moving to the outskirts of big cities.”