Category: Around the Web

1.Mortgage Applications Decrease Slightly in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications decreased 0.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 27, 2014.  ”

2.Americans on the Road Again as Recovery Gains Traction
“Traci Butler and her husband cut out vacations after the U.S. recession five years ago. This week, the couple is taking their two boys on a weeklong trip that includes a July 4th visit to the nation’s capital, just a few weeks after touring Italy on their own. ”

3.Why your rent is so damn high
“Rents advertised by landlords rose by 0.8% during the second quarter to $1,099, according to data released Wednesday by real estate research firm Reis Inc., while the national vacancy rate was 4.1%, in line with the first quarter and down slightly from 4.3% for the same period a year ago.”

4.Boston one of Nation’s ‘Riskiest’ Markets
“Don’t know where you are going to be in five years? Think twice about buying.That’s a pretty good rule of thumb no matter where you live, but especially here in Greater Boston, now pegged as one of the nation’s “riskiest” housing markets, a new report finds.”

5.Jobs Growth Adds More Sunshine to U.S. Economic Performance
“Nearly seven years after the last recession began, the U.S. economy has been ticking along at a good clip lately. Private employers added 281,000 jobs in June, according to a report on Wednesday from the ADP Research Institute (ADP), a number that exceeds the most optimistic forecast of economists surveyed by Bloomberg.”

6.California’s dwindling middle class: California is gaining more renter households, a drop in homeownership, and housing affordability continues to be a problem.
“The housing wealth effect is in full motion. There are many people in the market that see the rise in home equity and are now out buying bigger ticket items and also, upgrading their homes.”

7.Number of Americans with fulltime jobs increases
“As Americans prepare for the Fourth of July holiday weekend, there is good news on the jobs front: More than four in ten have fulltime jobs.”

8.Five Great Reasons to Buy a Home Right Now
“The nature of market bottoms is that it’s hard to tell one’s occurred until prices and sales volume start to rise again. That’s why the best time to buy is when market conditions suggest a bottom.”

9.The US Economy Has Some Serious Momentum Right Now
“Wednesday’s ADP jobs report didn’t just beat expectation; it crushed them. According to the firm’s estimate, U.S. private companies added a whopping 281,000 jobs in June, which blew away expectations for a 205,000 gain.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.New Orleans among riskiest real estate markets in country, Bloomberg reports
“New Orleans is among the most risky real estate markets in the country when looking at the biggest gains and losses homeowners have experienced over the past three decades, Bloomberg reported recently.”

2.Real Estate Markets ‘Recovering from the Recovery’
“A joint research conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI) claimed that 2014 will be the year when real estate markets “recover from the recovery,” as buoyed by steadily growing demand for commercial real estate properties.”

3.US stocks close at records; Dow near 17,000
“U.S. stocks jumped on Tuesday as Wall Street started the second half of the year with the Dow rising to within two points of 17,000, as data showed expansion in U.S. manufacturing and better-than-expected sales for major U.S. automakers. ”

4.Global economy seems to be improving: Trader
“Dissecting the current trading environment and how the economy is improving, with Dani Hughes, Divine Capital CEO; “Fast Money” trader Brian Kelly; CNBC’s Bob Pisani; Eunice Yoon and Sharon Epperson. ”

5.Bullish on housing: Pro
“Tim Rood, The Collingwood Group chairman, discusses the state of the housing market. ”

6.U.S. home prices rose by 8.8 percent year over year in May
“Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased 8.8 percent in May compared to a year earlier, the 27th straight month of consecutive year-over-year increases in home prices nationally, according to a new report Tuesday from financial information company CoreLogic Inc. (NYSE: CLGX) of Irvine.”

7.US home prices rose more slowly in May
“U.S. home prices rose in May compared with a year earlier, but the gains have slowed.”

TonyAlvarez.com

1.Bubble Watch: Home Prices Still Undervalued, But Not For Much Longer
“Trulia’s Bubble Watch reveals whether home prices are overvalued or undervalued relative to their fundamental value by comparing prices today with historical prices, incomes, and rents. “

2.Housing Isn’t Overvalued, Except in These 10 Spots
“A deluge of U.S. housing data this week point to a sector that is bouncing back from the winter doldrums, but experts say the real estate market is still far from the bubble-like conditions it reached before the financial crisis hit.”

3.Home prices jump nearly 11% in April
“Home prices jumped nearly 11% in April , and are now up more than 22% from the bottom three years ago.”

4.Existing-Home Sales Heat Up in May, Inventory Levels Continue to Improve
“Existing-home sales rose strongly in May and inventory gains continued to help moderate price growth, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four regions of the country experienced sales gains compared to a month earlier.”

5.U.S. home prices up less than forecast in April: S&P/Case-Shiller
“U.S. single-family home prices rose less than expected in April, a closely watched survey said on Tuesday.”

6.Rooftop Solar Leases Scaring Buyers When Homeowners Sell
“Dorian Bishopp blames the solar panels on his roof for costing him almost 10 percent off the value of the home he sold in March. “

7.Home Prices in 20 U.S. Cities Rise at a Slower Pace
“Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a slower pace than forecast in the year ended in April as declining affordability put a lid on appreciation. “

8.Sold Signs Fill Builder Lots as U.S. Confidence Rises: Economy
“Buyers swarmed builder lots in May to propel the biggest gain in sales of new homes in 22 years, while consumer confidence this month was the strongest since 2008, showing how an improving U.S. job market is giving the economy a much-needed lift.”

9.US Home Prices Rise at Slowest Pace in 13 Months
“U.S. home prices rose in April from a year ago at the slowest pace in 13 months, reflecting a recent drop-off in sales.”

10.US New Home Sales Rocket Higher in May
“Sales of new U.S. homes rose in May to the highest level in six years, providing the strongest signal yet that housing is recovering from a recent slowdown.”

11.10 markets where home sales are falling
“The number of U.S. existing residential properties sold in May was 5.15 million, unchanged from April and up less than 1% from May 2013, real-estate data firm RealtyTrac announced Tuesday. But new U.S. home sales sold at an annual rate of 504,000 in May, the highest level in six years, the government said in a separate statement. Still, the number of sales fell in 31 of the 50 metro areas, RealtyTrac found.”

12.Sales Pickup Shows Healing U.S. Real Estate Market
“Americans snapped up previously owned homes in May in the biggest monthly sales gain in almost three years, a sign the residential real estate market is regaining its footing after a stumble early in the year. “

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Existing-Home Sales Heat Up in May, Inventory Levels Continue to Improve
“WASHINGTON (June 23, 2014) – Existing-home sales rose strongly in May and inventory gains continued to help moderate price growth, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four regions of the country experienced sales gains compared to a month earlier.”

2.U.S. housing regaining footing as supply improves

“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump.”

3.Existing home sales surge in May as housing market heats up
“A wavering housing recovery found firmer footing last month.”

4.Sales of US Existing Homes up 4.9 Percent in May
“Sales of previously owned U.S. homes posted the best monthly gain in nearly three years in May, providing hope that housing is beginning to regain momentum lost over the past year.”

5.Housing sales are up, but the market trails last spring’s blazing pace
“The housing market is a tale of two markets, with sales slowing but prices continuing to rise.”

6.Will higher rents drive up mortgage rates? Expert argue
“For the first time in a year, mortgage rates are now lower than they were a year earlier. That, however, may be short-lived, and some claim it’s due in part to surging rents. “

7.U.S. housing regaining footing as supply improves
“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump.”

8.US existing home sales, inventory surge in May
“U.S. home resales rose more than expected in May and the stock of properties for sale was the highest in more than 1-1/2 years, suggesting that housing was pulling out of a recent slump. “

9.May existing home sales up 4.9%
Video.

10.The flipping real estate problem: Flipping is another factor inflating real estate values in many markets. Average gain from 2013 flips in San Francisco is $194,000. Stock market wealth impacting real estate.
“Making money during the first housing bubble was virtually fool proof. And even if you were a fool, you had plenty of do-it-yourself television shows to hand hold your way into real estate riches.”

 

TonyAlvarez.com

1.International House Hunters Shifting from Vacation Areas to Urban Neighborhoods
“Nationally, 4.0% of the home searches on Trulia.com between January and May 2014 came from outside the U.S. That’s a slight decline from the same period last year, when foreign searches accounted for 4.2% of Trulia’s web search traffic. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany remain the top three countries outside the U.S. for home searches. “

2.U.S. Stocks Rise as Oil Advance Boosts Energy Shares
“U.S. stocks rose, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index extending a record, as deal activity spurred a rally in health-care shares and energy producers gained with oil prices. Gold extended a rally and emerging equities sank.”

3.Housing Market Falters Amid Rising Prices, Lower-Paying Jobs
“The Mortgage Bankers Association yesterday lowered its forecast for combined new and existing home sales in 2014 to 5.28 million — a decline of 4.1 percent that would be the first annual drop in four years. The group also cut its prediction on mortgage lending volume for purchases to $751 billion, an 8.7 percent decrease and the first retreat in three years.”

4.Mortgage rates down slightly
“From Freddie Mac’s weekly survey: The 30-year fixed rate improved 3 basis points, to 4.17 percent from last week’s to 4.20 percent. The 15-year fixed rate was a hair better, dropping to 3.30 from last week’s 3.31 percent.”

5.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate at 4.17 Percent
“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages eased slightly this week, remaining near historic lows.”

6.The turning of the worm in the housing market – Weakest May sales volume in California since the crash of the housing market. California home ownership rate continues to fall.
“If you want to play in the current housing market, you have to contend with the limited amount of inventory and the delusional salivating sellers going for peak prices. It is interesting to hear about recent home buyers e-mailing me about foundation issues, roofing problems, and generally crappy construction issues after they bought their homes.”

7.California’s unemployment rate drops to 7.6 percent
“California’s unemployment rate decreased to 7.6 percent in May, and nonfarm payroll jobs increased by 18,300 during the month for a total gain of 1,327,000 jobs since the recovery began in February 2010, according to data released Friday by the California Employment Development Department from two separate surveys.”

8.San Fernando Valley home prices flatline in May

“Home price appreciation in the San Fernando Valley has finally leveled off.”

9.How To Make Buyers Want Your Home
“Your home is listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and the sign goes up in your front yard. Now what? Sit back and let the offers roll in. Of course, that’s what every seller wants but that’s not always what happens.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.A few more sellers? SoCal housing inventory crept up in May
“The supply of homes for sale in Southern California crept up in May, another sign that the region’s housing market is stabilizing. But it remains at less than full health.”

2.Mortgage Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
“Mortgage applications decreased 9.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending June 13, 2014.  “

3.U.S. economy: Not looking so good
“When it comes to the U.S. economy, the glass just went from half full to half empty.”

4.Fed Says Economy Rebounding as It Trims Bond Purchases
“The Federal Reserve said growth is bouncing back and the job market is improving as it continued to reduce the monthly pace of asset purchases. “

5.U.S. economic growth sustainable, rates to rise in third quarter 2015
“The U.S. economy is on a self-sustaining growth path that should allow the Federal Reserve to start raising interest rates in the second half of 2015, according to a Reuters survey of economists.”

6.Buying a home in Denver: ‘Truly a seller’s market’
“It’s a difficult time for buyers right now. It’s truly a seller’s market in Denver. We have declining inventory and increasing sales,” Hotz said.

7.California’s blackbird in sharp decline
“The population of California’s iconic tricolored blackbird has suffered a dramatic decline in the past six years, according to a new survey coordinated by the University of California, Davis.”

8.Home sales and price increases ease in May
“The pace of California home sales eased slightly in May as a shortage of homes and housing affordability concerns held back would-be home buyers, according to a report Tuesday from the California Association of Realtors.”

9.Student Debt Blows Chill Wind At Housing Recovery
“It’s the time of year where society’s noteworthy and notables appear on college campuses to congratulate and inspire the newest members of the college-educated workforce. While personal anecdotes extolling the virtues of a life well lived are always appreciated, perhaps what is really needed this year is frank advice on overcoming indebtedness.”

 

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Housing Starts in U.S. Beat 1 Million Pace for Second Month
“Builders broke ground on 1 million U.S. homes in May, indicating the industry is picking up this quarter after a weather-induced slump to start the year. “

2.Consumer Prices Rising as U.S. Housing Stabilizes: Economy
“Consumer prices rose in May by the most in more than a year, showing U.S. companies are gaining some pricing power as the economy strengthens, and the homebuilding industry stabilized after a first-quarter swoon. “

3.Eight housing markets at all-time highs
“The U.S. real estate market has been on the mend for several years. While many Americans witnessed the values of their homes drop precipitously during the recession, markets have been rebounding, with prices in several counties reaching all-time highs.”

4.US Home Building Declined 6.5 Percent in May
“The pace of U.S home construction slipped in May with many Americans still struggling to afford new houses.”

5.Apartment rent hikes are slowing — finally
“Good news for apartment renters: Rent hikes are finally starting to slow, a huge relief for those who have put up with annual increases over recent years. “

6.Are these 7 home remodeling projects worth the money?
“When I remodeled my house, I knew what I wanted: a bigger kitchen with room for two refrigerators, more family space and another bedroom. But there are dreams and then there’s reality. My husband and I began wondering not only how much we could afford, but how much was wise to spend. So we called our real-estate agent and explained our plans, with hopes she could help us set a budget.  “

7.Check out the latest good news for Portland homebuyers
“Portland home prices continued to rise in May, but the monthly Regional Multiple Listing Service report on the market contains welcome news for home buyers: More homes are being put up for sale.”

8.Housing not warm yet: Pro
“Digging into housing data and the strength of demand out there, with Nicolas Retsinas, Harvard Business School, and CNBC’s Diana Olick “

9.May total housing starts drop
“CNBC’s Diana Olick breaks down total housing starts data in May.”

10.Who needs a mortgage? Cash sales continue to dominate market while mortgage applications run near levels last seen in 2000. Housing starts remain weak and expectations for price increases run wild.
“Apparently very few people need mortgages to purchase homes in the market today. One out of every three homes sold (at least those on the MLS) are going to those “all cash” buyers. Investors continue to dominate the percentage of all sales but the total number of sales is actually pathetically weak given the rise in prices.”

11.California’s economy sees no drought, says bank
“In spite of the drought and lingering effects of the Great Recession, California’s economy will continue to expand at a respectable pace in 2014 and 2015, according to a report Tuesday from Bank of the West Chief Economist Scott Anderson.”

12.US home building declined 6.5 percent in May
“The pace of U.S home construction slipped in May with many Americans still struggling to afford new houses.”

13.Housing starts fall in May
“Single-family housing starts fell in May, but they remained higher than a year before, the Census Bureau reported.”

14.California May Home Sales
“An estimated 37,734 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide in May. That was down 0.7 percent from 37,988 in April, and down 14.4 percent from 44,087 sales in May 2013, according to San Diego-based DataQuick. “

 

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Homebuilder confidence perks up in June
“Home builders have a sunnier disposition these days, though they’re not quite fully confident in the housing market just yet.”

2.Home equity is soaring, yet many owners are still underwater on loans
“WASHINGTON — If you’re like most homeowners, it’s your biggest asset. You can’t track it online or check monthly statements sent to you by a bank, but it’s crucially important for your personal financial well-being and your retirement planning.”

3.Applications for New Home Purchases Decreased in May 2014
“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for May 2014 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased by 8 percent relative to the previous month. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. By product type, conventional loans composed 69.3 percent of loan applications, FHA loans composed 15.5 percent, RHS/USDA loans composed 1.7 percent and VA loans composed 13.6 percent. The average loan size of new homes decreased from $299,094 in April to $296,427 in May. “

4.U.S. Homebuilder Confidence Rises Most in Almost a Year
“Confidence among U.S. homebuilders rose in June by the most in almost a year, a sign the residential real estate market is stabilizing after reeling from severe winter weather earlier this year. “

5.Homebuilder confidence up in June, remains low
“U.S. homebuilders are feeling more confident about the housing market but don’t think it is healthy yet.”

6.IMF Lowers Estimate of US Economic Growth in 2014
“The International Monetary Fund foresees the U.S. economy growing a modest 2 percent this year, below its previous estimate of 2.7 percent.”

7.Gas Prices Up as Mideast Turmoil Threatens US Economy
“U.S. motorists are already paying more for gasoline as the turmoil spreads in Iraq. Prices may continue to rise in the coming weeks. West Texas Crude reached $107 a barrel this morning on futures markets. Iraq is the world’s second largest oil producer, but output has fallen this year. The main pipeline from Iraq to Turkey has been closed since March because of the insurgency. The jihadist group ISIS surrounded the large Baiji refinery, which is responsible for domestic production. Large Shiite-controlled oilfields in southern Iraq are not threatened by the Sunni insurgency, but the fighting has led to jitters on financial markets.”

8.Apartment rent hikes are slowing — finally
“Good news for apartment renters: Rent hikes are finally starting to slow, a huge relief for those who have put up with annual increases over recent years. “

9.2014 real estate market looking good so far
“Steady sales, along with a strong number of inquiries, have been prevalent in Telluride’s real estate market so far this year, making the past five months the best in recent years.”

10.Real estate journalists get in-depth appraisal of local market
“The impact of millennials on the property market and the historically low supply of housing inventory were among the key issues facing the commercial and residential real estate industry highlighted last week during a national conference for real estate journalists in Houston”

11.California captures hot real-estate market list, including Sacramento
“California’s real estate market continues to rebound and sizzle, and Forbes takes notice in a list of America’s top fastest-moving housing markets. Sacramento makes the list at No. 9, based on Trulia data.”

12.June home builder confidence jumps
“Home builder sentiment jumped 4 points in June, reports CNBC’s Diana Olick. The NAHB Housing Market Index read 49 in June, versus 45 in May. “

 

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.How to win a bidding war on a home
“In many hot housing markets, bidding wars have been breaking out on a regular basis — and some house hunters are getting beaten out time and again.”

2.California home prices rise slightly in May
“California home prices rose slightly in May and sales fell as the market showed signs of stabilizing.”

3.Applications for New Home Purchases Decreased in May 2014
“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for May 2014 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases decreased by 8 percent relative to the previous month. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns. “

4.Summer spawns surge in listings
“Summer has unofficially kicked off for the Southern California housing market, with listings rising rapidly, offering buyers more to choose from.”

5.The good school-expensive home dilemma
“A good local school can be one of the biggest drivers of home prices in a community. And parents hoping to get their children the best education possible are often willing to stretch their finances for a pricey home in a good school district, sometimes taking out ambitious loans.”

6.Adventures In Real Estate: 5 Tales Of Major Home-Buying Mistakes
“It’s next to impossible to get through the home-buying experience completely unscathed. Maybe you accidentally buy a house with mold in the basement (like I did) or you snag a condo across the street from what will soon be a multiyear redevelopment project.”

7.’Boomerang’ homebuyers getting government boost
“Linda Van Doren works at a Tampa, Florida, area housing counseling center, but back in 2007 the center was unable to keep paying its counselors a full salary. She continued to work there, but, unable to pay her bills, ironically she lost her own home, agreeing to a short sale. Despite the stress, anger and damaged credit, Van Doren never soured on homeownership. “

8.Sacramento home prices climb in May
“Home prices in Sacramento County climbed significantly in May compared with the same month a year ago but didn’t come close to the huge year-over-year gains of 2013, DataQuick reported Thursday.”

9.Bay Area home sales great for sellers, tough on buyers
“The Bay Area’s housing market stumbled in May — prime home-buying season — as high prices and low inventory held real estate sales well below normal levels, according to a report Thursday.”

10.Student Debt Blows Chill Wind At Housing Recovery
“It’s the time of year where society’s noteworthy and notables appear on college campuses to congratulate and inspire the newest members of the college-educated workforce. While personal anecdotes extolling the virtues of a life well lived are always appreciated, perhaps what is really needed this year is frank advice on overcoming indebtedness.”

11.Home Equity Resets Looming
“According  to mortgage and credit experts, billions of dollars of home-equity credit lines extended to borrowers a decade ago during the housing boom could be headed for trouble soon, creating a new wave of defaults. Loan performance data from Equifax, one of the three national credit bureaus, shows delinquencies rise for borrowers who face increases in monthly payments. “

12. 5 Front Yard Landscaping Tips That Will Wow Buyers
“Your front yard is the red carpet inviting buyers into the beauty that is your home. If it’s rugged, messy and unkempt, buyers will take one look and then keep on driving to the next property on their list. Don’t let that happen by making your front yard luscious and as amazing as the inside of your home.”

13.California May Home Sales
“An estimated 37,734 new and resale houses and condos sold statewide in May. That was down 0.7 percent from 37,988 in April, and down 14.4 percent from 44,087 sales in May 2013, according to San Diego-based DataQuick.”

TonyAlvarez.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.Southern California housing market settles to a stable pace

“After several topsy-turvy years, Southern California’s housing market is starting to look almost normal.”

2.Chinese shift buying power to California homes

“As China’s housing bubble deflates, an influx of cash deals from Chinese buyers has swept across Southern California’s home market, and one UCLA economist expects that trend to continue.”

3.Average US 30-Year Mortgage Rate up to 4.20 Pct

“Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week for a second straight week but remained near historic lows.” 4.Applications for US Jobless Aid up Modestly

“More Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but claims for jobless aid remain near pre-recession levels.”

5.Real Estate Flipping: 8 Disclosures You Must Make

“Investors who flip homes are the unsung heroes of real estate. They take neglected, run-down and sometimes intentionally damaged properties and make them livable, even beautiful, again. If you want to flip properties, you probably already know about pitfalls such as hidden problems and cost overruns. But did you know that when you sell a property, you’re required to disclose information about its condition that might negatively affect its value?”

6.U.S. Economic Recovery Looks Distant as Growth Stalls

“Recessions are always painful, but the Great Recession that ran from late 2007 to the middle of 2009 may have inflicted a new kind of pain: an era of slower growth.”

7.Why we’re living in a meh economy

“Remember when the Great Recession ended? It was 5 years ago this month. When you combine stagnant incomes for most workers, a long-term problem, with a recovery that’s been robust at the top (the S&P 500 has more than doubled since the end of the recession) but tepid for most Americans (employment is up 5.7 percent since then) you get what we have today: the ‘meh’ recovery.”

8.Weak home sales in May show it wasn’t the weather

“The national numbers aren’t in yet for May, but major local markets are already reporting a serious spring slump in housing. The expected sales bump never materialized in a meaningful way and that has analysts rethinking their earlier theories. “

9.Some scary practices return to US property market, but the bubbles are overseas

“New data showing the return of a couple of old friends — subprime mortgages and so-called “jumbo loans” — have some people worried that recent history is repeating itself. “

10.Foreclosure filings dip in California

“With 6,299 California homes falling into foreclosure last month, the rate of foreclosure filings dropped 6.75 percent from April and by 36.04 percent from May 2013, according to statistics compiled by PropertyRadar Inc. of Truckee.”

11.Southern California’s housing market loses some steam

“Southern California’s housing market lost steam in May, with sales falling from the month before and a year earlier as investor buying dropped amid rising prices and tight inventory, a market tracker said Wednesday.”                                    

TonyAlvarez.com