@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/zDpvDMZMAr8/
Monday, February 28, 2011
[Contest] Congrats to our 1st ?My American Dream? Contest Winner!
Earlier this week, Trulia named�@caitlin_melody as our first “My American Dream” Twitter contest winner. She won a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card for her entry:
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
What can you buy for $500,000?
See what a half-million dollars can buy you in 12 U.S. cities.
Source: http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=27628472
Make cost-effective home improvements
Outshine the competition with key fix-up work
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/ajOijNEX4qY/make-cost-effective-home-improvements
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
Enough about me. Let?s talk about you.
Ah . . . the joys of giving.�
Be generous this holiday season.� Here are 3 ways to give to home buyers and home sellers in your advertising and a...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]] 
Be generous this holiday season.� Here are 3 ways to give to home buyers and home sellers in your advertising and a...
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheRealEstateBookBlog/~3/ocPW5kwYNBo/
Don?t underestimate the impact of a solid email campaign
Don?t underestimate the impact of a solid email campaign Social media is like the sexy, enigmatic guest at a cocktail party that everyone can?t stop talking about. It?s still shiny, new and let?s face it?shrouded in a haze of mystery. Though its users are in the millions globally, many of us are still wrapping our [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2010/11/02/email-campaign/
Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama
Cash Buyers and Qualified Investors Prop Home Sales
The uptrend in existing-home sales continues, with January sales rising for the third consecutive month with a pace that is now above year-ago levels, according to the National Association of REALTORS®.
Lawrence Yun, NAR chief economist, said the improvement is good but could be better. “The uptrend in home sales is consistent with improvements in the economy and jobs, which are helping boost consumer confidence,” Yun said. “The extremely favorable housing affordability conditions are a big factor, but buyers have been constrained by unnecessarily tight credit. As a result, there are abnormally high levels of all-cash purchases, along with rising investor activity.”
NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I., said the median price is being dampened by unusual market factors. “Unprecedented levels of all-cash purchases, primarily of distressed homes sold at deep discounts, undoubtedly pulls the median price downward,” Phipps said. “Given the levels of inventory we see today, we believe that traditional homes in good condition have held their value.”
Distressed homes edged up to a 37 percent market share in January from 36 percent in December; it was 38 percent in January 2010.
All-cash sales rose to 32 percent in January from 29 percent in December and 26 percent in January 2010. All-cash purchases are at the highest level since NAR started measuring these purchases monthly in October 2008, when they accounted for 15 percent of the market. The average of all-cash deals was 20 percent in 2009, rising to 28 percent last year.
“Increases in all-cash transactions, the investor market share and distressed home sales all go hand-in-hand. With tight credit standards, it’s not surprising to see so much activity where cash is king and investors are taking advantage of conditions to purchase undervalued homes,” Yun said.
...(read more)
Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02232011_existing_home_sales.asp
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
Dead malls thrive in the afterlife
Once past their prime, these 9 properties are now new neighborhoods.
Source: http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=27670258
Trial Opens Against Italy's PM Berlusconi
First of several trials against Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi re-opens after country's supreme court stripped him of immunity
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Trial-Opens-Against-Italys-PM-Berlusconi-117058373.html
Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages
14-year sentence in mortgage fraud case
Loans owned by credit unions sold to Fannie Mae
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/jq_QJXPyZ3s/14-year-sentence-in-mortgage-fraud-case
A Luxury Stucco House With Unique Features
Architect Robert Bartels built a rustic cottage as a retirement home in Rowayton, Conn. The 2,550-square-foot stucco house has generous open spaces, a den with a clock tower and a unique stairwell hatch inspired by the Paris metro. It's on the market for just under $2 million.
S&P/Case-Shiller: Home Prices End 2010 on Downtrend
The S&P/Case Shiller Home Price Indices, which track home prices throughout the U.S. on a two-month lag, declined 3.9 percent during the fourth quarter of 2010 on top of a 1.9 percent decline in Q3. Prices were 4.1 percent lower than one year earlier. This represents the lowest annual growth rate since the third quarter of 2009 when prices were falling at an 8.6 percent annual rate and the sixth consecutive month of national home price depreciations.
S&P/Case-Shiller provides two monthly indices which track the price path of single family homes in a 10-City and a 20-City data base. Each index combines matched price pairs from sales of individual homes. The National Housing Index tracks home value data for the nine U.S. Census divisions and is calculated quarterly. All indices are based on a value of 100 which represents home prices in January 2000. A current index value of 150 percent would translate to a 50 percent appreciation in price since that date.
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02222011_home_values.asp
Working with Tribal Nations to Build a Brighter Future
At the second White House Tribal Nations Conference on December 16, 2010, President Obama, numerous Cabinet Secretaries, and many senior Administration officials met with tribal leaders to continue delivering on the President’s commitment to ensure that tribal nations are full partners with his administration. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar delivered the opening remarks, laying out challenges facing the partnership between President Obama and Indian Country and emphasizing presidential initiatives in five main areas: (1) restoring tribal homelands; (2) building safer Native communities; (3) building strong, prosperous tribal economies; (4) fostering healthy communities; and (5) developing a structured and meaningful consultation policy.
President Obama also addressed the conference. He highlighted the progress made in the nation-to-nation dialogue since last year’s White House Tribal Nations Conference, while also acknowledging that a great deal of work remains to be done in Indian country. The President emphasized the importance of improving tribal economies and increasing the number of jobs in Indian country by investing in infrastructure, expanding access to high-speed internet, and developing clean energy initiatives. President Obama also underscored the need to continue building on advances in health care and education. He said that addressing health disparities in Indian country was “not just a question of policy, it’s a question of our values; it’s a test of who we are as a nation.”
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/25/working-tribal-nations-build-brighter-future
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
Homes That Help You Take Aging in Stride
More homes are being built with "universal design" features that will help boomers stay in their homes as they age. But these features no longer evoke a hospital room -- and they're appealing to a younger demographic, too. Amy Hoak reports.
Fannie Mae Rolls Out Servicer Evaluation Program
Fannie Mae has announced a new program to measure and evaluate the performance of its servicers' actions toward helping homeowners avoid foreclosure. The Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards Program or "STAR" is designed to directly link servicer performance in assisting homeowners to the customer's experience with that assistance.
In a speech to the Mortgage Bankers Association earlier this week, Edward J. Demarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) signaled that such a program would be forthcoming. He told the audience attending a national servicers' conference that FHFA had established working groups with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for which it is conservator, to align servicing standards and establish rewards for servicers for early engagement with borrowers. STAR seems to be the first product from those working groups.
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02242011_servicing_standards.asp
Weekly Wrap Up: Working with Small Business
Behind-the-Scenes Video: President Obama hosts a screening of Thurgood at the White House movie theater -- an HBO film about the life and career of Thurgood Marshall, the remarkable Civil Rights lawyer and the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.
Turmoil in Libya: President Obama says the violence in Libya is "outrageous" and "unacceptable," and that his Administration is looking at the "full range of options we have to respond to this crisis." Watch the video.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/25/weekly-wrap-working-small-business
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Libyan Forces Loyal to Gadhafi Hold Small Chunks of Territory
Al-Jazeera TV reports government forces are still present along the coast, preventing other insurgents from approaching Tripoli
Short Sale Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes
Weekly Wrap Up: A Budget Designed to Win the Future
A quick look at the week of February 14, 2011:
A Budget for Winning the Future: The President unveils his 2012 Budget. Find out more about what's in it, explore an interactive breakdown of where your tax dollar go, and learn how it puts America back on a track to fiscal discipline while still investing in the future.
White House White Board: OMB Director Jack Lew discusses the tough choices made in the 2012 Budget.
Race to the Top: The deadline to apply for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, and to have President Obama speak at your high school's commencement, is February 25th. See what happened last year when the President surprised graduating seniors at Kalamazoo Central High School, the winners of last year's Commencement Challenge.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/18/weekly-wrap-budget-designed-win-future
UN Security Council Imposes Sanctions on Libyan Leaders
Measure freezes Gadhafi family assets, refers Libyan crackdown to war crimes tribunal
Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans
Lights, Camera, Oscars! See Homes of Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jeff Bridges, and Other Academy Award� Nominees
(Photo courtesy Oscars.org)
Get ready for the mack-daddy of red carpet events: “The Oscars�.” This year’s 83rd Academy Awards� will be broadcast live on Sunday, Feb. 27 (ABC,� 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST) from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA. Here’s a look at some of the homes of top Oscar nominees, where they might be [...]
Get ready for the mack-daddy of red carpet events: “The Oscars�.” This year’s 83rd Academy Awards� will be broadcast live on Sunday, Feb. 27 (ABC,� 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST) from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA. Here’s a look at some of the homes of top Oscar nominees, where they might be [...]
A Luxury Stucco House With Unique Features
Architect Robert Bartels built a rustic cottage as a retirement home in Rowayton, Conn. The 2,550-square-foot stucco house has generous open spaces, a den with a clock tower and a unique stairwell hatch inspired by the Paris metro. It's on the market for just under $2 million.Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties
Watch the President Live from Intel: 2:35EST, 11:35PST
Today the President is in Hillsboro, Oregon to visit the Intel campus, where he’ll get to see the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility with Intel CEO Paul Otellini. The President will also learn more about Intel’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programs and check out student demonstrations by Intel Science Talent Search finalists.
It’s a perfect demonstration of the importance of out-educating our competitors in order to win the future, and that’s what the President will talk about afterwards – watch the live stream here at 2:35PM EST, 11:35AM PST:
UPDATE: This event has now concluded, check WhiteHouse.gov/video later for the recording.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/18/watch-president-live-intel-235est-1135pst
Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Look Mom, No Hands!
We rely on our computers more and more every day, whether we?re creating documents and reports, surfing the Web or catching up on email. But it?s not always easy to complete everything needed to be done on our laptops or computers. ��We have found a faster way to get all of these tasks done without [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/01/11/dragon-naturallyspeaking/
Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties
Dragon NaturallySpeaking, Look Mom, No Hands!
We rely on our computers more and more every day, whether we?re creating documents and reports, surfing the Web or catching up on email. But it?s not always easy to complete everything needed to be done on our laptops or computers. ��We have found a faster way to get all of these tasks done without [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/01/11/dragon-naturallyspeaking/
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
Sunday, February 27, 2011
[Contest] Congrats to our 1st ?My American Dream? Contest Winner!
Earlier this week, Trulia named�@caitlin_melody as our first “My American Dream” Twitter contest winner. She won a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card for her entry:
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/zDpvDMZMAr8/
Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages
Real estate short sales listings process
Short sales are a hot topic these days. It should come as no surprise, considering these real estate transactions now represent a huge share of the housing market because of their tremendous profit potential. Short sales are simple math: Lenders agree to sell distressed properties for less than is currently owed on the mortgage balances [...]
Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/02/real-estate-short-sales-listings-process/
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
Commencement Challenge Deadline Extended to March 11 ? Have You Applied Yet?
The Race to the Top Commencement Challenge is offering schools and students the chance of a lifetime. We’re asking that public high schools tell us how they’re preparing students for college and a career, and one lucky school will have President Obama as a commencement speaker.
The deadline for the Commencement Challenge has been extended to March 11, 2011, and applying is easy. To be considered for this opportunity, your school just needs to submit three essays and some data about student achievement that should be readily accessible. Visit WhiteHouse.gov/Commencement to get started!
Yesterday, Melody Barnes, Director of the Domestic Policy Council, was on BET’s 106 & Park to discuss the Commencement Challenge. Check out the video on BET.com.
Freddie Mac Mortgage Crisis Real Estate Agents Housing Market
MBA: Delinquency Rates Down, Some to Pre-Recession Levels
There was a lot of good news in the Fourth Quarter National Delinquency Study released by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Thursday. First, the overall, seasonally adjusted delinquency rate (which does not include loans in foreclosure) fell to 8.22 percent, a decrease of 91 basis points from a 9.13 percent rate in the third quarter and down 125 basis points from the same period in 2009. Jay Brinkmann, MBAs chief economist said that the non-seasonally adjusted rate showing a decrease of 46 basis points to 8.93 percent might be even better news. There is usually a sharp spike in the rate in the fourth quarter, perhaps because homeowner's budgets are impacted by the first home heating bills of the season. That the rate fell this time indicates that the downward movement may be real.
Delinquencies were down across all stages but one. Loans in the 30+ day bucket had a delinquency rate of 3.25 percent, down from 3.36 percent in the third quarter and 3.31 percent a year earlier. This rate, in fact, returns 30 day delinquencies to a pre-recession level. Loans delinquent 60+ days decreased 1.44 percent in the third quarter to 1.34 percent. The rate was 1.60 percent a year earlier. Loans in the 90+ bucket decreased from 4.34 percent to 3.63 percent quarter-over-quarter. One year earlier the 90+ rate was 4.62 percent. Loans seriously delinquent or in foreclosure had a rate of 8.57 percent compared to 8.70 percent a quarter earlier and 9.67 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009.
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02172011_mba_delinquency_survey.asp
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
The Non-Budget Budget
Congratulations new members of Congress! You fought tough campaigns and now you are ready to take on Washington and tame federal spending.
Where to begin?
First, tell everyone what you won't be cutting. That's right. Every budget proposal begins by telling the voters who won't be affected by budget cuts.
Obviously, our bankers won't be affected, so interest on the nation's debt is off the table.
Social Security and Medicare? No cuts there. Senior Citizens can't afford them and, besides, they vote!
Defense? If you are a conservative, you probably don't want to touch defense. If you are a Democrat facing a tough race, you don't want to be accused of being soft on terrorism.
Homeland Security? Can't touch that. FBI? Nope. Veterans? No way.
In fact, take off all of the above and you're left with roughly 10% of the almost $4 trillion budget. But that includes education and agriculture and research and science and housing and roads and national parks.
Cut it all of that out and the deficit will still be over $1 trillion dollars this year! Welcome to Washington! And good luck
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/01/the_non-budget_budget.html
The 55-and Over Promise Can't Be Kept
It is encouraging to hear so many politicians - Republicans and Democrats - talking about curbing entitlement spending. After all, it's our mandatory spending programs - mostly on health care - that threaten to drive the national debt to unsustainable levels. Over the coming decade, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid spending will top $20 trillion.
House Republicans are now sifting through that spending, preparing a package of entitlement cuts. I am willing to bet, when that package is presented, it will include a "55-and-older pledge." That's the promise politicians make when they talk about entitlement reform: Anyone 55-or-older will not be affected by Social Security reform. And sometimes they throw Medicare in for good measure. Paul Ryan made that clear in a recent post on his Medicare reform plan.
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor took the pledge too.
I will leave the politics of this pledge aside, except to note that older voters are far more likely to vote.
The policy grounds for the 55-and-older pledge are straightforward: people close to retirement are counting on Social Security and Medicare and they don't have enough time to adjust their savings to adapt to big changes in these important programs. Though it is not clear why someone 55 is unable to adjust, but someone 54 would have no problem. (For some interesting perspective on the benefits debate, check out this post)
President George W. Bush made the 55-and-older pledge when he talked up Social Security reform. But that was just as the baby boom generation, the largest in American history, began to turn 55. A decade ago, there was still time to include almost all the boomers in a Social Security reform plan.
That's no longer the case. Assuming that Social Security and other entitlement reforms take place in the first year of the next president's term (There is no sign of major reform this year or next) then any changes to the nation's largest entitlement programs will, presumably, not affect anyone born after 1958. That means more than half of the baby boomer generation would fall under the protection of the 55-and-older pledge.
Let's set aside issues of generational equity and ask a more basic question: Can this pledge really be kept?
If Congress extends current policies, including the benefit levels now promised by Medicare and Social Security, the publicly held debt will hit 97% of GDP by 2021. That same year, spending on Social Security, Medicare and interest on the national debt will make up just over half of all Federal spending.
In 2021, the oldest boomers will turn 75. The youngest boomers, 57. Given the magnitude of the challenge and the aging of the population, it is hard to see how everyone 55-and-older will be held harmless when Congress finally acts to close the long-term funding imbalances in federal health and retirement programs.
The math doesn't work.
Even assuming younger workers want to honor the 55-and-older pledge, will they be able to afford it? The unemployment rate for workers 55 and older is now just 6.7%. For workers 20 to 24 years old it is 15% and for those between 25 and 34 years old it is 9.3%. Given how slowly the labor market is recovering, you have to wonder if younger workers will have the earnings to support higher spending on retirement programs in 2021.
A few more facts to consider in evaluating the practicality of the 55-and-older pledge: The Social Security Trust Fund is now projected to go broke in 2037. Boomers born in 1959 will turn 78 that year.
Medicare is in even worse shape. According to the Medicare Actuary, after all the baby boomers have turned 65, Medicare will consume 6% of GDP. That's more than we now spend on defense.
A hard look at the numbers makes the 55-and-older pledge look more like a hope than a promise.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/02/the_55-and_over_promise_cant_b.html
Weekly Address: Winning the Future at Intel
The President speaks from the Intel campus in Oregon about educating our kids for the jobs of tomorrow so we can make sure America wins the future.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/19/weekly-address-winning-future-intel
Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties Commercial & Investment
Afghan Probe Links NATO Strikes to 65 Civilian Deaths
Separately Sunday, Afghan authorities say two bomb blasts in the southern part of the country have killed at least eight people
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/-8-Die-in-Afghan-Explosion-117006808.html
Watch the President Live from Intel: 2:35EST, 11:35PST
Today the President is in Hillsboro, Oregon to visit the Intel campus, where he’ll get to see the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing facility with Intel CEO Paul Otellini. The President will also learn more about Intel’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education programs and check out student demonstrations by Intel Science Talent Search finalists.
It’s a perfect demonstration of the importance of out-educating our competitors in order to win the future, and that’s what the President will talk about afterwards – watch the live stream here at 2:35PM EST, 11:35AM PST:
UPDATE: This event has now concluded, check WhiteHouse.gov/video later for the recording.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/18/watch-president-live-intel-235est-1135pst
Elvis Presley?s Beverly Hills home for rent
*From Trulia’s latest consumer newsletter: 5 Insider Secrets For Buying Your First Home
Want a place fit for a (rock and roll) king? This former home of Elvis Presley can be yours to rent! Gated and private, the French Regency estate boasts fresh coats of paint, new flooring, updated kitchen and resurfaced [...]
Want a place fit for a (rock and roll) king? This former home of Elvis Presley can be yours to rent! Gated and private, the French Regency estate boasts fresh coats of paint, new flooring, updated kitchen and resurfaced [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/On-D84qDs0c/
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Lorain County Community College is Winning the Future for High-Growth Entrepreneurs
Ed. Note: Watch the White House Winning the Future Forum on Small Business live starting at 11:35AM EST. The President will give opening remarks at 11:35, CEA Chairman Austan Goolsbee will hold a special live discussion at 1:00, and the President will close with remarks on what he heard at 1:55.
Northeast Ohio has staked its future on high-growth entrepreneurship. That’s why today, President Obama is bringing five Cabinet secretaries and his top economic advisors to Cleveland for a White House Winning the Future Forum on Small Business. In special sessions on high-growth entrepreneurship, access to capital, workforce development, boosting exports, and cleantech innovation, they’ll hear entrepreneurs from across the region address the real challenges and opportunities facing small and growing businesses every day.
One of these companies is ABSMaterials, based in Wooster, Ohio. It developed and patented super-absorbent material called “Osorb” that soaks up organic contaminants like a sponge. This innovative, reusable technology can help clean up oil spills, polluted waterways, and contaminated drinking water. In just the last two years, ABSMaterials has brought this technology from a novel idea to a revenue-generating product. The company has raised $3.5 million from private investors, and is creating jobs.
The growth of ABSMaterials did not happen in a vacuum. Northeast Ohio has spent well over a decade growing the kind of entrepreneurial ecosystem that allows innovative startups to thrive. Some of the growth capital for ABSMaterials came from JumpStart, a regional economic development network that’s been so successful, it recently announced that it will be scaling the model across the country—a major private-sector commitment to U.S. entrepreneurship in response to the President’s Startup America call to action.
Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages
Non-Agency Lending: How to Attract Private Funding to a Riskier Market
The House Financial Services Committee conducted hearings on Wednesday on Government Barriers to the Housing Market Recovery, hearing from speakers representing three government agencies and four representatives from the private and quasi-private sector.
David Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commission of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) told the committee that the Obama administration feels it is essential to facilitate the return of private capital to the mortgage markets as the government scales back its current historically oversized footprint. Stevens outlined the progress that FHA has made in restoring its capital reserves, improving loan quality, and reducing its exposure to risk but said Congress needs to pass comprehensive FHA reform legislation that enhances FHA's lender enforcement capabilities and risk management efforts.
Several others shared their perspective on attracting private investors back to the non-agency mortgage market.....
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02162011_housing_finance_reform.asp
New Year, New Home.
It?s a New Year and often folks are ready for a change, in fact I imagine that for many ?New Year, New Home? may have been a New Year?s Resolution.� It sounds like a great one to everyone here at HomeFinder.com, but there are always obstacles in the way that might slow you towards this [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2011/01/12/new-year-new-home/
Waterfront Homes Real Estate Agent Foreclosure Homes Realty Market
How to fix cracks in concrete
Here's a simple, effective way to patch those small, unsightly cracks.
Source: http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=27691339
Commercial & Investment Homes Foreclosures Home Sales Outlook
Fannie Mae Rolls Out Servicer Evaluation Program
Fannie Mae has announced a new program to measure and evaluate the performance of its servicers' actions toward helping homeowners avoid foreclosure. The Servicer Total Achievement and Rewards Program or "STAR" is designed to directly link servicer performance in assisting homeowners to the customer's experience with that assistance.
In a speech to the Mortgage Bankers Association earlier this week, Edward J. Demarco, acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) signaled that such a program would be forthcoming. He told the audience attending a national servicers' conference that FHFA had established working groups with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for which it is conservator, to align servicing standards and establish rewards for servicers for early engagement with borrowers. STAR seems to be the first product from those working groups.
...(read more)Forward this article via email: Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.
Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02242011_servicing_standards.asp
Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices
Libyan Protesters Brace for Violence in Tripoli
Moammar Gadhafi Friday offered to arm civilian supporters across Libya in effort to quash dissent
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Libyan-Protesters-Brace-for-Violence-in-Tripoli-116976538.html
Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams
Marie Johns' Story: Supporting Small Businesses and Growing the Economy
Ed. Note: This post is part of the Celebrating Black History Month series, which highlights African Americans from across the Administration whose work contributes to the President's vision for winning the future.
I come from a family of small business owners and have seen firsthand how important they are to strengthening our communities and our economy. My grandfather owned a landscaping company in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. As one of the first African-American owned business in Indiana to 
win a statewide contract, his company maintained the land around state highways. After my uncle earned his degree in pharmaceutical science at Howard University, my grandfather helped him start his own pharmacy, which served the city’s African-American community. Their spirit of entrepreneurship has always inspired me. Following a 21 year career in the telecommunications industry, I founded my own small business: an organizational effectiveness and public policy consulting practice.
A proud graduate of Indiana University, I worked my way up from a first level manager position at Verizon Washington, and as an African-American, became the first woman to lead the company. Whether serving as president of a major telecom provider or chairing the DC Chamber of Commerce, I have been committed to Main Street and underserved communities throughout my professional life. I created Students Educated for Economic Development Success (SEEDS), a mentoring program that prepared over 200 high school dropouts for entry-level jobs in the telecommunications industry. I also served as the founding chair of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science.
Now, as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), I have the privilege of supporting the small businesses that are innovating, growing the economy, and creating jobs every day. I am especially focused on helping the SBA reach businesses in underserved markets, such as African-American communities. These businesses often have a harder time getting the tools and financing they need in order to compete and thrive. Our loan programs help banks lend more to small businesses everywhere, and our counselors reach millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners each year.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with several minority-owned businesses in Columbia, South Carolina. Like small companies throughout the country, these businesses have struggled, but they are poised for growth. Their message was abundantly clear: give us the tools we need to innovate and grow, and not only will we survive these tough economic times, but we will prosper for years to come.
I am honored to serve a President who truly understands how important small businesses are to our nation and who is dedicated to ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to flourish.
Marie Johns is the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Selling your home during the holidays (yes, it?s possible)
There is always the question of whether or not you should take your home off the market during the winter months or if you should stick with it and try to snag a buyer while there are less homes in competition with you.� Generally speaking home buying takes a break during the holidays, but if [...]
Source: http://www.homefinder.com/news/opening-doors/2010/12/06/selling-your-home-during-the-holidays-2/
Berkshire Hathaway Exec's Lavish Buy in NYC
A potential successor to Warren Buffett acquires an adjoining apartment in one of Manhattan's prestigious buildings, whose celebrity neighbors include Jack Welch and Beyonce. WSJ's Craig Karmin tells Kelsey Hubbard about Ajit Jain's $14.65 million purchase.
The Non-Budget Budget
Congratulations new members of Congress! You fought tough campaigns and now you are ready to take on Washington and tame federal spending.
Where to begin?
First, tell everyone what you won't be cutting. That's right. Every budget proposal begins by telling the voters who won't be affected by budget cuts.
Obviously, our bankers won't be affected, so interest on the nation's debt is off the table.
Social Security and Medicare? No cuts there. Senior Citizens can't afford them and, besides, they vote!
Defense? If you are a conservative, you probably don't want to touch defense. If you are a Democrat facing a tough race, you don't want to be accused of being soft on terrorism.
Homeland Security? Can't touch that. FBI? Nope. Veterans? No way.
In fact, take off all of the above and you're left with roughly 10% of the almost $4 trillion budget. But that includes education and agriculture and research and science and housing and roads and national parks.
Cut it all of that out and the deficit will still be over $1 trillion dollars this year! Welcome to Washington! And good luck
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2011/01/the_non-budget_budget.html
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
News Hub: Room for Rent at the Mansion
The mortgage crisis is hitting multimillion-dollar homeowners especially hard and some of them are renting out rooms in their mansions in an effort to raise cash. Alyssa Abkowitz explains.
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Home Sales Outlook Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners
Is Rent-to-Own a Good Option?
A good question comes to us in Zillow Advice from Bballandgolffan in Conway, AR who asks:
Is rent to own a good option?
“I have been renting an apt for the past 4 years while in college.� I have student loan debt and not that high of a salary. I hate the thought of [...]
Is rent to own a good option?
“I have been renting an apt for the past 4 years while in college.� I have student loan debt and not that high of a salary. I hate the thought of [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/is-rent-to-own-a-good-option/2011/02/25/
Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans Home Warranties
Saturday, February 26, 2011
[Contest] Congrats to our 1st ?My American Dream? Contest Winner!
Earlier this week, Trulia named�@caitlin_melody as our first “My American Dream” Twitter contest winner. She won a $50 Crate and Barrel gift card for her entry:
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
@trulia My dream is simple ~ money to pay our bills & enough left over for a family trip a year AND a happy, healthy kids #myamericandream
Have you shared your [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/zDpvDMZMAr8/
Fence-Sitting Homebuyers Face FHA Fee Hike Deadline
Both applications for FHA-guaranteed mortgages and FHA endorsements were lower in January than in the previous month or in January 2010. Lower demand was reflected across all subsets, purchases, refinances and mortgages for first-time buyers.
Applications for FHA mortgages totaled 103,991 in January compared to 112,500 in December and 126,043 a year earlier. The year-over-year figure reflects a drop of 17.5 percent. There were 55,417 applications for mortgages to purchase homes and 41,178 to refinance. This was a 3.4 percent decrease in purchase applications since December and a 21.6 percent change from January 2010. Applications to refinance were down 12.1 percent quarter-to-quarter and 16.9 percent over the longer period.
FHA took an average of 5,735 applications per day in January. The average processing time from application to closing was 8.1 weeks, up from 7.6 in December but about the same as a year earlier and 4.0 weeks from closing to endorsement, 1.3 week less than a year ago.
Declining loan demand in January is no surprise given the uptick in mortgage rates we witnessed. Rates are now off those highs but loan production has yet to pickup. We are curious to see how the FHA's decision to raise the annual mortgage insurance premium will impact loan demand before the new fee structure goes into effect on April 18th.
Perhaps buyers will rush to beat the deadline?
...(read more)
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02242011_fha_volume.asp
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Is Rent-to-Own a Good Option?
A good question comes to us in Zillow Advice from Bballandgolffan in Conway, AR who asks:
Is rent to own a good option?
“I have been renting an apt for the past 4 years while in college.� I have student loan debt and not that high of a salary. I hate the thought of [...]
Is rent to own a good option?
“I have been renting an apt for the past 4 years while in college.� I have student loan debt and not that high of a salary. I hate the thought of [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/is-rent-to-own-a-good-option/2011/02/25/
Most Expensive Homes Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate
Non-Agency Lending: How to Attract Private Funding to a Riskier Market
The House Financial Services Committee conducted hearings on Wednesday on Government Barriers to the Housing Market Recovery, hearing from speakers representing three government agencies and four representatives from the private and quasi-private sector.
David Stevens, Assistant Secretary for Housing and Commission of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) told the committee that the Obama administration feels it is essential to facilitate the return of private capital to the mortgage markets as the government scales back its current historically oversized footprint. Stevens outlined the progress that FHA has made in restoring its capital reserves, improving loan quality, and reducing its exposure to risk but said Congress needs to pass comprehensive FHA reform legislation that enhances FHA's lender enforcement capabilities and risk management efforts.
Several others shared their perspective on attracting private investors back to the non-agency mortgage market.....
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02162011_housing_finance_reform.asp
News Hub: Buy a New House? Come Up with More Cash
WSJ's Mitra Kalita reports banks are requiring prospective new home buyers to come up more cash for down payments. In nine U.S. cities, the median down payment is 22%.
New-home sales lose steam in January
Pace of sales off 12.6%, near 2010 low
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/inmannews/~3/IDa-s4NH5Lc/new-home-sales-lose-steam-in-january
6 things that turn buyers off
*Note: Hot consumer topic and highly relevant if you’re in the market to sell!
We’ve talked about surprising home features buyers LOVE, and about why buyers aren’t biting on today’s market, but we haven’t talked much about the characteristics of sellers, listings and homes that turn buyers all the way off. Here [...]
We’ve talked about surprising home features buyers LOVE, and about why buyers aren’t biting on today’s market, but we haven’t talked much about the characteristics of sellers, listings and homes that turn buyers all the way off. Here [...]
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TruliaBlog/~3/rw-y0cIukRI/
Weekly Address: Traveling the Country, Winning the Future
The President discusses his recent travels and the examples he’s seen of how America can win the future. He urges Congress to heed these examples in the coming budget debate and to tighten our belts without eliminating investments in innovation, education and infrastructure.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/26/weekly-address-traveling-country-winning-future
Luxury Home Prices Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties
Obama, State Governors Discuss US Economy
Governors say they did not talk about the ongoing budget furor in the north central state of Wisconsin
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Obama-State-Governors-Discuss-US-Economy-116967288.html
Marie Johns' Story: Supporting Small Businesses and Growing the Economy
Ed. Note: This post is part of the Celebrating Black History Month series, which highlights African Americans from across the Administration whose work contributes to the President's vision for winning the future.
I come from a family of small business owners and have seen firsthand how important they are to strengthening our communities and our economy. My grandfather owned a landscaping company in my hometown of Indianapolis, Indiana. As one of the first African-American owned business in Indiana to win a statewide contract, his company maintained the land around state highways. After my uncle earned his degree in pharmaceutical science at Howard University, my grandfather helped him start his own pharmacy, which served the city’s African-American community. Their spirit of entrepreneurship has always inspired me. Following a 21 year career in the telecommunications industry, I founded my own small business: an organizational effectiveness and public policy consulting practice.
A proud graduate of Indiana University, I worked my way up from a first level manager position at Verizon Washington, and as an African-American, became the first woman to lead the company. Whether serving as president of a major telecom provider or chairing the DC Chamber of Commerce, I have been committed to Main Street and underserved communities throughout my professional life. I created Students Educated for Economic Development Success (SEEDS), a mentoring program that prepared over 200 high school dropouts for entry-level jobs in the telecommunications industry. I also served as the founding chair of the Howard University Middle School of Mathematics and Science.
Now, as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), I have the privilege of supporting the small businesses that are innovating, growing the economy, and creating jobs every day. I am especially focused on helping the SBA reach businesses in underserved markets, such as African-American communities. These businesses often have a harder time getting the tools and financing they need in order to compete and thrive. Our loan programs help banks lend more to small businesses everywhere, and our counselors reach millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners each year.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with several minority-owned businesses in Columbia, South Carolina. Like small companies throughout the country, these businesses have struggled, but they are poised for growth. Their message was abundantly clear: give us the tools we need to innovate and grow, and not only will we survive these tough economic times, but we will prosper for years to come.
I am honored to serve a President who truly understands how important small businesses are to our nation and who is dedicated to ensuring that they have access to the resources they need to flourish.
Marie Johns is the Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Weekly Wrap Up: A Budget Designed to Win the Future
A quick look at the week of February 14, 2011:
A Budget for Winning the Future: The President unveils his 2012 Budget. Find out more about what's in it, explore an interactive breakdown of where your tax dollar go, and learn how it puts America back on a track to fiscal discipline while still investing in the future.
White House White Board: OMB Director Jack Lew discusses the tough choices made in the 2012 Budget.
Race to the Top: The deadline to apply for the Race to the Top Commencement Challenge, and to have President Obama speak at your high school's commencement, is February 25th. See what happened last year when the President surprised graduating seniors at Kalamazoo Central High School, the winners of last year's Commencement Challenge.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/18/weekly-wrap-budget-designed-win-future
Economy Interest Rates Celebrity Foreclosures Most Expensive Homes
Beijing Plaza Partially Blocked Ahead of Planned Protest
Construction barriers appear at site where online campaign urges regular demonstrations against Chinese government
Top 10 fastest-growing foreclosure cities in the U.S.
CNN.com has the foreclosure “hot spot” list, which goes a little something like this: Spartanburg, S.C. Albuquerque, N.M. Myrtle Beach, S.C. Savannah, Ga. Charlotte, N.C. Tulsa, Okla. New Orleans, La. Virginia Beach, Va. York, Penn. Mobile, Ala. Two converging trends –�unemployment�and adjustable rate mortgages — are primarily to blame for the spikes in the cities [...]
Source: http://blog.foreclosure.com/2011/02/top-10-fastest-growing-foreclosure-cities-in-the-u-s/
FHA Commissioner Explains Logic Behind Insurance Premium Hike
Last week the FHA announced it would increase annual mortgage insurance premiums by 0.25% to "bolster capital reserves", effective for case numbers ordered on or after April 18, 2011. Naturally the sudden spike in fees led to a chorus of Bronx cheers from inside the housing industry. Originator, Realtor, and Borrower feedback was generally themed along the lines of comments like "GREAT TIMING. REDUCING THE POOL OF QUALIFIED HOMEBUYERS WILL DEFINITELY BOOST THE HOUSING RECOVERY".
Please note sarcasm. And yes, capital letters were intended to imply yelling. Beyond the frustrated muttering that emanated from the trenches, a deeper explanation of this move was requested as this move seemed to make no sense at all. So in the spirit of transparency and open communication from industry leadership, FHA Commissioner David Stevens decided it was time to pen another letter offering more perspective on the issue. The following words are his, not MND's....
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Source: http://www.mortgagenewsdaily.com/02222011_fha_mip_increase.asp
Libyan-Americans Raise Independence Flag
Libyan anti-government activists, including many women, chanted Friday for a free Libya
Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/Libyan-Americans-Raise-Independence-Flag-116965093.html
Housing Starts President Obama Hope for home owners Fannie Mae
Full House?s Dave Coulier Lists Encino Home For $1.65 Million
Known best as Uncle Joey from the popular 1980s-90s show “Full House,” stand-up comedian and actor, David Coulier, has been busy since his 8-season run with the ABC sitcom. He’s been performing stand-up routines across the county, does voice-over work, and runs his own production company, Cumulus Entertainment. According to the LA Times, his next [...]
Source: http://www.zillow.com/blog/full-houses-dave-coulier-lists-encino-home-for-1-65-million/2011/02/23/
Thousands Fleeing Libyan Violence Cross Into Tunisia
Local citizens mobilize food and transportation at Tunisia's southeastern border post of Ras El Jedir
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News Hub: What $48 Million Will Buy You in Aspen
Love to ski and have $48.5 million burning a hole in your pocket? Then a fabulous mansion in Aspen adjacent to the ski slopes that just hit the market might be perfect for you. Candace Jackson has details.
My 2011 Predictions
2010 Predictions
1) A year of bruising battles. There is some hope the New Year will build on the cooperation shown in cutting the recent deal on taxes and lead to more progress on deficit reduction. Don't count on it Both sides are gearing up for a nasty series of battles over spending. While this will lead to reductions in non-defense discretionary spending, the cuts are unlikely to be very deep. The good news: Once Republicans and the White House have scored points and fought each other to a draw, the possibility of a bigger deal that involves give on both sides - Republicans on taxes, Democrats on spending - goes up.
2) Federal Reserve on QE2. The Fed will finish its announced plans to buy $600 billion in bonds. But it is unlikely to go further. Given the tough political resistance on Capitol Hill and divisions in the Fed itself, the bar to further action by the Central Bank has been raised. The only way the Fed can expand QE2 will be if the economy is clearly weakening significantly. And who hopes for that next year?
3) Republican in-fighting will grab headlines. Yes, fights with Democrats are tough, but the battle within the GOP to control the Republican agenda - that's a death match. Senate Tea Partiers rallied under the banner of Sen. Jim DeMint who successfully battled back a bill containing numerous earmarks. This could be read as an implicit challenge to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. In the House, soon-to-be Majority Leader Eric Cantor and Speaker-to-be Boehner are already denying press reports they don't get along. Not a good sign. Reporters love in-fighting stories and will be looking for any excuse to run one.
4) Read up on your Constitutional trivia. Tea Party activists are already talking about moving forward on a "nullification amendment" to the Constitution. Under the amendment, if 2/3rds of the states voted to nullify a federal law, it would be repealed. If you're not familiar with nullification, read up on your Civil War history or the recent court case in Virginia overturning the Obama health care individual mandate.
5) The payroll tax cut will not be extended. Republicans didn't want to do it this year, and they will have the power to stop renewal next year. At best, the President gets a different tax cut or stimulus, but only if the economy is really hurting.
6) From Lawmaker to Rulemaker. Obama has already passed more legislation than most Presidents dream about. Now he can turn to writing rules and executives orders to get things done - without going through Congress. Regulation is a powerful tool and the President is already using his enforcement powers. Look for more action in 2011.
7) Feel like Presidential campaigns are never-ending? Well, the 2012 campaign shifts up a gear in 2011. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has a book tour scheduled for Iowa and New Hampshire in January. Newt Gingrich has practically moved to Iowa, he's been there so often. It you love politics, you'll love 2011. If you don't . . . sorry, that's just the way it is.
Source: http://www.pbs.org/nbr/blog/2010/12/my_2011_predictions.html
Seventeen Small Business Tax Cuts and Counting
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. President Obama's focus on strengthening small business has included reaching out to entrepreneurs and small business owners, asking them what's working and what needs to work better. Through Advise the Advisor, and this week's Winning the Future Small Business Forum in Ohio, the President has heard from thousands of Americans.
One of the questions we've seen is about what the Obama Administration has done to cut taxes for small businesses. On Twitter, lindismith asked @whitehouse, "What are the 17 new tax cuts for small businesses Obama signed into law?" Well, we took that question to some of the President's top economic advisers, and here's what they had to say.
Source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/02/25/seventeen-small-business-tax-cuts-and-counting
Mortgage Rescue Scams Real Estate Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages
Advocacy Groups Criticize Vietnam's Media Decree
Rights groups deplore decision they say imposes vague new rules on journalists, making it harder for them to cover stories
Vacation Properties Loans and Mortgages Household Moving House Plans
Friday, February 25, 2011
Ex-NBA?er Scottie Pippen and Real Housewives? Larsa Pippen Selling Ft. Lauderdale Home
This post has a little something for everyone: sports fans and TV hounds who enjoy the antics of The Real Housewives series.
Former Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, who played Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman during the Bulls’ glory days, and his wife, Larsa, are selling their Ft. Lauderdale mansion for $16 million, according to The [...]
Former Chicago Bulls forward Scottie Pippen, who played Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman during the Bulls’ glory days, and his wife, Larsa, are selling their Ft. Lauderdale mansion for $16 million, according to The [...]
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