By Jim Woodard
Published: March 8,2012
Walking away from a home mortgage is a bad idea. At least, that’s the view of most people, as indicated in a new survey by FindLaw.com. Many homeowners continue to wrestle with the fallout of the housing crisis. A majority of Americans say that simply walking away from a mortgage shouldn’t be an option for [...]
By Jim Woodard
Published: February 27,2012
The number of metro areas showing substantial improvement in their housing markets is growing dramatically. Those areas showing improvement expanded by 29 metros in February to include a total of 98 entries. This was determined by a study undertaken for the National Association of Home Builders and First American Improving Markets Index. Thirty-six states are [...]
By Jim Woodard
Published: February 23,2012
Home sales are on an upward swing in most areas of the country, but the growth is slow. A key reason for the continued sluggishness of the homebuying market is the mindset of many prospective buyers that prices have not yet reached bottom. They are waiting for clear signs of a positive turnaround in home [...]
By Jim Woodard
Published: February 20,2012
When candidates for public office support the elimination of modification of certain homeownership benefits as a cost-cutting means, that action could cost them the election.
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 30,2012
Applications for large mortgages are exceeding the number for modest mortgages in today’s market. Mortgage bankers funded $26.6 billion of jumbo loans during the third quarter of last year. That’s a 30 percent gain from the same period during the previous year, according to recent survey figures compiled by National Mortgage News. Jumbo mortgages are [...]
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 27,2012
Many homeowners with "underwater” mortgages can still refinance their loan with a lower-cost affordable mortgage, thanks to the Home Affordable Refinance Program, recently revised and extended until Dec. 31, 2013.
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 17,2012
A new landscape is emerging in many cities. Open space is replacing the growing number of vacant homes.
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 16,2012
A home that has a reputation for being haunted may be an outstanding bargain for a homebuyer. This and other types of stigmas can push the price down by 10 to 15 percent on average, according to one study. In some cases, the price reduction is much more.
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 6,2012
As local, county and state governments face growing, and sometimes desperate, economic needs, they increasingly turn to real estate transfer taxes as a source of funding. This is a tax that may be imposed at the closing of home sales or other real property transactions.
By Jim Woodard
Published: January 3,2012
The sluggish economy and high unemployment rate has a greater impact on today's homeowners than a possible foreclosure. It also increases the risk of home burglaries and even home invasions.
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