Follow Me on Twitter

Relief Available For Homeowners with Drywall Issues or Affected by Gulf Oil Spill

Dennis Norman

Last week both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac announced relief for homeowners with a mortgage insured by either agency (which accounts for over 90 percent of the home loans in the U.S.) that either have drywall problems (the Chinese drywall issue) or are in the Gulf coast area and are affected by the [...]

Update on Fed’s Foreclosure Prevention and Loan Modification Programs

Dennis Norman

Today the Federal Housing Finance Agency released it’s “Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report for the Third Quarter 2009“. This report gives data on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two-quasi-government agencies that either own or insure most of the home loans in the U.S., including how foreclosure prevention and loan modification [...]

30-Year Mortgage Interest Rates Match All Time Low This Week

15-Year FRM Drops to Set Another New Low in Freddie Mac Survey History

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.78 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending November 25, 2009, down from last [...]

Short Sales increase 45 percent in 2nd quarter; Foreclosures up by 23 percent

Dennis Norman

Many investors see short-sales and foreclosures as opportunities to make money in this challenging real estate market.  If you are one of them, or agree, rest assured, there are plenty more “opportunities” coming.

According to a report just released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the number of short sales and foreclosures continue to increase.

[...]

Interest rates drop for 3rd consecutive week; remain at 3-month low

Dennis Norman

According to Freddie Macs weekly mortgage market survey the interest rate on home mortgages dropped for the third-consecutive week and remains at a three-month low. The survey shows the interest rate on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage for the week ending September 17, 2009, averaged 5.04 percent with 0.7 percent in fees [...]

Mortgage Interest Rates drop to Lowest Rate Since May

Dennis Norman

According to Freddie Macs weekly mortgage market survey the interest rate on fixed-rate home mortgages dropped to the lowest rate since May 28th. The survey shows the interest rate on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage averaging 5.08 percent with 0.7 percent in fees and points this week, down from 5.14 percent last [...]

Better than expected economic news keeps mortgage rates low this week

Dennis Norman

According to Freddie Macs weekly mortgage market survey mortgage rates decreased slightly for the week ending August 6, 2009 from the prior week. The survey shows 30 year fixed rate mortgages averaging 5.22% with 0.6% in fees and points, down from 5.25% the week before. Last year at this time, the 30 year [...]

Mortgage rates rise again this week; housing market may be bottoming out

Dennis Norman

According to Freddie Macs weekly mortgage market survey mortgage rates increased slightly this week from the prior week. The survey shows 30 year fixed rate mortgages averaging 5.25% with 0.7% in fees and points, up from 5.20% the week before. Last year at this time, the 30 year rate averaged 6.52%.

Rates on 15 [...]

Interest rates increase slightly this week

Dennis Norman

According to Freddie Macs weekly mortgage market survey mortgage rates increased slightly this week from the prior week. The survey shows 30 year fixed rate mortgages averaging 5.20% with 0.7% in fees and points, up from 5.14% the week before. Last year at this time, the 30 year rate averaged 6.63%.

Rates on 15 [...]

Freddie Mac addresses appraisal issues in bulletin to servicers

By: Dennis Norman

Appraisals continue to be in the spotlight.  Investors, builders and other sellers are complaining of losing sales due to low appraisals and often cite HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) or AMC (appraisal management companies) as the problem.  One common complaint is that appraisers are being assigned to do appraisals on transactions in a [...]

Home Valuation Code of Conduct; HVCC – What it is and what it isn’t

Dennis Norman

By: Dennis Norman

Practically the entire real estate industry seems to be abuzz about the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) that went into effect May 1st.   I first wrote about it back in early April in a post on this blog.

Since Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac implemented the new rule there have been many questions [...]

REALTORS(R) Ask that Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) Implementation be delayed

Dennis Norman

By: Dennis Norman

Earlier this month I did a post about the Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) which is scheduled to take effect May 1st (click HERE to see post)

Last week, Charles McMillan, the President of the National Association of REALTORS(R) sent letters to Fannie Mae President and CEO Michael Williams and Freddie [...]

Economists now agree with me: Real Estate Market may be near bottom

I’m pleased that within the last couple of days, some real economists that are actually paid for their opinion of the market, have come out and stated that housing my be near the bottom; Something that I first suggested over two weeks ago in a post on this site and then again four days ago in another post.

Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC) Goes Into Effect May 1st

By: Dennis Norman

After May1st Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will no longer accept loans that do not comply with The new Home Valuation Code of Conduct (HVCC).

Since between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac they control about 90% of the secondary mortgage market in America this will most likely affect real estate investors one way or another.

The [...]

Latest Housing Numbers – Prices & Volume drop more

By: Dennis Norman

This morning the National Association of REALTORS(R) released data for existing home sales for November.   The numbers show sales of existing homes down 8.6% nationwide versus October and down 10.6% versus last year.  The Northeast saw the biggest decline in sales being down 12.0% versus last month and 18.0% versus last year.  The west region only [...]