Obama Answered My Question About HARP 3
This week has been all about Obama, at least on this blog. The President has been making the rounds, visiting multiple locations on the West… Read More »Obama Answered My Question About HARP 3
Mortgage News
The latest real estate and mortgage industry news, digested. Look beyond the headlines to better understand what’s really happening.
I’ve been covering the mortgage industry since 2006, at a time when scores of banks and lenders were closing their doors after some very big boom years.
In fact, you can see my ongoing list of mortgage layoffs and closures if you’re curious just how many companies didn’t survive that period.
Fortunately, the climate has improved considerably since then, despite a big uptick in mortgage rates lately.
This too has led to companies merging or folding entirely, though this time around due to a lack of volume as opposed to an increase in loan defaults.
I strive to write compelling mortgage news stories, whether it’s the top lenders for a given year, a novel mortgage product, new loan limits, or a big policy change.
You can see all my latest mortgage news posts below.
The 10 Best Quotes From Obama’s Housing Speech
Yesterday, President Obama gave a speech on homeownership at Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, Arizona, one of the hardest hit cities in the nation.… Read More »The 10 Best Quotes From Obama’s Housing Speech
Study: Minimum Credit Card Payments Increase Risk of Mortgage Default
A new study from credit reporting agency TransUnion revealed some interesting insights about credit card use and mortgage performance. The report titled, “TransUnion Minimum vs.… Read More »Study: Minimum Credit Card Payments Increase Risk of Mortgage Default
A Lack of Qualified Buyers Could Hit the Real Estate Market
Lately, I probably haven’t been winning many friends with my somewhat pessimistic view on the real estate market. A couple weeks back, I warned that… Read More »A Lack of Qualified Buyers Could Hit the Real Estate Market
Fannie Economist: Rising Mortgage Rates Should Slow Purchases, Not Lower Prices
A new commentary written by Fannie Mae’s Vice President of Applied Economic and Housing Research, Mark Palim, aims to put fears of rising rates to… Read More »Fannie Economist: Rising Mortgage Rates Should Slow Purchases, Not Lower Prices
Chart: Look How Many Homeowners Could Benefit From HARP 3.0
I’ve discussed the idea of an enhanced Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) on several occasions, though nothing has actually materialized. Whether it’s HARP 3.0, #MyRefi,… Read More »Chart: Look How Many Homeowners Could Benefit From HARP 3.0
Hovnanian: Higher Mortgage Rates Will Just Lead to Smaller Homes
During an interview with CNBC this morning, Ara Hovnanian of K. Hovnanian Homes expressed that he’s not worried about higher mortgage rates hurting the housing… Read More »Hovnanian: Higher Mortgage Rates Will Just Lead to Smaller Homes
Look: Mortgage Rates Are Still Historically Cheap
I feel like I’ve been going on and on about mortgage rates lately, but for good reason. After hovering at or near record lows for… Read More »Look: Mortgage Rates Are Still Historically Cheap
Blogger Claims Bernanke Made His Mortgage $53,000 More Expensive
A Yahoo! Finance blogger named Rick Newman claims Ben Bernanke cost him $53,000 on his recently acquired mortgage. The issue revolves around the latest testimony… Read More »Blogger Claims Bernanke Made His Mortgage $53,000 More Expensive
Bank of America Panned for Unattractive Refinance Offer
Anytime someone is looking to save you money, you should probably be skeptical, really skeptical. After all, it’s one thing to seek savings on your… Read More »Bank of America Panned for Unattractive Refinance Offer