Articles by Subject

New Mortgage Possible Two Years After Short Sale

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 28, 2010

Financially pressed homeowners who voluntarily surrender their homes instead of going through foreclosure could buy a new home in as little as two years under new guidelines set by Fannie Mae. 

Web Site Helps Identify Potential Loan Modification Scams

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 28, 2010

Mortgage fraud is a growing problem. But there are some new tools that can help you avoid becoming a victim or help catch the scammers if you do get burned.

Home Prices Up, But Weakness Remains

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 27, 2010

Home prices have posted their first annual increases in three years, according to two leading surveys released this week, but month-to-month figures are showing signs of weakness in the housing market. 

Home Vacancy Rates Decline Slightly

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 26, 2010

Vacancies for both homeowner and rental housing declined in the first quarter of 2009, according to figures released today by the Census Department.

Choosing a Mortgage Lender

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 24, 2010

Choosing a mortgage lender can be one of the most intimidating parts of getting a home loan. A quick check online will show there are literally thousands to choose from. So how do you decide whom to pick? 

New Home Sales Post Biggest Increase in 50 Years

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 23, 2010

New home sales posted their biggest monthly increase in half a century in March, bouncing back from an all-time low in February with a whopping 27 percent increase.

Lenders Cutting Fees on Reverse Mortgages

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 22, 2010

There’s renewed interest in reverse mortgages these days, as many lenders have slashed the fees associated with them. But is it enough to make them a good deal for older homeowners looking to tap the equity in their homes?

Home Sales Post First Increase in Four Months

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 22, 2010

Existing home sales posted a strong increase in March, rising a seasonally adjusted 6.8 percent as home buyers moved to take advantage of a soon-to-expire federal tax credit. 

Mortgage Rates Down, Applications Up

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 21, 2010

Mortgage applications surged last week, as borrowers sought to take advantage of a drop in interest rates and qualify for a soon-to-expire homebuyer tax credit.

Leading Economic Indicators Rising Steadily

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 20, 2010

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose again in March, reaching an all-time high after a year of steady increases. But consumers still remained pessimistic about the direction of the economy, as the Board’s gauge of consumer expectations fell for the third month in a row.

Housing Starts, Building Permits Looking Stronger

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 19, 2010

New home construction starts have risen in each of the first three months of the year, following a small increase in March and revised data that turned a previously reported sharp downturn in February into a small increase.

Should You Hire an Attorney When Buying a Home?

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 19, 2010

One part of the homebuying and mortgage process that many people forgo is hiring an attorney to review everything to make sure it’s all in order. But how much of a risk are they taking by doing so? 

Mortgage Rates Fall Back After Spike

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 16, 2010

Mortgage rates cooled off last week, backing down from an abrupt spike that followed the end of a Federal Reserve program that had kept rates low for more than a year.

Can a Mortgage Audit Fend Off Foreclosure?

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 16, 2010

Mortgage audits are a strategy that’s growing in popularity as a way for financially pressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure. The idea is that, by uncovering legal errors or other problems with the mortgage, a homeowner can gain leverage to renegotiate the loan and perhaps even reduce the amount owed.

Vacation Home May Bring Tax Advantages

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 15, 2010

A vacation home can be a great investment from both a financial and recreational standpoint. And with tax day at hand, it’s a good time to consider some of the tax implications and benefits of owning a second home, if you’re thinking of taking the plunge in the next year or so.

Bank Repossessions Rise Sharply

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 15, 2010

Foreclosure actions have risen sharply in the early months of 2010, as lenders appear to be moving toward clearing out a backlog of distressed properties.

Forgiven Mortgage Debt May Still Be Taxable

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 14, 2010

Did you go through a foreclosure or obtain a loan modification in the past year? Do you expect to do so in the near future? You could wind up with an unexpected and unwelcome tax bill.

Foreclosure Prevention Efforts Lagging: Gov't Report

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 14, 2010

Government efforts to stem the foreclosure crisis are struggling, with only a small fraction of at-risk homeowners actually receiving help, according to an official report released today. 

Settlement Proposed in Countrywide Suit

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 13, 2010

Customers of the former Countrywide financial services and mortgage corporation will begin receiving letters today informing them of a proposed settlement regarding an alleged theft of personal and financial information. 

Worst-hit Markets May Not Rebound Until 2025

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 12, 2010

Home prices in some major markets may not fully recover for 15 years, although other parts of the country could rebound fairly quickly, according to a new study by Fiserv.

Rate of Distressed Home Sales Increasing

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 09, 2010

Distressed home sales are rising, reaching 29 percent of all U.S. sales in January, according to the mortgage and real estate data firm First American Core Logic. 

Mortgage Assistance for Recent Graduates

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 09, 2010

Recent college or university graduates are not usually considered prime candidates for home ownership. But for those fortunate few for whom buying a home is a realistic possibility, there are a few programs available that can help you out.

Does Your Job Qualify You for a Discount Mortgage?

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 09, 2010

Can you get special assistance or qualify for a low-cost mortgage based on the type of job you have? Does working as a teacher, nurse, police officer, firefighter or other career in public service let you qualify for special mortgage programs not available to other borrowers? 

Freddie Mac Reports Sharp Increase in Mortgage Rates

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 08, 2010

Fixed-rate mortgages jumped to their highest level in eight months this past week, hitting an average of 5.21 percent on 30-year loans in today’s Freddie Mac weekly rate survey.

Recession Shrinks Number of Independent Households

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 07, 2010

The number of households in the United States shrank by 1.2 million from 2005 to 2008, as the recession drove people to give up independent living and move in with relatives and friends.

Understanding Different Types of Mortgage Lenders

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 07, 2010

One of the most confusing parts of the mortgage process can be figuring out all the different kinds of lenders that deal in home loans and refinancing. There are direct lenders, retail lenders, mortgage brokers, portfolio lenders, correspondent lenders, wholesale lenders and others.

Two-thirds Still Prefer Home Ownership to Renting

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 06, 2010

Nearly two-thirds of Americans still regard home ownership as preferable to renting, despite the sharp downturn in the housing market and widespread foreclosures, according to a new survey by Fannie Mae.

Pending Home Sales Post Big Jump

By:
Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 05, 2010

Pending home sales posted a healthy increase in February, reversing three months of weak sales, according to figures released today by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

New Free Credit Report Rules Take Effect

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 02, 2010

Starting today, companies advertising so-called “free” credit reports online must include prominent disclosures ensuring that their products are not confused with the official federally authorized source for free credit information.

Interest-Only Loans Drying Up as Mortgage Option

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 02, 2010

If you’re looking to purchase a home or refinance a mortgage, your options are getting a bit slimmer.

Fixed Mortgage Rates Head Up

By:
Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 01, 2010

Fixed mortgage rates headed higher this past week, with the standard 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rising back above 5 percent for the first time in a month.

Low Mortgage Rates May Stick Around

By:
Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 01, 2010

Midnight has struck. The low-interest coach is turning back into a pumpkin. Borrowers who did not refinance or purchase a home by stroke of twelve have lost forever their opportunity to get a handsome prince of an interest rate.