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Underwater refinance without HARP?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | May 14, 2012

A lot of homeowners with underwater mortgages would like to refinance, but they don’t qualify for HARP (the federal Home Affordable Refinance Program). Do they have other options?

Refinancing Jumps Under HARP 2.0

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | May 14, 2012

Applications for mortgage refinancing have seen a sharp increase since new, relaxed guidelines for the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) were unveiled last fall, the White House announced last week.

Mortgage Rates Keep Falling

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | May 10, 2012

Another week, another record low for mortgage rates.

Home Sales Highest Since 2007

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | May 09, 2012

Existing home sales rose to their highest level since 2007 during the first quarter of the year, hitting a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.57 million units, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported today.

Overall Home Prices Show Gain

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | May 08, 2012

U.S. home prices posted a small gain in March, their first overall increase in eight months, according to figures released today by the real estate data firm CoreLogic.

Fewer Loan Modifications Approved

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | May 07, 2012

The number of homeowners obtaining mortgage loan modifications has dropped by nearly one-third over the past year, falling faster than the decline in mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures.

Fed Study Rejects Standard Explanations for Housing Bubble

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | May 04, 2012

The most popular beliefs as to what caused the U.S. mortgage crisis and subsequent economic collapse are wrong, according to a new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

Mortgage Rates Still Falling

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | May 03, 2012

Mortgage rates have fallen again to new all-time lows, with the lowest rates on record reported this week for both 30-year and 15-year fixed-rate mortgages.

Foreclosures Pick Up Slightly

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | May 02, 2012

The foreclosure rate ticked up slightly in March, but remains well below its rate of one year ago, according to new data released today.

Credit Scores and Mortgage Approvals

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | May 02, 2012

What kind of credit score do you need to qualify for a mortgage? A new survey of bank executives by the Federal Reserve provides some answers.

Financing a Foreclosure Purchase

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 30, 2012

With so many foreclosed properties on the market these days, there are some real opportunities for careful buyers looking for a home or an investment property. But how can you arrange the financing?

Mortgage Rates Back Near Record Lows

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 26, 2012

Fixed-rate mortgages edged back toward all-time lows this week, with average rates holding just a hair above their all-time lows.

HARP 3.0 in the Works?

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 25, 2012

Rumors are flying today about a proposed HARP 3.0 that would further expand the program to borrowers whose mortgages are not backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Mixed Reports on Home Prices

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 24, 2012

Conflicting reports on home prices came out today, with one suggesting a long-awaited turnaround while another had prices falling to their lowest level in a decade.

Don’t Give Up On a HARP Refinance

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 24, 2012

For homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage, a HARP refinance is like the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Unfortunately, it can be just as elusive.

Home Sales Decline in March

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 19, 2012

Existing home sales fell in March, though industry insiders say they remain optimistic about long-term trends in the housing mark.

One-Third of Refinance Aps for HARP

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 18, 2012

Mortgage refinance applications were up sharply last week, including strong demand for new loans through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP).

Home Prices Reverse 18-Month Skid

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 17, 2012

U.S. home prices posted their first annual increase in a year and a half in February, posting a 1.1 percent gain according to the monthly RE/MAX National Housing Report.

Financing a Home Improvement Project

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 17, 2012

Home improvement projects are popular these days, but getting financing for them can be difficult. So what are your options in today’s tight credit market?

A New Housing Bubble Coming Soon?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 14, 2012

When will home prices begin to recover? Some experts are beginning to think it could happen sooner – and faster – than most people think.

15-Year Rates Hit New Record Low

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 12, 2012

Interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages dropped sharply this week, with the lowest mortgage rates on record reported for15-year home loans.

New Borrower Protections Proposed

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 10, 2012

New rules that would provide consumers with greater protections in dealing with their mortgage servicers were put forward today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Rents, Home Prices Expected to Rise

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 09, 2012

Americans increasingly expect home prices and rents to increase over the next 12 months, a trend that could push more of them toward home ownership, according to a new survey by Fannie Mae.

Loan Modifications for a Second Lien

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 07, 2012

Second mortgages can be a major problem for homeowners seeking mortgage relief through a loan modification or refinance. Fortunately, help is available through the federal Making Home Affordable program (MHA).

FHA Fees to Increase on Monday

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | April 05, 2012

Insurance rates for FHA mortgages are going up, effective Monday.

An In-Depth Guide to HARP 2.0

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | April 04, 2012

You may have heard that there were some changes made recently to the government’s Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). Known as HARP 2.0, the new rules are designed to make it easier for certain homeowners with little or no equity to refinance their mortgages.

Refinance Demand Halts Skid

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | April 04, 2012

Demand for mortgage refinancing rose last week, reversing a trend of six consecutive weekly declines on the strength of declining interest rates.

How Long Can Rates Stay This Low?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | March 31, 2012

The sharp jump in mortgage rates last week put a scare into fence-sitters who’ve been thinking about buying a home or refinancing their mortgage. Fortunately, they eased back down again this week but the question remains: how long can mortgage rates remain this low?

After Spike, Mortgage Rates Ease Back

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 29, 2012

Mortgage rates retreated this week, with 30-year loans falling back below the 4 percent mark after briefly surging above it for the first time in months.

S&P: Home Prices Fall to New Low

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 27, 2012

U.S. home prices fell again in January, dropping to their lowest level since the housing crash occurred, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.

Pending Home Sales Ease Off

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 26, 2012

Pending home sales fell slightly in February, but continue to run well ahead of last year’s pace, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported today.

FHA 203(k) for Foreclosure Fix-Ups

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | March 24, 2012

There are some great bargains right now in foreclosed homes but they often aren’t in the best of shape. Fortunately, the FHA’s 203(k) program allows you to both buy a house and fix it up with a single mortgage loan.

Buying Now Cheaper than Renting

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 22, 2012

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home, consider this: In virtually every city in America, it’s now cheaper to buy a home than to rent.

Mortage Rates Post Sharp Increases

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 22, 2012

Mortgage rates surged this past week, ending months of lethargy and sending interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans above 4 percent for the first time since October.

Housing Starts Down, But Permits Up

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 20, 2012

Housing starts cooled off in February, but building permits issued for new homes picked up at the same time, according to figures released today by the Commerce Department.

Hispanics May Drive Housing Recovery

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 19, 2012

When the housing market finally rebounds, Hispanic buyers will play a major role, according to a new report.

New HARP Rules Could Boost Underwater Refinancing

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 17, 2012

If you haven’t been able to refinance your underwater mortgage yet, now might be the time to do it.

Home Prices Finally Turn Upward

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 15, 2012

U.S. home prices have posted their first annual increase in 18 months, according to new figures from the national real estate company RE/MAX.

Purchase, HARP Applications Increase

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 14, 2012

The two sides of the mortgage market have been headed in opposite directions lately, with applications for home purchase mortgages increasing even as refinance demand has declined.

New Rules Easing HARP Refinances

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | March 14, 2012

There’s a big change coming in the HARP 2.0 program that will make it easier and faster for homeowners to refinance their underwater mortgages, and possibly save them several hundred dollars as well.

BofA May Trim Mortgage Debt for Some

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 13, 2012

Some underwater borrowers could see their mortgage balances reduced by an average of $100,000, thanks to an agreement reportedly reached between Bank of America and government officials.

Another Record Low for 15-Year Rates

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 08, 2012

The lowest mortgage rates ever were reported this week on 15-year fixed-rate home loans, while 30-year mortgages fell back to within a whisker of their all-time lows.

Fannie, Freddie Fees to Rise

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 07, 2012

Mortgage fees are about to go up, but it might be too late to do anything about it if you haven’t already locked in a loan.

The New FHA Streamline Refinance

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | March 07, 2012

President Obama has announced new guidelines to make it cheaper and easier for homeowners to refinance FHA mortgages. So what does it mean for you and how do you know if you qualify for it?

$25B Settlement May Offer Little Help

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 05, 2012

Only 5 percent of underwater homeowners are likely to qualify for mortgage principal reductions under the recent $25 billion foreclosure abuses settlement, an economist with the Brookings Institution has calculated.

4 Keys to a Housing Rebound

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | March 03, 2012

The housing market seems to be forever stuck in the doldrums, and most projections are for a slow recovery. However, there are a number of factors that could kick-start a stronger recovery than most analysts expect.

There are a lot of factors holding the housing market back right how. Unemployment remains high. Mortgage credit is tight. The decline in housing prices has slowed, but doesn’t appear to have quite bottomed out yet, making both lenders and potential homebuyers leery. A massive overhang of current and pending foreclosures is a major drag on the market.

Mortgage Rates Ease Back Down

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | March 01, 2012

Mortgage rates settled back down this week, following a brief spike that moved 30-year loans off the all-time lows where they had been lodged for several weeks.

Interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dropped to an average of 3.90 percent, slightly above their recent all-time lows, down from 3.95 percent last week, according to today’s Freddie Mac weekly rate survey. Average rates on 15-year fixed-rate loans were down as well, to 3.17 percent, down from 3.19 percent last week.

Don’t Overlook ARMs When Refinancing

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | March 01, 2012

If you’re thinking about refinancing your mortgage, don’t overlook the possible advantages of an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage).

Although they’ve largely fallen into disfavor these days, in part because interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages are so low, they do offer advantages that may appeal to certain homeowners. At the very least, you owe it to yourself to consider them as an option for getting the best mortgage rate when refinancing.

S&P: Home Prices Hit Post-Crash Low

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 29, 2012

U.S. home prices have fallen to a new post-crash low, pushed by a significant downturn during the final months of 2011.

Nationally, home prices fell by 3.8 percent during the last quarter of the year, bringing them to their lowest level since the housing downturn began in mid-2006. That’s according to the newest Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller Home Indices, out today.

Pending Home Sales Trend Upward

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 27, 2012

Pending home sales are at their highest level in nearly two years, following a modest rise in January, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported today.

Appealing a Property Tax Assessment

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | February 25, 2012

One of the small comforts for homeowners whose property values have fallen in recent years is that their property taxes usually go down as well. But you may have to appeal your assessment to get the full benefit.

Your assessment, of course, is what your local unit of government – typically your county or municipality – calculates your home is worth for tax purposes. It’s similar to, but different from, an appraisal, which is an estimate of property value for purposes of obtaining or refinancing a mortgage.

Mortgage Rates Move Off Record Lows

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 23, 2012

Mortgage rates headed higher this week, following three consecutive weeks when 30-year fixed-rate loans remained unchanged at their all-time lows.

Average rates on 30-year mortgages rose to an average of 3.95 percent this week, up from the 3.87 record low where they had remained all month, according to the weekly Freddie Mac rate survey, released today. Average rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages also rose, to 3.19 percent, up from a near-record low 3.16 percent last week.

Using Home Equity to Fund a 401(k)?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | February 23, 2012

Should you use a home equity loan or cash-out refinance to fund your 401(k) or IRA? According to a recent study, there can be some significant advantages in doing so – but there are some hazards as well.

On the face of it, there are some great reasons to tap your home equity and put it into a tax-advantaged retirement account. To begin with, mortgage interest is tax-deductable – and so are contributions to certain retirement accounts. So you can benefit both coming and going.

Sales Rise, But Prices at 10-Year Low

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 22, 2012

Sales of existing homes rose in January, posting their third increase in four months even as prices sank to a 10-year low.

The Other Foreclosure Settlement

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 21, 2012

The recent $26 billion foreclosure abuses settlement has been getting a lot of attention, but time is running out to obtain relief under another action that could potentially help even more former homeowners.

Cash-Out Refi or Home Equity Loan?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | February 19, 2012

Thinking about a home equity loan or line of credit? You might be better off with a cash-out refinance of your current mortgage instead.

Lenders are once again offering home equity loans and lines of credit (HELOCs), after many suspended such offerings a few years ago with the crash of the housing market. But they’re still hard to come by and have steep equity requirements, a far cry from the days when lenders were actively encouraging borrowers to use their homes as seemingly bottomless piggybacks.

Advantages of a cash-out refinance

More Action Seen on Foreclosures

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 16, 2012

Foreclosure activity picked up in January, a possible sign that lenders are gearing up to tackle the backlog of distressed properties that has been a drag on the real estate market.

Foreclosure Deal to Benefit Troops

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 14, 2012

Servicemembers who were improperly foreclosed on will receive six-figure settlements as part of a secondary agreement to the $26 billion foreclosure abuses settlement announced last week.

Will the $26B Settlement Help You?

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 11, 2012

Will you qualify for a piece of the $26 billion settlement announced this week to resolve claims against the nation’s five largest mortgage lenders? Here are some of the details:

HARP Refi May Delay PMI Cancellation

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | February 10, 2012

The federal HARP mortgage refinance program can be a huge boon for underwater homeowners. But if you have PMI, there’s a little hitch you should know about.

$26B Foreclosure Settlement Reached

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 09, 2012

A $26 billion settlement that would fund loan modifications and mortgage refinancing for at-risk homeowners was announced today by state and federal officials.

Many Could Get Principal Reductions

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 08, 2012

An agreement that could result in substantial principal reductions for some 850,000 underwater homeowners has reportedly been reached among state attorneys general and the nation’s largest mortgage servicers.

New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 Million

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 08, 2012

Recent changes to HARP mean that some 6.7 million homeowners will be eligible to refinance their mortgage to a lower interest rate under the government-backed program.

Housing Upturn Seen in 100 Cities

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 06, 2012

Nearly 100 U.S. housing markets are now regarded as “improving,” with home prices and other indicators coming back from post-crash lows, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

The New Obama Refinance Plan

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | February 02, 2012

The White House has made available details of its newest proposal to help underwater homeowners refinance their mortgages to lower interest rates. Will you be able to qualify?

Half of Mortgage Refis are Cash-In

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | February 02, 2012

Nearly one-half of homeowners who refinanced their mortgages late last year did so by paying down part of their mortgage balance at the same time.

HARP Refis 10 Percent of Total

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | February 01, 2012

Demand for mortgage refinancing eased slightly last week, after the Federal Reserve indicated it would seek to keep interest rates low for the next three years.

Should You Buy a Foreclosure?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 31, 2012

Should you buy a foreclosed home? The savings can be huge, but so can the hassles and pitfalls. Here are a few tips for first-time foreclosure buyers to make sure the experience is a rewarding one.

HAMP Expanded to Rentals, 2nd Liens

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 31, 2012

Owners of rental properties and homeowners burdened by secondary expenses are now eligible for mortgage relief under a new expansion of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).

Bad Sign for Home Prices?

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 31, 2012

U.S. home prices edged downward in November, dropping 1.7 percent from October’s level, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, released today.

Did Freddie Bet Against Refinancing?

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 30, 2012

Investments made by Freddie Mac would appear to give the mega-lender an incentive not to refinance high-interest mortgages for borrowers, according to a new report.

Two More Years of 4% Mortgage Rates?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 28, 2012

The Federal Reserve announced this week that it does not plan to raise interest rates until 2014 at the earliest. Does this mean you can expect another two years of 4 percent mortgage rates?

2011 Record Low for New Home Sales

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 27, 2012

New home sales had their worst year on record in 2011, with the estimate of 302,000 single-family homes the lowest reported annual total since the Census Bureau started tracking the data in 1963.

Using Gift Money for a Down Payment

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 26, 2012

Can a family member help you come up with the down payment for a mortgage? If so, are there any limits on how much they can provide or other restrictions?

Mortgage Rates Show Modest Rise

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 26, 2012

Mortgage rates headed upward this week, ending a three-week stretch of all-time lows for 30-year fixed-rate loans.

Calif. AG Rejects Mortgage Settlement

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 26, 2012

A settlement that could produce up to $25 billion in mortgage relief for homeowners is in doubt after it was rejected by the California attorney general, who said the proposed deal doesn’t go far enough.

Details Hazy on Obama Refi Plan

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 25, 2012

A program to help homeowners save $3,000 a year by clearing away obstacles to refinancing was proposed by President Obama in last night’s State of the Union address. What isn’t clear is how that plan might work.

Cheapest Home Have Happiest Owners

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 25, 2012

People who paid the least for their homes are most satisfied with home ownership, while those who buy very expensive homes are the most disgruntled, or so it would seem.

FHFA: Writedowns Would Cost $100B

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 24, 2012

Writing down the principal on underwater mortgages, a move advocated as a way to stabilize the housing market, would cost Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac nearly $100 billion, according to an analysis by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Do You Really Need to Put 20% Down?

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 24, 2012

There’s a widespread perception that you need to put at least 20 percent down to buy a home these days. Fortunately for home buyers, that’s just not true.

Short-Term Homeowners Should Consider an ARM

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 21, 2012

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) aren’t as popular as they used to be. But if you look at the numbers, many homebuyers really ought to consider getting one.

Single-family Construction Rises

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 20, 2012

Single-family home construction rose again in December, with both construction starts and building permits increasing for the fourth consecutive month.

Home Sales End 2011 On High Note

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 20, 2012

Existing home sales ended the year on a positive note, posting a 5 percent seasonally adjusted gain in December over the previous month’s tally.

Six Steps to a Great Mortgage Rate

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 19, 2012

At first glance, it seems that shopping for the best mortgage rate should be fairly straightforward. In reality, it can be pretty complicated and quite frustrating.

Modest Housing Rebound Seen in 2012

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 19, 2012

The housing market will begin to rebound in 2012, as part of a broader economic recovery, the financial and business analytics firm CoreLogic is predicting.

Unskilled Appraisers Seen as Problem

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 18, 2012

Regulations intended to promote accurate real estate appraisals sometimes result in poorly qualified appraisers being assigned to determine property values for mortgage lenders, the nation’s largest professional organization for real estate appraisers has acknowledged.

Rates Fall Again, Refinancing Surges

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 18, 2012

Homeowners rushed to take advantage of falling interest rates last weeks, as applications to refinance a mortgage reached their highest level in six months.

VA loans for National Guard, Reserves

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 17, 2012

One of the best-known benefits of serving in the U.S. military is being eligible for a VA home loan. What’s less commonly known is that these veteran’s home loans are also available to those who served in the National Guard or Reserve and met certain requirements.

December Home Sales Up Strongly

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 17, 2012

Home sales showed a healthy gain in December, bucking the usual seasonal trend that sees a decline in residential purchases heading into the winter.

No More Mortgage Insurance Deduction

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 16, 2012

A key tax deduction for recent home buyers expired on Jan. 1, as Congress declined to extend the write-off for various types of mortgage insurance.

Mortgage Rates Hit New All-Time Lows

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 12, 2012

Mortgage rates fell again this week, hitting new record lows across the board, according to new figures released today by Freddie Mac.

Freddie Mac Gives Jobless a Break

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 10, 2012

Unemployed homeowners can now be excused from making mortgage payments for up to a full year on Freddie Mac-supported home loans, the lender has announced.

Rate Locks and How They Work

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 07, 2012

Mortgage rates remain at historic lows for the time being, but they could start creeping up at any time. So if you’re planning to take out any kind of a mortgage loan anytime soon, you’ll want to get a rate lock.

Consumer Mortgage Protections Sought

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 06, 2012

In its first action under its new director, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is taking steps to supervise a big chunk of the mortgage industry and other nonbank financial business that had previously gone unregulated.

Lower Taxes, But Higher Mortgage Fees

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 05, 2012

Happy New Year – mortgage fees are going up.

Mortgage Rates Down to Start Year

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 05, 2012

Mortgage rates are starting out the New Year at or near their all-time lows, trending down slightly from the week before, according to rate survey figures released today by Freddie Mac.

Minority Borrowers to Share in $335M Countrywide Settlement

By:: Kara Johnson - MortgageLoan.com | January 04, 2012

More than 200,000 mortgage borrowers will be entitled to a share of a $335 million settlement over alleged discriminatory lending practices by the former mega-lender Countrywide, the Justice Department has announced.

Refinance Demand Strong at Year’s End

By:: Peter King - MortgageLoan.com | January 04, 2012

Mortgage demand fell over the two-week holiday period, even when accounting for the usual slowdown brought on by the holiday season.

Pending Home Sales Jump

By:: Kirk Haverkamp - MortgageLoan.com | January 03, 2012

Pending home sales posted a strong increase in November, rising to their highest level in more than a year and a half, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has reported.