News / Features

Growth and Gains Observed in the FDIC’s Third Quarterly Report

Financial institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) displayed positive gains on lower loan-loss provisions in this year’s third quarterly report; 63 percent of the FDIC’s client banks reported higher earnings, according to FDIC data cited by

Turkey, Stuffing and Open Houses!

Thanksgiving is a time for family, community and scrumptious dining; or, if you’re an agent, a great time to list and sell properties! A new story in The Los Angeles Times by Lauren Beale has spotlighted several agents off the West

Housing Recovery in Sight, but Further Down the Road

According to a survey by Reuters of economists and housing analysts, U.S. home prices will begin to improve in 2013, only after another year of stagnant recovery in 2012.  The survey polled 27 economic analysts between November 17 and

Not-So-Super Committee Puts Housing Cuts in Limbo

The Super Committee, the congressional panel charged with cutting $1.2 trillion from the federal budget, failed to meet a deadline this week, casting government budget conflicts and housing-related cuts in further distress. Though the cuts would not be scheduled

Government Hopes to Scale Back Involvement in Housing Market

Both Republicans and the Obama administration agree, surprisingly enough, that the government should back off a little from the housing market, according to a Washington Post articleby Zachary Goldfarb. But executing the plan is easier said than

Freddie Mac Releases November 2011 Economic Outlook

Freddie Mac released its Economic and Housing Outlook report for November 2011 yesterday, and according to the report, the country is right in the midst of the most affordable home-buying market in decades, though recent home sales don’t reflect

Will the Shadow Inventory Shroud a Housing Recovery?

There may be more than 3 million homes officially for sale nationwide, but a recent Miami Herald investigation has shown that millions of additional properties lay dormant in housing’s “shadow inventory,” many of them tucked away on bank’s balance

House of Reps Decisively Approve New FHA Loan Limits

The House of Representatives voted in favor for a bill that re-raised the limit of conforming jumbo mortgages for the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), ending a nearly two month gridlock in

Unorthodox Strategies Emerge for Dealing with Foreclosures

States with the slowest foreclosure processes might see their federal funding suspended until conditions improve, according to HousingWire’s Jon Prior. During a House committee hearing Wednesday over bonuses paid to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac executives, Edward DeMarco, Federal

October Scares More Homes off the Market

Year-over-year housing inventory was down 21 percent in October, according to a RE/MAX housing report cited by HousingWire. The decline is the 16th straight month of falling inventories. In addition, agents reported a 7.7 month supply of homes to

Homebuilders Adapting to the ‘Family’ Business

Apparently, academics and media outlets aren’t the only ones following Pew research polls. After releasing a study in October on multigenerational housing – which reported that in the last 30 years, 23 million Americans have transitioned to multigen housing,

Obama Administration Makes Housing More Affordable for Seniors and the Disabled

Thanks to $749 million worth of grants from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), thousands of very-low-income seniors and disabled persons will have access to affordable and supportive

‘High Density’ Ordinance Returns with a New Identity

The high-density ordinance, which was Houston’s attempt to stop tall buildings from being constructed near residential neighborhoods, is apparently back on the table, though it’s returning under a different name, according to the Houston Chronicle‘s Nancy

Housing Starts in Oct. 16.5 Percent over 2010

Housing starts increased in October by 16.5 percent, year-over-year, to a seasonally adjusted rate of 628,000, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban

Could Fannie Mae Be Profitable Again?

Fannie Mae released its third quarter balance sheets a couple weeks ago, and the $5.1 billion loss – accompanied by a plea for $7.8 billion in additional government financing – chaffed more than a few observers, leading to further

NAR Documents Changes in Homebuyers and Sellers

The National Association of Realtors has released its 2011 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, a survey of 5,708 home buyers and sellers that studies the demographics and features of both the individuals involved and the properties they were

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