Market Matters – The C.A.R. 2009 Mortgage Update
Market Matters offers proactive solutions to help you make sense of the often conflicting and confusing data, market studies, and news reports about California Real Estate and Mortgages.
Market Matters – The C.A.R. Mortgage Update is provided courtesy of the California Association of Realtors®
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Market Matters Index | |
| Issue | Description |
| 2009-12-17 | Obama’s standardized short-sale plan could help troubled homeowners, Decline in home values levels off, Housing inventory declines, Fed keeps “extended period” pledge, sees rebound, Mortgage lenders cancel more foreclosures in November, Few troubled mortgages being modified permanently, How to learn your credit score, Bay Area real estate investors snap up properties in Sacramento, Vegas |
| 2009-12-10 | Shaving real estate commissions can save sellers thousands, New rules for loan counselors, IRS to outline changes in the home buyer tax credit program, House flipping makes a comeback, Less competition in the market over holidays, Now’s really the time to buy a home, many say, 25% of homeowners in U.S. foreclosure plan late on payments |
| 2009-12-03 | FHA to toughen rules for borrowers, Government increases pressure on mortgage industry, U.S. housing market meltdown not over yet: Zandi, Home sales rebound to early-2007 level, State ruling to cut most property taxes, Average home sale price virtually unchanged in third quarter, Gov’t unveils rules to speed up “short sales”, Home loans will hold fewer surprises |
| 2009-11-25 | More homeowners fall behind on mortgages, Foreclosures hitting more people with prime loans, Decline in lending is largest since 1984, New $6,500 federal tax credit for “move-up” home buyers may benefit you, Index shows moderate gain in home prices in September, Want to avoid foreclosure? Go see a counselor, Consumer confidence improves slightly in November, First-time home buyers leading market back, California housing market turns corner, REALTORS® say... |
| 2009-11-19 | U.S. to aid some local mortgage programs, TARP interest could help jobless pay mortgages, Loan Ceiling Extended, Rates on 30-year mortgages remain below 5 percent, Make money in 2010: Your home, FHA reserves fall below legal limit as loan defaults take toll, Legitimized leasebacks picking up momentum, Expanded and extended homebuyer’s tax credit expected to boost home sales, and more. |
| 2009-11-12 | Fannie Mae last week announced a new Deed for Lease™ program, Getting serious about your house and the market, New HUD rules aim to get rid of closing cost surprises, Workshops for Latino immigrants focus on preventing foreclosure, “Short sale” battles weigh on U.S. housing recovery, Home prices may be bottoming out... |
| 2009-11-05 | Homeowners win big with extension and expansion of federal tax credit, Congress passes bill extending unemployment insurance, Six signs your home will increase in value, Overpriced homes offer a bargaining chip and other articles. |
| 2009-10-29 | Credit account dispute could stall mortgage application, Digging yourself out of a mortgage mess, Campaign targets mortgage modification scams, Housing bottom behind us, experts say, Short sales becoming easier to navigate, What you should know about the market - and more.... |
| 2009-10-22 | For mortgages a 620 credit score is the new magic number, Long-term Obama loan modifications prove elusive, Should you buy that condo?, Fewer short sales are coming up short, Feared flood of foreclosures in California may be averted, Reduced limits could affect credit scores, and more... |
| 2009-10-15 | Help from Fannie and Freddie for foreclosed homes, Schwarzenegger signs seven mortgage laws, Rates on 30-year loans inch up, to 4.92 percent, Start repairing bad credit rating now, Housing upturn occurring in some parts of Southern California, data show, Mortgage professionals expect home foreclosures to keep rising, Senior housing communities thrive, Home buyers should pay attention to IRS Form 4506-T, Survey: Economists say recession is over, predict moderate, slow-paced recovery. |
| 2009-10-08 | Banks bite bullet on loans; Homeowners in financial trouble often default again; More mortgage modifications result in lower payments; FHA reverse mortgage applicants may be affected by limits on payouts; Military home buyers find VA loans a roadblock; California House Prices Forecast to Rise in 2010; Signs of hope housing market may be stabilizing, and more articles... |
| 2009-10-01 | Seeking real estate bargains? Try looking at the high end; Home buyer tax credit might be extended for service members; Study: Housing more affordable for “move up” buyer; What you should know about the Real Estate market, and other articles... |
| 2009-09-24 | Changes to FHA lending standards; Obama administration’s steps to shore up the Federal Housing Administration program; three large banks issuing more than half of U.S. residential mortgages and its impact on taxpayers; changes to mortgage interest reporting; and the possibility of a new wave of foreclosures as many option ARMs reset to higher rates. |
| 2009-09-17 | The impact of foreclosure on a consumer’s credit score; banks cancelling home equity lines of credit; government assistance for the unemployed; and phone applications that allow a home buyer to calculate their mortgage payment. |
| 2009-09-10 | Down payments; the Obama administration’s Making Home Affordable program; concerns about the viability of the Federal Housing Administration; and low interest rates keeping homes affordable. |
| 2009-09-03 | IRS’ clampdown on inconsistencies between mortgage payments and income; low mortgage rates enticing buyers; mortgage fraud; and the market-share rise of home loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). |
| 2009-08-27 | Those who lose homes may face state tax hit, What to do if your mortgage is sold to another lender, Home prices on the rise, Home market shows signs of life in U.S. as price declines slow, Lobbying intensifies to extend first-time home buyer tax credit and more articles. |
| 2009-08-20 | Changes to the Truth in Lending Act and the potential impacts on borrowers. Will the new laws cause delays for borrowers? Read more to find out... |
| 2009-08-13 | Tips for Borrowers dealing with loan servicers when trying to obtain a loan modification, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-08-06 | Modifying FHA-insured loans; challenges condo buyers are having with obtaining approval on mortgages; the formation of a new consortium of lenders, brokers and mortgage-technology providers; a report on loan modifications; and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-07-30 | 3-year descent in home prices appears to be at an end, Low-priced foreclosures incite bidding wars, Tax credits give buyers incentives to be energy efficient, A way to avoid foreclosure, Bargains, tax credit help boost new-home sales. |
| 2009-07-23 | New consumer protection rules; federal prosecutors going after loan scammers; the U.S. Treasury Dept. considering a proposal to allow homeowners to stay in their home as renters after foreclosure; and current mortgage rate information. |
| 2009-07-16 | FHA mortgages, mortgage rates, jumbo loans, foreclosure scams, and mortgage modifications. |
| 2009-07-09 | Securing a jumbo loan, mortgage scammers, and expanded eligibility for the Obama administration’s refinance program. |
| 2009-07-02 | Finding a home loan, reverse mortgages, FHA loans, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-06-25 | Lawmakers urging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to relax standards for mortgage on new condominiums, the Mortgage Bankers Association cutting its forecast of home-mortgage lending for the year, challenges homeowners face in reaching approval for loan modifications, and how mortgage lending rules will impact real estate. |
| 2009-06-18 | First-time home buyer tax credits, rising mortgage rates, conforming loan limits, second mortgages and home equity lines of credit, and mortgage insurers. |
| 2009-06-11 | Reverse mortgages, mortgage rates, mortgage re-fis, loan modifications, an increase in the number of prime mortgage defaults, the FDIC’s plan to postpone the initial sale of bank assets, and a new loan for seniors. |
| 2009-06-04 | Monetizing the first-time buyer tax credit; rising mortgage rates; locking in a mortgage rate; mortgage fraud; and mortgage delinquencies. |
| 2009-05-28 | Refinancing, 15-year mortgages, mortgage modifications, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-05-21 | New government programs to assist troubled homeowners, rising foreclosures in California’s Inland Empire, short sales, mortgage rescues, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-05-14 | News Flash: Obama Administration Announces Financial Incentives and Uniform Process for Short Sales. Plus; Mortgage modifications, foreclosures, subprime lending, and underwater homeowners. |
| 2009-05-07 | Mortgage rules for condo owners, foreclosure filings, new foreclosure-prevention projects, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-04-30 | Details on the Obama administration’s foreclosure prevention plan; and information about Fannie and Freddie purchasing jumbo loans; online FICO help for troubled borrowers; mortgage defaults; mortgage rates; mortgage payment protection programs; and mortgage modifications. |
| 2009-04-23 | Hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages; home equity lines of credit; reverse mortgages; lenders that have signed up for President Obama’s mortgage plan; and new fees for some borrowers. |
| 2009-04-16 | Qualifying for an FHA loan, jumbo loans and reverse mortgages. |
| 2009-04-09 | Locking in mortgage rates; the “Making Home Affordable” program; mortgage defaults; mortgage applications; the government’s plan to combat mortgage fraud; and mortgage rates. |
| 2009-04-02 | Mortgage rates; mortgage refinancing; how to get the best refinancing deal; mortgage-help programs; jumbo loans; and cashing out. |
| 2009-03-26 | Mortgage modifications; the Federal Reserve’s plan to purchase government-backed IOU's; jumbo loans; mortgage support Web sites; condo rules; mortgage rates; how banks are preparing for President Obama’s housing plans; and increases in mortgage fees. |
| 2009-03-19 | How to avoid foreclosure scams; assistance for struggling homeowners; a home appraisal’s affect on home sales; mortgage applications; jumbo loans; and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinance programs. |
| 2009-03-12 | The effect of a reduction in the mortgage interest deduction; refinancing; loan modifications by bankruptcy judges; and the Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly mortgage application survey. |
| 2009-03-05 | President Obama’s housing plan; a new resource guide; tax credits for home buyers; FHA loan limits; mortgage payment reductions; underwater homeowners; and mortgage applications. |
| 2009-02-26 | Mortgage rules for condo owners, foreclosure filings, new foreclosure-prevention projects, and current mortgage rates. |
| 2009-02-19 | Foreclosure suspension; new fees being instituted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac; common loan modification programs; and mortgage rate changes. |
| 2009-02-12 | Common mistakes borrowers make when applying for a mortgage; interest rates on jumbo loans; an increase in late payments in affluent communities; and rising interest rates. |
| 2009-02-05 | Freddie Mac, curbing foreclosures, credit unions, and financial roadblocks to homeownership. |
| 2009-01-29 | The possibility of a national banking system; how to decide if refinancing is the best option; strategies under consideration to mitigate U.S. foreclosures; and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. |
| 2009-01-22 | Mortgage modifications, foreclosure sales and evictions, and borrowers applying to refinance with multiple lenders. |
| 2009-01-15 | Loan limits, paying down a mortgage, mortgage rates, refinancing, home loan applications, and foreclosure suspensions. |
| 2009-01-08 | FHA loans, falling mortgage rates, down-payment assistance programs (DAPs), jumbo loans, mortgage securities, and IndyMac Federal Bank. |
| 2009-01-01 | New mortgage rates, “early workout” loan alterations, and loan modifications. |




