Category Archives: Housing

Housing Recovery Has Begun

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This may be the brashest of predictions. Can residential real estate prices actually be recovering? Yes, as housing inventories decline. The National Association of Realtors just reported on the national level, inventory of for-sale single family homes, … Continue reading →

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What to Do With Lowest Mortgage Rates in History?

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage rates are the lowest since the Mortgage Bankers Association survey began in the 1970s, at 3.91 percent for the conforming 30-year fixed rate, but actually lower with many lenders. I am seeing rates as low as … Continue reading →

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Home Prices Finally Rising!

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Even the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index, a 3-month average of all existing-home prices that lags all other indexes—such as FHFA and CoreLogic—says home prices are finally showing signs of life. Why? Inventories are declining as investors … Continue reading →

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Housing Affordability at Record High

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Nationwide housing affordability hit a new record high for a second consecutive quarter in the first three months of this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).  So much so, … Continue reading →

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Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner It may not seem like much in such a depressed real estate market, but builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous … Continue reading →

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Rental Markets Strongest in Q1

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner After hitting bottom in 2010, Reis Reports, a leading rental property analyst, reported in Q1, “After five quarters of improvement, it is apparent that we are in the midst of a recovery in the office sector”, said … Continue reading →

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The National Mortgage Settlement

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The $25B National Mortgage Settlement has finally been signed off by a federal judge, and 5 of the largest banks will begin the process of providing relief to the estimated 9 million present or former homeowners who … Continue reading →

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2012 Housing Recovery Fuelled by Affordability

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Housing prices needs one more year to begin to recover, according to several pundits and economists, including Barron’s Magazine and Professor Karl Case, co-creator of the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. And that mostly depends on two … Continue reading →

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HARP 2.0 Loan Modifications Begin This Week

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The revamped HARP 2.0 loan modification program for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans kicks off this week, which allows unlimited loan-to-values for existing 30 or 15-year fixed rate mortgages owned by Fannie and Freddie, and maximum … Continue reading →

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Where is the Housing Bottom?

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The housing bottom is really a function of incomes, jobs, and inventory of houses for sale. All three indicators are favorable for housing sales to pick up this year. But prices have to bottom first. The main … Continue reading →

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