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Some 21.5 percent of borrowers owed more than their homes were worth in the second quarter of the year. That’s compared with 23.3 percent in the first quarter. "It is the paramount challenge facing housing markets," said Stan Humphries, Zillow.com's chief economist. Humphries said that much of t...
08/09/2010
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Commercial property analysts are declaring that property investment is on the upswing after one of the longest down periods ever. Of course, not every class of building owner has yet to reap the rewards of this apparent turnaround. Real Capital Analytics reports that properties valued at $20.6 b...
08/09/2010
Ian McCarthy, CEO of Beazer Homes, surprised analysts during his company’s quarterly call with his straightforward but counter-intuitive opinions about home sales and incentives. When asked how hard his company is pushing for sales in this tough market, McCarthy said: “Our view has been, hold ba...
08/09/2010
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Something occured to me recently while I was in my thinking mode, and I do this when I'm able, that any career needs constant nurturing. Now I know that all business people understand and apply this but, I'm not so sure whether they know the steps to take. When you consider the things you must ...
08/09/2010
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Freddie Mac reports that long-term mortgage rates moved south again this week. Interest on 30-year fixed loans hit a new low of 4.49 percent, compared to 4.54 percent last week and 5.22 percent a year ago; and the 15-year mortgage landed at 3.95 percent, down from 4 percent last week and 4.63 pe...
08/09/2010
Despite rumors to the contrary sweeping Wall Street and Washington, D.C., the White House says it is not planning to order Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt of millions of people who owe more than their homes are worth. "The administration is not considering a ...
08/09/2010
Countrywide Financial has agreed to pay $600 million to settle shareholder lawsuits that claim it misled investors. The U.S. District judge in Los Angeles has give preliminary approval. Countrywide’s accounting firm, KPMG also agreed to pay $24 million. Neither defendant admitted any wrongdoing....
08/06/2010
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When things get stormy, umbrella insurance policies may help you out of a wet spot. Especially if you have a new teenage driver, pets, or recreational vehicles (which can become legal nightmares), it is smart to consider an Umbrella Policy. http://insurance.equifax.com/2010/08/umbrella-insurance-...
08/05/2010
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A real estate technology company surveyed its clients and found their confidence in the market is dropping. Point2 Technologies' National Real Estate Confidence Index, based on 1,255 clients surveyed in July, declined almost 9 percent to 5.24 on a 10-point scale with 10 reflecting optimism. The ...
08/05/2010
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Buyers with the ability to stretch a little might consider a 20-year fixed-rate mortgage instead of the traditional 30-year, suggests CBS Money Matters’ financial adviser Ray Martin. Martin points out that a $200,000 mortgage with a 30-year term and an interest rate of 4.75 would have a monthly ...
08/05/2010