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Seniors have fewer options with decline of reverse-mortgage lenders
Tom Kelly | April 12, 2011 9:33 pmIt’s curious how companies promote the launch of a new product or program but do little to inform consumers when it is no longer available.… -
New refinance may not bring a greater mortgage interest deduction
Tom Kelly | April 12, 2011 8:57 pmThe number of homeowners refinancing their home mortgages continues to climb, comprising nearly two-thirds of all home-loan applicants. Mortgage interest rates have remained lower than… -
Fannie Mae offers state buyers, agents cash incentives
Tom Kelly | April 12, 2011 10:28 amFannie Mae announced today that it is restoring its closing-cost assistance for HomePath buyers and will pay a $1,000 bonus to buyers’ agents in Washington… -
Realtor economists release new investment, vacation home study
Tom Kelly | April 11, 2011 12:42 pmLifestyle factors continue to be the primary motivation for vacation-home buyers with the desire for rental income driving investment purchases, according to the 2011 Investment… -
FTC cracks down on mortgage relief scams
Tom Kelly | April 11, 2011 12:30 pmThe Federal Trade Commission today banned two companies and three individuals from the mortgage relief services business and ordered them to relinquish $2.2 million in… -
A real estate Groupon? $25 gets you $1,000 at closing
Tom Kelly | April 8, 2011 8:57 pmChicago’s Dream Town Realty has become the nation’s first real estate brokerage to offer a Groupon, paying sellers or buyers $1,000 cash at closing with… -
Referrals still most popular way to find an agent
Tom Kelly | April 8, 2011 7:59 amWhile social networking does have its merits, approximately half of all buyers find their real estate agent through a referral from a friend, neighbor, or… -
Non-distressed property market showing positive signs
Tom Kelly | April 8, 2011 7:46 amDespite the continued overall decline, home prices excluding distressed properties are showing signs of stability, according to CoreLogic’s February Home Price Index (HPI). “When you… -
Home sales down, prices dip in latest NWMLS report
Tom Kelly | April 6, 2011 3:29 pmThe latest from the Northwest Multiple Listing Service shows 7,570 pending sales of single-family homes and condominiums during March, down about 12 percent from a… -
Walk away from ‘underwater’ mortgage? Most homeowners opposed
Tom Kelly | April 6, 2011 10:00 amWhile many homeowners continue to wrestle with the fallout of the housing crisis, a majority of Americans say that simply walking away from a mortgage…