The Norris Group Blog

California Real Estate Headline Roundup

Posts Tagged ‘Commerce Department’

By Bruce Norris .

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 1/17/13

Thursday, January 17th, 2013


Today’s News Synopsis:

According to the latest report from the National Association of Home Builders, housing starts increased 12.1% last month.  1.4 million homeowners have been rescued from negative equity with the increase in home prices.  Mortgage rates increased ever so slightly from record lows to 3.38%.

In The News:

NAHB“Housing Starts Up 12.1 Percent in December” (1-17-13)

“Solid gains in both single-family and multifamily housing production resulted in nationwide housing starts rising 12.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 954,000 units in December, according to newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department.”

Housing Wire- “Rising prices lift 1.4 million homeowners out of negative equity” (1-17-13)

“Rising home prices pulled more than 100,000 homeowners out of negative equityin the thirdquarter of 2012, bringing the total number of borrowers rebounding from ‘upside-down status’ to 1.4 million through the first three quarters of the year, CoreLogic said.”

Los Angeles Times- “Freddie Mac: Average 30-year mortgage rate eases to 3.38%” (1-17-13)

“Mortgage rates fluttered slightly above their record lows this week, with lenders offering 30-year fixed home loans at an average 3.38% compared to 3.4% last week, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. said in its latest survey.”

CNN Money- “America’s hardest hit foreclosure neighborhoods” (1-17-13)

“Total foreclosure filings, including default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions, were down 3% in 2012 compared with a year earlier, according to RealtyTrac’s year-end foreclosure report.”

Bloomberg- “Florida Defies Housing Rebound as Foreclosures Soar” (1-17-13)

“Florida’s foreclosure crisis just won’t end. More than six years after subprime lending and overbuilding led to the worst U.S. real estate slump, the state had the biggest increase in home seizures last year, and the highest foreclosure rate, RealtyTrac Inc. said.”

Inman“New group proposes ‘syndication bill of rights’ for listings” (1-17-13)

“The National Association of Real Estate Professionals, a Dallas-based nonprofit, has released a syndication bill of rights meant to establish industry standards for the display of listings on national real estate search portals.”

Housing Wire- “BofA legacy issues burn, looks to increase mortgage production” (1-17-13)

“Bank of America’s ($11.38 -0.405%) revenue decreased $2.8 billion from the fourth quarter of 2011 to $468 million in the fourth quarter of 2012, due largely in part to higher representation and warranty provisions as well as lower servicing income, driven by less favorable mortgage servicing rights.”

Los Angeles Times- “Citi profit climbs 25% but disappoints Wall Street” (1-17-13)

“Citigroup Inc. posted a 25% jump in fourth-quarter profit as its new management struggles to restructure the bank and overcome lingering woes from the mortgage meltdown.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Los Angeles, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $570,000 on a 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home appraised for $1,035,000.

 

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting his newest talk Poised to Pop: Quadrant Four Has Arrived at the Apartment Owners Association today.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting his newest talk Poised to Pop: Quadrant Four Has Arrived at the Buena Park Apartment Owners Association on Wednesday, January 23, 2013.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting his newest talk Poised to Pop: Quadrant Four Has Arrived at the Apartment Owners Association at the Scottish Rite Center on Thursday, January 24, 2013.

Looking Back:

According to Housing Wire, Wells Fargo reported the highest recorded income of $4.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.  At the same time, Citigroup reported the lowest earnings for the fourth quarter.  The new executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were expected to be facing significant pay cuts.  Home sales increased in December 2011 by 14%, according to DataQuick.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 11/30/12

Friday, November 30th, 2012



Sources:

October pending and distressed sales report
October Marks 12 Months of Home Value Increases
Sustained home price gains show strength of recovery
Sales of New U.S. Homes Fell 0.3% in October
New-home sales up 17.2 percent from a year ago
Pending home sales reach five-year high
GDP Up 2.7% in Q3, Corporate Profits Grow
Initial Unemployment Claims Fall as Sandy’s Impact Dissipates
Home Equity Loans Make Comeback Fueling U.S. Spending
Bankrate: Consumers Less Positive About Personal Finances
Zig Ziglar

Rising Prices Could Lift 3.5M Homeowners Out of Negative Equity

Today’s News Synopsis:

Aaron Norris of the Norris Group provides the news of the week for the world of real estate.  With little change in personal income, consumer spending decreased 0.2% after increasing 0.8% in September.   Over 90,000 loans were refinanced by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the HARP program last September.  The total number of loans refinanced through the program is now at 1.7 million.

In The News:

DS News- “Trulia: Housing Recovery Nears Halfway Mark” (11-30-12)

“The housing recovery is nearly halfway complete, according to Trulia’s Housing Barometer, which in October posted its largest increase since it began tracking recovery 18 months ago.”

Bloomberg- “Goldman Pushes Subprime ABX Index as Housing Rebounds: Mortgages” (11-30-12)

“Goldman Sachs (GS) Group Inc., which survived the U.S. real estate collapse five years ago with the help of derivative bets against subprime mortgages, is promoting the opposite trade to clients as housing recovers”

CNN Money- “Consumer spending drops as income stalls” (11-30-12)

“Consumers spent less in October, as income growth stalled.  The Commerce Department reported Friday that consumer spending fell 0.2% after an 0.8% jump in September.”

Realty Times- “Mortgage Rates Virtually Unchanged” (11-30-12)

“In Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, fixed mortgage rates were virtually unchanged and remaining near their record lows amid growing concerns around the fiscal cliff.”

Housing Wire- “Barclays down plays chance of FHA Treasury draw” (11-30-12)

“Barclays Capital ($15.83 0.17%) does not expect any significant changes to the Federal Housing Administration, and downplays the chance of a Treasury draw, despite headlines suggesting otherwise based on the recent actuarial report.”

DS News“Sandy Crashes October Income, Spending” (11-30-12)

“Consumer spending fell $20.2 billion in October as personal income remained relatively flat, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported Friday.”

Realty Trac- “Win the Foreclosure Bidding Wars” (11-30-12)

“Buying foreclosures with retirement funds provides real estate investors with tax benefits and the ability to diversify their retirement investing — in any market.”

DS News- “HARP’s Numbers Continue to Climb Since Revisions” (11-30-12)

“Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac refinanced more than 90,000 mortgages through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in September, bringing the program’s total reach to 1.7 million since its inception in 2009, according to the latest refinance report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Lancaster, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $54,000 on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $90,000.

 

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the NSDREI Holiday Christmas Party at the El Camino Country Club in Riverside on Sunday, December 2, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting his newest talk Poised to Pop: Quadrant Four Has Arrived at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.

The Norris Group will be holding their Distressed Property Boot Camp from January 29-31, 2012.

Looking Back:

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Federal Reserve and five major central banks were hoping to help solve the debt crisis by joining together to help European lenders obtain money more easily.  In other news, Bloomberg reported a 10.4% increase in pending home sales.   According to the latest MBA Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, mortgage applications decreased over 11% from the previous week.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 11/20/12

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

The U.S. Commerce Department reported housing starts increased 3.6% last month.  Consumer default rates also increased last month after nine months of steady improvement due to more consumers failing to pay their bills on time.  The housing market is continuing to show improvement; however, home sales are not expected to increase dramatically any time in the near future.

In The News:

DS News- “Report: Repurchase Requests Stay High, but New Claims Move Past Peak ” (11-20-12)

“An analysis released by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods (KBW) found representation and warranty costs for loan repurchases remained elevated in Q3.”

NAHB- “Housing Starts Up 3.6 Percent in October” (11-20-12)

“Nationwide housing production rose 3.6 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 894,000 units, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. This is the highest pace of new-home construction since July of 2008.”

Los Angeles Times- “Consumer default rates rose in October for first time this year” (11-20-12)

“After nine-straight months of improvement, consumers slipped in October in keeping up with their bills.  A closely followed composite index of defaults on mortgages, credit cards and auto loans increased last month after hitting a post-recession low in September.”

Inman“Forecast for steady growth, but no boom in home sales” (11-20-12)

“The national outlook for home sales next year looks “very good,” though tight credit means housing will not see rapid growth anytime soon.”

Bloomberg- “Banks Hiring for Home Loans as U.S. Rebounds” (11-20-12)

“U.S. banks that have been earning record profits from home loans are adding or transferring thousands of staff to catch up with demand for refinancing after shortages blocked homeowners from getting lower rates.”

DS News- “Mortgage Insurers Report Q3 Refis and Modifications” (11-20-12)

“Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA), an association of private mortgage insurers, reported Monday that since 2009, its members have insured $86.9 billion in mortgages modified or refinanced through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) as well as in mortgages modified through other means.”

Housing Wire- “Attorneys general request extended tax relief for distressed homeowners” (11-20-12)

“Four attorneys general are leading the fight to extend tax relief to homeowners who faced financial hardship such as a foreclosure and were granted mortgage debt forgiveness.”

DS News- “New York AG Targets Credit Suisse in Second RMBS Task Force Suit “ (11-20-12)

“New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a complaint was filed Tuesday against Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC and its affiliates for allegedly misrepresenting residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) sold to investors.”

Housing Wire- “SBA: Hopeful housing signs in an uncertain economy” (11-20-12)

“Loan origination and default data suggest that a recovery in the housing industry has been in effect since 2010, according to the Small Business Administration.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Riverside, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $192,000 on a 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom home appraised for $324,000.

 

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Investors Workshops at the Doubletree Hotel in Orange on Wednesday, November 28, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the NSDREI Holiday Christmas Party at the El Camino Country Club in Riverside on Sunday, December 2, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be presenting the 7 Profit Centers for 2012 and Beyond with SDCIA at the Scottish Rite Center in San Diego on Tuesday, December 11, 2012.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 9/4/12

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

Home prices grew 3.8% in July,  the highest in six years.  Construction on new homes, however, decreased month-over-month in July after showing gains for six months straight.  Freddie Mac is helping people affected by Hurricane Isaac by offering relief policies to those affected in Louisiana and Mississippi.


In The News:

Housing Wire“July construction levels break months of gains: Commerce Department” (9-4-12)

“The construction of new residences fell from June to July as overall construction spending contracted after six months of gains, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.”

DS News“Freddie Mac Offers Disaster Relief for Borrowers Affected by Isaac” (9-4-12)

Freddie Mac announced it has relief policies for borrowers impacted by Hurricane Isaac.  The relief polices are specifically for Freddie Mac borrowers located in Louisiana and Mississippi jurisdictions declared by President Barack Obama as disaster areas”

Inman“Home prices post strongest growth in 6 years” (9-4-12)

“A home price index based on multiple listing service data showed national home prices were up 3.8 percent from a year ago in July, the biggest annual increase since August 2006.”

Housing Wire“Credit union mortgage lending doubles in California” (9-4-12)

“California credit unions took advantage of the Home Affordable Refinance Program and originated twice as many home loans in second quarter than the previous three months.”

Realty Trac“How Real Mortgage Fraud Causes Foreclosures” (9-4-12)

“Mortgage  fraud is on the rise and that’s a trend which should thrill no one.  According to Experian, “a total of 39 in every 10,000 mortgage applications were identified as  fraudulent between April and June 2012, up from 32 in during the same period in  2011.’”

DS News“Foreclosure-Focused Reality TV Show to Debut in October” (9-4-12)

Next 1 Interactive, Inc., a media company focused on travel and real estate, announced Tuesday that the pilot episode of a new home improvement reality show focused on foreclosure renovation saw some success in a test market in New York.”

CNN Money“Wal-Mart cuts layaway fee” (9-4-12)

“Wal-Mart Stores said Tuesday it is cutting the upfront fee it charges customers who use its layaway plan.”

DS News“Mortgage Industry Nets 1,335 Jobs: Mortgage Daily” (9-4-12)

“For the fourth consecutive quarter, the mortgage industry posted a net gain in jobs, according to Mortgage Daily’s Second Quarter 2012 Mortgage Employment Index.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Lomita, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $248,000 on a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home appraised for $390,000.

 

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investment Expo in Santa Clara Saturday, September 8, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Los Angeles Real Estate Investors Association on Tuesday, September 11, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the InvestClub for Women in Los Angeles Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 6/1/12

Friday, June 1st, 2012


Sources:

FHFA: Average interest rate for 30-year mortgage inches up
Mortgage Rates in the U.S. Decline to Lowest on Record
Consumer Confidence Drops Third Consecutive Month in May
CMBS delinquencies hit all-time high in May
RealtyTrac: Short sales hit three-year high in 1Q
Foreclosures made up 26% of U.S. home sales in first quarter
Initial Jobless Claims Up for 4th Straight Week for First Time Since 2008
First-Quarter GDP Growth Dips to 1.9%; Corporate Profit Growth Slows
Feds expected to loosen QRM down payment requirement
Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Announces Passage of Bills in California Homeowner Bill of Rights Package

Today’s News Synopsis:

In this week’s video, Aaron Norris gives the news of the week in the world of real estate and other big news of the week.  The growth in jobs was at its weakest this year with only 69,000 new jobs added.  At the same time, consumer spending increased 0.3% in April, up 0.1% from the prior month.

In The News:

Bloomberg“Construction Spending in U.S. Rose in April for a Second Month” (6-1-12)

“Construction spending in the U.S. rose in April for a second month, helped by a surge in housing.  The 0.3 percent gain followed a matching increase in March that was revised higher than previously estimated, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington.”

DS News“Job Growth Weakest in a Year; Unemployment Rate Up” (6-1-12)

“The nation added 69,000 jobs in May, far below expectations of 150,000 new jobs and a drop from April’s revised payroll growth of 77,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday.”

Realty Times“Rates Hit All-Time Record Lows, Again” (6-1-12)

“In Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, fixed mortgage rates followed bond yields lower to new all-time record lows.”

San Francisco Chronicle“Short sales on pace to surpass foreclosure deals” (6-1-12)

“Short sales of U.S. homes rose to a three-year high in the first quarter as banks agreed to let more borrowers unload property at a loss, putting the transactions on pace to surpass deals for foreclosures, RealtyTrac said.”

DS News“Personal Income Growth Slows in April; Consumer Spending Up” (6-1-12)

“Consumer spending grew just 0.3 percent in April, up slightly from 0.2 percent in March, the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Friday.”

NAHB“National Homeownership Month in June Highlights Opportunities to Support Homeownership” (6-1-12)

“The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) wants current and future home owners to know about the many opportunities they have to show their support for the American dream of homeownership during National Homeownership Month in June.”

DS News“Radar Logic: Prices Will Fall Further, Strengths Due to Temporary Forces” (6-1-12)

“Even though Radar Logic reported a monthly increase in home prices for March, the analytics company expects prices to fall and gave credit to “temporary market forces” for recent strengths seen in the housing market.”

Housing Wire“Fannie Mae mortgage portfolio shrinks 13.8%” (6-1-12)

“In keeping with its goal of shrinking the government-sponsored enterprise’s role in the mortgage finance space, Fannie Mae saw its total book of business decline at an annualized rate of 8% in April.”


Hard Money Loan
Closed

Hesperia, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $84,000 on a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $141,000.

 


California Real Estate Investor Events

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Cutting Edge Financial Tactics Brunch on Saturday, June 2, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Predictive Methods Conference on June 5, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the The Appraisal Institute’s 15th Annual Inland Empire Market Trends Seminar on Thursday, June 7, 2012.

Looking Back:

According to Interthinx, investor-committed occupancy fraud increased 25% in the first quarter of 2011. 50% of 1,000 mortgage borrowers surveyed by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling said they could not afford a 20% down payment. CoreLogic claimed national home prices rose 0.7% in March 2011. HOPE NOW said foreclosure starts fell 25% in April 2011.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 5/23/12

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

The FHFA reported a 0.5% increase in home prices in the first quarter of 2012.  In addition, home sales increased last month 3.3% to 343,000, a positive sign for the economy.  The National Association of Realtors believes the housing market will soon be impacted greatly by the baby and echo boomer demographic.

In The News:

Housing Wire“FHFA: Home prices rose 0.5% in first quarter” (5-23-12)

“Home prices across the nation rose a modest 0.5% in the first quarter from a year earlier, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency house price index.”

DS News“Economists’ Analyze Positive Reports on New Home Sales” (5-23-12)

“New home sales rose 3.3 percent month-over-month in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000, the Commerce Department and HUD reported Wednesday.”

Bloomberg“BofA Will Buy Back $330 Million of Mortgages From Freddie” (5-23-12)

“Bank of America Corp., the second- biggest U.S. lender, will repurchase $330 million of home loans from Freddie Mac, the mortgage company supported by taxpayers, after flaws were found in how they were created.”

Realty Trac“California Approves Short Sale Bill” (5-23-12)

“The California State Assembly has approved a bill that would prevent a lender or servicer from proceeding with a foreclosure on a home after approving a short sale in writing.”

Realty Times“Aging Baby and Echo Boomer to Impact Housing” (5-23-12)

“The demographic shift of the aging baby boomer generation will soon have an impact on the nation’s housing market.  According to the National Association of Realtors researchers and the new report “Demographic Challenges and Opportunities for U.S. Housing Markets,” the next two decades will see a surge in our nation’s senior population by 30 million. We are an aging nation”

Mortgage Bankers Association“Record Low Mortgage Rates Fuel Third Consecutive Increase In Refinance Applications In Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (5-23-12)

“Mortgage applications increased 3.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 18, 2012.”

Housing Wire“Two senators want bank executives banned from Fed boards” (5-23-12)

“U.S. senators Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., proposed a bill Tuesday that would block employees of banks regulated by the Federal Reserve from serving on the Fed’s board of governors.”

San Francisco Chronicle“Home buying rises in all U.S. regions” (5-23-12)

“Americans are buying more homes in every region of the country, the latest indication that the housing market could be on the mend.”

DS News“Senators Seek to Expand Housing Assistance for Military Members” (5-23-12)

“Senators Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) are sponsoring a bill to expand protections for military members in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).”

Housing Wire“Fitch expects more USD-denominated covered bonds” (5-23-12)

“U.S. investors could have more access to U.S. dollar-denominated covered bonds after the Securities and Exchange Commission cleared a foreign bank to issue the product last week, according to Fitch Ratings.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Moreno Valley, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $76,000 on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $127,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. The Norris Group will hold its REO Boot Camp on May 22-24, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce Economic Forecast on Thursday, May 31, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Cutting Edge Financial Tactics Brunch on Saturday, June 2, 2012.

Looking Back:

The FBI said property crimes dropped 2.5% in the West. A new study showed that homeowners at least two-months delinquent on their mortgage were more likely to strategically default. The Treasury Department released a free online calculator that provided borrowers with an estimate of whether or not they qualified for HAMP. Homeowner insurance premiums increased across multiple states.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 5/1/12

Tuesday, May 1st, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

Construction on residential properties increased 0.7% in March.  CoreLogic reported a 19% decrease in completed foreclosures in March, with 69,000 completed this year compared to 85,000 last year.  With the increase in distressed homes, prices on non distressed homes decreased for seven months straight.

In The News:

Housing Wire“Residential construction grows slightly in March” (5-1-12)

“Residential construction spending rose modestly in March from February, but continued its trend of year-to-year growth.  The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the seasonally adjusted annual measure rose 0.7% to $251.2 billion from $249.5 billion a month earlier.”

DS News“Foreclosures Down to 69,000 in March, Inventory also Down, Indicating Alternatives Being Used” (5-1-12)

“Year-over-year, the number of completed foreclosures decreased about 19 percent to 69,000 in March 2012 compared to 85,000 in March 2011, according to CoreLogic’s National Foreclosure Report for March.”

NAHB“Quality and Value Driving Growth in the Green Building Market, According to New SmartMarket Report” (5-1-12)

“Energy efficiency efforts become commonplace in new construction and remodeling projects, while remodelers place high value on waste management and sustainable materials.”

RealtyTrac“Banks Deliberately Withholding Bank-Owned Homes” (5-1-12)

“…banks are deliberately withholding bank-owned properties to drive up prices — they hope — and create the illusion of a  market turnaround.”

CNN Money“Uh-oh: Big banks shrink lending” (5-1-12)

“Here’s another sign that the economic recovery may be fizzling: Big bank lending, which had risen for most of last year, dropped in the first three months of 2012.”

Realty Times“Service vs. Social Media: The Ongoing Transformation in the Real Estate Industry” (5-1-12)

“As technology continues to influence the real estate industry, reconfiguring the way residential and commercial brokers market themselves and their services, we should not overlook an essential principle: service..”

Inman“Nondistressed home prices fall for 7th straight month” (5-1-12)

“A rising share of distressed home sales pushed down prices on nondistressed homes for the seventh month in a row in February, according to a price index from FNC, a provider of real estate collateral management software.”

Housing Wire“Credit ratings agency sharpens focus on mortgage servicer performance” (5-1-12)

“Credit rating agency Morningstar developed a new, highly detailed plan to scrutinize how mortgage servicers handle cash flows to investors and foreclosure timelines.”

DS News“April CMBS Delinquency Rate Reaches Second Highest All-Time High” (5-1-12)

“Just two months after matching its lowest reading in a year, the Trepp CMBS Delinquency Rate reversed course and is now close to matching the highest reading of all time.”

Housing Wire“Democrats charge Fannie Mae with killing $410 million taxpayer-saving mortgage program” (5-1-12)

“Fannie Mae projected a shared appreciation mortgage program would save the company more than $410 million and benefit half of its “customers” if implemented in 2010, according to internal documents obtained by Democrats on the House government oversight committee.

Inman“Foreclosures are tale of 2 legal systems” (5-1-12)

“Trends in serious delinquencies and foreclosures continue to be a tale of two legal systems.  According to loan data aggregator CoreLogic, in the 24 states where courts handle the foreclosure process, 13 saw foreclosure inventory rates increase in March when compared to a year ago.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Los Angeles, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $230,000 on a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $386,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investor Rewind for SJREI at Dublin on Wednesday, May 02, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investor Rewind for SJREI at South Bay on Thursday, May 03, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the All in or Fold in Northern California on Saturday, May 05, 2012.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 4/16/12

Monday, April 16th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

NAHB reported a decline in builder confidence this month, bringing it down to 25.  According to Bloomberg, prices for homes increased 1.6% last month for the first time in over a year.  Remodeling jobs on homes also increased in February to 2.89 million, marking that month the third month in a row for increased remodeling.

In The News:

NAHB“Builder Confidence Slips Three Notches in April” (4-16-12)

“Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes declined for the first time in seven months this April, sliding three notches to 25 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, released today. The decline brings the index back to where it was in January, which was the highest level since 2007.”

Housing Wire“February home remodeling maintains post-recession high” (4-16-12)

“A measure of home remodeling rose in February for the third straight month as it continues to run counter to other readings of residential construction.”

Bloomberg“California Home Prices Rise for First Time in 16 Months” (4-16-12)

“California home prices rose 1.6 percent in March, the first year-over-year increase in 16 months, helped by demand for houses in the San Francisco area, the California Association of Realtors said today.”

DS News“CFPB: Banks, Nonbanks Liable for Third-Party Violations” (4-16-12)

“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a bulletin Friday reminding financial institutions that they may be held accountable for violations under contracted service providers.”

CNN Money“Small firms avoiding loans, citing slow recovery” (4-16-12)

“Small firms are faring better, but they aren’t seeing enough fortune ahead to justify taking on debt to grow.  The slow pace of the economic recovery is to blame, because while consumer demand keeps growing, it just hasn’t been strong enough for most firms to rationalize investing in themselves.”

Housing Wire“Fitch expects 10% rise in single-family housing starts” (4-16-12)

“Fitch Ratings believes single-family housing starts will increase 10% in 2012, while new home sales will rise 8%, according to the firm’s latest U.S. homebuilding update.

DS News“Citi Reports Net Income of $2.93B, 2% Drop from Year Ago” (4-16-12)

“Citigroup reported a 2 percent decline for the 2012 first quarter, with a net income of $2.93 billion, or $0.95 cents per share, compared to $2.99 billion, or $0.99 cents per share, the same quarter a year ago.”

Realty Times“Real Estate Outlook: Improving Markets” (4-16-12)

“The latest National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index (IMI) numbers show that a total of thirty-five states are now represented.”

Mortgage Bankers Association“MBA Sends Letter to CFPB Calling for Broadly Defined Qualified Mortgage Definition” (4-16-12)

“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today joined a broad coalition of 33 groups in a joint letter to Richard Cordray, Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), calling for a broadly defined Qualified Mortgage (QM) definition under the Dodd-Frank Act’s “Ability to Repay” rulemaking.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Moreno Valley, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $67,000 on a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home appraised for $108,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at All In or Fold on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investor Rewind for SJREI at Dublin on Wednesday, May 02, 2012.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 4/2/12

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

The number of bank closures is now up to 16 with the recent closure of a bank in Michigan.  Hope Now reported a 20% decrease in private mortgage modifications last month.  JP Morgan is facing a lawsuit from Ambac for mishandled loans.

In The News:

Housing Wire“Ambac sues JPMorgan over $200 million in RMBS claims” (4-2-12)

“Bond insurer Ambac Financial filed its second mortgage bond suit against Bear, Stearns & Co. and EMC Mortgage, which are now part of JPMorgan Chase ($46.15 0.17%). All three entities are accused of packaging, underwriting and selling poorly underwritten loans for securitization, leaving Ambac on the hook for insuring the losses.”

DS News“Michigan Bank Closes, Raising Tally to 16″ (4-2-12)

“State regulators closed Fidelity Bank of Dearborn, Michigan over the weekend, the first bank in Michigan to fail and the 16th in the nation to go dark.”

Realty Times“Real Estate Outlook: Labor Market Improvements” (4-2-12)

“The health and recovery of the real estate market is closely related to the health of the labor market. This much has been seen since the beginning of the recession and continues today.”

Housing Wire“Fitch: Recent Redwood RMBS deals solid” (4-2-12)

“Only one borrower out of 1,800 newly originated prime loans backing Fitch-rated U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities is delinquent, the ratings giant said.”

Bloomberg“Biggest Bond Traders See Worst Over for Treasuries” (4-2-12)

The worst is over for the $10 trillion U.S. Treasury market following the biggest quarterly rout since 2010, say Wall Street’s largest bond trading firms.

Housing Wire“Private mortgage modifications drop 20% in February” (4-2-12)

“Mortgage servicers completed 20% fewer modifications through private programs in February than the month before, according to the Hope Now alliance.”

Realty Times“Home Builders Offer Housing Finance Reform” (4-2-12)

“The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) isn’t waiting for politicos in Washington D.C. to revamp the federal government’s housing finance system.”

DS News- “J.P. Morgan Announces Sale of Securities Backed by NPL” (4-2-12)

“J.P. Morgan recently announced the issuance of $132 million in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) backed by non-performing commercial real estate loans.”

CNN Money“‘Hidden spending’ makes government bigger” (4-2-12)

“Which costs the federal government more: a $2,100 check from Uncle Sam or a tax break worth $2,100?  The answer is they cost the same.”

Housing Wire“Principal write-downs looming, KBW downplays moral hazard” (4-2-12)

“Principal write-downs on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans are more likely to become a reality and are less of a moral hazard than some might imagine, according to analysts with investment bank Keefe, Bruyette & Woods($18.13 -0.37%).”

NAHB“Creativity and Cost-Savings Measures Reflected in Top New Home Design Trends” (4-2-12)

“The home building industry celebrates New Homes Month in April by sharing the hottest design trends that will be seen in new homes in 2012. New home buyers will be able to take advantage of emerging market trends that incorporate creative use of materials, layouts and features that provide maximum utility and beauty while being cost-conscious at the same time.”

Housing Wire“Residential construction flat in February” (4-2-12)

“Residential construction spending changed little in February from January but rose 4.6% from February 2011.  The seasonally adjusted annual rate, as reported by the Census Bureau, fell $4 million in February to $253.5 billion. The Commerce Department revised the January rate downward to $253.5 billion from $260.6 billion”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Riverside, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $105,000 on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $166,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at The Women’s Council of Realtors Victorville on Wednesday, April 11, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at All In or Fold on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 3/23/12

Friday, March 23rd, 2012

Sources:
Mortgage Rates Up, With 30-Year Fixed Above 4 Percent
U.S. Home Prices Have Smallest Decline in More Than 2 Years
Buying a home cheaper than renting in most places
Weekly jobless claims fall 5,000 to 4-year low
Federal judge shuts down Santa Ana mortgage-relief operation
Average 30-year mortgage rate edges up, above 4%, Bankrate says
Existing home sales dip 0.9% in February
Interest Rates Highest Since December, Applications Decrease in Latest MBA Weekly Survey
Homebuilding permits returning in top foreclosure states
U.S. Housing Heals as Starts Near Three-Year High: Economy
Taylor, Bean & Whitaker CFO pleads guilty in mortgage fraud scheme
Builder Confidence Unchanged in March
Treasury Announces a $25B Return Through its MBS Portfolio
Federal Reserve to fine eight more banks on foreclosure violations

Today’s News Synopsis:

This week’s video is a slideshow of the news of the week in the world of real estate and other big news of the week.  Sales of new homes decreased 1.6% last month according to the Commerce Department.  30-year fixed rate mortgages are now up to 4.08%.   As a way to help homeowners facing foreclosure, title on the property will be transferred to the bank, who in turn will turn the home into a rental.

In The News:

Housing Wire“February new home sales fall 1.6%: Commerce Dept.” (3-23-12)

“New home sales dipped 1.6% in February to 313,000 from January, but rose 11.6% from the same period a year earlier.  The seasonally adjusted annual measure, released by the Commerce Department Friday, fell from a downwardly revised January estimate of 318,000 from 321,000.”

Realty Times“30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Averages 4.08 Percent” (3-23-12)

“In Freddie Mac’s results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey®, mortgage rates continued to follow bond yields higher amid improving economic data. The average 30-fixed rate mortgage averaged 4.08 percent for the week clearing the 4 percent barrier for the first time since October 27, 2011, when it averaged 4.10 percent.”

DS News“Moody’s: Foreclosure Timelines on the Rise; More Losses to RMBS” (3-23-12)

Foreclosure timelines are on the rise, and the increase is resulting in greater losses to residential mortgage backed securities (RMBS), according to Moody’s Investor Service’s Servicer Dashboard for the fourth quarter 2011, released Thursday.”

Los Angeles Times“Bank of America turns foreclosure-facing homeowners into renters” (3-23-12)

“Bank of America: Lenient landlord? The bank is launching a pilot program that would allow customers with underwater mortgages to avoid foreclosure by becoming renters.  In its testing stages, the Mortgage to Lease program will involve fewer than 1,000 customers in Arizona, Nevada and New York who are at least 60 days behind on payments for their Bank of America loan. Their homes must be worth less than what is owed on their mortgages.”

Housing Wire“Mass layoffs decline, 345 metros report falling jobless rates” (3-23-12)

“Mass layoffs declined in February, and 345 metro areas reported lower unemployment rates for the month of January, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”

DS News“AREAA Launches International Networking Platform” (3-23-12)

“The Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) recently launched AREAA Net, an international networking platform to connect members with 400,000 real estate professionals from over 100 countries, according to a release from the association.”

Bloomberg“NYC Office Leases Lowest Since 2009 on Wall Street Cuts” (3-23-12)

“Manhattan office leasing in the first quarter is poised to be the lowest in almost three years as Wall Street cut jobs and needed less space, according to preliminary data from brokerage Studley Inc.”

Housing Wire“Freddie CEO signals GSE principal reduction could be soon” (3-23-12)

“Freddie Mac CEO Charles “Ed” Haldeman gave a strong signal Friday that new incentives from the Treasury Department may be enough to start principal reduction on mortgages backed by the government-sponsored enterprises.”

Mortgage Bankers Association“CampusMBA Teams with The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg (LLI) to Offer Unique Leadership Development Opportunity” (3-23-12)

“CampusMBA, the award-winning education division of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today announced it is teaming up with The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg (LLI) to offer a unique and innovative team and leadership development program, A Transformational Journey from Gettysburg, a comprehensive on-site training program which uses the Battle of Gettysburg as a metaphor to address current real estate finance industry challenges.”

Inman“Top 10 markets to invest in” (3-23-12)

“Realtor.com’s latest top 10 investment markets report shows metros just off the beaten path leading the way.  Built from Realtor.com data updated through February 2012, the report put Tucson, Ariz.; Austin, Texas; and Kansas City, Mo., as the top current real estate markets to invest in.”

DS News“Former Fannie Mae VP Joins Veros as SVP of Strategic Initiatives” (3-23-12)

“A former Fannie Mae VP of single-family strategic initiatives joined Veros Real Estate Solutions as SVP of strategic initiatives.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Altadena, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $375,000 on a 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom home appraised for $618,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Bigger Pockets REI Summit on Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24, 2012.

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Inland Empire Investors Forum on Tuesday, March 27, 2012.

Looking Back:

The Commerce Department said single-family home sales dropped 16.9% in February 2011.  However, a survey from Bloomberg showed many economists believed home sales probably increased in February. Mortgage applications increased 2.7% the previous week, according to the MBA.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor calendar. You’ll also find our award-winning real estate radio show on KTIE 590am at 6pm on Saturdays or you can listen to over 170 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.