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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 1/19/12

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

Freddie Mac announced 30-year fixed mortgage rates decreased to 3.88, setting a new record low.  Housing starts over 4% decreased last month according to the Commerce Department.  The Lender Processing Services also reported that teh loan-delinquency rate also decreased 7.7% from a year ago, and the rate is now at 8.15%.

In The News:

Los Angeles Times - “California home sales rise in December; median price falls again” (1-18-12)

“Home sales in the Golden State rose slightly in December, boosted by a pickup in the Bay Area and investor activity in Southern California. But with foreclosures and other low-cost homes dominating the market, the median home price for the state ticked down.”

DS News – “Firms Launch $450M Program to Convert REOs Into Rentals” (1-18-12)

“Government officials are in the process of reviewing 4,000-plus recommendations for turning repossessed homes into rental properties in order to trim the REO inventory held by federal housing agencies.”

Housing Wire – “30-year, fixed-rate mortgage hits new low” (1-19-12)

“The 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage fell to 3.88% this past week, hitting a new low and marking its seventh consecutive week below 4%, Freddie Mac said Thursday.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “BofA Swings to Quarterlly Profit as Lender Builds Capital” (1-19-12)

“Bank of America Corp., the second- largest U.S. lender, swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the company sold assets and built capital faster than expected.”

Inman - “Spy some real estate savings: spyRealty” (1-19-12)

“A new discount-brokerage firm, spyRealty, has launched in New York and Massachusetts, offering homebuyers a 2 percent refund off of the purchase price of a home.”

Housing Wire – “Fitch: Principal reductions meaningfully reduce mortgage delinquencies” (1-19-12)

“Principal reductions on mortgage loans meaningfully reduce delinquencies and foreclosures, much more than current proposals, according to Fitch Ratings.”

Bloomberg - “U.S. Housing Starts Drop 4.1%” (1-19-12)

“Builders began work on fewer houses than forecast in December, capping the worst year on record for single-family home construction and signaling recovery in the industry will take time.”

FINS – “BofA Plans More Job Cuts Under ‘New BAC’” (1-19-12)

“Bank of America plans to continue cutting jobs after reporting in its year-end earnings  statement that employment fell by 5,874 in the fourth quarter and 3,836 over the year in 2011.”

CNN Money - “CPI: Inflation remains in check” (1-19-12)

“Inflation overall held steady last month, as declining gas prices balanced out higher prices for other items.  The government’s key measure of inflation, the Consumer Price Index, showed prices were virtually unchanged from November to December. It marked the second month in a row CPI has barely moved.”

Housing Wire – “U.S. loan delinquency rate down 7.7% from last year” (1-19-12)

“The delinquency rate on U.S. mortgages monitored by Lender Processing Services (LPS: 15.00 +3.52%) fell 7.7% year-over-year in December as the delinquency rate hit 8.15%.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “CampusMBA Extends Partnership with Insurance Advisors to Offer New Live Online Workshops for Commercial/Multifamily Professionals” (1-19-12)

“CampusMBA, the award-winning education division of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today announced it has extended its partnership with Stamford, Connecticut-based Insurance Advisors LLC. Under the agreement CampusMBA, in conjunction with Insurance Advisors, will continue to offer live online workshops addressing a variety of insurance issues for commercial/multifamily real estate loans.”

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 $168,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Investors Workshops and will be interviewing Shawn Watkins on January 25, 2012.

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the Advanced Investing Skills and Strategies 2.5 on February 4, 2012.

Looking Back:

The Commerce Department reported housing starts decreased in December 2010. However, Fannie Mae expected housing starts to triple by 2013, and the nation’s largest home builders announced plans to increase activity by 10%.  RealtyTrac claimed foreclosure starts in California decreased 33% in 2010.

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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 12/21/11

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

The NAHB reported an increase in confidence for homebuilding for the third month in a row.  However, mortgage rates are down to a new low according to the latest survey released by the Mortgage Bankers Association.  The number of existing homes increased again last month by 4% according to NAR, and shadow inventory is continuing to remain steady.

In The News:

Mortgage Bankers Association – “Mortgage Rates Drop to Another 2011 Low in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (12-21-11)

“Mortgage applications decreased 2.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending December 16, 2011.  The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 2.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.”

Realty Times - “Builder Confidence Rises in December” (12-21-11)

“Builder confidence rose in December according to the National Association of Home Builders. This is the third straight month of improved confidence.  The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) indicates this is the highest level the market has seen since May 2010.”

Housing Wire – “Shadow inventory remains unchanged at 1.6 million” (12-21-11)

“National home prices continue to be pressured by a stream of distressed properties that threaten to push prices even lower, a CoreLogic (CLGX: 12.53 -1.88%) report said Wednesday.“

DS News - “Existing-Home Sales Rise in November” (12-21-11)

“Existing-home sales rose again last month, according to data released Wednesday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).  That assessment, however, is coming off of lower sales numbers than previously thought, reflecting revisions to NAR’s data going back to 2007.”

Bloomberg - “KB Home Fourth-Quarter Profit Beats Analysts’ Estimates on Higher Revenue” (12-21-11)

“KB Home (KBH), the Los Angeles-based homebuilder that targets first-time buyers, reported a quarterly profit that beat analysts’ estimates as sales and orders rose.”

CNN Money - “Unemployment benefits extension: What’s at stake” (12-21-11)

“The long-term unemployed are running out of time.  In 11 days, a provision will expire that could cause millions of jobless Americans to lose a critical lifeline next year.  At issue is the extension of emergency federal unemployment benefits, which allow the jobless to collect benefits for up to 99 weeks. Also at stake are the extension of a payroll tax cut, and the “doc fix,” which would prevent a scheduled pay cut to Medicare physicians.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Bernanke Money Policy Seen Successful as Savers Become Consumers” (12-21-11)

“Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke finally may be catching a break: His  easy-money policies are showing signs of speeding up the economic rebound three  years after he cut interest rates to zero.”

Housing Wire – “Fannie nixes ‘ability to pay’ wall to HARP refinancing” (12-21-11)

“Lenders are no longer required to determine a borrower’s ability to repay a loan when underwriting mortgages for inclusion in Fannie Mae’s HARP 2.0 refinancing channel.”

The Wall Street Journal - “Demand for Rentals Drives Big Rise in Home Building” (12-21-11)

“Residential construction surged in November, sparking cautious hope that the U.S. housing market is gaining traction.  Housing starts hit a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000 units, the highest level in 19 months, the Commerce Department said Tuesday.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Riverside, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $70,000 on a 3 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom home appraised for $117,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris will be speaking at the Real Estate Rewind at IRCA Los Angeles on January 3, 2012.

The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investor Rewind at CVREIA on January 10, 2011.

Looking Back:

Modifications to foreclosures on Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae mortgages increased more than twice as much in the third quarter of 2010, according to Housing Wire.  Shaun Donovan said he and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu were discussing plans of creating an energy scoring system for houses.  Standard and Poor’s reported levels of securities backed by mortgages were the slowest they had been since 2007, both for commercial and residential property.  NAHB stated that the driving force for the housing market were actually the smaller businesses.  CBIA announced that construction on new homes increased 21% in December 2010.

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.

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

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

According to CNN Money, the number of new homes being built increased 9.3% last month from October and over 20% from this time last year, putting housing starts at their highest levels.  Zillow predicted home prices would continue to declien through 2013, according to Bloomberg.  Housing Wire reported an increase in mortgage debt last month in every U.S. region.

In The News:

Bloomberg – “Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Sued by California Attorney General” (12-20-11)

“Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac were accused in a lawsuit by California Attorney General Kamala Harris of hindering her probe into mortgage lending and foreclosure practices.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “MBA Urges House to Vote Down Payroll Tax Extension” (12-19-11)

“The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today urged members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote against the Senate-passed bill that would extend the payroll tax holiday for two months by adding an additional tax on most
homebuyers for the next ten years.”

Realty Times - “HOA Files Suit against Dissenting Homeowner” (12-20-11)

“While it is not common, it certainly is not unheard of for a homeowner to sue the association over some issue or another.  But what about the association suing a homeowner?  Maybe it’s one of those “only in California” things; but, yes, it has happened in California.  (Country Side Villas Homeowners Association v. Susan Ivie, California Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District) The results are instructive.”

Housing Wire – “Mortgage debt jumps in every US region in November” (12-20-11)

“Americans increased their mortgage debt in November and default rates rose to 2.17%, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Experian indices.“

DS News - “StreetLinks Unveils Liquidation Valuation Solution for Distressed Assets” (12-20-11)

“StreetLinks Lender Solutions, an Indiana-based provider of valuation services, has announced the launch of StreetLinks LVR, a new liquidation valuation report developed for mortgage servicers and asset management firms which is compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP).”

Los Angeles Times - “Stocks surge on good economic data from U.S., Europe” (12-20-11)

“Stock markets rose around the globe after a handful of surprisingly good reports about the U.S. and European economies.  The Dow Jones industrial average was recently up 269.43 points, or 2.29%, to 12035.69. The broader Standard & Poor’s 500 index was up 2.4%, or 29.01 points, to 1234.24 in early trading.”

Bloomberg - “U.S. Home Prices to Fall in 2012: Zillow” (12-20-11)

“U.S. home prices will continue to decline through late 2012 or early 2013 as negative equity and weak job growth hinder a real estate recovery, according to a survey by Zillow Inc.”

CNN Money - “Home building spikes higher” (12-20-11)

“Home building spiked up in November to the strongest level in almost two years, as record-low mortgage rates and a surge in apartment and condo construction lifted activity.  Housing starts shot up to an annual rate of 685,000 in the month, up 9.3% from October and 24.3% higher than a year earlier.”

Housing Wire - “Fannie says housing ends year on high note, but risks remain” (12-20-11)

“The housing market is ending 2011 on a high note with sales activity edging up in the fourth quarter, stronger employment data in November and economic growth of 2.5% for the fourth quarter, Fannie Mae said Tuesday.”

DS News - “Florida Supreme Court Terminates State Mediation Program” (12-20-11)

“Florida’s mandatory foreclosure mediation program has come to an end.  State Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady issued an order this week stating that no new cases may be referred to mediators as part of the court-run initiative and citing the program’s lack of success in resolving foreclosure disputes between lenders and borrowers.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Riverside, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $92,000 on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $153,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event. Bruce Norris will be speaking at the Real Estate Rewind at IRCA Los Angeles on January 3, 2012.

The Norris Group will be at the Real Estate Investor Rewind at CVREIA on January 10, 2011.

Looking Back:

Bank of America Merrill Lynch stated that house owners may have to default their underwater mortgages in order to take care of their debt.  In October 2009, pending home sale prices rose 10.4%, according to Realty Times.   Prices on commercial property rose for the second month in a row in 2010 according to Moody’s Investors Service and were expected to continue to fluctuate, according to Moody’s Investors Service.  According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, consumer cofidence in newly-built houses declined 4 points from November 2010 in the West.   In other news, Moody’s Investors Service reported that prices of commercial property increased 1.3% in October 2010.

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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 11/15/11

Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

The FHA is looking at a possible bailout in the next twelve months after reserves decrease below the legal limit.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have already received a $100 million bailout, the biggest of the financial crisis.  The San Francisco Chronicle reported a pick up in bank loans after a slow month in September.

In The News:

CNN Money – “Fannie, Freddie execs score $100 million payday” (11-15-11)

“Mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac received the biggest federal bailout of the financial crisis. And nearly $100 million of those tax dollars went to lucrative pay packages for top executives, filings show.”

Housing Wire - “Hope Now servicers complete 5 million loan modifications since 2007″ (11-15-11)

“Hope Now, a voluntary alliance of mortgage servicers, investors, counselors and insurers, said members completed 5 million loan modifications since 2007, supporting the idea that nonprofit and private-sector players can resolve mortgage issues through collaboration.”

DS News - “FHA Reserves Sink Further Below Legal Limit Amid Talk of Bailout” (11-15-11)

“An annual audit of the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) books has concluded there is a 50-50 chance the government mortgage insurer will need a bailout from taxpayers within the next 12 months.”

Bloomberg - “AIG Resists Concessions to Banks for Obama Refinancing Plan” (11-15-11)

“American International Group Inc. (AIG) is holding out as rival mortgage insurers accept policy changes that support the U.S. government push to stoke refinancing among borrowers with little or no home equity.”

Realty Times - “U.S. Won’t be Nation of Renters” (11-15-11)

“According to the National Association of Realtors®, (NAR) the U.S. will not become a nation of renters.  Currently, over 65 percent of Americans are homeowners, a rate that has held since the 1960′s. It’s no wonder why most Americans seek out a home of their own.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Bank Loans Pick Up in U.S. as Fisher Sees Growth: Credit Markets” (11-15-11)

“Bank loans to companies in the U.S. are accelerating after slowing in September,  underscoring the improved outlook for growth following concern that the global  economy was headed for another recession.”

Housing Wire - “Freddie Mac tells mortgage servicers not to use Baum law firm” (11-15-11)

“Freddie Mac told mortgage servicers they may no longer refer New York foreclosure or bankruptcy cases to the Steven J. Baum PC law firm.”

CNN Money - “Retail sales: Consumers still spending” (11-15-11)

“Consumers kept hitting the stores in October, despite economic headwinds and uncertainty that many economists had feared would keep them from spending.”

Wall Street Journal - “Lawmakers Near Deal on Raising FHA Loan Limits” (11-15-11)

“U.S. lawmakers are near a deal to increase the maximum size of mortgage loans that can be insured by the Federal Housing Administration, a crucial source of mortgages for first-time home buyers, congressional aides said Monday.”

Looking Back:

Fed Governor Sarah Raskin expected 2.25 million foreclosures to occur in 2010 and 2011. Fiserv believed home prices would drop 7.1% over the in 2011. According to the CAR, 66% of first time home buyers were able to afford an entry-level home in California. Josh Levin of Citigroup predicted housing demand may not catch up to supply until 2014.

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 event 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 200 podcasts in our free investor radio archive.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 11/1/11

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

In a big news story, 14 mortgage servicers are undergoing reviews of their foreclosure processes as reuired by consent orders they signed.  Pending home sales fell another 4.6% last week according to the Realty Times.  Allied Home Mortgage Capital is facing a lawsuit by federal officials for claims of fraud.  The Commerce Department reported a slight increase on construction and manufacturing.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “Foreclosure reviews of largest servicers begins” (11-1-11)

“Independent third-party reviews of foreclosure cases at the 14 largest mortgage servicers began Tuesday.  The reviews are a requirement under consent orders signed between regulators and the servicers
such as Bank of America (BAC: 6.53 -4.39%), JPMorgan Chase (JPM: 33.14 -4.66%), Wells Fargo (WFC: 25.30 -2.35%) and Citigroup (C: 29.39 -6.96%).”

DS News - “Moody’s Cites “Strong Servicing Practices” at GMAC, Ocwen, Wells” (11-1-11)

“Mortgage servicing practices have a major impact on the performance of a portfolio, and according to Moody’s Investors Service, risk composition is diverging based on how individual servicers are dealing with borrowers.”

Realty Times - “Pending Home Sales Decline” (11-1-11)

“Housing took another hit last week with the National Association of Realtors® latest Pending Homes Sales Index report showing that contract signings fells 4.6 percent in September.”

Bloomberg - “Mortgage Bond Prices Show Refinancing Limits: Credit Markets” (11-1-11)

“The mortgage-bond market is signaling changes to refinancing rules will aid fewer homeowners who owe more than their properties’ value than was initially anticipated.  Fannie Mae’s 30-year, 5.5 percent securities have risen to the highest since Oct. 3, erasing a decline later in the month sparked by a plan to expand the Home Affordable Refinance Program.”

Los Angeles Times - “Construction spending and manufacturing growing–slightly” (11-1-11)

“Construction spending and manufacturing activity are both growing, though not by much, according to two reports Tuesday.  Builders in the U.S. spent at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $787.2 billion in September, up 0.2% from August in the second-straight monthly increase, according to the Commerce Department.”

Housing Wire – “US files $834 million lawsuit against Allied Home Mortgage” (11-1-11)

“Federal officials filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Allied Home Mortgage Capital and two of its senior officials, seeking to recover $834 million in damages stemming from allegedly fraudulent mortgage insurance claims.”

Bloomberg - “Bernanke: Housing Hinges on Refinancing” (11-1-11)

“Fed policy makers, who start a two-day meeting today, are considering buying mortgage-backed securities to push down borrowing costs and help homeowners refinance their debt.  That would reduce monthly payments, freeing up cash for other purchases that could spur the economy and reduce unemployment, Fed Governor Daniel Tarullo said Oct. 20″

Housing Wire - “Sharga: Several more years with nearly 1M foreclosures per year” (11-1-11)

“The housing market faces several more years with 800,000 to 1 million new foreclosed properties per year, according to Rick Sharga, an executive vice president with Carrington Mortgage Services.”

Looking Back:

Credit Suisse estimated Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have cumulative losses of $321 billion. Private mortgage servicers modified 119,585 loans in September 2010, over 4 times as many modifications performed through HAMP. Statistics from the Federal Reserve showed home equity accounted for 16.2% of net worth in the 2nd quarter of 2010.

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 event 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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/28/11

Friday, October 28th, 2011

Sources:

Pending Home Sales Decreases by 4.6%
Consumer confidence dips to recession level–Conference Board
New-Home Sales Rise 5.7 Percent in September
Remodeling Double-dip Offers Opportunity for Homeowners
FHFA removes barriers to refinance more borrowers
HUD Offers REO Homes for $100 Down in Select States
State agency foreclosing on borrowers who rent out their homes
Delaware AG Sues MERS

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 events.  Pending home sales decreased this week according to the San Francisco Chronicle, and consumer spending increased 0.6%.  The California Housing Finance Agency has stopped foreclosures on a small group of borrowers renting out their homes.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “CMBS defaults fall and spreads tighten” (10-28-11)

“Commercial mortgage-backed securities are benefiting from tightening spreads and a slowing loan default rate, analysts said this week.“

Bloomberg - “Consumer Spending in U.S. Rises 0.6%” (10-28-11)

“Consumer spending in the U.S. accelerated in September, helping the world’s largest economy skirt a recession.  Purchases increased 0.6 percent, matching the median estimate of 81 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, after a 0.2 percent gain the prior month, Commerce Department figures showed today in Washington. Incomes rose less than projected, sending the savings rate down to the lowest level in almost four years”

Realty Times - “Fixed Mortgage Rates Change Little” (10-28-11)

“Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), showing average fixed mortgage rates changing little for the second consecutive week amid mixed consumer confidence and housing data. Fixed mortgage rates remain near their 60-year lows.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Pending sales of existing homes fall” (10-28-11)

“The number of contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly  fell in September as lower prices and borrowing costs failed to support demand.”

Housing Wire - “Two bankers, one investor sentenced for TARP fraud scheme” (10-28-11)

“A district judge sentenced two executives of the closed Orion Bank and a large investor to prison this week and ordered them to pay a $2 million fine for a scheme to secure millions in bailouts from the Troubled Asset Relief Program.”

DS News – “Senators Urge Government to Act Fast to Create an REO Rental Program” (10-28-11)

“Thirty-three senators submitted a letter Thursday encouraging the Obama administration and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to work quickly in developing a program to make vacant foreclosed homes available for rent.”

Inman - “Senators want to see Fannie, Freddie REO plan” (10-28-11)

“As Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to take possession of  foreclosed homes at a rapid pace, Senate Democrats are voicing their  impatience with their management of real estate owned (REO) properties.”

Los Angeles Times - “California state housing agency reverses on foreclosures” (10-28-11)

“A state-run housing agency at least temporarily has suspended the practice of foreclosing on a small number of borrowers who rented out their homes.”

Looking Back:

Research showed the national election years tended to be bad for housing. Wells Fargo said that up to 55,000 of their foreclosures had mistakes.  The 30-year mortgage rate increased to 4.23%, according to Freddie Mac..

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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/27/11

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

In today’s news, the pending sales for existing homes fell 4.6& in the U.S., according to Bloomberg.  Mortgage rates are holding steady at their lowest recorded in almost 60 years.  Last week the number of people filing for unemployment decreased to 402,000, although the number of unemployed is still high.

In The News:

Bloomberg - “Pending Sales of U.S. Existing Homes Fall 4.6%” (10-27-11)

“The number of contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly fell in September as lower prices and borrowing costs failed to support demand.”

Housing Wire – “GDP growth 2.5% in third quarter” (10-27-11)

“Real gross domestic product grew at an annual rate of 2.5% in the third quarter when compared to the previous three months, the Commerce Department said Thursday.”

NAHB - “Remodeling Activity Remains Slow Under Current Economic Conditions” (10-27-11)

“The current state of the national economy continues to affect the remodeling industry, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The index dropped to 41.7 in the third quarter from 43.9 in the second quarter, after having reached a four-year high of 46.5 in the first quarter. An RMI below 50 indicates that more remodelers report that market activity is declining than report that it is increasing.”

Los Angeles Times – “Weekly jobless claims dip to 402,000 but still are high” (10-27-11)

“New jobless claims dipped last week to 402,000, another somewhat encouraging sign for the still-troubled economy — though still too high to make a dent in the unemployment rate.”

Housing Wire – “Republican blueprints mortgage market without Fannie, Freddie” (10-27-11)

“Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) proposed his idea of a future mortgage market Thursday, one with new underwriting standards and transparency but without Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the upcoming risk-retention rule.”

DS News - “Fixed Mortgage Rates Show Little Movement” (10-27-11)

“Fixed mortgage rates showed little change for the second consecutive week amid mixed consumer confidence and housing data, and remain near their 60-year lows.”

CNN Money – “Small banks still stuck in federal bailout” (10-27-11)

“Hundreds of struggling small community banks could be stuck in the federal government’s much-maligned bank bailout program, a watchdog agency warned in a report released Thursday.”

DS News - “Delaware AG Sues MERS” (10-27-11)

“Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden filed suit Thursday against MERSCORP and its subsidiary, Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS). Biden charges MERSCORP with violating Delaware’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act.”

Inman - “Redfin raises $14.8M in new funding” (10-27-11)

“Technology-based real estate brokerage Redfin has raised $14.8 million in a new round of funding the company’s chief executive officer says will help it expand and weather seasonal ups and downs.”

Looking Back:

The MBA’s weekly survey showed mortgage application volume increased 3.2% the week of October 27, 2010. Mortgage bankers estimated the housing market would not recover until 2012 at least. HUD reported only 24,000 houses sold in September 2010.

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 event 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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/26/11

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

A big story in the news is the sale of new homes increased 5.7% last month, the highest they have been in 5 months.  According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association survey, mortgage applications are up almost 5% from last week.  According to The Wall Street Journal, both the values and rent for apartments are on the rise.

In The News:

Housing Wire – “HARP plan keeps mortgage insurers in play” (10-26-11)

“The Mortgage Insurance Companies of America is supporting the revised Home Affordable Refinance Program as a step in the right direction since it aims to keep borrowers current while reducing default claims.”

DS News – “S&P/Experian: Default Rates Rise for First and Second Mortgages” (10-26-11)

“Default rates for both first and second mortgages increased during the month of September, according to the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices.”

NAHB - “New-Home Sales Rise 5.7 Percent in September” (10-26-11)

“Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 5.7 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 313,000 units in September, according to newly released data from the U.S. Commerce Department. This marks the fastest pace of new-home sales in the past five months.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (10-26-11)

“Mortgage applications increased 4.9 percent from one week earlier, which included the Columbus Day holiday, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week
ending October 21, 2011.”

Housing Wire - “Freddie Mac: Single-family delinquencies up slightly in September” (10-26-11)

“The rate of seriously delinquent mortgages held by Freddie Mac inched higher in September to 3.51% from 3.49% in August, the government-sponsored enterprise said Wednesday.”

Los Angeles Times - “U.S. recession fears fade as economy shows more strength” (10-26-11)

“The dreaded “double-dip” still is a no-show.  When the government on Thursday issues its first estimate of third-quarter U.S. gross domestic product, the report is expected to show a sharp acceleration in economic growth from the first half.  Real GDP grew at an annualized rate of 2.5% in the three months ended Sept. 30, according to the average estimate of economists in a Bloomberg News survey.”

Wall Street Journal - “Apartment Values Rise, as Do Rents” (10-26-11)

“Strong growth of rents and occupancy levels of rental apartments have pushed some building values to record levels as Americans shift away from home ownership.  While concerns about the economy are cooling the market for most other types of commercial real estate, apartment rents and occupancies continue to be boosted by demand from millions of people who are victims of foreclosure or are unwilling or unable to buy their own homes.”

DS News - “Freddie Mac’s Chief Executive to Resign” (10-26-11)

“Freddie Mac CEO Charles E. Haldeman Jr. has informed the GSE’s board of directors that he plans to step down “some time in the coming year,” according to a statement from Freddie’s regulator.”

Housing Wire – “Special servicers resolve $63.5 billion of distressed CMBS” (10-26-11)

“Special servicers resolved more than $63.5 billion in distressed commercial mortgage-backed securities from January 2010 to June 2011, Fitch Ratings said in a report Wednesday.”

Looking Back:

The MBA estimateed total originations in 2011 would be $400 billion less than the total for 2010. According to MDA DataQuick, 83,261 Notices of Default were recorded at California county recorder offices during the 3rd quarter of 2010. Lender Processing Services released a new valuation model that brought listing and pending sale data into the equation. The FHFA claimed U.S. house prices increased 0.4% in August 2010.

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 event 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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/3/11

Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

Bloomberg reported spending on construction increased in August the most it has been in two years.  Foreclosures are also increasing again, accoring to the Realty Times.  Despite this, a new study was released by CoreLogic showing that there are still positive numbers for equity in the country, showing that more homeowners are doing well than it may seem.

In The News:

Bloomberg - “Strategic Mortgage Delinquencies as High as 27%” (10-3-11)

“The number of borrowers choosing to fall behind on payments on U.S. home loans packaged into bonds without government backing has held steady over the past year, meaning the “strategic delinquencies” account for a larger share of new late payments, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) .”

Housing Wire - “Jumbo mortgages to remain steady after conforming loan limit drop” (10-3-11)

“The elevated conforming loan limit on mortgages guaranteed or insured by the government expired Saturday, but the only issuer of private-label jumbo securities since the crash said the largest banks will still move forward.”

DS News - “Moody’s: Refinancing Is Key to Housing Market Recovery” (10-3-11)

“If all of Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s borrowers paying interest rates that are higher than the median rate were to refinance at 4 percent, the savings would total $63 billion.”

Realty Times - “Real Estate Outlook: Foreclosures Rise Again” (10-3-11)

“Housing has remained in its state of flux this week, with mixed news from across the sector.  The National Association of Realtors latest existing-home sales report shows that sales rose in August by 7.7 percent”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Gross Says Recession Risk Overtaking New Normal Forecast” (10-3-11)

“Bill Gross, the manager of the world’s biggest bond fund, said the global  economy risks lapsing into recession with the pace of growth falling below the  “new normal” level the firm has predicted since 2009.”

DS News - “Closing of Texas Bank Pushes Year’s Failures to 74″ (10-3-11)

“The Texas Department of Banking and the FDIC seized control of First International Bank in Plano, Texas, over the weekend.”

Housing Wire - “CoreLogic launching new borrower credit report” (10-3-11)

“CoreLogic (CLGX: 10.38 -2.72%) is launching a new credit score service it claims will give lenders a much stronger sense of a borrower’s outstanding debts.”

Realtor Magazine - “Appraisals Blamed for More Deals Falling Through” (10-3-11)

“Appraisers are increasingly taking the heat for more transactions being canceled or delayed after more appraisals reportedly are coming through that don’t meet the contract price.”

Los Angeles Times - “Most homeowners still faring well, with positive equity” (10-3-11)

“A new study, conducted by mortgage and real estate data firm CoreLogic for this column, found that there are substantial reserves of positive equity across the country. CoreLogic maintains the largest database on home loans — 42 million
active accounts, more than 80% of all existing mortgages — with information supplied regularly by lenders and servicers.”

Bloomberg - “Construction Spending in U.S. Unexpectedly Rose in August on Local Outlays” (10-3-11)

“Construction spending in the U.S. unexpectedly rebounded in August, propelled by the biggest jump in state and local government outlays in more than two years.”

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 event 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.

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 9/28/11

Wednesday, September 28th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

According to the latest survey released by the Mortgage Bankers Association, mortgage applications increased 9.3% from last week.  However, mortgage rates continue to remain low acccording to the Realty Times.  According to the San Francisco Chronicle, home prices are down but not as much as as they were a year ago and decreased even less than predicted in Jully.

In The News:

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (9-28-11)

“Mortgage applications increased 9.3 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 23, 2011.”

DS News - “Proprietary Modifications Unchanged, Foreclosure Starts Rise” (9-28-11)

“Servicers completed about 56,000 permanent loan modifications in the month of August-similar to their July efforts. Most of these modifications included reduced principal and interest payments and fixed interest rates for five years or more, according to HOPE NOW data released Wednesday.”

Realty Times - “Mortgage Rates Remain Low After Mixed Housing Reports” (9-28-11)

“With the summer season now over, mortgage rates continue to remain low after mixed housing reports for the month of August. Data showed that consumers are still carefully looking at their options before committing to purchasing a home. While existing home sales surged, new home sales fell to a six month low in August as reported by the Commerce Department.”

Housing Wire – “Mortgage fraud reporting up, way up” (9-28-11)

“Reports of possible mortgage fraud grew in the second quarter, with financial institutions filing 29,558 mortgage loan fraud suspicious activity reports, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said Wednesday.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Home prices down less than expected” (9-28-11)

“Home prices in the United States declined less than forecast in July compared  with a year earlier, a sign that bank delays in processing foreclosures may have  temporarily slowed the slump in real  estate values.”

Realty Times - “Default Notices Rise” (9-28-11)

“Home values have fought a hard battle the past few years. Credit woes and a depressed jobs market dragged values downward. It has been distressed properties, however, that have sapped the life out of many neighborhoods.”

Housing Wire – “Business Roundtable: Big company CEOs cautious about economy” (9-28-11)

The Federal Housing Finance Agency proposed two mortgage servicing compensation models Tuesday, prompting the market to quickly react with a list of pros and cons.”

DS News - “FHFA Suspends Loan Repurchase Deals” (9-28-11)

“The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has signed off on several headline-grabbing arrangements between major lenders and the GSEs to reconcile loan repurchase claims.”

Realtor Magazine - “NAR Brings Workforce Housing Concerns to Nation’s Capital” (9-28-11)

“REALTORS® strive to preserve and expand housing opportunities for all Americans, and that’s particularly important for public and private sector workers. To address a nationwide shortage of workforce housing, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, in partnership with the National Housing Conference, will host a forum today in Washington, D.C.”

Looking Back:

Property values in 20 U.S. cities increased 3.2% from 2009, according to the S&P index. FHFA reported 30-year, fixed mortgage rates decreased to 4.7% in August 2010. The House of Representatives proposed a new bill which would allow 30 million homeowners to refinance at what were then current interest rates.

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 event 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.

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