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California Real Estate Headline Roundup

Posts Tagged ‘distressed’

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

Thursday, October 28th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

Research shows the national election years tend 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.

In The News:

Wall Street Journal - “Mortgage Rate Edges Up Again, to 4.23%” (10-28-10)

“The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.23% for the week ended Thursday, up slightly from the prior week’s 4.21% average but down from 5.03% a year ago. Rates on 15-year fixed were at 3.66%, up from 3.64% in the previous week but down from 4.46% a year earlier.”

Inman - “New credit score tailored for lenders” (10-28-10)

“The FICO 8 Mortgage Score does a better job identifying accounts that are overdue by 90 days or more, pushing more high-risk borrowers into lower score ranges, the company says in promotional materials. The FICO 8 Mortgage Score uses the same 300-850 scoring range as the all-industry FICO score most widely used, but is better at predicting whether a borrower will default on a mortgage”

Los Angeles Times“Foreclosure activity up across most US metro areas” (10-28-10)

“California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona remain the country’s foreclosure hotbeds, accounting for 19 of the top 20 metropolitan areas with the highest foreclosure rates between July and September, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday.”

Bloomberg - “Wells Fargo Will File More Foreclosure Affidavits After Lapses” (10-28-10)

“Wells Fargo & Co., the biggest U.S. home lender, said it will file supplemental foreclosure affidavits to courts in about 55,000 proceedings after finding some statements ‘did not strictly adhere to the required procedures.’”

Housing Wire“Federal Reserve closer to TILA final rule on appraiser coercion” (10-28-10)

“Regulation Z or TILA was enacted on July 21 as part of the Dodd-Frank bill. It forces lenders to disclose costs and terms of mortgage loans and better inform consumers. This final rule, one of the many the Fed must draft after the passage of Dodd-Frank, seeks to ensure appraiser independence much like the replacement to the final rule replacing the Home Valuation Code of Conduct for appraisers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.”

Housing Wire“Moody’s economist sees ample optimism in housing market” (10-28-10)

“Mark Zandi, chief economist, Moody’s Analytics said that he expects home prices to be depressed into 2012. He adds that the knock-on effect from the robo-signing debacle will be minimal.”

Housing Wire“Mortgage delinquencies are in ‘serious trouble,’ says LPS analyst” (10-28-10)

“Kyle Lundstedt, managing director of the applied analytics division at LPS said the housing market remains in “serious trouble” as current mortgage delinquencies are above 7 million distressed homeowners.”

Orange County Register - “National election years bad for housing” (10-28-10)

“Election years (both presidential and mid-terms) seem bad for housing. When national power is at stake, U.S. home prices averaged 5.2% gains per year. Compare that to the 5.8% average gain found in non-election years since 1969. That modest performance gap is decent proof that election years aren’t so hot for housing. Just to be sure, though, I checked with the median price change for these periods, too. Again, non-election years outperformed: 6.3% annual gains vs. 5.1% for election years.”

Bloomberg - “Banks `Want to Sit Down’ With States to Discuss Foreclosures” (10-27-10)

“A 50-state task force investigating U.S. foreclosure practices may meet with lenders as early as this week, less than a month after JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bank of America Corp. suspended some home seizures.”

Naked Capitalism“NYC Judge Foreclosure Smackdown Shows Problems With Bank ‘Technicalities’ Defense” (10-28-10)

“A story at the New York Daily News on a foreclosure case dismissed by Judge Arthur Schack illustrates that the problems that banks are having with foreclosures, which they are characterizing as ‘technical’ or ‘paperwork’ run deeper than that. And that is before you get to the issue that we have discussed at length on this blog, namely, the failure to convey promissory notes and related liens as stipulated by the contract governing mortgage securitizations, the pooling and servicing agreement.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, according to the MBA, mortgage application volume decreased by 12.3 percent within a week. Sources confirmed that the Senate did intend to extend the home buyer tax credit with some modifications. The Commerce Department reported that the pace of new home sales decreased by 3.6 percent in September 09.

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.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/15/10

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Think Big Work Small Video on MERS

American Land Title view on title issue

See if your property is on the MERS system

Information on MERS

Statement by R.K. Arnold, President and CEO of MERSCORP, Inc.

Washington Post“U.S. presses mortgage lenders to fix documents, but foreclosures can continue”

Lawyer puts former foreclosed family back into property

Today’s News Synopsis:

Some evicted homeowners are breaking into their previously owned homes, and claiming that they were wrongfully foreclosed on. Bernanke is giving signs that the Federal Reserve will continue its strategy of quantitative easing. As a percentage of gross domestic product, the national deficit decreased 1.1% in 2010.

In The News:

Orange County Register“Newport Beach man says foreclosure was illegal” (10-15-10)

“A Newport Beach man was arrested Wednesday after an attempt to regain possession of the home he claims his family was wrongfully evicted from 16 months ago.”

New York Times“Bernanke Signals Intent to Further Spur Economy” (10-15-10)

“The impact of the Fed’s most likely course — resuming vast purchases of government debt to lower long-term interest rates — would ripple far beyond American shores. The new actions could contribute to the weakening of the dollar and complicate a festering currency dispute that threatens to disrupt global trade relations.”

Housing Wire“BofA hiring 1,000 small business lenders as analyst warns on bank’s repurchases” (10-15-10)

“Bank of America (BAC: 11.99 -4.84%) will hire more than 1,000 small business bankers by early 2012, president and CEO of the bank Brian Moynihan announced Thursday. During his speech at the Chief Executive Club of Boston. Moynihan said the hiring is part of BofA’s effort to expand its small business presence in the marketplace.”

Housing Wire“JPM: Robo-signing now borrower strategy to avoid foreclosure” (10-15-10)

“One of the largest investment banks at the center of the robo-signing scandal is claiming that distressed borrowers are using the allegations as a stall tactic to prevent losing their homes. Further, the secondary industry is rejecting claims that the current transfer of mortgage titles into the bond market is faulty.”

Housing Wire“Government outlays to Fannie, Freddie 24% below estimates” (10-15-10)

“Obama administration officials said Friday that lower-than-expected outlays to the Troubled Asset Relief Program and government-sponsored entities resulted in a reduction in the deficit. As a percentage of gross domestic product, the national deficit fell to 8.9% for fiscal 2010, down from 10% a year earlier.”

Bloomberg - “`Ninja Nightmare’ for U.S. Homes May Lead to Double-Dip, BNP Paribas Says” (10-15-10)

“U.S. banks embroiled in an investigation into faulty home foreclosures may be forced to scale back lending, pushing the economy back into recession, according to BNP Paribas SA.”

Orange County Register“Countrywide icon settles fraud claim for $67M” (10-15-10)

“Former Countrywide Financial Corp. Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo agreed to pay $67.5 million in financial penalties to settle the Securities and Exchange Commission’s high-profile civil fraud suit against him. The two other defendants in the case, former Countrywide President David Sambol and former Chief Financial Officer Eric Sieracki, also reached settlements with the SEC. Mr. Sambol agreed to pay just over $5.5 million in penalties while Mr. Sieracki agreed to pay $130,000. All three defendants, who reached the settlements without admitting or denying wrongdoing, also agreed to injunctions against future violations of securities law.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan said that although credit quality was worsening, most banks had the strength to absorb oncoming damage. Fitch Ratings saw positive signs for home sales, but warned that the recovery will involve ups and downs. RealtyTrac reported that 1 in every 136 U.S. homes received a foreclosure notice during Q3 of 2009. According to MDA DataQuick, San Francisco home and condo sales increased by 4.8 percent in September 2009.

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.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 10/12/10

Tuesday, October 12th, 2010

Looking Back:

Multiple states are cooperating in an investigation to determine whether or not lenders violated foreclosure laws when seizing houses from delinquent borrowers. The U.S. is now the second largest holder of U.S. debt. A survey from the National Association for Business Economics shows that economists expect gross domestic product will increase 2.6% in 2010 and 2011. According to a Thomson Reuters survey, 63% of potential home buyers are discouraged from buying a home because of the current economic conditions.

In The News:

MERS - “Statement by R.K. Arnold, President and CEO of MERSCORP, Inc.” (10-12-10)

“Claims that MERS disrupts or creates a defect in the mortgage or deed of trust are not supported by fact or legal precedents. This is often used as a tactic by lawyers to delay or prevent the foreclosure. The mortgage lien is granted to MERS by the borrower and the seller and that is what makes MERS the mortgagee.”

NAR - “NAR’s HouseLogic Launches Campaign to Help Military Families Sustain Homeownership” (10-11-10)

“The National Association of Realtors®’ HouseLogic, a free, comprehensive consumer website about all aspects of homeownership, today launched Operation Home Relief, a new Facebook Causes campaign. The campaign aims to increase awareness, rally support and raise funding for USA Cares, a nonprofit organization that provides counseling and financial foreclosure assistance to post-9/11 active duty U.S. military service personnel, veterans and their families. HouseLogic will donate $1 to USA Cares every time someone ‘likes’ the Operation Home Relief Cause page on Facebook and will match individual donations made to the cause, up to $20,000.”

Sign on San Diego“Q&A: What’s going on with foreclosures?” (10-11-10)

“BofA – the only lender to have halted foreclosures in all 50 states – estimates that it could resolve the issue in as quickly as two or three weeks. Stan Humphries, an analyst with Zillow.com, an online real estate database, estimates that it could take 60 to 90 days for the entire industry to deal with the ‘robo-signer’ problem. But Humphries adds that the process could take longer if political pressure mounts for a wider-reaching examination of foreclosures.”

Los Angeles Times“California might join probe of lenders that seized homes” (10-12-10)

“California officials are considering joining a multistate investigation of whether lenders have violated foreclosure laws when seizing houses from delinquent borrowers. The investigation, which is expected to be publicly announced Wednesday, is spearheaded by Iowa Atty. Gen. Tom Miller.”

Of Two Minds“Imagining A Middle Class Does Not Create One” (10-12-10)

“Another measure of ‘middle class’ is even simpler: a middle class household owns some wealth. It could be a retirement fund, a free-and-clear home, a business, income property or gold/cash/investments. By that measure, the middle class comprises at best 20% of the populace.”

Bloomberg - “Foreclosure Freeze May Slow U.S. Homebuyers on Legal Worry” (10-10-10)

“A halt in home foreclosures at the largest U.S. mortgage firms may sideline buyers worried about legal issues, further depressing sales at a time when distressed properties account for almost a quarter of all transactions.”

Zero Hedge“Three Horrifying Facts About the US Debt ‘Situation’” (10-12-10)

“this week we overtook Japan, leaving China as the only country with greater ownership of US Debt. And we’re printing money to buy it. Setting aside the fact that this is abject lunacy, this policy is trashing our currency which has fallen 13% since June… as in four months ago. Want an explanation for why stocks, commodities, and Gold are exploding higher? Here it is.”

Bloomberg - “Economists Cut U.S. Growth Forecasts Through 2011, Survey Shows” (10-11-10)

“Gross domestic product will increase 2.6 percent this year and next, according to the median of 46 economists surveyed by the National Association for Business Economics from Sept. 2 to Sept. 21. A May poll projected growth of 3.2 percent for both years. Economists also cut estimates for personal spending, employment and consumer prices.”

Housing Wire“Zillow 30-year FRM rates hit record low for fourth consecutive week” (10-12-10)

“The 30-year, fixed-mortgage rate decreased from a week earlier, setting a new record low for the fourth consecutive week at 4.13%, according to the Zillow Mortgage Marketplace weekly update.”

Housing Wire - “Analysts optimistic on 3Q MBS REIT earnings” (10-12-10)

“With the end of the GSE buyouts, prepayment speeds slowed on agency MBS, peaking for Fannie Mae 30-year MBS at 29.9% in April and dropping down to 24.9% in September.”

Housing Wire“Total Mortgage Services lowers rate on jumbo mortgages anticipating comeback” (10-12-10)

“Total Mortgage Services, a Connecticut-based mortgage lender/broker, sees a comeback in the jumbo mortgage market. The firm said because of a significant improvement in both competitive pricing and market liquidity for jumbo loans, it’s rate for a 30-year fixed jumbo mortgage is down to 4.9% for a loan up to $729,000.”

Housing Wire“63% of Americans do not want to buy a home according to Reuters research” (10-12-10)

“According to a survey done by FindLaw.com, a Thomson Reuters company, 63% of respondents said they are steered away from buying a home because the current economic conditions. Only 8% said they are more likely to buy a home because of the state of the economy. About one quarter, 28%, said economic conditions do not sway their opinion about purchasing a home.”

Housing Wire“Hoenig remains consistent with calls for no additional quantitative easing” (10-12-10)

“Speaking in Denver to the National Association of Business Economists, Thomas Hoenig said he understands the Fed’s desire to ‘do something, anything’ to revive the economy, but maintaining the zero-interest rate policy and starting a second round of quantitative easing aren’t it.”

Bloomberg - “Obama Backs State Foreclosure Probe, Against Nationwide Freeze, Gibbs Says” (10-12-10)

“President Barack Obama is throwing his support behind state attorneys general looking into filings of allegedly faulty home foreclosures while rejecting a nationwide freeze on home foreclosures because of potential ‘unintended consequences,’ said a White House spokesman.”

Bloomberg - “Real Estate `Trophy’ Prices Up 19% in Flat Market: Chart of the Day” (10-12-10)

“The CHART OF THE DAY shows prices for ‘trophy’ commercial properties are up 19 percent since bottoming in New York, Washington, San Francisco, Boston, Los Angeles and Chicago. The Moody’s/REAL Commercial Property Price Index tracking the entire U.S. has gained 1 percent from a seven-year low in October 2009.”

Bloomberg - “Foreclosure Delays May Cost U.S. Banks Up to $6 Billion, FBR’s Miller Says” (10-12-10)

“Faulty foreclosures may cost U.S. lenders $2 billion for every month that home seizures are delayed and the tab could reach $6 billion, according to Paul Miller, the bank analyst at FBR Capital Markets.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, Fitch reported that 60 percent of borrowers from 06 to 07 had negative equity. Interthinx’s Mortgage Fraud Index estimated that fraud decreased by 4 percent from Q1 to Q2 of 2009, but increased by 7 percent from Q2 of 2008. Statistics from MDA DataQuick showed that Southern California home sales increased by 5 percent from October of 2008.

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.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 9/27/10

Monday, September 27th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

California air-quality regulators adopted 10- and 25-year targets for reducing greenhouse gases. Fannie Mae is developing a loan forbearance program for military families. Nearly 33% of Americans have credit scores below 620. John Burns predicts that sales of distressed properties will peak in 2011 at 2.3 million transactions.

In The News:

San Francisco Chronicle“Top 1% of earners get 20% of the money” (9-26-10)

“Former Clinton administration labor secretary Robert Reich, now a public policy professor at UC Berkeley, argues that working class incomes have stagnated for so long that ordinary consumers – who account for about 70 percent of all economic activity – have lost the buying power to pull the country out of recession.”

Los Angeles Times“Trashing the dollar to save the economy” (9-25-10)

“If something’s got to be sacrificed to put the domestic economy on the road to a sustainable recovery, the dollar’s value against other currencies seems a good candidate. That’s what the Federal Reserve signaled this week — and what Congress, in no uncertain terms, is telling the Chinese.”

Mortgage Bankers Association“Study Examines the Variety of Alternative Mortgage Loan Products Around the World” (9-27-10)

“The study entitled, ‘International Comparison of Mortgage Product Offerings’, which was conducted by Dr. Michael Lea, Director of the Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate at San Diego State University and sponsored by MBA’s Research Institute for Housing America (RIHA), examines the predominant mortgage designs and characteristics that exist in different international markets and how they have performed prior to and during the crisis. The study examined 12 developed countries with distinctly different mortgage market and product configurations.”

North Bay Business Journal“Business groups object to greenhouse gas targets” (9-27-10)

“State air-quality regulators late last week adopted 10- and 25-year targets for reductions in greenhouse gases in the major metropolitan areas in the state over the objections of some business groups and certain policy planners that the targets for the Los Angeles and greater San Francisco Bay areas will result in high fuel and transportation costs and more environmental-impact lawsuits for real estate developers.”

Sacramento Bee“Fannie Mae offers housing aid to military families” (9-27-10)

“Mortgage giant Fannie Mae plans to give military families a break on their home loan payments if they are struggling because of the death or injury of a service member.”

Orange County Register“1 in 3 unlikely to qualify for mortgage” (9-27-10)

“Borrowers with credit scores under 620 who requested purchase loan quotes for 30-year fixed, conventional loans were unlikely to get even a single loan quote on Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, even if they offered a relatively high down payment of 15 to 25%, Zillow says. According to myFICO.com, nearly one-third of Americans, or 29.3%, has a credit score that low.”

Housing Wire“DebtX August CRE loan value up to 81%” (9-27-10)

“The value of commercial loans priced in August by The Debt Exchange that collateralize commercial mortgage-backed securities rose to 81% of the original balance, the loan sale advisor said. DebtX priced 57,586 commercial real estate loans last month worth a combined $679.1 billion that collateralize 626 CMBS trusts. The aggregate August value is up from 79.4% in July and higher than the 77% a year earlier.”

Housing Wire“Fannie Mae EarlyCheck looks to reduce future repurchase risk” (9-27-10)

“Between 2005 and 2007, many of the loans originated did not meet crucial standards set by the GSEs. Banks are now being forced to repurchase those loans. But director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, Edward DeMarco, said in his congressional speech two weeks ago that the GSEs had more than $11 billion in outstanding repurchase requests at the end of the second quarter. Fitch Ratings predicted in August that the buyback amount for just the big four banks could reach $180 billion.”

Housing Wire“Rating agencies disregarded mortgage quality risks, former Clayton exec says” (9-27-10)

“Between the first quarter of 2006 and the second quarter of 2007, Clayton reviewed more than 911,000 mortgages for its clients, such as Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs, that sold them as security pools. Johnson told the FCIC only half of them, 54%, met the kinds of standards these Wall Street firms were advertising to investors. The other 46% were “bad loans” written on unchecked information such as borrower stated income.”

Housing Wire“Monday Morning Cup of Coffee” (9-27-10)

“Sales of distressed properties will peak in 2011 at 2.3 million transactions before falling to more normal levels at 850,000 in 2016, according to a report from John Burns Real Estate Consulting.”

Press Enterprise - “2010 real estate survivors celebrate and look at market” (9-27-10)

“Bruce Norris, who hosted the Sept. 17 reception, dinner and panel discussion, took a minute to inform the panelists, including representatives from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, that the audience would love the chance to buy and fix up foreclosed houses in bulk. Several times the panelists, who also included outspoken economist Christopher Thornberg and experts in the appraisal, mortgage banking and auctioning sectors, pointed to the discrepancy between high mortgage delinquency rates and a limited number of bank-owned homes available for purchase.”

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.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 9/16/10

Thursday, September 16th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

According to MDA DataQuick, 6,698 houses and condos closed escrow in the Bay Area last month. Also, 34,239 houses and condos were sold statewide. BarCap expects that of all the subprime mortgages still current and originated in 2005, 70% will default.

In The News:

CBIA - “An Updated, Upgraded Deck Made Easy With Composites” (9-16-10)

“According to a recent study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, remodeling spending is expected to increase on an annual basis by the end of the year with growth accelerating to the double-digits in the first quarter of 2011. Fueled by increased confidence in the economy, more homeowners are investing in their homes again.”

MDA DataQuick“California August Home Sales” (9-16-10)

“An estimated 34,239 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That was down 2.7 percent from 35,202 in July, and down 14.0 percent from 39,811 for August 2009. California sales for the month of July have varied from a low of 29,764 in 1992 to a peak of 73,285 in 2005, while the average is 48,805. MDA DataQuick’s statistics go back to 1988.”

MDA DataQuick“Bay Area Home Sales Drop to 1992 Level; Median Price Slips Again” (9-16-10)

“A total of 6,698 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in the nine-county Bay Area last month, down 1.1 percent from 6,773 in July and down 10.9 percent from 7,518 in August 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.”

MBA - “MBA Report: Give FHA More Resources and Authority to Strengthen Program” (9-16-10)

“The Federal Housing Authority (FHA) commissioner should be granted the resources to better manage the agency through the current housing market crisis and to allow the agency to continue to thrive when the market recovers, according to new report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Increasing resources for staffing and technology are among the 12 recommendations to improve the FHA and the Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) by the MBA’s Council on the Future of FHA and Ginnie Mae. Convened in November 2009, the council consists of senior executives from 27 companies, representing both large national lenders and small independent mortgage bankers.”

CNN - “Foreclosure rates hold steady” (9-16-10)

“The number of homeowners falling enough behind on their loans to attract initial notices of default was down 30% in August, RealtyTrac said Thursday. Eventually, that should translate into fewer people losing their homes.”

San Diego Union Tribune“Most oppose walking away from mortgage” (9-16-10)

“A majority of Americans believe it is ‘unacceptable’ for homeowners to stop paying mortgage payments and walk away from their homes, says a Pew Research Center survey. Of the 2,967 adults surveyed during the second half of May, 59 percent said they believed it was wrong for a homeowner to stop making mortgage payments and surrender their home to a lender. Still, 19 percent said it was OK to walk away while another 17 percent said it depended on the homeowner’s circumstances.”

Housing Wire“CoreLogic sees distressed housing sales rising in coming months” (9-16-10)

“CoreLogic (CLGX: 18.29 -0.76%) said tax credit-induced sales helped push distressed sales to a seven-month low in June, but the share of distressed sales is expected to bounce back in coming months, according to the firm’s inaugural U.S. Housing and Mortgage Trends report. The bi-monthly report will track housing sales, valuation, negative equity and foreclosure activity. In June, the distressed sale share fell to 24% of overall sales, down from a peak of 35% in early 2009, according to CoreLogic.”

Housing Wire“Mission Capital principal: Banks stoke the economy with distressed sales” (9-16-10)

“Activity has dramatically picked up since the fourth quarter of 2008. This is in large part due to speculation on the part of funds and high net worth individuals in loan assets, as well as in the stock and debt of the underlying financial institutions. As banks have become more healthy and their financial projections more visible, they have stoked the economy by simultaneously lending and selling distressed loans at a discount. This creates a virtuous cycle of investment activity in that investors are investing in credit-impaired assets, rehabilitating them and then refinancing right-sized debt.”

Housing Wire“BarCap estimates more subprime defaults from troubled vintages” (9-16-10)

“BarCap analysts are predicting high default rates on still-current subprime mortgages originated between 2005 and 2007. Of those subprime mortgages still current and originated in 2005, 70% are expected to default. In 2006, the expected default rate for current subprime is 89%, and 84% of current subprime from the 2007 vintage.”

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.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 9/10/10

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Sources:
http://www.mortgageorb.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.6632
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-189
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/09/09/irs-needs-strategy-to-recoup-home-buyer-tax-credit/
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100907_political.htm
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/shadow-inventory-shrinks-for-fifth-consecutive-month-barclays-2010-09-03
http://www.dsnews.com/articles/real-estate-investment-firm-acquires-stake-in-760m-fdic-loan-portfolio-2010-09-07
http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/retro-HOUSINGM08.html
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20100907_political.htm
http://jan.ocregister.com/2010/09/05/more-people-leave-california-than-arrive/44597/
http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2010/jul/North-American/
http://www.housingwire.com/2010/09/07/bank-deposit-balances-shrink-for-first-time-since-92

Today’s News Synopsis:

Real Capital Analytics reports distressed commercial properties rose $5.1 billion in July. President Barack Obama appointed Austan Goolsbee as leader of the Council of Economic Advisors. Mortgage servicers completed 65% more permanent modifications on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans through HAMP in the 2nd quarter. According to Harris Trifon, average losses on loans packaged into U.S. CMBS totaled $501 million last month.

In The News:

Housing Wire“Troubled commercial loans may be near the peak: Real Capital” (9-10-10)

“Distressed commercial properties increased $5.1 billion in July, the lowest addition since October 2008, according to the research firm Real Capital Analytics. The July additions were also less than half the monthly average for all of 2009 and through 2010 so far. The total amount of distressed commercial loans stands at $189.1 billion.”

Housing Wire“Obama names Goolsbee leader of Council of Economic Advisors” (9-10-10)

“President Barack Obama announced today the appointment of Austan Goolsbee as leader of the Council of Economic Advisors. He will be one of four principal members of the team who’s duties include finding ways to add more jobs to the economy and lower the unemployment rate.”

Housing Wire - “Securities industry takes a beating in 2Q” (9-10-10)

“Issuance of mortgage-related securities in the second quarter totaled $356.5 billion; down 8.4% from the first quarter and 45.7% from the year earlier. Issuance from the government sponsored entities Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac still dominate the space with Ginnie Mae.”

Housing Wire - “CMBS delinquencies pass 8% despite record loan mods” (9-10-10)

“Special servicers modified a record $2.1 billion in loans backing commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) in August, but delinquencies continue to grow, according to the credit-rating agency Fitch Ratings. The delinquency rate on CMBS loans reached 8.48%, a 23 basis point increase from July. There were $3.1 billion in new delinquencies, driven mostly by five loans recent defaults of loans worth more than $100 million.”

Housing Wire“HAMP modifications on Fannie, Freddie loans up 65% in 2Q” (9-10-10)

“Mortgage servicers completed 88,551 permanent modifications on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) in the second quarter, a 65% increase from the previous quarter, according to a report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency.”

Housing Wire - “Moody’s: banks to write off another $286 billion in loans through 2011″ (9-10-10)

“Moody’s Investors Service expects continued trouble in the domestic banking industry with another $286 billion of loan losses yet to hit the books. Earlier this week, analysts said U.S. banks rated by Moody’s have incurred $476 billion of charge offs since 2008.”

Housing Wire“ACUMA holds high expectations for credit union mortgage originations” (9-10-10)

“The American Credit Union Mortgage Association expects mortgage volumes for this year to rise above the $90 billion in originations its members completed in 2009.”

Bloomberg“Commercial Property Losses Mount as Loan Servicers Triage Real Estate Debt” (9-10-10)

“Average losses on loans packaged into U.S. commercial mortgage-backed securities totaled $501 million in August compared with $245 million in April, according to Harris Trifon, a Deutsche Bank analyst in New York who based the estimate on a three-month average. In August 2009, the number was $41 million.”

Inman - “‘Just let housing go’” (9-10-10)

“The Fed’s Beige Book said the obvious: ‘Continued growth … mid-July through the end of August, but with widespread signs of a deceleration.’ Not double-dip, not yet. In the absence of fearful dippers buying bonds, the 10-year T-note rose to a one-month high 2.8 percent, although doing no particular damage to mortgage rates, still near 4.5 percent. The new rage: ‘Just let housing go.’ These people do not seem to remember the benefits of letting Lehman go, the simple life without banks and their deposits.”

Today’s News Synopsis:

One year ago, the Federal Reserve announced the economy was stabilizing. U.S. homebuyers paid 3.3 percent less than listing price in July 2009. Bankruptcy filings increased 22% year over year. Foreclosure filings in the U.S. exceeded 300,000 for sixth straight months.

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 8/11/10

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

The MBA’s weekly survey shows mortgage application volume increased by 0.6 percent. The Obama will provide the Treasury Department and HUD with $3 billion for aiding homeowners. The NAR reports that most U.S. metro areas experienced a decrease in home prices during the second quarter, and distressed homes accounted for 32 percent of second quarter sales.

In The News:

Mortgage Bankers AssociationMortgage Applications Essentially Unchanged Despite Lowest Rates in MBA Weekly Survey” (8-11-10)

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 6, 2010.  The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 0.6 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.  On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 0.4 percent compared with the previous week.”

Associated Press -Obama administration to provide $3B in housing aid” (8-11-10)

“The Treasury Department says it will send $2 billion to 17 states that have unemployment rates higher than the national average for a year. They will use the money for programs to aid unemployed homeowners. Some of those states have already designed such programs. Another $1 billion will go to a new program being run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. It will provide homeowners with emergency zero-interest rate loans of up to $50,000 for up to two years.”

NAR - “Broad Stabilization in Second Quarter Metro Area Home Prices with Strong Sales” (8-11-10)

“In the second quarter, 100 out of 155 metropolitan statistical areas1 (MSAs) had higher median existing single-family home prices in comparison with the second quarter of 2009, including 14 with double-digit increases; two were unchanged and 53 metros showed price declines. In the first quarter of this year 91 areas had higher prices, while only 26 MSAs experienced annual price gains in second quarter of 2009. The national median existing single-family price was $176,900 in the second quarter, up 1.5 percent from $174,200 in the same period of 2009. The median is where half sold for more and half sold for less. Distressed homes accounted for 32 percent of second quarter sales, down from 36 percent a year ago.”

Sign on San Diego“Price reductions on San Diego homes increase” (8-11-10)

“As of Aug. 1, 23 percent of all the homes for sale in the City of San Diego had seen a price reduction, says a report by Trulia.com, a real estate website. That’s compared to July where 20 percent of the homes for sale in San Diego had experienced a price cut. The average price reduction was 8 percent. On a national level, Trulia estimated that 25 percent of all home listings have had at least one price reduction. The average size of the cut was 10 percent of the original list price, chopping an estimated $30.1 billion in value.”

Housing Wire“Foreclosures Down 5% in First Half of 2010: Foreclosure Listings Nationwide” (8-11-10)

“Foreclosure Listings Nationwide said second-quarter foreclosures rose 1% from the year ago and declined 4% from the prior quarter. More than 1.6m properties began the foreclosure process during the six months ending June 30, representing a nearly 7% decline from a year ago.”

Housing Wire“Fitch Sees $100bn in Special Servicing CMBS Loans by Year End” (8-11-10)

“Commercial real estate loans that require special servicing continue to climb with the total volume projected to reach $100bn by the end of 2010. These loans are used as collateral in commercial backed mortgage securitizations (CMBS).”

Housing Wire“FHA Postpones Premium Changes until October” (8-11-10)

“Last week, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) commissioner David Stevens announced plans for implementing FHA’s new mortgage insurance premium structure. Based on industry feedback to the announcement, the FHA postponed the premium fee changes on all new case numbers for one month, and will now implement them on Oct. 4, 2010.”

Housing Wire“Most Borrowers Choose Fixed-Rate Mortgages for Refinancing, Freddie Says” (8-11-10)

“Borrowers who are refinancing their homes are taking advantage of the lowest fixed-mortgage rates in the past 50 years, according to Freddie Mac’s quarterly Product Transition Report today. The report indicates 95% of refinance loans completed in Q210 were processed with a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM).”

Bloomberg - “Fed Reverses Exit Plans, Sets $2 Trillion Floor for Holdings” (8-11-10)

“Officials directed the New York Fed’s trading desk to reinvest what economists estimate will be $15 billion to $20 billion a month in maturing agency and mortgage-backed securities back into U.S. Treasuries. The purchases will help keep Treasury yields and mortgage costs low and prevent the level of monetary stimulus from shrinking further.”

Realty Times“Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Self-Directed IRAs” (8-11-10)

“IRAs Can Purchase Almost Anything. A common misconception about IRAs is that purchasing anything other than CDs, stocks, mutual funds or annuities is illegal in an IRA. This is false. The only prohibitions contained in the Internal Revenue Code for IRAs are investments in life insurance contracts and in ‘collectibles.’ Since there are so few restrictions contained in the law, almost anything else which can be documented can be purchased in your IRA. A ‘self-directed’ IRA allows any investment not expressly prohibited by law. Common investment choices include real estate, both domestic and foreign, options, secured and unsecured notes, including first and second liens against real estate, C corporation stock, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, trusts and a whole lot more.”

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 8/9/10

Monday, August 9th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

The percentage of American single-family homes with mortgages in negative equity decreased by 1.8% from the first to second quarter.  Freddie Mac is requesting $1.8 billion in federal aid after a $6 billion loss in the second quarter. Freddie Mac’s single-family inventory rose by 84.2% and its multifamily inventory doubled from last year. PIMCO fears the U.S. may be entering a period of deflation, and JPMorgan Chase expressed concerns that our financial system may crash in 2015.

In The News:

MSNBC - “Fewer U.S. homeowners have ‘underwater mortgages’” (8-9-10)

“The percentage of American single-family homes with mortgages in negative equity fell to 21.5 percent in the second quarter from 23.3 percent in the first quarter and 23 percent a year ago, according to the Zillow Real Estate Market Reports.”

Los Angeles Times“Freddie Mac requests $1.8 billion in aid after loss” (8-9-10)

“Government-controlled mortgage buyer Freddie Mac is asking for $1.8 billion in additional federal aid after posting a larger loss in the second quarter. Freddie Mac said Monday it lost $6 billion, or $1.85 per share, in the April-to-June period. That takes into account $1.3 billion in dividends paid to the Treasury Department. It compares with a loss of $840 million, or 26 cents a share, in the second quarter a year ago.”

Housing Wire“Flooded with Housing Inventory, Freddie REO Sales Surge Despite Foreclosure Alternatives” (8-9-10)

“Year-over-year, Freddie’s single-family portfolio increased 84.2% and the multifamily portfolio doubled. Monday morning’s quarterly results reveal a 655% increase in forbearance agreements, where distressed homeowners simply get more time to begin paying back the mortgage. These forbearance agreements numbered 21,673 at the end of the first half of 2010, up from 2,869 at the end of the first half of 2009.”

Housing Wire - “The Scope: JP Morgan Estimates Nearly 9m Mortgages Eligible for New FHA Refinancing” (8-9-10)

“There is $870bn worth of underwater mortgages that could be eligible for the new Federal Housing Administration (FHA) short refinance program announced last week, according to JPMorgan. Additionally, there could be as many as 8.9m loans eligible for the program, worth an aggregate balance of $2.3trn, which includes underwater borrowers and mortgages eligible for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP).”

Housing Wire“Zillow Sees 3.6% Dip in US Home Prices as More Underwater Mortgages Come up for Air” (8-9-10)

“For the 14th consecutive quarter, national US home values declined 3.2% year-over-year during Q210, according to a quarterly market report produced by real estate listing website Zillow. The average sales price for residential properties was $182,500 during the quarter, down 0.6% from the Q110 price of $183,700. In Q210, 21.5% of mortgage properties were in negative equity positions, compared with 23.3% in Q110.”

Housing Wire“PIMCO: US On Verge of Turning Japanese?” (8-9-10)

“The US may be nearing a long period of limited growth with the risk of deflation that would bring the nation’s economy very close to that of Japan during the 1990s, according to investment-management firm PIMCO.”

Housing Wire“Monday Morning Cup of Coffee” (8-9-10)

“Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said there are options to re-shape US housing finance that don’t involve government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. ‘There are a variety of organizational forms that might replace Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that could likely provide mortgage credit without the systemic risks associated with these institutions in the past,’ Bernanke said in a July 23 letter to Ohio Democrat Rep. Marcy Kaptur, according to reports by multiple media reports.”

Bloomberg - “Crash of 2015 Won’t Wait for Regulators to Rein in Wall Street” (8-9-10)

“The financial system experiences a crisis ‘every five to seven years,’ JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon told the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission in January. By that measure, the next crash could come by 2015 — years before new banking reforms are in place. Many of the measures ordered by Congress and global regulators, aimed at cushioning the financial system in future crises, are years away from being implemented. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision plans to give the world’s banks until 2018 to comply with limits on how much they can borrow.”

Orange County Register“Real estate loss hammers Calif. pensions” (8-9-10)

“The $200 billion California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) earned 11.4 percent return in the year ended June 30 — despite losing 37.1% on its real estate bets through March 31. The $130 billion California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) was up 12.3 percent in the same year after losing 12.4% on its property holdings.”

Orange County Register“Unsold homes up 57% this year” (8-9-10)

“The number of homes for sale on the Orange County housing market has mushroomed to 11,414 in the 30 days ending last Thursday. That’s up 57% since ‘inventory’ began a steady rise at the start of the year, according to the latest report by Altera’s Steven Thomas.”

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 8/3/10

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis

According to the NAR, pending home sales declined 2.6 percent in June. Data from the Southern California Multiple Listing Service shows that 25 percent of home sold in Orange County are sold for less than the owner in June went for less than the seller owed on the mortgage. Zillow reports the average 30-year mortgage rate decreased to 4.28 percent from last week. 84 percent of buyers begin searching for homes online.

In The News:

NAR - “Pending Home Sales Ease in Post-Tax Credit Market” (8-3-10)

“The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator, declined 2.6 percent to 75.7 based on contracts signed in June from an upwardly revised level of 77.7 in May, and is 18.6 percent below June 2009 when it was 93.0. The data reflects contracts and not closings, which normally occur with a lag time of one or two months.”

Orange County Register“Short sales top 700 in June” (8-3-10)

“One out of every four homes sold in Orange County in June went for less than the seller owed on the mortgage, according to the latest figures from the Southern California Multiple Listing Service. Thanks to falling home prices, about 14% to 19% of all O.C. homeowners owe more for their homes than they’re worth. In a short sale, lenders eat the difference between the amount paid and the amount owed.”

Housing Wire“Zillow: Rate on 30-Year-Mortgage Drops to Record Low Week-to-Week” (8-3-10)

“The 30-year fixed-mortgage rate (FRM) dropped week-to-week nationally averaging 4.28%, according to Zillow Mortgage Marketplace’s weekly update. This is down 0.1% and a new record low according to their data. Last week’s averages remained steady.”

Housing Wire“Fannie Launches Distressed Borrower Education Site” (8-3-10)

“Fannie Mae today is launching a borrower-facing outreach site designed to educate distressed homeowners on potential retention strategies and foreclosure alternatives. The online education resource — available in both English and Spanish — offers calculators to demonstrate to borrowers the mechanics of refinance, repayment, forbearance and modification options. It also offers information on Fannie’s Deed-For-Lease program, which allows borrowers to become renters in the same property after pursing deed-in-lieu of foreclosure.”

Bloomberg - “Banks `Throw in Towel’ to Add Most Mortgage Bonds in 18 Months” (8-3-10)

“The biggest banks are adding government-backed mortgage bonds at the fastest pace in 18 months, breaking with an unusual pattern in which they shunned the debt as their loan portfolios shrank during the economic slump, according to Barclays Plc. Large U.S. commercial banks added $51.4 billion of so- called agency mortgage-backed securities in the two weeks ended July 21, according to the latest data released by the Federal Reserve.”

Orange County Register“Does unemployment pay mean no loan?” (8-3-10)

“No, you will not not qualify because you filed for unemployment insurance last year, or the year before. We are getting fairly used to seeing income streams in which our clients may have been unemployed for part of the previous two years. While we cannot use the unemployment income (**asterisk alert** : keep reading for when we can use this income) your receiving it does not disqualify you from qualifying. We will need to show a two year history of employment so if you were unemployed for three months we will need to show employment going back at least 27 months.”

Realty Times - “Staging a Photo Ready Home” (8-3-10)

“Your home’s first impression may not be one that is face to face with a prospective buyer. In today’s world, 84 percent (National Association of Realtors) of home buyers start their search online. That’s an impressive figure, and one that means your home needs to make a strong virtual impression.”

Realty Times“California Law To Require Carbon Monoxide Detectors” (8-3-10)

“On May 7, 2010, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law Senate Bill 183 (Lowenthal), a bill that will require the placement of carbon monoxide detectors in all California dwelling units. The bill also requires that the presence or absence of these devices must be disclosed when residential real estate is transferred.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, construction spending increased by 0.3 percent within one month. The chief economist of the CAR predicted the housing market had not bottomed. Fannie Mae issuance of mortgage-backed securities jumped 44% in June 2009.

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 7/29/10

Thursday, July 29th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

RealtyTrac reports foreclosure filings increased in 75% of the nation’s metro areas during the first 2 quarters. Statistics from the Department of Labor show unemployment insurance claims fell by 11,000 last week. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage decreased to 4.54%. Fiserv predicts that single-family home prices will fall 4.9 percent during the next 12 months.

In The News:

NAHB - “Remodeling Dips but Shows Signs of Stabilization” (7-29-10)

“The remodeling market slid backward during the second quarter, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI). The RMI (combining current and future market indicators) sunk to 40.7 from 43.8 in the first quarter. Current market conditions slid back to 42.6 from 44.5 in the previous quarter. Future indicators of remodeling business declined to 38.9 from 43.1 in the last quarter.”

CNN - “Foreclosures climb in 75% of metro areas” (7-29-10)

“Foreclosure filings climbed in 75% of the nation’s metro areas during the first half of 2010, according to a report issued Thursday. RealtyTrac, an online marketer of foreclosed homes, said that California, Florida, Arizona and Nevada continue to lead the nation in the rate of foreclosures. Las Vegas was the worst-hit city.”

San Francisco Chronicle“Feds put up $1 billion more for mortgage relief” (7-29-10)

“Congress has just come up with an extra $1 billion to help people who can’t pay their mortgage because of unemployment or a medical problem. Under this new Emergency Mortgage Relief program, eligible homeowners who are at least three months delinquent can get up to $50,000 apiece in federal loans to pay their mortgages.”

Housing Wire“Weekly Jobless Claims Beat Consensus, Slip to 457,000″ (7-29-10)

“Initial unemployment insurance claims fell 11,000 in the week ending July 24, beating the market consensus of a 4,000-claim drop. Jobless claims slipped to a seasonally adjusted 457,000 from the previous week’s upwardly revised figure of 468,000, according to new data today from the US Department of Labor. The four-week moving average slipped 4,500 to 452,500 this week.”

Housing Wire“Weekly Mortgage Rates Hit New Lows” (7-29-10)

“The Freddie Mac survey put the average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) at 4.54% with an average 0.7 origination point for the week ending July 29, down from last week’s average of 4.56% and a year ago, when the average was 5.25%. It’s a new record low for the survey, which began in 1971.”

Housing Wire“Fiserv Sees More Pain Ahead in House Prices, Projects 4.9% Decline” (7-29-10)

“Fiserv (FISV: 49.22 +0.70%), financial services technology provider, found that national average house prices rose 2% in Q110 from a year before — the first yearly gain since 2006. Fiserv projects that single-family house prices are likely to fall another 4.9% over the next 12 months as tight economic circumstances continue. Continued high unemployment and a large number of distressed properties remaining in markets like Florida, Arizona and Nevada are weighing on the housing market.”

Housing Wire“SEC Charges Citigroup $75m for Misrepresentation of Subprime Assets” (7-29-10)

“The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) today charged Citigroup Inc. with misleading investors about the company’s exposure to subprime mortgage assets targeting two Citi executives for their roles in the incident that will cost the company $75m. Citigroup will not dispute the fine, the SEC said, and will pay the full amount.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the MBA reported that mortgage application volume decreased by 6.3 percent within a week. A bill was being supported by 276 members of the House, which would have audited central banks. About $2.2 trillion of U.S. commercial properties bought or refinanced since 2004 became less valuable than their original price, said Real Capital Analytics in 2009.

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.