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California Real Estate Headline Roundup

Posts Tagged ‘DQNews’

The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 2/28/11

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

MDA DataQuick reports 30.9% of all houses and condos sold in California during January were bought without a mortgage. The NAR claims pending home sales fell 2.8% in January. Approximately 25% of homeowners who sought assistance from Obama’s mortgage assistance program successfully had their payments reduced. A survey from Fannie Mae shows 19% of delinquent borrowers are considering a strategic default.

In The News:

MDA DataQuick - “Record Portion of California Homes Bought With Cash” (2-28-11)

“Last month 30.9 percent of all new and resale houses and condos sold statewide were bought without a mortgage – the highest level in at least 23 years, according to San Diego-based DataQuick Information Systems, whose statistics go back to 1988. Last month’s cash figure was up from 28.9 percent of sales in December and 28.5 percent a year earlier.”

NAR - “Pending Home Sales Decline in January” (2-28-11)

“The Pending Home Sales Index,* a forward-looking indicator, declined 2.8 percent to 88.9 based on contracts signed in January from a downwardly revised 91.5 in December. The index is 1.5 percent below the 90.3 level in January 2010 when a tax credit stimulus was in place.”

The Wall Street Journal – “Only 1 in 4 Got Mortgage Relief” (2-28-11)

“Just one in four of the 2.7 million homeowners who sought to participate in the Obama administration’s signature mortgage assistance program have succeeded in getting their monthly payments reduced.”

Housing Wire – “Fannie Mae’s mortgage portfolio, delinquency rate decline in January” (2-28-11)

“Fannie Mae’s gross mortgage portfolio dropped at a compound annualized rate of 16.4% in January, according to the latest monthly report from the government-sponsored enterprise.”

Housing Wire – “Fewer distressed borrowers consider defaulting on mortgage debt” (2-28-11)

“Only 19% of delinquent borrowers polled by Fannie in January said they are ‘seriously considering’ a strategic default. That compares to 25% in January of 2010.”

Housing Wire – “Fitch Ratings: Lack of new CMBS leads to limited master servicers” (2-28-11)

“The number of loans in commercial mortgage-backed securities handled by master servicers and rated by Fitch Ratings rose by 5.2% in 2010, although the total amount of the loans fell by 1.2% to $1.51 trillion.”

Housing Wire – “Warren Buffett sees housing recovery to start within a year” (2-28-11)

“Warren Buffett anticipates a recovery in the housing market to begin within one year and the investment guru said in his biennial letter to investors that mortgages written by his subsidiaries performed better than most of the competition through the financial crisis.”

Realty Times – “Closing Costs Explained” (2-28-11)

“Loan Origination and Points: You may have agreed to pay ‘points’ in order to get a lower interest rate. Think of this as pre-paid interest. For each point purchased, the loan rate is typically reduced by 1/8%. An origination fee is what you must pay the lender to write and process your loan. This can be up to several thousand dollars.”

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 12/17/10

Friday, December 17th, 2010

Resources:
California June Home Sales
Bay Area November Home Sales, Median Price Down from a Year Ago
CoreLogic HPI: Prices Decline for Third Straight Month
Housing Starts Rise 3.9 Percent in November
Lennar closes $300M distress fund
Geithner: National foreclosure moratorium would hurt house prices
STRATEGIC DEFAULT ON FIRST AND SECOND LIEN MORTGAGES DURING THE FINANCIAL CRISIS
Bill aims to end GSE affiliation with MERS
H.R.6460 — Transparency and Security in Mortgage Registration Act of 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

31,403 new and resale homes and condos were sold statewide in November, according to MDA DataQuick. LPS reports the delinquency rate for loans that are 30+ days past due is 9.02%. Ben Bernanke believes we still have 4 to 5 years until the unemployment rate reaches pre-recession levels.

In The News:

DQNews - “California November Home Sales” (12-16-10)

“An estimated 31,403 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That was down 3.9 percent from 32,669 in October, and down 12.4 percent from 35,860 for November 2009. California sales for the month of November have varied from a low of 25,578 in 2007 to a high of 60,326 in 2004, while the average is 39,987. MDA DataQuick’s statistics go back to 1988.”

CBIA - “California’s recovery might not mean a robust job market” (12-16-10)

“California added just 1,600 jobs in November, signaling that the economy could continue to recover without significant job growth. The unemployment rate remained steady at 12.4%, the Employment Development Department said Friday morning.”

Housing Wire – “Foreclosure inventories rise as delinquencies drop in November: LPS” (12-16-10)

“Lender Processing Services (LPS: 30.02 -0.03%) said the delinquency rate for loans that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure was 9.02% in November, down nearly 3% from October and down 15.6% from November 2009. Total U.S foreclosure pre-sale inventory rate was 4.08%, up 4.1% from the previous month and up 8% from the year-ago period.”

Housing Wire – “Mesirow Financial: Housing recovery to spur economic growth in 2011″ (12-16-10)

“Mesirow Financial analysts said housing has fallen so low that there’s only one way to go, but the expected level of activity in home sales and starts ‘is expected to remain closer to that associated with a recession than a recovery, well into 2012.’”

Housing Wire – “Higher loss severities on foreclosures will push servicers to short sales in 2011: Fitch” (12-16-10)

“Loss severities are expected to increase between 5% and 10% on residential mortgage-backed securities in 2011 as loss mitigation costs and foreclosure expenses go up, according to Fitch Ratings. This, analysts said, will push servicers to short sales.”

Inman - “Real estate deja vu in 2011″ (12-16-10)

“even though Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke estimates that we have four or five years until unemployment reaches pre-recession levels, that means that there will have to be some incline over the next few years. Even though this increase in employment levels may be small, it will still be a push in the positive direction.”

Looking Back:

Research from NAR shows that most small-scale, exterior home modificaitons, such as door replacements and wood deck additions, are the most profitable at resale. The Federal Reserve’s commercial/multifamily mortgage debt decreased by 0.8 percent from the second quarter 2009. Radar Logic estimates that housing will continue to have trouble in 2010, but does not believe that a second collapse will occur. According to ForeclosureRadar.com, foreclosure cancellations in California climbed 40% in November.

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 11/18/10

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

Delinquencies on residential properties dropped 9.13% in the third quarter, according to the MBA. MDA DataQuick’s monthly statistics releases shows that 6,122 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in the Bay Area. The CBIA reports California housing affordability increased 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jobless claims increased by 2,000, said the Labor Department.

In The News:

Mortgage Bankers Association – “Delinquencies and Loans in Foreclosure Decrease, but Foreclosure Starts Rise in Latest MBA National Delinquency Survey” (11-18-10)

“The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.13 percent of all loans outstanding as of the end of the third quarter of 2010, a decrease of 72 basis points from the second quarter of 2010, and a decrease of 51 basis points from one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) National Delinquency Survey. The non-seasonally adjusted delinquency rate decreased one basis point to 9.39 percent this quarter from 9.40 percent last quarter.”

DQNews - “Bay Area Home Sales Fall Sharply; Median Price Dips Below Last Year” (11-18-10)

“A total of 6,122 new and resale houses and condos closed escrow in the nine-county Bay Area last month, down 3.3 percent from 6,334 in September and down 22.8 percent from 7,933 in October 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.”

CBIA - “California Housing Affordability Increases Slightly in Third Quarter, CBIA Announces” (11-18-10)

“California housing affordability increased slightly in the third quarter of 2010 with all of the state’s 28 metropolitan areas included in the report showing increases in affordability, the California Building Industry Association said today. On a statewide basis, the HOI found that a family earning the median income could have afforded 61.1 percent of the new and existing homes that were sold during the third quarter, up from 58.4 percent in the second quarter.”

Housing Wire – “MERS to testify it forecloses only by mortgage servicer request” (11-17-10)

“In written testimony for the House Financial Services Committee, R.K. Arnold, CEO of MERS Corp, will state that the electronic mortgage registry system only begins a foreclosure when instructed by the mortgage servicer and receives no financial compensation when it does so.”

Housing Wire – “Weekly jobless claims up 2,000 to 439,000″ (11-18-10)

“The Labor Department said the seasonally adjusted figure of actual initial claims for the week ended Nov. 13 increased by 2,000 from the previous week’s figure of 437,000, which was revised upward a few thousand.”

Housing Wire – “Bank of America monthly modifications increase 51% in October” (11-18-10)

“Bank of America (BAC: 11.70 +0.69%) completed nearly 25,000 mortgage modifications in October, up 51% from the 16,500 done the month before.”

Housing Wire – “Freddie Mac survey shows mortgage rates at highest level since August” (11-18-10)

“Freddie Mac said its Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed the average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage rose to 4.39% this week from 4.17% a week earlier. The average rate for the conventional 30-year loan was 4.83% a year ago.”

Housing Wire – “FHA’s Stevens: Mortgage servicers are falling short of HUD expectations” (11-18-10)

“Federal Housing Administration Commissioner David Stevens said early indications of a review into mortgage servicer operations has shown they are not meeting the loss mitigation needs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the MBA’s weekly survey showed that mortgage application volume decreased 2.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis. According to the Commerce Department, housing starts fell 8.5 percent in the West. Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. and Grubb & Ellis Co. believed that U.S. office vacancies would reach 20 percent.

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 8/20/10

Sunday, August 22nd, 2010

Video Blog Sources:

Mortgage News Daily – “Mortgage Rates End Losing Streak After Reprices for Better” (8-19-10)

Wall Street Jounral –  “Redfin: Less Than Half of All Home-Sale Attempts Successful in ‘09” (8-16-10)

Housing Wire – “Bankrate: Loan Closing Costs Jump 36.6% Year-Over-Year” (8-17-10)

Housing Wire – “TransUnion: Housing Begins to Stabilize as Delinquent Loans Fall in Q210” (8-17-10)

DQ News – “Southern California Home Sales and Median Price Dip in July” (8-17-10)

Wall Street Journal – “Mortgage Delinquency Runs Slightly Higher in Dems’ Districts″ (8-19-10)

Today’s News Synopsis:

MDA Dataquick’s monthly study shows 6,773 new and resale homes closed escrows in Northern California last month. In the entire state, 35,202 new and resale houses and condos were sold. The California State Assembly approved SB 1178, which will extend anti-deficiency protection for consumers who have refinanced their original mortgage loans. The Census Bureau reports the number of people who own their homes free and clear has decreased, and the number of people in reverse mortgages increased 59 percent.

In The News:

Los Angeles Times – “Professional investors move into flipping foreclosed homes” (8-20-10)

“Hoping there are big profits to be made in the aftermath of California’s housing collapse, professional investors are flocking to the business of buying foreclosed homes at distressed prices. The investors, primarily private equity funds and groups of wealthy individuals, purchase the homes at public auctions, which are held daily on the steps of local courthouses. They refurbish the properties and try to sell them for quick profits.”

DQNews - “Bay Area July Home Sales Down Sharply; Median Price Slips From June” (8-19-10)

“Last month a total of 6,773 new and resale homes closed escrows in the nine-county Bay Area, down 19.1 percent from 8,373 in June and down 22.8 percent from 8,771 in July 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.”

DQNews - “California July Home Sales” (8-19-10)

“An estimated 35,202 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That was down 19.9 percent from 43,964 in June, and down 21.9 percent from 45,079 for July 2009. California sales for the month of July have varied from a low of 30,596 in 1995 to a peak of 71,186 in 2004, the average is 47,093. MDA DataQuick’s statistics go back to 1988.”

CBIA - “California Housing Affordability Declines in Second Quarter, CBIA Announces” (8-19-10)

“On a statewide basis, the HOI found that a family earning the median income could have afforded 58.4 percent of the new and existing homes that were sold during the second quarter, down from 60.8 percent in the first quarter.”

CAR - “California State Assembly passes SB 1178 protecting homeowners” (8-19-10)

“The California State Assembly today approved SB 1178 (D-Corbett) by a 49 to 14 vote, extending anti-deficiency protection for consumers who have refinanced their original mortgage loans and now are facing foreclosure. The CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.) is the sponsor of the consumer-protection legislation.”

Housing Wire - “Commercial Real Estate Hit with 41% Price Drop, Soaring Delinquencies” (8-20-10)

“National property prices on commercial real estate dropped 9.1% in June from last year, according to Moody’s commercial property price index. The rate declined 0.9% over the first half of 2010, and while prices remain 4.2% above the current recession low of October, they are down 41.4% from the peak in October 2007.”

Housing Wire – “Census Bureau Reports 59% Rise in Reverse Mortgages as Overall Ownership Falls” (8-20-10)

“The nation’s homeowners paid a median of $1,000 in monthly housing costs in 2009, while renters paid a median of $808 per month, according to the 2009 American Housing Survey released Thursday by the US Census Bureau and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Compared to 2007, the number of homeowners that owned their home free and clear decreased 1.3% to 24.2m in 2009 from 24.9m. The amount of regular and home-equity mortgages increased 1.4% to 50.3m from 48.7 in 2007. Reverse mortgages increased 59% to 252,000 from 159,000 while line of credit options decreased to 1.7m from 1.8m.”

Housing Wire – “REO Listing Agents – The Helping Hand That Isn’t Always There” (8-20-10)

“In some cases, interested buyers have been ignored (as documented in ‘secret shopper’ campaigns). This is not to suggest that all or even most of the REO listing agents are doing a poor job, it is to suggest that as volume levels to some agents has increased there may be a direct correlation to declining service levels that should be understood.”

Inman - “Don’t buy Fannie-Freddie ‘Big Lie’” (8-20-10)

“While the Fed and the Obama administration insist that recovery is moving forward, the pattern of inbound data produces the same, queasy sensation as their denial in the fall of 2007 and the summer of 2008. New unemployment insurance claims hit a one-year high, to 500,000 last week. There was no dramatic spike, just steady deterioration. The Philadelphia Fed index yesterday stunned the remaining optimists: Expected to rise from a weak 5.1 in June, it fell to negative 7.7, weakest in new-order and employment components.”

Inman - “Mortgage rates go lower” (8-20-10)

“Rates on fixed-rate mortgages tracked by Freddie Mac hit new lows this week, with 30-year fixed-rate loans averaging 4.42 percent with an average of 0.7 point. That’s down from 4.44 percent last week and 5.12 percent at the same time a year ago, and is a new low in records dating to 1971.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the delinquency rate for residential mortgages increased to 9.24%. A home buyer survey showed that 70% of women made up their mind to buy the day they first saw a home for sale, vs. 62% of men. 55% of women place more importance on living closer to extended family than to their job; only 37% of men felt the same way.

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 7/13/10

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

MDA DataQuick reports 23,871 homes were sold in Southern California last month. Statistics from CoreLogic show that prices in May grew 0.9% from the month before. According to Foreclosure Radar, lenders canceled nearly 22,000 California foreclosure sales in June. A comparative analysis from Credit Suisse shows that the cost of owning a home is cheaper than renting in multiple areas.

In The News:

DQNews - “Southland home sales edge up, prices level off” (7-13-10)

“A total of 23,871 new and resale homes were sold in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Ventura, San Bernardino and Orange counties last month. That was up 7.2 percent from 22,270 in May, and up 2.6 percent from 23,262 for June 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.”

Housing Wire – “Home Prices Increase for the Fourth Straight Month: CoreLogic” (7-13-10)

“Home prices on the CoreLogic home price index (HPI) have increased every month since the 0.3% yearly increase in February. The May increases come after a 2.6% yearly gain in April. Prices in May grew 0.9% from the month before, a smaller increase from the 1.3% gain from March to April. According to CoreLogic, sales in the bottom-tier of the market, those homes priced at 75% below the median, are driving the recent increases in overall prices.”

Sacramento Bee – “California tax assessments of homes to go down” (7-13-10)

“Sacramento County’s tax roll dropped nearly 2.2 percent to $128.8 billion. Yolo County’s is down about 1.9 percent. And El Dorado County and Placer County both saw the value of their taxable property drop more than 6 percent. The falling values represent good news for many homeowners, who will see lower property tax bills this October.”

Housing Wire – “HAFA Ushers Record Number of Foreclosure Sale Cancellations in California” (7-13-10)

“Lenders canceled nearly 22,000 California foreclosure sales in June, driven mostly by JPMorgan Chase (JPM: 40.48 +3.29%). It’s a 27% increase from May, a 153% growth from a year ago, and an all-time high, according to ForeclosureRadar, which tracks foreclosures in the state.”

Housing Wire – “Cost Spread Between Owning a Home and Renting is Narrowing: Credit Suisse” (7-13-10)

“With mortgage rates at record lows and housing markets stuffed to the gills with cheap distressed properties that’s led to declining home prices, the cost to own a home is sometimes cheaper than renting an apartment in many markets, according to analysts at Credit Suisse. While a segment of the renting population continues to rent, many are looking to dip their toes in the homeownership waters. Credit Suisse said the percentage of median household income needed to pay the mortgage on a median priced home is at a 30-year low, as seen in the below chart.”

Housing Wire – “Seriously Delinquent Prime RMBS Rise for 37th Straight Month: Fitch Ratings” (7-13-10)

“The 60-plus-day delinquency rate for US prime residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) rose in the 37th consecutive month in June, according to Fitch Ratings. The credit-rating agency noted the ‘seriously’ delinquent rate — of 60 days or more — within prime jumbo RMBS rose to 10.4% in June, up from 10.3% in May and 6.4% at the same time last year.”

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 6/18/10

Friday, June 18th, 2010

Sources:

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/house-republicans-want-penalties-for-strategic-defaulters-2010-06-17

http://www.housingwire.com/2010/06/09/congress-to-consider-fha-reform-mortgage-insurance-hike

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-5072

http://www.housingwire.com/2010/06/15/reid-urges-3-month-extension-of-homebuyer-tax-credit

http://www.housingwire.com/2010/06/16/mortgage-defaults-foreclosures-drop-across-california-foreclosureradar

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fhfa-orders-fannie-freddie-to-delist-stock-from-nyse-2010-06-16

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fbis-mortgage-fraud-crackdown-expected-to-yield-hundreds-of-arrests-2010-06-14

http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/financialfraud_061710.htm

http://www.dsnews.com/articles/fitch-projects-steep-re-default-rates-on-hamp-modifications-2010-06-16

Today’s News Synopsis:

Statistics from MDA DataQuick shows 40,965 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. The state Franchise Tax Board has received applications claiming about 80 percent of the funds allocated for the home buyer tax credit. Mortgage brokers and realtors are complaining that the HVCC has produced low-ball appraisals that have blown up deals, while appraisers argue the change has harmed appraisal quality. A survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate shows that 52 percent of single homeowners prefer buying in suburb areas.

In The News:

DQNews - “California May Home Sales” (6-18-10)

“An estimated 40,965 new and resale houses and condos were sold statewide last month. That was up 9.3 percent from 37,481 in April, and up 4.9 percent from 39,051 for May 2009. California sales for the month of May have varied from a low of 32,223 in 1995 to a peak of 67,958 in 2004, while the average is 47,024. MDA DataQuick’s statistics go back to 1988.”

San Francisco Chronicle – “First-time home-buyer credit may vanish soon” (6-18-10)

“The state Franchise Tax Board has received applications claiming about 80 percent of the funds allocated for the credit. Although it’s hard to predict, tax board spokeswoman Denise Azimi says the credit could be gone within a few weeks.”

Wall Street Journal – “Realtors, Brokers Target Home-Appraisal Rule” (6-18-10)

“The mortgage-broker and real-estate industries are pushing to have a measure that would kill new home-appraisal rules inserted into pending legislation to overhaul financial-sector regulation. The Home Valuation Code of Conduct, adopted in May 2009 to ensure appraiser independence, bars mortgage brokers and bank loan officers from selecting appraisers. Mortgage brokers and realtors complain that the rules have produced low-ball appraisals that have blown up deals, while appraisers argue the change has harmed appraisal quality.”

Inman - “Singles flock to suburbs” (6-18-10)

“While young Millennials seem to have a preference for suburbs, they’re not the only ones. Singles of all ages are more likely to buy a home in the burbs, according to the results of a survey by national brokerage company Coldwell Banker Real Estate. The company conducted a national online survey of 1,050 single homeowners in April. It found that 52 percent of singles chose to buy in suburbia rather than getting ‘bachelor or bachelorette pads’ in urban or rural areas.”

Housing Wire – “GSEs Plan Chinese Drywall Mortgage Forbearances” (6-18-10)

“Under the authority of its ‘Unusual Hardships’ policy, Fannie is directing its mortgage servicers to provide borrowers impacted by Chinese drywall up to six months of forbearance on their monthly mortgage payment and to minimize the derogatory credit impact for borrowers who are current on their loans and complying with the terms of the forbearance.”

Housing Wire – “FinCEN Says Foreclosure Scam Reports Rose Dramatically in 2009″ (6-18-10)

“The number of suspicious activity reports (SARs) from financial institutions related to foreclosure scams dramatically increased last year, according to a new report from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The report also noted that the type of foreclosure scams also evolved during the reporting period, which covered Jan. 1, 2004, through Dec. 31, 2009. FinCEN said foreclosure rescue scams increased substantially in the last eight months of 2009.”

Orange County Register – “Pimco: No quick recovery for big properties” (6-18-10)

“Distressed properties may be hard to sell, making a quick recovery unlikley. Commercial real estate prices will remain 30% to 40% below 2007 peaks for three to five years and may not return to 2007 peaks until end of the decade.”

Realty Times – “Developing The Skill Of Qualifying Buyers” (6-18-10)

“The longer the time the buyer has been looking, the lower the motivation. We have to wonder why a buyer has not been able to find a home in six months. Are they looking for something that doesn’t exist? Are their expectations too high for the marketplace? Do they just enjoy the process of kicking foundations? When someone said to me that they had been looking for more than 90 days, I wanted to know what they were looking for and the reasons why they hadn’t found it yet.”

Realty Times – “Little Change Seen in Mortgage Rates This Week” (6-18-10)

“Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.75 percent with an average 0.7 point for the week ending June 17, 2010, up from last week when it averaged 4.72 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 5.38 percent.”

Realty Times – “How To Make Buyers Want Your Home” (6-18-10)

“Countertops are fixtures in homes. So making sure that you select the best material to endure the daily wear and tear is important. If we’re talking about the kitchen, for instance, there are many options: granite, tile, recycled glass (for a green option), solid steel, composite stone, butcher block, laminate, and even concrete. Yes, that last one sounds surprising but concrete is being used for countertops and laminate isn’t necessarily trying to mimic other materials anymore. Instead, homeowners are embracing laminate’s own unique high-tech look.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the median price paid for a home in the nine-county Bay Area region rose to $341,500. The Federal Reserve’s total amount of commercial/residential mortgage debt decreased by $33 million from 2008 to 2009. Economists from Chapman University claimed that an economic recovery would begin during the second half of 2009. The average 30-year FRM rate dropped to 5.38 percent.

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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