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California Real Estate Headline Roundup

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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 8/25/11

Thursday, August 25th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

Mortgage rates went up a little today to 4.22% after being at their lowest in 50 years.  Government Sponsored Enterprises, specifically Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are expected to receive less money from the government, almost $35 billion less according to DS News.  The market is not looking good for both commercial real estate and homebuilders as both the sale of new homes are expected to be at their lowest since the 60′s and commercial real estate is being effected by a weak economy.

In The News:

Bloomberg - “Mortgage Rates for 30-Year U.S. Loans Rise From Half-Century Low to 4.22%” (8-25-11)

“Mortgage rates in the U.S. rose for the first time in four weeks, pushing borrowing costs up from the lowest in more than half a century as a faltering economy holds back home purchases.“

Housing Wire - “Freddie delinquencies tick up for first time in 10 months” (8-25-11)

“The Freddie Mac delinquency rate increased 1 basis point in July to 3.51%, the first increase since November.”

DS News - “Government to Spend Significantly Less on GSEs This Year” (8-25-11)

“In its August 2011 Budget and Economic Outlook update, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) predicts the government will spend $35 billion less on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2011 than in 2010.”

Rismedia - “Mortgage Applications Decrease; Purchase Index Lowest in 15 Years” (8-25-11)

“Mortgage applications decreased 2.4 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 19, 2011.”

O.C. Register - “Analyst: Homebuilders face growing challenges” (8-25-11)

“Recent statistics point to weakening marketing conditions for the homebuilding industry.  This week’s new home sales report by the US Census Bureau showed that new home sales ran at a seasonally adjusted rate of 298,000 in July — down 0.7% from June yet up 6.8% from a year ago. Still, the industry is on pace for slowest annual sales since 1963.”

Inman - “REO, preforclosure properties selling at a larger discount” (8-25-11)

“The share of bank-owned homes and homes in some stage  of foreclosure dropped 5 percent from the first quarter to the second  quarter, falling from 36 percent to 31 percent, but was up from 24 percent in second-quarter 2010, according to a report released today by foreclosure data  provider RealtyTrac.”

Housing Wire – “Wells Fargo tops MBA’s commercial/multifamily servicer list” (8-25-11)

“Wells Fargo (WFC: 24.76 +1.35%) ranks first among master and primary servicers for its handling of $442.9 billion in commercial/multifamily loans tied to commercial mortgage-backed securities, collateralized debt obligations and other
asset-backed securities, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Thursday.”

Los Angeles Times - “Gov. Jerry Brown proposes job creation plan for California” (8-25-11)

“Gov. Jerry Brown wants to expand a hiring tax credit and provide tax relief to businesses that buy manufacturing equipment, while getting rid of a loophole that voters supported in elections in 2010.”

Realtor Magazine - “Foreclosures Sell for Up to 40% Less” (8-25-11)

“Foreclosures made up about one-third of all home sales during the spring quarter (April to June), and sales were about six times the percentage of foreclosures in a healthy housing market, RealtyTrac Inc. reports.”

Housing Wire – “Commercial real estate outlook turns grim” (8-25-11)

“Just as the commercial real estate sector showed signs of recovery, analysts now forecast a renewed struggle as the economy slumps.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the MBA’s weekly survey showed that mortgage loan application volume increased by 4.9%. The Commerce Department reported new homes sales decreased 12.4% in July 2010. According to Zillow, most Western states experienced a decrease in 20-year mortgage rates the prior week. California’s 30-year rate decreased to 4.30%.

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 10/8/10

Friday, October 8th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

ZipRealty reports 24.2% of homes in the nation’s 26 major markets experienced experienced a price cut in September. Bank of America is postponing foreclosure sales in all 50 states. Wells Fargo has decided to continue with its foreclosures, unlike BofA, JPMorgan and Ally Financial. Credit Suisse predicts record low interest rates will boost demand for mortgage-backed securities.

In The News:

Inman - “Home-sale discounts jump 24%” (10-8-10)

“The number of homes that experienced price cuts jumped 24.2 percent in September compared to the same month last year, according to a monthly review of multiple listing service listings in 26 major markets conducted by national online brokerage ZipRealty.”

Yahoo - “How Your FICO Score is Calculated” (10-8-10)

“Payment history – How you pay your bills makes up 35% of your FICO score. It goes without saying that paying your bills on time will have a positive impact on your credit score, while paying your bills late or not at all will have a dramatically negative impact. Even paying one bill late will cause your FICO score to take a hit, so make sure you’re paying your bills on time. If you’ve made mistakes in the past and haven’t always paid your bills on time, don’t fret. If you change your ways and pay on time, your FICO score will eventually reflect that. Late payments have less of an impact on your credit score once time has passed.”

Los Angeles Times – “Bank of America widens foreclosure freeze to all 50 states” (10-8-10)

“Bank of America is halting foreclosure sales in all 50 states as the nation’s largest bank said Friday it was widening its investigation into how it handled home repossessions.”

Housing Wire – “California AG files suit in audit loan modification scam” (10-8-10)

“California Attorney General Jerry Brown has filed a $60 million lawsuit against a pair of Sacramento companies that he says used questionable computer-generated ‘forensic loan audits’ to defraud homeowners seeking to modify their mortgages.”

Housing Wire – “US lost 95,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in September” (10-8-10)

“The Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reported federal employment cut another 159,000 jobs last month, including 77,000 temporary Census workers and 76,000 local government positons. The private sector added 64,000 jobs in September, according to the Labor Department. Economists polled by MarketWatch were forecasting about 85,000 new private-sector jobs were created last month.”

Housing Wire – “Financial radio talk-show host charged with real estate fraud” (10-8-10)

“Barbra Alexander, a local California radio show host, was charged along with two business executives for misappropriating investor funds to finance her radio talk-show, ‘MoneyDots,’ and for personal use. Alexander allegedly used her status as a radio show host on ‘MoneyDots,’ a talk-show for entrepreneurs, to lure investors into giving funds for short-term loans secured by real estate. The money went to APS Funding, a lending firm of which Alexander is also president.”

Housing Wire – “Credit Suisse analysts see record-low mortgage rates boosting MBS demand” (10-8-10)

“The record low interest rates should boost demand for mortgage-backed securities, as originators sell newly locked-in loans, according to Credit Suisse analysts.”

Housing Wire – “Wells Fargo will not join BofA in foreclosure suspension” (10-8-10)

“Wells Fargo (WFC: 25.95 -0.19%) will not suspend foreclosures and stands by the accuracy of its affidavits, Jason Menke, a spokesman for the San Francisco-based bank, told HousingWire.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, a government report showed that the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury spent $1.2 trillion dollars on the U.S. mortgage market in fiscal 2009. The Department of Labor announced that the weekly unemployment claims had decreased by 33,000.  Statistics from Freddie Mac showed that mortgage rates for 30-year fixed U.S. home loans fell to 4.87 percent from 4.94 percent in the previous week. Trulia reported that U.S. home sellers had reduced their price by a total of $28.4 billion.

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 10/1/10

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

9 of the nation’s top 20 most stressed housing markets are in California. The Commerce Department reports construction spending increased 0.4 percent in August. Multiple housing analysts predict evictions to decrease dramatically. President Obama signed the bill to extend higher-loan limits for GSEs.

In The News:

Inman - “Bill targets private transfer fees” (10-1-10)

“Private transfer fee covenants typically allow a third party, such as a developer, to collect a fee equal to 1 percent of a property’s sale price every time its sold. The covenants are often in place for as long as 99 years.”

Wall Street Journal “Which Cities Face Biggest Housing Risks?” (10-1-10)

“Within more than 500 metro areas, the top 20 most stressed include nine in California and six in Florida, where the housing bust has been particularly acute. Among the most populous cities, Miami tops the list, followed by California’s Inland Empire, Los Angeles and San Diego.”

Sacramento Bee – “August construction spending up 0.4 percent” (10-1-10)

“Construction spending edged up 0.4 percent in August following a 1.4 percent drop in July, the Commerce Department reported Friday. While spending on government projects rose 2.5 percent, spending on private construction projects dropped to the lowest level in 12 years.”

New York Times – “Foreclosures seen slowing as document flaws emerge” (10-1-10)

“Evictions are expected to slow sharply, housing analysts said, as state and national law enforcement officials shine a light on questionable foreclosure methods revealed by two of the country’s biggest home lenders in the last two weeks.”

Housing Wire – “Obama signs bill to extend higher-loan limits for GSEs” (10-1-10)

“President Obama signed a bill into law Thursday that extends higher-loan limits for the government sponsored enterprises, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for one year. The provisions under H.R. 3081 also allocate $20 billion to the Federal Housing Administration General and Special Risk Insurance Funds to continue making loans through the end of 2010.”

Housing Wire – “Foreclosure robo-signers put homebuyers’ tax credit at risk” (10-1-10)

“Homebuyers who were set to close on the purchase of a foreclosed home may not qualify now for the homebuyer tax credit after lenders suspended those sales in 23 states, real estate agents tell HousingWire.”

Housing Wire – “California AG demands JPMorgan Chase halt foreclosures” (10-1-10)

“California Attorney General Jerry Brown is the latest to call for JPMorgan Chase (JPM: 38.81 +1.97%) to halt foreclosures in the state. California is not one of the 23 states Ally Financial, formerly GMAC, and JPMorgan Chase suspended foreclosure sales in. Brown already ordered Ally to suspend foreclosures in his state.”

Housing Wire – “Fannie, Freddie instruct servicers to review foreclosures” (10-1-10)

“Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will provide instructions to servicers Friday to review foreclosure processes, ensuring each is in compliance with state law. Major lenders and servicers are reviewing foreclosure processes following announcements from Ally Financial, formerly GMAC Mortgage, and JPMorgan Chase suspended foreclosure sales and cases in 23 states when faulty documentation was detected. Employees at those two companies were signing affidavits without knowledge of the documentation or a notary present.”

Housing Wire – “Amherst: Principal reductions could ‘re-equify’ 11m in imminent default” (10-1-10)

“The housing market is quite fragile and if government policy doesn’t change 20% of American homeowners — roughly 11 million — are in danger of losing their home, according to Amherst Mortgage Insight.”

Bloomberg - “FDIC Plans to Sell $1.12 Billion in Property Loans Seized in Bank Failures” (10-1-10)

“The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. plans to seek bids for about $1.12 billion of commercial and residential real estate loans as part of the agency’s sale of assets seized from failed banks.”

Looking Back:

One year ago, the NAR’s Pending Home Sales Index showed that sales increased by 6.4 percent in August. Research from Deutsche Bank Securities showed that 26 percent of borrowers owed more than their home was worth.  A survey displayed that realtors were in favor of expanding the $8,000 dollar tax credit. Regulation Z changes came into effect.  Realtors were interested in expanding first-time tax credit to repeat buyers.

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 7/15/10

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Today’s News Synopsis:

According to MDA DataQuick, 8,373 homes closed escrows in the Bay Area last month. Freddie Mac announced the average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.57 percent. The Federal Open Market Committee expects economic expansion to increase considerably slower over the next couple years than it previously expected. California is currently the second most popular place for foreign home buying.

In The News:

Business Journal – “Brown sues housing agency over halt to PACE programs” (7-14-10)

“California Attorney General Jerry Brown on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against The Federal Housing Finance Agency and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the wake of the federal agency’s negative assessment of the Property Assessed Clean Energy Program. Brown, California’s Democratic candidate for governor, asks the court to require Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to recognize PACE assessments.”

DQNews - “Bay Area June Home Sales Send Mixed Signals” (7-15-10)

“Last month a total of 8,373 homes closed escrows in the nine-county Bay Area, up 1.3 percent from 8,264 in May but down 3.1 percent from 8,644 in June 2009, according to MDA DataQuick of San Diego.”

Los Angeles Times – “U.S. home foreclosures reach record high in second quarter” (7-15-10)

“U.S. bank repossessions increased 38% in the second quarter from the same period a year earlier for a record total of 269,952, according to Irvine research firm RealtyTrac. That was also a jump of 5% from the previous quarter. If that pace continues through the year, the number of homes taken by banks is likely to top 1 million by the end of 2010, said Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac senior vice president.”

San Francisco Chronicle – “Mortgage rates remain at lowest level in decades” (7-15-10)

“Government-sponsored mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate for 30-year fixed loans this week was 4.57 percent. That’s the same as a week earlier and the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971.”

Housing Wire – “Value of JPMorgan Government-Backed REO Triples Since 2009″ (7-15-10)

“REO insured by the US government totaled $1.4bn in Q210 compared to $508m in Q209. The latest results are nearly double the total from Q110, $707m. In addition, JPMorgan said nonaccruing mortgages insured by US government agencies were up 140% from Q209, at $10.1bn in Q210 compared to $4.2bn one year ago. Nonaccruing mortgages are those that are late and no longer acrruing interest. That volume is down, however, from $10.5bn in Q110, JPMorgan said.”

Housing Wire – “Feds: No Need to Change Rates Despite Slowdown in Housing” (7-15-10)

“The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in its June 22-23 meeting decided to maintain its target zero to 0.25% federal funds rate despite signs of slowdown in economic and housing growth, according to meeting minutes released this week. Data on production and spending since the Feds’ last meeting remained aligned with expectations, but the pace of economic expansion over the next year and a half looks to be somewhat slower than previously predicted.”

Inman - “6 strategies for a realistic asking price” (7-15-10)

“Absorption rates are generally one of the most powerful ways to persuade sellers to be realistic. The calculation is relatively simple. In most areas, your local multiple listing service publishes how many months of inventory are currently on the market. Next, divide ’1′ by the number of months of inventory. This gives you the percentage of listings that are selling each month. It also tells you the seller’s odds of selling in a given month. For example, if there are 12 months of inventory on the market, that means that the seller’s odds or probability of selling in any month is 8.3 percent (1/12). The probability the seller won’t sell in a given month is 91.7 percent (11/12).”

Orange County Register – “18% more hotels in financial distress” (7-15-10)

“Atlas Hospitality Group reports 73 more California hotels were in high financial distress — in default on their mortgage or foreclosed upon — in the second quarter vs. a year ago. This 478 second-quarter total is an 18% increase from the first quarter 2010 and up 132% vs. a year ago”

Orange County Register – “Calif. No. 2 spot for foreign homebuyers” (7-15-10)

“Florida was the top target for foreign buyers with (22%) of transactions in past year. California was second at 12%; then came Arizona (11%) and Texas (8%.) California was tops as recently as two years earlier.”

Orange County Register – “Is your ZIP a loan-fraud ‘hot spot?’” (7-15-10)

-Contains a list of cities in Orange County and their fraud 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 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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