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The Norris Group Real Estate News Roundup 1/26/12

Thursday, January 26th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

New U.S. home sales declined 2.2% in December according to Bloomberg.  In other news, 30-year mortgage rates increased for the first time from their lowest recorded level, having come about after the Federal Reserve promised to keep interest rates near 0.  In a recent vote in the Senate, Obama was allowed to raise the debt ceiling to $16.4 trillion.

In The News:

Bloomberg – “Foreclosure Properties Fall to 20% of Home Buys” (1-25-12)

“Foreclosure and distressed sales fell to 20 percent of U.S. home purchases in the third quarter of last year as legal scrutiny of property seizures reduced the number of deals, according to RealtyTrac Inc.”

DS News - “Illinois AG Sues S&P” (1-26-12)

“Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan filed a lawsuit against Standard & Poor’s (S&P) this week alleging the ratings agency inflated ratings of mortgage-backed securities investments, an act Madigan believes stemmed the financial crisis.”

Bloomberg - “Sales of U.S. New Homes Unexpectedly Decline in December” (1-26-12)

“Sales of new U.S. homes unexpectedly declined in December for the first time in four months, capping the slowest year on record for builders.”

NAHB - “Remodeling Market Index Rises to Five-Year High” (1-26-12)

“Remodeling sentiment rose to the highest level in five years, according to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the fourth quarter of 2011. Released today, the RMI increased to 46.6 in the fourth quarter from 41.7 in the third quarter.”

Bloomberg – “30-Yr Mortgage Rates Rise From Record Low” (1-26-12)

“Rates for U.S. 30-year mortgages climbed from the lowest level on record after Federal Reserve officials pledged to keep their benchmark interest rate near zero through at least late 2014 to help bolster the economy.”

Housing Wire - “Unemployed homebuilders migrate to multifamily jobs” (1-26-12)

“Single-family housing starts plummeted in 2011, but construction workers are finding jobs anyway by migrating to multifamily projects.”

Los Angeles Times - “Recovery roadblock?  Mortgage burdens keep job seekers from moving” (1-26-12)

“In what could end up becoming a vicious cycle of economic hurt, struggling homeowners who aren’t relocating for new jobs may stymie employers’ long-range growth.  So says a report from outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., which finds that about 7.5% of job hunters who found new positions ended up moving to a new home for work in the latter half of 2011.”

CNN Money - “First-time unemployment claims climb” (1-26-12)

“After plunging the week before, first-time claims for unemployment benefits ticked up last week.  The Labor Department reported Thursday that 377,000 people filed for initial unemployment benefits in the week ended Jan. 21, up 21,000 from a revised reading of 356,000 claims the week before.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Economy gains as businesses spend more, fire less” (1-26-12)

“Businesses are growing more confident in the economy, investing in more equipment and laying off fewer workers.  Government figures on manufacturing and unemployment claims released Thursday raised hopes on the eve of a report on how much the economy grew in the October-December quarter.”

Bloomberg - “Commercial Property Sales Rose to More Than $220 Billion in U.S. Last Year” (1-26-12)

“Commercial property sales rose 57 percent to more than $220 billion U.S. last year, led by retail properties and garden apartments, Real Capital Analytics Inc. said in a report today.”

Housing Wire – “Senate clears $1.2 trillion debt ceiling raise” (1-26-12)

“The Senate voted 44-52 Thursday clearing President Obama to raise the debt ceiling by $1.2 trillion.  The ceiling will go to $16.4 trillion and, according to some estimates, may be breached again around the time of the November elections.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Hesperia, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $40,000 on a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom home appraised for $67,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

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

The Norris Group posted a new event.  Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be at the 2012 Kick Off Brunch on February 18, 2012.

Looking Back:

The MBA reported mortgage application volume fell 12.9% the week of January 21, 2011. According to the Commerce Department, new home sales dropped 7.6% year over year. $1.5 trillion in commercial debt was set to mature by 2014. A total of 58,020 loan modifications were canceled, said the Treasury Department.

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 1/18/12

Wednesday, January 18th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

According to the most recent Mortgage Bankers Association Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, mortgage applications increased 23.1% from last week.  NAHB reported builder confidence increased this month for the fourth month in a row, having increased 4 points to 25.  The FHFA is expected to be subpoenad regarding how principle reductions would effect Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In The News:

Housing Wire – “Democrats push to subpoena FHFA over principal reductions” (1-18-12)

“Democrats on the House oversight committee are pushing to subpoena the Federal Housing Finance Agency to obtain an analysis looking at what effects principal reductions would have on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”

NAHB - “Builder Confidence Rises Fourth Consecutive Time in January” (1-18-12)

“Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes continued to climb for a fourth consecutive month in January, rising four points to 25 on the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. This is the highest level the index has attained since June of 2007.”

Bloomberg - “Fannie Fees Fail to Offset Record Low Lending Rates: Mortgage” (1-18-12)

“Ben S. Bernanke’s success in pushing mortgage rates to record lows is enabling Congress to fund last month’s payroll tax cut extension by siphoning money from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (FMCC), while homebuyers still benefit from the cheapest borrowing costs in history.”

Housing Wire - “Longer Forbearance Option Helps Temporarily Struggling Homeowners” (1-18-12)

“The BuildFax residential remodeling index in November rose for the 25th straight month from a year earlier, exceeding levels reached during the home-equity withdrawal boom of 2004 to 2006, analysts said.”

FINS - “Goldman Cut 2,400 Jobs, Plans More” (1-18-12)

“Even the most sought-after and prestigious investment bank in the business sometimes has to retool its strategy to stay profitable.  Goldman Sachs, which had originally planned to eliminate 1,000 positions in 2011, ended up shedding 2,400, according to its fourth quarter earnings statement.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (1-18-12)

“Mortgage applications increased 23.1 percent from one week earlier (last week’s results included an adjustment for New Years Day), according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 13, 2012.”

Housing Wire – “Home prices dip again in FNC index” (1-18-12)

“U.S. home prices fell 0.4% in November from October, the fourth-straight monthly decline according to FNC’s residential price index.”

DS News - “Clayton Holdins Closes Green River Capital Acquisition” (1-18-12)

“Clayton Holdings LLC announced Wednesday it has completed its acquisition of Green River Capital. No financial details were disclosed.”

Housing Wire - “Economic standstill stalls housing recovery: IHS report” (1-18-12)

“Wage stagnation and weak consumer confidence among young adults are two factors delaying a housing recovery, according to a new report from IHS Global Insight.”

CNN Money - “Foreclosure nightmares: 3 families fight for their homes” (1-18-12)

“With more than 200,000 households receiving foreclosure notices each month, there are bound to be a few mistakes. But for some unlucky homeowners, these blunders carry some serious consequences.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Burbank, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $375,000 on a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $617,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

Bruce Norris of The Norris Group will be speaking at the Women’s Council of Realtors today.

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

Looking Back:

19,528 new and resale houses and condos sold in Southern California the previous month, according to MDA DataQuick. LPS reported the average foreclosure in California and Nevada had been delinquent 461 days. December’s default rates for first and second mortgages were 2.93% and 1.74%.

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 1/11/12

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

In an updated news story, Michael J. Willimas, the Chief Executive for Fannie Mae, resigned yesterday and will step down as soon as a sucessor is found.  The latest report from the Lender Processing Services showed a decrease in home values of only 8%, and an overall slowdown in decreasing values.  The latest survey from the Mortgage Bankers Association showed an increase in mortgage applications.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “LPS index shows home value declines slowing down” (1-11-12)

“The latest home price index from Lender Processing Services (LPS: 15.3001 -0.52%) shows a slight 0.8% decline in home prices in October. Early data also suggest home price declines stabilized even more in November with a slight dip of 0.5% nationally.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (1-11-12)

“Mortgage applications increased 4.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 6, 2012.  The results include an adjustment to account for the New Year’s Day holiday.”

Housing Wire – “The fight over Bernanke REO rental plan shows political divide” (1-11-12)

“Chairman Ben Bernanke’s plan to fix housing is feeding an ongoing national debate about the appropriate role of the Federal Reserve in America’s housing recovery.”

Realty Times - “Mortgage Rates Remaining Low While European Troubles Persist” (1-11-12)

“It may be a New Year, but European troubles continue to persist which is helping mortgage rates to remain low. Markets remain quiet as investors await fourth quarter earnings which will begin to be released..”

Bloomberg - “Lennar Rises After Reportign New-Home Orders Climbed 20% from Year Earlier” (1-11-12)

“Lennar Corp. (LEN), the third-largest U.S. homebuilder by revenue, rose in New York trading after reporting a 20 percent jump in new orders for the fourth quarter from a year earlier.”

Housing Wire - “FHFA disputes claims of inadequate FHLB oversight” (1-11-12)

“The Office of the Inspector General released a report Wednesday contending Federal Housing Finance Agency supervision of troubled Federal Home Loan Banks is unclear and inconsistent.”

San Francisco Chronicle – “Fed Says U.S. Economic Growth Improves While Hiring Limited” (1-11-12)

“The U.S. economic expansion improved last month across most of the country while  hiring was limited and housing remained stagnant, the central bank said.”

Bloomberg - “U.S. Property Deals May Climb to $300 Billion This Year, Real Capital Says” (1-11-12)

“U.S. commercial property deals are likely to climb 50 percent to $300 billion this year as loan maturities force asset sales and the economy grows, Real Capital Analytics Inc. said in its annual list of market predictions.”

NAHB – “Voters Place High Value on Homeownership, Oppose Policies That Make It More Difficult to Own a Home” (1-11-12)

“By an overwhelming margin, American voters strongly value homeownership and would oppose efforts to weaken or eliminate the mortgage interest deduction or diminish a federal role to help qualified home buyers obtain affordable 30-year mortgages, according to a new nationwide survey gauging likely voters’ attitudes towards homeownership and housing policy issues.”

Housing Wire – “FHFA considers paycut for new Fannie, Freddie CEOs” (1-11-12)

“The Federal Housing Finance Agency is taking into consideration what government employees are paid when determining the future compensation for the CEOs at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Bernanke Doubles Down on Fed Bet Defied by Recession: Mortgages” (1-11-12)

“Ben S. Bernanke is signaling his willingness to double down on a three-year bet  that’s failed to revive housing, showing the extent of the Federal Reserve  chairman’s effort to wrest a recovery from the deepest recession.”

FINS - “Fannie Mae CEO Michael Williams Out” (1-11-12)

“Fannie Mae Chief Executive Michael J. Williams resigned Tuesday, saying he will depart as soon as the mortgage-finance giant’s board names a successor.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

Hesperia, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $48,000 on a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $80,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

The Norris Group posted a new event.  Bruce Norris will be speaking at the Apartment Owners Association-Discover Wealth Strategies for 2012 Los Angeles on January 12, 2012.

The Norris Group will be at the Women’s Council of Realtors on January 18, 2012.

Looking Back:

The Charles Schwab Corp. was required to pay $119 million dollars to settle claims that they were deceptive in their YieldPlus fund.  Following the release of their earnings for 2010, Goldman Sachs made several changes to the divisions in their business, according to Housing Wire.  DSNews reported that four major banks had been asked by New York City Comptroller John C. Liu to evaluate their recent mortgage and foreclosure processes following the then recent robo-signing scandal.

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 1/5/12

Thursday, January 5th, 2012

Today’s News Synopsis:

In some good news for jobs, the number of unemployment claims decreased last week, while at the same time 325,000 new jobs were added in December for the private sector.  Mortgage rates start the year off at the lowest on record according to Bloomberg.  Vacancy rates for apartments are also at their lowest levels since 2001.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “Private sector adds 325,000 jobs in December” (1-5-12)

“Private sector employment grew by 325,000 jobs in December when compared to the previous month, according to the latest ADP National Employment report.”

CNN Money - “Consumer bureau: Now, it can do something” (1-5-12)

“With President Obama’s recess appointment of a new chief to run the consumer bureau, the agency can flex new powers regulating financial products from non-banks — including student loan providers, debt collectors, payday lenders, and mortgage originators and servicers.”

Wall Street Journal - “Apartment-Vacancy Rate Tumbles to 2001 Level” (1-5-12)

“The nation’s apartment-vacancy rate in the fourth quarter fell to its lowest level since late 2001 as Americans continued to favor renting homes instead of buying them.”

Housing Wire - “Jobless claims drop to 372,000 last week” (1-5-12)

“The number of Americans filing initial jobless claims declined last week, coming in lower than analysts’ estimates.  The Labor Department said the seasonally adjusted figure of actual initial claims for the week ended Dec. 31 decreased to 372,000 from 387,000 the previous week, which was revised upward 6,000.”

DS News - “Mortgage Modifications Scams Make Top Ten Scam List for 2011″ (1-5-12)

“Mortgage modification scams made the list of “Top Ten Scams of 2011,” assembled by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wednesday.”

Inman - “Top 10 US places with a net influx of movers” (1-5-12)

“Only Washington, D.C., and nine states — primarily in the Southwest and Mid-Atlantic regions — were labeled “inbound” by receiving a net influx (over 55 percent) of Atlas moves in 2011, according to Atlas Van Lines’ 2011 annual migration patterns report, released this month. Atlas has tracked annual Atlas shipment patterns for Canada and the U.S., by state, since 1993.”

Bloomberg - “Mortgage Rates for 30-Year Fixed U.S. Loans Match the Record Low of 3.91%” (1-5-12)

“Mortgage rates (NMCMFUS) for 30-year U.S. loans declined, matching the lowest level on record amid signs that demand for housing may be recovering.”

Bloomberg - “Wells Fargo Faces Scrutiny by Investors on Mortgage Bonds” (1-5-12)

“A bondholder group that won an $8.5 billion settlement (BAC) from Bank of America Corp. (BAC) on securities backed by soured home loans may also seek payments from Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC), the nation’s biggest mortgage lenderion.”

Housing Wire – “Fannie Mae to provide loan-level data on single-family MBS” (1-5-12)

“In a push for increased transparency, Fannie Mae plans to provide loan-level data on single-family mortgage-backed securities to help investors.”

Hard Money Loan Closed

San Bernardino, California hard money loan closed by The Norris Group private lending. Real estate investor received loan for $80,000 on a 5 bedroom, 2 bathroom home appraised for $147,000.

California Real Estate Investor Events:

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

Bruce Norris will be speaking at the Apartment Owners Association-Discover Wealth Strategies for 2012 Los Angeles on January 12, 2012.

Looking Back:

Altera Real Estate forecasted an increase in interest rates for 2011. Hope Now reported mortgage lenders completed nearly 1.65 million permanent loan modifications in November 2010. President Obama signed the National Credit Union Stabilization Act.

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 12/02/11

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

Sources:

Young workers getting hired again
Jobless claims edge up to 402,000
Case-Shiller Puts Home Prices 3.9% Below Last Year
Pending Sales of Existing U.S. Hoems Exceed Forecasts With 10.4% Increase
NAR expects some commercial real estate growth next year
Construction Spending in U.S. Rose for Third Consecutive Month in October
30-Year Mortgage Rates Increase to 4%
Average time to foreclose sets new record of 631 days
Citigroup’s $285 million SEC settlement rejected
Central banks join forces to ease debt crisis
PMI Insurance

Today’s News Synopsis:

In this week’s video, Aaron Norris gives the news of the week in the world of real estate and other big events.  In a big news story, unemployment decreased to 8.6%, the lowest it has been since March 2009.  The number of homes in foreclosure also set a record at over 2 million.  In Massachusetts, Ally Financial has stopped buying home loans after the biggest mortgage lenders in the state were accused of conducting illegal foreclosure practices.

In The News:

Housing Wire – “REO investors squeezing out owner-occupants” (12-02-11)

“Owner-occupancy rates of real estate owned sales are plummeting as investors who recognize their economic value are taking advantage of bulk transactions, a trend that nonprofits and trade groups are closely monitoring.“

Bloomberg - “Ally Financial Halts Mortgage Purchases in Massachusetts After State Sues” (12-02-11)

“Ally Financial Inc.’s GMAC Mortgage unit stopped buying home loans in Massachusetts after the state accused the five biggest mortgage lenders of conducting illegal foreclosures.”

Inman - “Record number of homes in foreclosure” (12-02-11)

“The foreclosure pipeline has never been more crammed, with lenders attempting to push 2.2 million homes through the process as of the end of October, according to a monthly report issued today by Lender Processing Services Inc.”

DS News – “OCC Investigates Foreclosures of 5,000 Military Members” (12-02-11)

“The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) launched an investigation into the possible wrongful foreclosures of about 5,000 military members by 10 of the nation’s largest banks.”

Los Angeles Times - “Jobless rate falls to 8.6%, sending mixed message on economy” (12-02-11)

“The U.S. jobless rate fell sharply last month to its lowest level since March 2009 as employers stepped up their hiring in the latest sign of a steadily improving economy.”

Housing Wire – “California real estate execs arrested in alleged foreclosure scam” (12-02-11)

“Authorities arrested three top officers at Stockton, Calif., real estate company who allegedly took in steep fees without performing loan modifications.”

San Francisco Chronicle - “Property managers busy as rental market surges” (12-02-11)

“Just as the U.S. housing boom gave birth to such home buyer websites as Zillow and Redfin, services for rental properties are thriving following a surge in  foreclosures and stiffening of mortgage standards. Membership in the National  Association of Residential Property Managers has almost doubled in five years to  a record 3,400 members, according to the trade group.”

Realtor Magazine - “Mortgage Rates Continue to Hover at Record Lows” (12-02-11)

“Averages on fixed-mortgage rates continued to hover near historic lows for the week, while adjustable-rate mortgages inched down slightly to reach new record lows, Freddie Mac reports in its weekly mortgage market survey.”

Looking Back:

The NAR reported pending home sales increased 10.4% in October 2010. According to RealtyTrac, foreclosure sales decreased 25% in the 3rd quarter of 2010. Statistics from the Labor Department showed jobless claims rose 6.3% the previous week. Greg Lippmann of LibreMax Capital predicted national home prices would drop another 10%.

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 12/01/11

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

In a big news story, Freddie Mac reported 30-year mortgage rates are still at a low 4%, even after five weeks.  Housing wire reported the number of people claiming unemployment has risen to 402,000.  Despite this, CNN Money reported more young people are being hired.  According to Bloomberg, spending on housing construction increased in October for the third month straight.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “Average time to foreclose sets new record of 631 days” (12-1-11)

“Mortgage delinquencies continued their decline in October and are nearly 30% off their January 2010 peak, but foreclosure inventories and the foreclosure process reached all-time highs during the month, according to Lender Processing
Services (LPS: 18.93 -0.16%).”

Los Angeles Times - “Freddie Mac: Mortgage rates stuck in low at 4%” (12-1-11)

“The mortgage engine seems stuck in low.  For five straight weeks, Freddie Mac’s survey of the rates offered by home lenders has averaged at or below 4% for 30-year loans.”

CNN Money - “Young workers getting hired again” (12-1-11)

“Young workers are landing jobs again.  Some 650,000 workers aged 16 to 24 found employment in the past three months, the biggest spike for that age group since the recession began, according to Labor Department statistics.”

Housing Wire - “Jobless claims edge up to 402,000″ (12-1-11)

“Jobless claims for the week ending Nov. 26 edged up as 402,000 new unemployment filings came in, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week.”

Bloomberg - “Construction Spending in U.S. Rose for Third Consecutive Month in October” (12-1-11)

“Construction spending in the U.S. rose in October for a third consecutive month on gains in housing and commercial projects like office buildings and power plants.”

Housing Wire – “FHFA begins development of new REO pilot programs” (12-1-11)

“The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it has begun to develop new pilot programs to more efficiently unload foreclosed homes held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”

Bloomberg - “BofA Joins Foreign Investors Fueling Record Ginnie-Fannie Gap in Bonds” (12-1-11)

“Home-loan securities guaranteed by Ginnie Mae are trading at about record premiums over Fannie Mae (FNMA) bonds as foreign investors target debt with the strongest backing from the U.S. and lenders including Bank of America Corp. seek notes considered the least risky by regulators.”

Bloomberg - “JPMorgan, BofA Sued By Mass. Over Foreclosures” (12-1-11)

“JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM), Bank of America Corp. (BAC) and Citigroup Inc. (C) were among five banks sued by Massachusetts for “unlawful and deceptive conduct” in foreclosures, according to the state’s attorney general.”

Inman - “Two MLSs hit with civil suits after FTC actions” (12-1-11)

“Two multiple listing services in Michigan and Pennsylvania that  federal regulators had accused of  anti-competitive practices have also  become entangled in civil lawsuits seeking  millions of dollars in  damages on behalf of consumers.”

Looking Back:

Freddie Mac announced it would suspend foreclosure evictions from Dec. 20 to Jan. 3, 2011. Automatic Data Processing reported the U.S. economy added 93,000 private-sector jobs during November 2010. The Federal Reserve shared information about more than 21,000 individual transactions which provided $3 trillion in liquidity for market stabilization. According to the MBA, mortgage applications decreased 16.5% the previous week.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor 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 11/17/11

Thursday, November 17th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

The National Association of Home Builders announced record highs for housing affordability with the stabilizing markets.  Foreclosures have risen for the first time since last year, according to Bloomberg News.  DS News reported delinqunecies in the U.S. decreased to a level not seen in three years, displaying signs of improvement for people behind on mortgage payments.

In The News:

NAHB - “As More Markets Stabilize, Housing Affordability Nears Record Levels for 10th Consecutive Quarter” (11-17-11)

“Buoyed by stabilizing home prices and sustained low interest rates, nationwide housing affordability during the third quarter of 2011 hovered near its highest level in the more than 20 years it has been measured, according to National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) data released today.”

Bloomberg - “Foreclosures in U.S. Rise for First Time in a Year as Lender Backlogs Ease” (11-17-11)

“U.S. lenders started foreclosures on more properties in the third quarter, the first increase in a year, as a backlog stemming from claims of faulty home seizures began to ease.”

Housing Wire - “House rejects bill allowing modified mortgages to count as performing” (11-17-11)

“A House subcommittee rejected a bill Thursday morning that would have allowed banks to count a recently modified mortgage as an accrual or repaid.  The Common Sense Economic Recovery Act of 2011, or H.R. 1723, was sponsored by several House Republicans.”

Realty Times - “Remodeling Activity Reaches Record High” (11-17-11)

“Many of today’s homeowners find themselves unable or unwilling to enter the housing market. Some may have unsteady jobs or are upside down in their home loans.”

Wall Street Journal- “Refinancing Guidelines Reassure Investors” (11-17-11)

“Mortgage-backed securities issued by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac jumped Wednesday, as investors grew more confident that new incentives to boost refinancing for borrowers stuck with high-interest-rate loans would have a limited impact.”

O.C. Register - “Mortgage rates still near record lows” (11-17-11)

“From Freddie Mac’s weekly survey the average 30-year fixed rate remained virtually unchanged, moving up a single hundreth of a percentage point (or, a basis point) — to 4 percent and .7 point.”

DS News - “National Delinquency Rate Falls to Lowest Level in Three Years: MBA” (11-17-11)

“Industry data released Thursday indicates the number of borrowers in the United States behind on their mortgage payments is showing signs of improving.”

Bloomberg - “Housing Starts in U.S. Declined 0.3% in October” (11-17-11)

“Builders broke ground on more homes than forecast in October and construction permits climbed to the highest level since March 2010, signs that housing may become less of a laggard in the third year of the U.S. recovery.”

Inman - “Coldwell Banker rolls out agent learning portal” (11-17-11)

“Global franchise company Coldwell Banker Real Estate has launched an online learning portal for its approximately 87,000 agents, the company announced today.”

Looking Back:

The MBA reported mortgage application volume decreased 14.4% the week of August 17, 2010. According to CoreLogic, home prices fell 2.8% from September 2009. Mortgage fraud increased 20% from early 2009. Mortgage lenders were raising their minimum credit score requirements on FHA-insured loans.

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 11/3/11

Thursday, November 3rd, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

Mortgage rates continue to stay at low levels with 30-year fixed rate mortgages at only 4%.  Freddie Mac is asking for $6 billion from the Treasury Department’s Treasury cash lifeline after reporting a loss of $4.4 billion in the third quarter.  Unemployment claims fell below 400,000 last week, showing slight improvement in the market.

In The News:

Housing Wire - “Fannie says consumer spending rise not enough to spur home sales” (11-3-11)

“Consumer spending picked up in the third quarter, but housing and other big-ticket items failed to recapture American dollars during the three months ended Sept. 30, Fannie Mae said Thursday.”

Inman - “Mortgage rates stay in the basement” (11-3-11)

“Mortgage rates sagged this week as ongoing concerns about the European debt crisis had investors fleeing to the relative safety of mortgage-backed securities that fund most U.S. home loans.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Third Quarter Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Originations Up 98 Percent from Last Year, 10 Percent from Last Quarter” (11-3-11)

“Third quarter 2011 commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations were 98 percent higher than during the same period last year and 10 percent higher than the second quarter of 2011, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s
(MBA) Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations.”

Bloomberg - “Freddie Mac Seeks $6 Billion From U.S. Treasury as Quarterly Loss Widens” (11-3-11)

“Freddie Mac, one of two mortgage-finance companies under U.S. conservatorship, reported a $4.4 billion loss for the third quarter and said it will seek $6 billion from the U.S. Treasury Department.”

DS News - “Senators Wish to Make HARP Available to High-Equity Borrowers” (11-3-11)

“While the newly revised Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) includes several provisions aimed at widening the program’s reach, Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-California) and Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia) are asking the Obama administration to broaden the program even more – allowing it to reach homeowners with higher equity in their homes.”

Los Angeles Times - “Weekly jobless claims drop below 400,000″ (11-3-11)

“The number of people filing new claims for unemployment benefits dipped below 400,000 last week, a key move that indicates the job market is improving.  The 397,000 initial claims were down 9,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department said Thursday. The figure has hovered near 400,000 for several weeks. The average over the last month has been 404,500.”

Housing Wire – “Obama housing scorecard provides mixed picture of recovery” (11-3-11)

“New housing data from the Obama administration underscores the housing market’s fragility.  The Obama administration’s October Housing Scorecard Report reveals September new home sales rose to 26,100, down from 26,300 the same month a year earlier, but up from August’s total of 24,700.”

Reuters - “Housing could be key to stronger U.S. rebound” (11-3-11)

“For the U.S. economy, it all comes back to the housing market.  A fresh emphasis on healing the housing sector by officials at the Federal Reserve, in the Obama administration and in state capitals reflects the view that a healthier real estate market would go a long way in strengthening the economy.”

Inman – “Home prices poised to end the year in the red” (11-3-11)

“Despite a seasonal bump, home prices are poised to end the year in  the red, according to a report from data and valuation firm Clear Capital,  released Thursday.”

Looking Back:

Freddie Mac reported a smaller loss for the months of July to September 2010 while also asking for more federal aid of about $100 million.  42% of Freddie Mac’s 16,000 loan modifications had gone back into default.  The LPS report for data collected in September 2010 showed that the amount of time homes remaining in foreclosure was increasing.  The Mortgage Bankers Association released their latest survey showing an increase in mortgage applications and a decrease in refinance applications.  Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve planned to purchase by the end of the second quarter of 2010 $16 billion worth of Treasury securities.  In the House of Financial Services Committee, 13 of the 42 democrats retires or were not re-elected, while the recent election also showed there could be a new attorney general in 17 states by 2011.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor 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 11/2/11

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

Homeownership rates were at  a 13 year low last week according to Bloomberg.  In the latest Mortgage Bankers Association survey, mortgage applications are up 0.2% from the previous week.  The latest Federal Reserve forecast did not look good as they predicted higher unemployment and less growth.

In The News:

Inman – “ZipRealty close to breaking even after downsizing” (11-2-11)

“Technology-based brokerage ZipRealty Inc. says it’s closer to its goal of achieving positive cash flow, trimming third-quarter losses to under $1 million even as revenue fell 18 percent from a year ago.”

Housing Wire - “Senators press for wider HARP 2.0″ (11-2-11)

“A group of 10 Senators sent a letter to President Obama Wednesday asking him to extend relief under the Home Affordable Refinance Program to borrowers with more equity in their home, not just those who owe more than their home is worth. ”

Bloomberg - “U.S. Homeownership Rate Rises Close to 13-Year Low as Mortgage Rules Crimp Sales” (11-2-11)

“The U.S. homeownership rate in the third quarter was at the second-lowest level in 13 years as borrowers were evicted after foreclosures and the tightest mortgage standards in more than a decade thwarted new buyers.”

Realty Times - “Overseas Financial Troubles Keeping Low Mortgage Rates Steady” (11-2-11)

“While economic data being reported here in the U.S. has been mixed with some positive numbers, overseas financial troubles continue to influence our markets on a daily basis.”

DS News - “Congress Calls for Transparency in Foreclosure Reviews” (11-2-11)

“As several large servicers begin the lengthy process of an independent foreclosure review, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-California) is repeating her request that the process be made public.”

Los Angeles Times - “Fed cuts growth forecast, boosts jobless rate estimates” (11-2-11)

“A new forecast from the Federal Reserve paints a gloomier outlook for the economy in 2012 and 2013.  The Fed on Wednesday cut its forecasts for economic growth and boosted its estimates of unemployment.”

Inman - “Foreclosure inventories growing in states that allow judicial foreclosures” (11-2-11)

“The percentage of homes in the foreclosure process continued to climb  in September, even as delinquencies and foreclosure starts declined,  according to the latest report from data aggregator Lender  Processing Services Inc.”

DS News - “Housing Woes Lead Fed to Cut Growth Forecast” (11-2-11)

“In the last of three monetary policy press conferences scheduled this year, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday that “ongoing drags from troubled housing conditions and still tight credit” have led Fed officials to downgrade their forecasts for short-term economic growth to ‘only moderate’.”

Mortgage Bankers Association - “Mortgage Applications Increase in Latest MBA Weekly Survey” (11-2-11)

“Mortgage applications increased 0.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 28, 2011.”

Looking Back:

Homeownership rates remained unchanged at 66.9% in the 3rd quarter of 2010, according to the Census Bureau. The 30 day delinquency rate on Fannie Mae mortgages fell to 4.7% in August 2010. Zillow claimed the 30-year mortgage rate remained at 4.14% the prior week.

For more information about The Norris Group’s California hard money loans or our California Trust Deed investments, visit the website or call our office at 951-780-5856 for more information. For upcoming California real estate investor training and events, visit The Norris Group website and our California investor 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 10/27/11

Thursday, October 27th, 2011

Today’s News Synopsis:

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

In The News:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Looking Back:

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

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

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