California Senator Roy Ashburn has proposed new legislation to extend the home buying tax credit. According to CAR, 64 percent of households can afford to buy an entry-level home in California. The Federal Reserve reports that the total U.S. equity increased by nearly $1 trillion from the recession’s nadir in the first quarter of 2009. Statistics from NAR show that existing home sales increased by 13.9% in Q4 of 2009.

In The News:

Recordnet.com – “More tax credits may be on the horizon” (2-12-10)

“A second round of tax credits may become available to 20,000 California home buyers before summer arrives. State Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield, has introduced legislation that would provide $200 million worth of $10,000 tax credits to buyers of both new and resale homes.”

CAR - “Fourth quarter housing affordability” (2-12-10)

“The percentage of households that could afford to buy an entry-level home in California remained at 64 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, compared with 61 percent (revised) for the same period a year ago, according to a report released today by the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (C.A.R.).”

Los Angeles Times – “30-year fixed mortgages dip below 5% again” (2-12-10)

“Average interest rates for traditional 30-year fixed mortgages have fallen below 5% again, Freddie Mac said Thursday. The giant mortgage buyer’s weekly survey, conducted Monday through Wednesday, pegs the average rate nationally at 4.97%, with 0.7% of the loan balance on average paid in upfront charges, or points.”

Washington Post – “Good real estate news: Home equity is rising again” (2-12-10)

“According to the Fed’s most recent “flow of funds” survey, homeowners’ net equity grew by nearly $1 trillion from the recession’s nadir in the first quarter of 2009 through the third quarter. From June 30 to Sept. 30, net equity rose by $418 billion.”

Housing Wire – “Existing Sales Volume Narrows Home Price Declines” (2-12-10)

“Existing-home sales, including single-family and condo, jumped 13.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 6.03m in the Q409 from 5.29m in the Q309, and are 27.2% above the 4.74m-unit level in the Q408, NAR reported, adding distressed properties accounted for 32% of Q409 transactions, down from 37% a year ago. The improvement comes after sales plummeted in December to close out the year.”

Housing Wire – “Citi Pilots New Foreclosure Alternative Across 6 States” (2-12-10)

“CitiMortgage, the servicing arm of Citigroup (C: 3.18 -0.93%), will pilot a new Foreclosure Alternatives Program that allows distressed borrowers to stay in their homes an additional six months in exchange for the deed.”

Housing Wire – “Commercial Real Estate Woes Will Cost Banks $300bn: COP” (2-12-10)

“Financial institutions could face $300bn in losses related to commercial real estate in 2011 and beyond, putting smaller banks at the most risk, according to a report from the Congressional Oversight Panel (COP). Congress established COP in October 2008 to oversee the spending of the $700bn from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). Between 2010 and 2014, the Panel found that $1.4trn in commercial real estate will mature, and almost half are currently underwater.”

Bloomberg - “AIG Decides to Keep Unprofitable Mortgage Insurer” (2-12-10)

“American International Group Inc., the insurer divesting assets to repay a government bailout, opted to keep its money-losing U.S. mortgage guarantor after selling Canadian and Israeli subsidiaries of the unit.”

Bloomberg - “Fannie, Freddie Spreads Narrowest in 17 Years: Credit Markets” (2-12-10)

“Traders are driving relative yields on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage bonds that most influence the interest rates consumers pay to the lowest in 17 years, speculating cash the companies use to buy delinquent loans will be recycled back into the securities. The difference between yields on Fannie Mae’s current- coupon 30-year securities, which trade closest to face value, and 10-year Treasuries narrowed 0.01 percentage point today to 0.66 percentage point as of 11:10 a.m. in New York, matching the lowest since 1992, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.”