A study from Trulia shows it is cheaper to buy than rent in 78% of the largest cities in the U.S. The NAR said pending home sales rose 5.1% in March. The Commerce Department reports housing growth fell 4.1% during the 1st quarter. A California bill drafted to end the practice of filing a foreclosure ahead of modification efforts failed this Wednesday.
CoreLogic said home prices fell 6.7% in February, and Clear Capital claims home prices in the West declined 4.3% in the previous quarter. According to Freddie Mac, mortgage rates increased to 4.87% last week. Analysts are concerned that a Federal shutdown would have dramatic effects on the California economy and the FHA.
Mortgage applications dropped 2% from last week, according to the MBA. CoreLogic has developed a tool to determine whether borrowers are overstating their income. A small business tax rule has been reversed by Congress. Borrowers will no longer be excluded from 3 of the 4 Keep Your Home California programs just because they took out a home equity line of credit or did a cash-out refinance.
The NAR said vacation home sales accounted for 10% of all transactions in 2010. A new proposal may force lenders to allow short sales for delinquent homeowners. The House voted 252 to 170 end funding for HAMP. CoreLogic estimates there are 1.8 million homes in the shadow inventory.
The Associated General Contractors of America reports California ranked 18th in year over year economic improvement. According to LPS, Option ARM foreclosures currently represent 18.8% of foreclosure inventory. The Congressional Oversight Panel estimates HAMP will avert only 800,000 foreclosures. Statistics from S&P shows home prices decreased 3.1% year over year.
RadarLogic claims national home prices declined 3.8% in December. California added 100,000 jobs in February. Freddie Mac completed 23,017 loan modifications in January and February. Jerry Brown’s bid to dissolve around 400 redevelopment agencies may make a come back in a compromise on tax increases.
RealtyTrac reports foreclosure notices decreased 14% in January. The House of Representatives voted to end FHA’s Short Refi program. According to a Zillow survey, 51% of Americans said the housing crisis has not affected their overall willingness to buy a home. The U.S. government posted the largest monthly deficit ever last month.
Freddie Mac reports mortgage rates have dropped again, and are now at 4.87%. Jobless claims decreased 5% last week, according to the Labor Department. California lawmakers are supporting a bill that would prevent servicers from foreclosing on borrowers in the process of applying for a loan modification. The House Financial Services Committee may end FHA’s short refi program.
The MBA reports $110 billion in commercial and multifamily mortgages were originated in 2010. 36,500 mortgages were modified through government and proprietary programs in December, according to Fitch Ratings. Altos Research announced plans to release a new, forward valuation model for real estate. S&P claims 80% of the loan modifications that took place over the last 3 years defaulted again within 2 years.
Mortgage application volume increased 11.3% from last week, according to the MBA. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are raising risk fees they charge lenders on loans they buy for resale to investors. HOPE NOW reports 1.76 million homeowners received a mortgage modification in 2010. Statistics from DBRS show 50 percent of loan modifications result in re-default.