February 25, 2011
- Appraisals Scuttling Home Sales
Some people interested in selling their home have had difficulty doing so, not because they haven't been able to find a buyer, but because the bank's appraiser says the home isn't worth what the home was selling for.
A number of recent reports have highlighted the difficulty many buyers and sellers are having with [...]
February 24, 2011
- How to Avoid Credit Repair Scams
Knowing how to avoid credit repair scams can save you a lot of time and money. There are some legitimate companies that can be helpful, such as credit counseling services, but if you end up with a fraudulent company, you’re bound to be out quite a lot of cash. In reality, [...]
February 23, 2011
- Military Mortgages Under Water – Foreclosed On While Serving
Should we be doing more to help our troops fighting for freedom? Sure seems illegal to have this occur for those serving. Some people take a "strategic default" while others lose their homes defending the rights of the "defaulters."…
Have questions or concerns about this growing problem of military mortgages underwater and being [...]
February 22, 2011
- Housing Affordability Best in Years
Economists at Moody's Analytics say homes in many parts of the country are at their most affordable levels since before the housing boom took off in 2003, the Wall Street Journal reports.
According to the Journal, housing affordability – comparing home prices to household incomes – has returned to its average levels from 1989 [...]
February 21, 2011
- Taxes 2011 – Refund Anticipation Loans
The IRS has made it harder to get a refund anticipation loan. Here's what you need to know…
Questions or comments about this video? Click the "comment" link below to contact us.
February 20, 2011
- Home Prices Ended 2010 Showing No Change
Two separate industry gauges released recently indicate that despite the ups and downs seen in monthly reports on home prices over the last year, residential property values ended 2010 relatively unchanged from 2009 levels.
Reports from both Integrated Asset Services (IAS) and CoreLogic point to level ground over the 12-month period, although consecutive month-to-month declines were [...]
February 19, 2011
- Are 30% Down Mortgages In Our Future?
The top mortgage lender in the country, Wells Fargo, has called for borrowers to come up with 30% down if they want to avoid higher mortgage rates and more restrictive lending tied to the “risk retention” requirements related to the Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.
Essentially, the government wants to ensure [...]
February 18, 2011
- Taxes 2011 – Some Changes You Should Know About
Changes in this year's tax laws might help you get more money back. Let's take a look at a few of those…
Of course, if you're not sure about the changes this year (for 2010), you might be dollars ahead to hire someone to do your taxes for you.
February 17, 2011
- Credit Cards Keeping You From Refinancing?
If you are thinking about refinancing your home, you may want to do it quickly. Mortgage refinancing rates have been on a rise since hitting a historically low 4.17% rate on 30-year fixed rate mortgages, and they are only expected to continue go up.
So, why have so few homeowners refinanced? The sad truth is [...]
February 16, 2011
- Tips to Improve Your Home Sale Chances
Selling your home this spring? Here are a few tips to improve your chances of a sale.
HomeGain.com recently surveyed nearly 1,000 real estate agents, asking them to identify the top 12 do-it-yourself home improvements that can help sell a home faster. Cleaning and de-cluttering ranked as highest return on investment, no doubt in part because [...]
February 15, 2011
- 3 Ways Lenders Spy on You
When you ask for a loan from the bank, they look at more than just your credit score.
Questions or comments about this video? We'd love to hear from you. Just use the "comment" link below to contact us.
February 14, 2011
- Have Interest Rates on Mortgages Hit Rock Bottom?
The interest rates on mortgage loans have been moving in a downward direction for the past few years. Recently, the rates even fell below the five percent mark, coming in at about 4.92 percent on average for a 30-year fixed rate loan. This leaves many financial experts and consumers alike wondering if the interest rates [...]
February 13, 2011
- Nearly 30% of Mortgages Are Underwater
Home prices dropped 2.6% nationwide during the last three months of 2010, pushing more borrowers underwater, according to a quarterly real estate market survey from Zillow.com.
Now 27% of homeowners with mortgages owe more than their homes are worth. That's up from 23.2% a quarter earlier.
That will surely lead to higher foreclosure rates soon. That's because [...]
February 12, 2011
- How to Get a Free FICO Credit Score
It normally costs money to see your credit score, but here's how you can get it for free.
Questions or comments? Use the comment link below to ask away!
February 11, 2011
- U.S. Home Prices Fall to Pre-Bubble Levels
The drop in home values caused by the mortgage crisis has resulted in at least one positive outcome: Prices have fallen so far and so fast that home affordability is back to pre-housing boom levels, according to a new report.
After reaching a peak in late 2005, the ratio of home prices to annual income fell [...]
February 10, 2011
- The 5 Golden Rules of Saving on Everything
Here are some easy ways you can save money on everything you buy.
Any other ideas on ways to save on things? We'd love to hear about them. Let us know by using the comment link below.
February 9, 2011
- Foreclosures Increase in Cities Nationwide in 2010
Driven by continued high levels of unemployment across many parts of the country, data from RealtyTrac shows foreclosure activity increased in many cities during last year, despite the fact that many lenders halted their foreclosure process for part of the year.
According to the report, foreclosures increased in 149 of the 206 largest cities in the [...]
February 8, 2011
- IRS To Delay Tax Refunds to Millions of Homeowners
IRS To Delay Tax Refunds to Millions of Homeowners
Own and home and pay interest on a mortgage? All taxpayers who want to deduct their mortgage-finance charges and related real estate costs must file a lengthy itemized return, rather than the simple 1040-EZ Form that can be completed by those who take the preset standard deduction. [...]
February 7, 2011
- 3 Investments to Avoid This Year
The three investments most likely to decline in value this year.
Questions or comments about investments for 2011? Use the comment link below to ask.
February 6, 2011
- Free Online Resource Aims to Help Americans Facing Foreclosure
Free online software for the creation of personalized mortgage modification applications under the federal Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) and other lender programs is now available from FreeMortgageFix.com. Borrowers can complete an application to modify existing home loans via the site’s user dashboard.
According to Jonathan Ende, CEO of FreeMortgageFix.com, "by using our free online program, [...]
