DesperateHouseWise.com

As any good Realtor will tell you, price moves a home. But sometimes Realtors (as well as sellers) are afraid to take their own advice. As housing evaluations have dropped around the country, listing prices have been slow to follow. To get the job done, and your home sold, a price reduction might be in [...]

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Zero percent kitchen: n. a kitchen remodeled at the height of the real estate and credit bubble, between 2001 and 2006, featuring high-end details such as granite or Corian countertops; designer cabinets; stainless steel appliances and upgraded flooring (e.g. hardwood or travertine tile). Improvements were paid for with zero percent financing programs originated at home improvement [...]

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The Capital published an intriguing article addressing the potential side-effects of expanding the housing tax credits beyond first time homebuyers. The article raises some fair questions with regard to existing homes needing to be liquidated so that current homeowners can take advantage of the housing tax credits now afforded to them. The Capital article focuses on [...]

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Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, predicted on Friday that home prices will rise in 2010. If his prediction holds true, home prices will see their first increase in four years.
Yun pointed to the current price-income ratio of 2.4 as evidence of pent-up demand in the market. The price-income ratio accelerated [...]

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From The Washington Post : ‘FHA’s cash reserves have dropped well below amount required by law, audit shows’
DHW asks: Do you think the FHA’s reserves will hit zero?
FHA loan limits in your area
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U.S. foreclosures sank for a third consecutive month in October, down 3% from the previous month. However, many feel this trend will not continue. Foreclosure notices were curtailed in many states due to temporary, legislative intervention. CNBC reported Nevada foreclosures “dropped 26 percent from the previous month because of new legislation requiring mediation before initiating [...]

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In a CNBC interview this morning, Realogy CEO, Richard Smith, called on FHA to increase its minimum required down payment of 3.5%. Mr Smith suggested the ‘risk profile’ will have to change to stave off foreclosures. This argument only perpetuates the myth that those who put less money down are somehow less attached to their [...]

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The Miami Herald reported the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is temporarily relaxing underwriting guidelines for some condominium communities. The changes are intended to increase condo sales and put occupants in otherwise vacant units. 
DHW asks: Do you agree with the FHA’s decision to relax condo underwriting guidelines?
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Critics of the Housing Tax Credit were quieted, if only briefly, when the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released data for third quarter home sales. According to the trade group, home sales increased by nearly 6% over this same time last year. Despite the spike in sales, prices have fallen more than 11% during the [...]

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Last week, CitiMortgage suggested in a USA Today article that 1 in 5 homeowners currently in default of their mortgage are doing so strategically or voluntarily. They cite Sharon Sakson as one of these ’strategic defaults.’ Ms Sakson was laid off as a television writer and producer. After losing her job, she ‘burned through her savings to [...]

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