Posts Tagged ‘housing prices’

Housing double dip? The shadow knows

Posted on January 5th, 2010, by DHW

Although he stopped short of forecasting another dip in homes sales next spring, Robert Shiller (one-half of the super Swedish music group ‘Case-Shiller’) sounded some alarming notes. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Shiller expressed concern with the ’shadow inventory’ of foreclosed homes that are likely to pour into the market. Shiller also [...]

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Home prices rise for fourth consecutive month

Posted on November 24th, 2009, by DHW

Home price inched up in September, the fourth consecutive monthly increase. The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index of major cities, released on Tuesday, inched up 0.3 percent. The seasonally adjusted reading in September was 144.96. But the index looked weaker than in months past, with prices increasing month-over-month in only 11 metro areas (the [...]

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Cities leading the country in price reductions

Posted on November 16th, 2009, by DHW

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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Realtors forecast uptick in home prices 2010

Posted on November 14th, 2009, by DHW

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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Audit: FHA’s reserve funds way below what law requires

Posted on November 12th, 2009, by DHW

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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Foreclosures down but not out

Posted on November 12th, 2009, by DHW

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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Realogy CEO just doesn’t get it.

Posted on November 11th, 2009, by DHW

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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FHA loosens condo project guidelines

Posted on November 11th, 2009, by DHW

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 be damned. Home sales up, prices down

Posted on November 10th, 2009, by DHW

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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Citi and USA Today: 1 in 5 dressed like they want it

Posted on November 9th, 2009, by DHW

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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