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The Curious Case of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 23 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The latest report shows that Fannie and Freddie owned 30.5 million mortgages at the end of September. Of those loans, 25.4 million were prime mortgages while 5.1 million were subprime financing.
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How Loan Workouts Hide Foreclosure Damage
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 16 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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No longer do we have people facing foreclosure just once, instead we have large numbers of borrowers entering foreclosure multiple times on the same loan.
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New Ultimatum Hits Lenders: Buy Loans or Foreclose
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 09 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It was in early October when Bank of America said it would modify 400,000 mortgages originated during past few years by its newly acquired Countrywide subsidiary.
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A Tale Of Two Banks
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It's about 22 miles between midtown Manhattan and Paramus, N.J. But what has happened in the past few days between the two cities explains much about how the mortgage meltdown came into being.
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The FDIC's 7 Percent Foreclosure Solution
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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For the past several months a major experiment has been underway, one which may well suggest how to substantially reduce foreclosure totals.
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Can the Right Foreclosure Prevention Plan Change the Marketplace?
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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For those with an interest in buying foreclosures, new lender policies could make such purchases significantly more attractive.
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Bank-Owned Auctions: Practical Bidding Strategies
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By Octavio Nuiry | Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Auctions firms are busier than ever. As lenders and homebuilders repossess more foreclosures, they hire more auction companies to find buyers.
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Don’t Dump Investors
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It's in our national interest to protect investors — unless, of course, they're folks who merely bought a house or two.
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Did Foreclosures Change The Presidential Election?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If you want to know how the 2008 presidential election was won you need to look no further than the nation's biggest foreclosure centers.
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Need A Mortgage? Forget Banks
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By Peter Miller | Wed, 05 Nov 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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You might think that after the government gave the nation's nine largest banks $250 billion that new mortgages would be as common as tree pollen.
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Surviving and Selling in a Slow Market
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By Daren Blomquist | Thu, 16 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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In a country crowded with timid real estate investors chased into the dark by finger-wagging politicians and doomsday predictions from perpetual renters, Kirk Leipzig is swimming against the flow.
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Is Now The Time To Buy Foreclosures?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 15 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It's often said that some of the most successful investments have been made by going against the grain, by selling when most are buying and vice versa. Is there any sense to such a strategy?
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Surviving and Selling in a Slow Market
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By Daren Blomquist | Tue, 14 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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In a country crowded with timid real estate investors chased into the dark by finger-wagging politicians and doomsday predictions from perpetual renters, Kirk Leipzig is swimming against the flow.
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Making a Move in Motown: Member Success Story
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By Octavio Nuiry | Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Before Anthony Bean joined RealtyTrac, he was considering investing in real estate, but was scared to make a move. Now he has three foreclosure purchases under his belt and plans to invest fulltime.
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The Government Goes After Loan Officers
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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One of the most galling aspects of the mortgage meltdown is the sense that folks who made bad loans also made big profits, while everyday wage earners and investors are punished.
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How Much for Those Lender Assets in the Window?
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The question is central to the recent legislation that authorizes the Treasury Department to pay out $700 billion in taxpayer money for financial paper of questionable value.
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Can We Save $700 Billion Fixing The Mortgage Mess?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Do we really need to spend $700 billion to bail out Wall Street?
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No Mortgage Meltdown For These Banks
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The news from Wall Street in recent weeks has not been good, especially in the world of mortgages.
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Long-Term Solution for Fannie and Freddie Dilemma
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The time has come for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to end their quasi-government status and join the rest of the risk-taking and tax-paying mortgage buyers who populate the private sector.
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Option ARM Borrowers Running Out Of Time
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By Peter G. Miller | Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Of all the mortgage ideas developed during the past few years, none tops the option ARM for sheer awfulness. And now the mortgage mess is about to get far worse as millions of option ARMs begin to recast.
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Secrets of Pre-Foreclosure Investing
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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One pre-foreclosure expert says a new federal law will change everything, and short sales and short payoff sales will become the new trend in the marketplace.
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New York Versus Freddie Mac: Round One
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It’s fight time in New York. On one side is newly-passed state legislation which sets tough standards for subprime and “high cost” loans and on the other is Freddie Mac.
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National Registration For Loan Officers Becomes Reality
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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What do you know about your loan officer?
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Can “Appreciation Sharing” Solve The Mortgage Mess?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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We’re about to see something new in the mortgage marketplace: The government is going to insure huge numbers of shared-appreciation mortgages, a type of home financing rarely seen in the U.S.
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Are Fixed-Rate Loans About To Vanish?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 06 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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For decades the surest and safest mortgage has been the quiet and dull fixed-rate loan. With fixed-rate loans, the monthly payment never changes and the loan balance declines every month.
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Capitalizing on a Cooling Market
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By Daren Blomquist, Managing Editor | Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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When the South Florida housing market entered into a nosedive last year, Harry Andrade saw an opportunity.
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FHA Gives Up Billions To U.S. Treasury
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Can you name a federal agency that has banked more than $13.5 billion in mortgage insurance profits during the past few years?
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Do New Mortgage Rules Make Borrowers Safer?
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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You could hardly miss the headlines this week: More than 1,000 news outlets covered new rules from the Federal Reserve designed to “protect” America’s mortgage borrowers.
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Tech-Savvy Foreclosures Seekers Flock to the Internet
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Two female foreclosure investors on opposite sides of the nation recently discovered a new and refreshing way to purchase foreclosure properties — online.
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High-End Foreclosures Rising Among Top Tier Homes
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Seven-figure foreclosures — once a rarity in 2007 — are starting to pop up with more frequency in some of the wealthiest communities nationwide.
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Wachovia Changes The Lending Game
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With assets of more than $800 billion, Wachovia is the nation’s fourth-largest banking institution.
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TCS Foreclosures – Approved training provider for RealtyTrac® customers.
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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RealtyTrac® is proud to introduce our new foreclosure training partner, TCS Foreclosures. Our relationship with TCS Foreclosures kicked off in Q1 2008.
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New States Rules Begin To Impact Foreclosure Numbers
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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In April, according to RealtyTrac.com, Maryland ranked sixth in foreclosures among all the states but just 30 days later it fell to 22nd for the month of May.
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How to Sell Your House Quickly When Facing Foreclosure
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By LaTonya S. Johnson | Tue, 24 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If you are currently in foreclosure, strongly consider selling your property as a backup plan.
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Top 7 Foreclosure Stories of Past Year
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By Joel Cone, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The euphoria that surrounded six years of escalating home prices, record levels of home sales and rock-bottom interest rates crashed and burned in 2007.
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Beyond the Foreclosure Blame Game
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By Daren Blomquist, Managing Editor | Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Real estate investors are becoming a convenient scapegoat for many looking to assign blame for the recent surge in foreclosures and faltering real estate market.
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How to Sell a Property via Online Auction
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By Bid4Homes.com | Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The Internet allows potential buyers to search for properties all over the world, view photographs and due diligence materials online, and participate in auctions all across the country.
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Online Real Estate Auctions: 12 Tips for First-Time Bidders
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Online auctions offer both novice and experienced real estate buyers a way to obtain under-valued properties.
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Crapshoot on the Courthouse Steps
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Tue, 27 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Monday through Friday, a small group of people assemble around the steps of the Orange County Courthouse in Santa Ana, Calif., for the nation’s ailing real estate market: public foreclosure sales.
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Who's Hurt With Declining Market Labels
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 19 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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“The issue of labels is important,” says James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer at RealtyTrac.com, the nation’s largest source of foreclosure properties.
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A Foreclosure Bargain for Their “Forever House”
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Thu, 15 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Karen Krynen saw an opportunity. Nestled at the top of a hill with a long private driveway, the bank-owned property sitting on a huge 40,946 square foot lot was exactly what she was looking for.
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FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY INCREASES 4 PERCENT IN APRIL
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Wed, 14 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Foreclosure filings were reported on 243,353 properties, a 4 percent increase from the previous month and a nearly 65 percent increase from April 2007, according to RealtyTrac.
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Online Auctions: Good for Buyers and Sellers
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By Bid4Homes Staff | Fri, 09 May 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It’s no secret that more people are buying more products through online auctions, and real estate is no exception.
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Washington Profits From Foreclosures
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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There’s a new initiative on the table in Washington, one that could do a lot to reduce foreclosures nationwide while actually generating a profit for Uncle Sam.
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Will The Paulson Plan Reduce Foreclosures
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 21 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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“A major concern regarding the Paulson Plan is that it would take months and years to implement,” says James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer at RealtyTrac.
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Going Against the Grain, Investor Finds Bountiful Bank-Owned Bargains
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By Daren Blomquist | Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Despite the abundance of negative buzz surrounding the real estate market, Kirk Leipzig decided to pursue foreclosures as investment properties.
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FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY INCREASES 5 PERCENT IN MARCH 2008
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Foreclosure filings were reported on 234,685 properties nationwide in March, a 5 percent increase from the previous month and a 57 percent increase from March 2007.
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Should We Go Back To The Future With HUD
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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“The federal government has attempted to stem the mortgage crisis, by extending aid and concessions to big firms and huge investors on Wall Street,” says James J. Saccacio, Chairman and CEO at RealtyTrac.
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Just A Little Help For Our Friends
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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“We’ll need to wait until later in the Spring to see what results are produced by the Fed’s $200 billion loan program,” says James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer at RealtyTrac.
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Special Video Report: Renters in Foreclosure
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By CBS Evening News | Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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CBS Evening News investigates the issue of renters being unexpectedly forced out of the homes they are living in because the owner has been foreclosed on.
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Politicians Ponder Foreclosure Intervention Policies
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By Joel Cone, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Should the federal government mandate a six-month moratorium on all foreclosures around the country in order to give affected homeowners a chance to “work it out?”
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Whatever Happened To Savings
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 10 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With all the headlines and debate regarding soaring foreclosure rates, it’s sometimes forgotten that most foreclosures can be easily prevented with a low-tech, unregulated, private solution.
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Walking Away From Foreclosure Becoming Socially Acceptable
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If walking away from a mortgage becomes socially acceptable then lenders will have more risk, interest rates will rise, monthly mortgage costs will increase and foreclosure levels will shoot up.
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The Next Financial Crisis — Alt-A Mortgages
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If prime mortgages are the holy grail of real estate financing then Alternative-A (Alt-A) financing can been seen as something of a step below.
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Help Programs Grow, But Foreclosure Levels Remain High
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 05 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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You could hardly miss the attention given to the latest figures from Hope Now, the all-volunteer effort to rescue homeowners facing foreclosure.
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The Bank of America-Countrywide Merger
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The Bank of America’s $4 billion purchase of Countrywide Financial Corporation is now being scrutinized by just about every Wall Street analyst and financial columnist.
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Project Lifeline: New Name, Old Story
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By Peter G. Miller | Sat, 01 Mar 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It was on August 31st when President Bush introduced Hope Now, a plan to reduce foreclosures nationwide.
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Foreclosure Prevention Numbers Don’t Add Up
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Unfortunately, the grim reality is that while modifications and repayment plans can help many borrowers, a large percentage of those enrolled in such programs will lose their property.
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Distressed Homeowners: Rules of Engagement
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By Daren Blomquist | Fri, 22 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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As foreclosures proliferate and home prices stagnate in many real estate markets across the country, more investors and buyers are considering foreclosures as an opportunity to find bargains.
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Project Lifeline: New Name, Old Story
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 18 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It was on August 31st when President Bush introduced Hope Now, a plan to reduce foreclosures nationwide.
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Investor Training: Sorting It All Out
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By Joel Cone, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Training programs for real estate investors sometimes seem as numerous as real estate investors themselves
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Finding Financing for Foreclosure Deals
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By Daren Blomquist, Managing Editor | Mon, 04 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If anyone has the inside track on financing for real estate deals, it would be Ram Perilall.
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New Feature: Online Bidding, Online Offers
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By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing | Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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RealtyTrac users now have the ability to make offers directly to the lender or agent, bid in online auctions or contact agents who handle government foreclosures.
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U.S. FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY UP 75 PERCENT IN 2007
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Wed, 30 Jan 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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A total of 2,203,295 foreclosure filings were reported on 1,285,873 properties nationwide during 2007, a 75 percent increase in total filings from 2006.
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Investment Banks Shoulder Bigger Share of REO Burden
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By Octavio Nuiry, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The bullish stock market began showing some cracks in the foundation in late July as fresh evidence revealed that real estate woes on Main Street are inflicting a bigger-than-expected toll their lenders.
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The Art of the Foreclosure Deal
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By Joel Cone, RealtyTrac Staff Writer | Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It may not be internationally recognized in the same stream of consciousness as a masterpiece by Goya, Monet or Picasso, but a well-constructed foreclosure investment deal can be a thing of beauty.
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How Big Is The Mortgage Meltdown?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:00:00 GMT | |
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For the first time estimates are beginning to suggest the true size of the mortgage meltdown. The newest numbers are so large they dwarf the latest federal deficit, a total of $163 billion.
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The New Foreclosure Prevention Plan
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 31 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It sounds like a good idea. If the reason so many people are losing their homes is because interest rates are too high, then let's keep those rates low and prevent foreclosures.
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Can the Fed Cut Foreclosures in 2008?
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 28 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With the tough times of 2007 over and done, the big question in real estate is whether 2008 will be any better.
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Outlawing Interest-Only Refinancing
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Mortgage rates are down, really down. According to Freddie Mac, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage can now be had for less than 6 percent interest.
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How Foreclosures Will Change The Presidential Election
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 10 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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We have red states, we have blue states and increasingly we have purple states, beat-up states with substantial and growing numbers of foreclosures that may well decide the next presidential election.
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Judge's Ruling May Slow Foreclosures Nationwide
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With mortgage practices under fire on Capitol Hill and across the country, a federal court in Cleveland has now turned up the heat on lenders with a remarkable decision:
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Why Aren't Predatory Loans Illegal?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It’s doubtful that anyone who has ever looked at the mortgage industry would disagree with the sentiments offered by HUD Secretary Jackson. Predatory loans are terrible, a scam and certainly a lie.
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Can Inflated Appraisals Create More Foreclosures?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 05 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Until November few people would have regarded Albany, NY as the center of the foreclosure meltdown, yet in a single week the state's attorney general radically changed the national mortgage debate.
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Have U.S. Banks Bet The House?
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If you remember the good old days of the foreclosure crisis, say about six months ago, the problem was subprime loans, a blip on the financial radar and not a worry for you or your neighbors.
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New Bankruptcy Laws Spur Foreclosures
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 03 Dec 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Almost 30 years have passed since the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1978, a time when mortgages typically had a fixed-rate and unchanging monthly costs.
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How Much Disclosure Is Enough?
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It's hardly a secret that few borrowers fully understand their mortgage options. A 2006 Federal Reserve study found that 20 percent of all ARM borrowers did not know their original loan rate.
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Ropin' an REO
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By Daren Blomquist | Thu, 08 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Veteran real estate agent Jimmy Hendon of Beaumont, Texas, found out firsthand that purchasing a bank-owned property can require an extra measure of patience.
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Want to Be Taken Seriously in the Foreclosures Market? Make a Realistic Offer!
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By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing for RealtyTrac | Wed, 07 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Despite what you may see on late-night cable TV, investing in foreclosure properties isn't a sure fire "get rich quick" formula. Lenders aren't likely to give properties away, particularly in a real estate market where prices continue to rise. And ho
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7 Bargain Retirement Retreats
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By Joel Cone | Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Playing golf anytime you feel like it — early in the morning or at twilight. Finding empty tennis courts just waiting to be played on. Uncrowded movie theaters. Fishing, skiing, surfing, swimming or boating.
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Before You Buy a Foreclosure Property, Do Your Homework!
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By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing for RealtyTrac | Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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There are two words that give pause to the most motivated real estate buyer or investor: property research.
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Accurate Home Values Imperative for Sellers
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By Jim Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer | Mon, 05 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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As the real estate market continues to outperform, accurate and up-to-date home value data is vital for home sellers, ensuring they realize a timely and profitable transaction.
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Buyer's Agent Smoothes Sometimes Bumpy Road to Foreclosure Purchase
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By Rick Sharga, Vice President of Marketing for RealtyTrac | Sun, 04 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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In the complex foreclosures market, a Buyer's Agent can be valuable. The agent can help you negotiate with the owner before a property comes on the market and can also act as a buffer during the negotiating process to make sure you've completed all t
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Understanding the Foreclosures Process
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By Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac Vice President of Marketing | Sat, 03 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Foreclosure properties can be a terrific investment, or give home buyers a much more affordable option than traditional properties in this time of escalating prices. But, before you jump in assuming this is "real-estate for dummies" or the next get-r
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Shopping for Foreclosures? Secure Financing Early!
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By Jim Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer | Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With interest rates ticking up and ARMs adjusting upward, experts predict an increase in the number of foreclosure properties on the market. Foreclosure properties are some of the best opportunities in real estate today with average savings of 10 to
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Five Tips for Buying a Foreclosure Property Below Market Value
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By Jim Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer | Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If you feel like the escalating costs of real estate have priced you out of the market, think again. It may be time to investigate the vast opportunities available in the foreclosures market.
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Fires Versus Foreclosures: Should There Be A Difference?
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The fires that impacted much of California in late October were terrible to watch. Nearly 900,000 people were asked to leave their homes, evidence of a Katrina-like disaster.
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The Mortgage Mess: It's The Borrower's Fault
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With so much mortgage mayhem in the news it follows that we must blame someone for today's growing real estate reverses, so why not fault he borrower?
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Are Mortgage Application Numbers On Target?
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By Peter Miller | Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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You reasonably might think that with home sales down, new construction slowing and interest rates up, it would make sense if there was a decline in mortgage applications. But you would be wrong.
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How To End Lethal Prepayment Penalties
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 12 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The Internet has been humming with a new mortgage debate in Washington: With apologies to Shakespeare, to have prepayment penalties or to ban them, that is the question of the day.
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Secrets to Finding Foreclosure Deals
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By Octavio Nuiry | Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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After purchasing more than 25 foreclosure properties in the Little Rock, Ark., area, Louis Butler can spot a deal from more than a thousand miles away — literally.
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Investor Capitalizes on Cooling Market
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By Daren Blomquist | Tue, 09 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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When the South Florida housing market entered into a nosedive last year, Harry Andrade saw an opportunity.
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Should Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac Bail Out Private Lenders?
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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It was just a few months ago that worries about the mortgage marketplace were dismissed by the Federal Reserve, a view which changed markedly in late August.
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Flip, Hold or Fold?
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By Daren Blomquist | Thu, 04 Oct 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Ryan Hartman works for a company that has been investing in foreclosures in Southern California since 1975 but recently decided to exit the residential market.
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Can The FHA Rescue Plan Work?
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With the country facing a massive foreclosure crisis the Bush Administration has tweaked Federal Housing Administration rules in a way that ought to be applauded.
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Top 100 Foreclosure Zip Codes
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Mon, 17 Sep 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Nation's Top 100 Foreclosure Zip Codes First Half 2007
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More Than Just “I” in Investing
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By Daren Blomquist | Fri, 24 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Much of foreclosure investing is about individual ambition and effort. But investors can’t afford to do everything themselves on every deal.
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Return of the REO Auction
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By Joel Cone | Thu, 23 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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An estimated 1,800 prospective bidders packed the convention center’s concourse hall, watching expectantly as properties were sold to the rapid-fire cadence of the auctioneer.
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Foreclosures & The Multiplier Effect
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By Peter G. Miller | Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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If we’re just having a subprime crisis, then how come the impact is worldwide? That's the essential question raised by Ben Stein.
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Devolving ARMs
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 17 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Since they were first introduced, adjustable-rate mortgages have been the subject of considerable criticism and concern. A worse-case situation that would sink millions of ARM borrowers.
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The Real Case for FHA Reform
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 16 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Should you be in favor of FHA modernization? After all, is not modernization always a step forward, something that's necessary and needed?
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A License to Sell Loans
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By Peter G. Miller | Wed, 15 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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There are a lot of scraps thrown our way at a loan closing, and I have yet to meet anyone who has either read all of the documentation or totally understood what it meant — me included.
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Liar Loans an Endangered Species
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Given the growing worries regarding mortgage fraud, there’s little doubt that stated-income loan applications will be greatly restricted in the future.
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The Three Faces of Foreclosure Buying
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By Andy Heller and Scott Frank | Wed, 01 Aug 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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GEORGIA FORECLOSURES DECREASE 13 PERCENT IN JUNE
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Tue, 31 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Georgia reported 7,191 foreclosure filings in June, a 13 percent decrease from the previous month, but still 64 percent above the number reported in June 2006.
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Top Foreclosure Zip Codes - Miami and Broward Counties
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Zip codes in Miami and Broward counties with the most foreclosure filings in the second quarter of 2007.
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FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY UP OVER 55 PERCENT IN FIRST HALF OF 2007
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Mon, 30 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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A total of 925,986 foreclosure filings were reported on 573,397 properties nationwide during the first six months of 2007, up more than 55 percent from the first six months of 2006
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Foreclosure Filings: Top 500 Zip Codes
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Top 500 foreclosure zip codes May 15 to June 15.
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Foreclosure Numbers: A Guide for the Perplexed
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By Peter G. Miller | Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Welcome to the strange, weird and complex world of foreclosures, a world which hardly sounds interesting except for the fact that hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake, including perhaps the value of your home and the size of your monthly mort
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Rising Subprime Foreclosures Profitable for Some Investors
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By Octavio Nuiry | Thu, 26 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Struggling with an oversupply of homes, a growing number of foreclosures and falling home prices, the housing market is ripe for investors like Andy Baker, who is buying distressed properties and renting them out at a profit.
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Top 10 Foreclosure Opportunities
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By Daren Blomquist | Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Many prospective homebuyers and real estate investors see the current housing market as a prime opportunity to find bargains. But many are gun-shy about jumping into the market before it hits bottom.
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FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY DECREASES 7 PERCENT IN JUNE
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Wed, 11 Jul 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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A total of 164,644 foreclosure filings were reported nationwide in June, down 7 percent from the previous month but still up 87 percent from June 2006.
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FORECLOSURE ACTIVITY INCREASES 19 PERCENT IN MAY
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By RealtyTrac Staff | Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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A total of 176,137 foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported in May, up 19 percent from the previous month and up 90 percent from May 2006.
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Foreclosure Bargains on the Beach
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By Joel Cone | Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The smell of the salt water. The feel of a cool ocean breeze. The sight of the marine layer hanging like a blanket overhead. The feel of the hot sand beneath your feet. And let’s not forget . . . the view. All these amenities come included with a vac
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In Search of Loyal Loan Officers
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By Peter G. Miller | Tue, 05 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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For all the talk of foreclosures and failing lenders, the bottom line is this: The mortgage lending system is both sound and hugely successful.
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The Illusion of Mortgage Protection
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By Peter G. Miller | Mon, 04 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With a growing number of foreclosures nationwide, it's good to know the government has consumer protections in place. What's not so good is what those "protections" actually say.
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2 Million Foreclosure Filings in 2007?
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 01 Jun 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The latest news on the home front shows that in April real estate foreclosure filings were up 62 percent nationwide when compared with a year earlier. We might see more than 2 million in 2007.
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Rising Foreclosures: Overload or Opportunity?
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By Daren Blomquist | Wed, 30 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Rising foreclosures saturated the headlines, airwaves and blogosphere in 2006 as media of every stripe caught wind of this emerging story.
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Uncovering Bargains in Bank-Owned Real Estate
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By James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer | Wed, 30 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Homebuyers can often save money by purchasing an REO. Many banks want to get REO properties off their books and will price properties to move. This means REO sales tend to move rather quickly, so anyone interested in purchasing an REO property needs
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Selling Your Home: By Owner or With an Agent?
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By James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac Chief Executive Officer | Wed, 30 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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So, you’re finally ready to sell your home. Should you work with an agent to manage the sale, or go it alone? This is a question that all sellers face.
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Sweetheart of a Deal
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By Daren Blomquist | Mon, 28 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Jeremy Flanagan signed the closing papers on his first foreclosure purchase two days after Valentine’s Day, and he’s already fallen in love with the place – and its below-market price tag.
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The Changing Politics of Foreclosure
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 25 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Who regulates national bank subsidiaries — subsidiaries which are often separate corporate entities from the banks — the federal government or the states?"
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Tax Rules Compound Foreclosure Distress
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By Peter G. Miller | Sun, 20 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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You might think that foreclosure and bankruptcy are just about the worst financial events in the world, but for those who lose their homes things can get even tougher -- they could be taxed.
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Tapping the Growing Short Sale Market
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By Octavio Nuiry | Sat, 19 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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With more and more sellers unloading their homes for less than what they owe on their mortgages, now is a good time for investors to start negotiating “short sales” with lenders.
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New Financing Rules Could Fuel Foreclosures
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By Peter G. Miller | Fri, 18 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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The “smart” play in real estate between 2001 and 2006 was to buy as much property as possible, finance with little or nothing down and then make the smallest allowable monthly payments.
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Foreclosure Homes for $1,000?
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By Rick Sharga | Fri, 18 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Could those late-night infomercials be true? Could you actually buy your next home for pennies on the dollar?
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Foreclosure Hunting: A Success Story
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By Daren Blomquist | Fri, 18 May 2007 08:00:00 GMT | |
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Las Vegas real estate agent Adam Hunt helped two clients purchase foreclosure properties at bargain prices within a two-month period, which primed him to continue mining the foreclosure market.
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